Eternal Ice
Chap.11 "Tree Of Hope"

"Your, Eric. We have to head east." Alice held back Eric who was about to move south.

Eric's face was confused. "Isn't this direction east?" He pointed south with his finger.

Alice sighed for the umpteenth time and patted Eric on the shoulder. "It looks like your head has been in trouble since you came to your senses from fainting. Since when did the south turn east?"

"But my instinct says if the east leads here! Who knew if this forest was coated in illusion magic?!" Eric insisted on his opinion.

"Your instincts are so far-fetched, this place is just a forest without any magic covering it. Hurry up, we can't waste time just for the sake of this debate." Alice said as she pulled Eric by the hand and walked towards the rising sun.

They had already left Lyberinth City about an hour ago. At first Alice planned to leave before the morning sun rose, but Eric still had business with the Shadow Warriors so it was reasonable to Alice that his head still hurt. And after all of Eric's plays were done well, they both came out of Lyberinth.

"It should have been in town that we bought a horse first, didn't you feel tired of walking all the time?" Eric said to Alice who was still focused on the sun witch book.

Alice glanced at Eric at a glance, then returned to the book. "Riding a horse is too risky. Horses sold in urban areas are not as well trained as military horses, their endurance and speed are lower. They can't be forced to keep running if they reach the limit, and in the end we have to walk, right? In spite of all that, rather than giving up three pieces of gold to buy a horse it is better to keep good good to buy food."

"Oh, okay." Eric answered short.

Silence occurred within a moment, they continued to walk nonstop towards the east. Obstacles that appear increasingly along with the two who continue to step up, even Eric has many times become a victim of the obstacles that exist in this forest.

BRUK!

Once again, Eric hit the branch of one of the trees that was quite large. The tree was very tall with many branches branching from top to bottom.

Eric grimaced, his left hand busy rubbing his reddened forehead, while his right hand had already drawn his sword and cut the branch off.

"Hey, didn't you just stumble? Now especially?" Alice stopped walking and turned to look at Eric.

"Ck, this shitty tree branch!" Eric put his sword back in and kicked the branch he cut forward.

Alice laughed for a moment at the state of her friend before saying seriously. "That little brood can't possibly interfere with your thinking and physical ways, Eric. There are still many clues we haven't solved." Turn around and walk back.

Eric looked at Alice's back who kept walking in front of him. 'Lately he looks ambitious ... ' His inner.

Everything went well, before Alice stopped her steps and glanced at Eric who was walking behind her.

"Eric, don't you feel weird?"

Eric stopped the movement of his legs, his face changed drastically like he was looking at something creepy. "What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, Alice placed an index finger on her lips. "Sttc ... Don't make a lot of noise." Whispers slowly.

"Hey, what the fuck. You were pranking me on purpose?!" Eric raised his voice, making the small birds that were originally perched leisurely around him fly over. His voice sounded in this forest.

"Listen to me first!"

Eric flinched when he heard Alice's tone of voice that showed angry emotions. He chose silence as a gesture to allow Alice to speak.

Alice picked up the leaves of the tree that were scattered under her feet. "This forest is strange, it almost does not look like a forest that is often passed by horse carriages. The conditions are even more 'wild' than the forest of wind magicians, like no human has ever touched."

Swallowing his saliva, Eric looked seriously at Alice. "Then?"

"Is there anything dangerous hiding here?"

Not yet had time to answer, Eric felt the movement of large creatures with a radius not far from them. He bit his lips tense.

The roaring sound of the creature sounded terrible, it had even uprooted the trees around it. Soon both of them will be his target.

Alice could not move - she was completely engulfed in fear now, much more afraid than when she met the pack of wolves in the Freesia Forest. Compared to Eric who had run ahead of him.

"RUN!" Eric shouted, but Alice still did not move from her position.

The creature that looked like a giant white tiger was already getting closer to Alice. Its white fur was dense, its blue netra was shiny like a jewel, and its body was as tall as trees. This creature is very different from the tiger that he caught six years ago.

Every tiger stepped, the ground was made to tremble by it. It was inconceivable what would happen if her enormous foot stepped on Alice who had absolutely no idea what to do at this moment.

Alice took a few steps back, trying to get away. Naas, his back hit a tree behind him, which meant that he had no choice but to run in another direction.

The tiger was getting closer, its fierce face looked like it was about to prey on Alice alive.

Alice was already helpless now, the control of her body was completely devoured by fear. He closed his eyes, prepared for all the possibilities.

'Is my life going to end like this? Oh mother, forgive this daughter of yours who has not been devoted enough to you ..... ' Inner is resigned. Tears on his cheeks.

Eric who realized that Alice was not following him ran immediately back to the spot where they had met the tiger.

"ALICE!"

His hand shot up into the air as he saw Alice cornered, making a magic ball. Then he jumped towards the tiger, sending an attack. Not yet had the magic ball in his hand touched the body of that monstrous animal, easily the tiger threw Eric's body with his feet so that the brown decomposed youth's body slammed onto the ground and the magic ball he made turned to attack him.

Alice looked at her friend who was already lying on the ground, if Eric could be made to fall by this tiger, then he could be injured even worse.

Allegedly wrong. The tiger in front of him did not move pouncing on him, the tiger's body shrunk to the size of a tiger in the usual. He was confused again as the tiger prostrated before him.

"It's nice to meet you, Princess."

Alice seemed to be in disbelief at her hearing, the tiger had just spoken an ancient language. It was obvious that the words came out of the tiger's mouth, not because it was controlled by magic.

"What do you mean?" Alice spoke with a trembling tone, fear and curiosity mixed in her heart.

"You can use the ancient language apparently. My name is Daenerys, the white tiger from the west who served the Eternal Ice Witch." The female tiger, Daenerys, introduces herself as an ordinary human to Alice.

Alice's breath was choked, an impossible thing had just happened. A tiger talking without the influence of magic? It is like walking in a fairyland.

"And as I have said, I am a servant of Theseus, and you are indirectly my master." Daenerys continued her words.

"What is my relationship with him?!" Alice asked with emphasis.

Daenerys was silent for a moment before answering. "You'll find out one day, Princess."

Then he raised one of his front legs, and before long was seen a smaller white tiger running towards them.

"Where are you going, Princess? Let me deliver." He moved in front of Alice, allowing his master to ride on her back.

Alice rode on Daenerys' back in doubt, having difficulty balancing herself on the tiger, but was overcome by gripping Daenerys' white fur and changing her sitting position.

After finding out if Alice had been comfortable on her back, Daenerys glanced at the tiger she had summoned some time ago.

"This tiger is my son, Etoirir. He will bring your brash friend who tried to attack me earlier."

"Thank you, thank you." Alice replied, to be honest she felt sorry to see Eric being hurt for trying to help her.

Etoir jumps up to Eric, then lifts Eric's body with magic to his back. "We're ready, mother."

"Daughter, before I take you to your destination, what if we go somewhere?" Daenerys started running, followed by Etoirir.

Alice nodded slowly and gripped the stronger Daenerys fur.

A portal was created in front of them, Daenerys and Etoir accelerating their running pace.

"Hold me stronger, Princess!" Daenerys exclaimed, then entered into the portal along with Etoirir who was transporting Eric behind her.

Brightest in a while upon entering the portal. Then, they appeared near a large tree. It was blue, brightly lit, like storing incredible magic power with a million secrets. Alice was stunned, her eyes becoming radiant due to the mana reaction within her body. He quickly descended from Daenerys' back, looking at the tree deeper. He did not blink his eyes, as if the beauty of this tree was so hypnotic to him.

"Beautiful, right? This is the Tree of Hope, the tree of the Incarnation of the Sun Witch's soul that holds great power, and the secret of the three parts of the world on this earth. It is said that if you pluck a leaf from this tree, all your life will change for the better. That is why this tree is named as the 'Tree of Hope'." Daenerys explained and touched the trunk of the Tree of Hope.

Alice did not respond, still drowning with the enchanting charm of the Tree of Hope, surpassing all the trees in the world.

Daenerys, who saw Alice not twitching, took the crystal powder that was scattered under her feet and threw it at Alice's head. The powder is fine-textured, it will not hurt if it is thrown into the limb.

DEG!

Alice regained her senses, her eyes returning to how they had been. "W-what happened to me?"

" Don't get too drowned with this tree charm if you don't want your mana energy sucked in and you die." Daenerys.

"Sorry, I don't know about that." Alice looked down, feeling guilty.

Daenerys touched the Tree of Hope. "Try touching this tree."

Alice did not argue at all, this tree was like it was calling out to her. He held his wrist for a while and said. "Before that, can you heal my friend first?"

Eric is a bitch. However, Alice still thinks of him as a friend who always helps her in difficult times. He can't let Eric get hurt.

Daenerys looked surprised, then walked towards Etoirir who had laid Eric on the ground.

The female tiger lifted her leg and placed it on Eric's chest, draining the green mana which then spread throughout Eric's body.

The healing magic worked. Eric opened his eyes, blinked for a while, then sat down.

"Where am I?"

He asked in a semi-conscious state. It was only after his consciousness returned completely that he was aghast in shock, seeing that he was in a strange place surrounded by two white tigers.

"Eric, stop!" Alice immediately stepped forward to stop Eric.

As if Alice's words were just the wind then, Eric still defended his decision to fight back. He began to flow mana on his sword to increase strength.

Bzztt's...

"Ack!" Eric's head was suddenly electrocuted, his horse began to fall irregular and ended up sitting down. The sword he had originally grasped tightly, now fell to the ground like that.

Alice crouched down, aligned herself with Eric, then asked anxiously. "You all right?"

Eric is too helpless to answer Alice's question that worries him. The mana in his body was like being toyed with by the energy of the huge tree in front of him.

"The trees!" Eric looked at the tree of hope with a grimacing face in pain.

"Your negative emotions invite a bad response from the Tree of Hope, calm your feelings, then you will be okay again." This time it was Etorir who explained.

"Calm Eric, calm down. They're trying to help us." Whisper Alice.

Eric took a breath and tried to calm down. Many times he tried to think clearly, lately he often lost control of his body and mind.

Etoirir approached Eric. "It's quieter?"

"Yes." Yeah." Eric answered, then stood up and patted his clothes. "Who are you?"

Daenerys does not respond to any of Eric-like questions hinting that she does not understand the language Etoirir and Eric use.

Etoirir took a few steps forward. "I'm Etoirir, and next to me is my mother, Daenerys. You two don't need to use ancient language to talk to me, I understand the modern language that you are used to at this time."

"What are you talking about, Etoirir?" Daenerys asked who did not understand the direction of the conversation at all.

"No, it's nothing, Mother." Etoir glanced at his mother.

"I don't understand anything you're talking about, but you have to do something first. Especially you, Princess." Daenerys turned around and walked towards the Tree of Hope.

Alice pointed to herself. "Me?"

"Yes, you, Princess."

"Why should I?"

"You probably wouldn't know why if you hadn't done it, Princess."

Alice fell silent, thinking of the thousand possibilities that would occur when she touched the Tree of Hope. There is still doubt in him. However he and Daenerys had just met, he did not know the tigress was good or not.

Slowly Alice reached out her hand touching the trunk of the Tree of Hope.

"Pour your little mana on the trunk of the Tree of Hope." Daenerys.

Alice understood, she was flowing her blue mana through her palm. Instantly, some of the trees froze to react to Alice's ice magic.

In an instant, his mind was carried into the world of the Tree of Hope, which likely awakened his subconscious and gave rise to memories he had never experienced.

"Lorraine, relax! He'll stab us in the back if you keep pitying him!"

"The ideology of your peaceful world will only manifest itself in your dreams."

"Stay with me, Bianca."

"My little daughter, I'll name her Alice."

"Then you and our daughter will always be in my soul."

"Akh!" Alice took a few steps back and squeezed her head. His head ached after seeing some scenes that suddenly flashed across his head, his tears almost flowing.

Eric spontaneously pointed his sword at Daenerys' head. "Based on a wild animal! What did you guys do to Alice?!"

Daenerys remained calm, she only glanced at the pointed tip of Eric's sword that was beside her right eye. "Sopan once said, Son. It may be painful for him, but it will be more painful if he has to live in the shadow of everything without knowing anything. He hasn't found his identity yet, the Tree of Hope will help him for that."

Eric clucked bitterly, but in the end he believed and lowered his sword again.

"Dad ... " Alice muttered with her tears flowing down. Now that he knew who his father was, who bequeathed him such great power.

He is the Eternal Ice Witch, Theseus. Which had a beautiful sapphire blue netra like hers, which had an ice magic power like hers.

The revelation of who his father was also answered many questions about him.

Alice could not stand up, she fell down. While Eric stared at his best friend, who was crying, it was rare to see Alice in such grief.

But Alice's tears were not sadness, but happy cries. Why did his father leave him with his mother?

Alice wiped her tears and rose to face Daenerys. "Can you take me to the Ice Forest? I want to see my father." He pleaded with a hoarse voice.

Daenerys did not answer. Eric, who felt that Daenerys would refuse, said, "Please meet her father. He's the only hope for Alice."

Etoirir shook his head, "Can't. The Ice Forest cannot be entered by just anyone for now, not even the signorina and signore are allowed to enter there."

"Sorry, Princess. We can't take you there. The Ice Forest was the center of magic power from all corners of the world. And right now the stability of the magic world is being shaken so that the magicians who inherited the power of the sun are trying to fix it. Princess can visit next time." Daenerys clearly confirmed her son's explanation.

Alice squeezed her clothes and said, "I understand. But please tell dad this, tell him I'm fine and I'll see him soon when I get a chance."

"I'd be happy to send you your message, Princess. Then we resign, you can call us anytime." Daenerys and Etoirir bow slightly to Alice and Eric, then open the portal and disappear upon entering it.

"Alice." Call Eric, "Your father ... "

"Theseus, the Eternal Ice Witch." Alice replied without looking at her interlocutor, she did not know what she was feeling right now. Happy, happy, and disappointed that her father left her.

The golden eye sighed then pointed at the sparkling leaves of the Tree of Hope. "Please of Hope. That means this tree can give hope to those who feel deep pain in their lives, right? Why don't you pick it to cure your mother?"

"I am a signorina, an entity that has the power of the sun flowing in its body does not deserve to use the power of the Tree of Hope to improve life." Clearly Alice with a faint smile was engraved on her lips. "If my father wasn't him, maybe I would've taken the Tree of Hope leaves for my mother." She smiled, sad.

"You're still lucky to know who your father and mother are. Lookatme. I don't even know if my parents are alive on this earth or not." Eric tries to comfort Alice by telling her his destiny is worse than Alice's.

Alice looked at Eric beside her, "I don't mean to curse my destiny. I was just a little disappointed in him ... "

...----------------...

"Good day, sir. I brought what Master ordered." Daenerys walked into the room where Theseus was.

Theseus got up from his chair, stroked slowly the dense fur of Daenerys and took out a stack of papers that Daenerys carried on her back, opening sheet by sheet for a moment. "Where did you get all this?"

"Whatever is for my master, sir. I got it from a spy in the Leilhart family residence." Answer Daenerys.

"Good job." Saying theseus expressionlessly, he sat back down and checked the document.

"Sir, there's something I want to talk about." Daenerys restarted the conversation. "Miss Alice, the bloody human signorina you left in Saicensia eighteen years ago. Do you remember?"

DEG!

Theseus immediately quit his job, his sapphire blue eyes widened, then he looked at Daenerys. "Where do you know him?"

"I met him in the Lyberinth Forest, he was with a typical gold-eyed royal man. Me and Etoirir took them to the dimension of the Tree of Hope, where Signorina Alice found her true identity as your daughter, Sir." Daenerys tells of her encounter with Alice.

Theseus clutched his pen until it almost froze, "Who ordered you to take my daughter to the Tree of Hope?" He spoke with an intimidating cold tone and expression.

Daenerys immediately bowed. "Force, Sir. I thought that bringing Signorina Alice to the Tree of Hope was the most appropriate thing to do."

"Get out." Theseus's Commandments. Then Daenerys came out to obey her master.

'Alice my daughter ... ' Inner Theseus called his daughter's name. 'Oh my God, what should I say to him ... '

To be continued....

Signorina: A call for the female offspring of the sun witch disciples, which is meant to be biological offspring. They are free to choose their partner from both low and high. Signorina could not replace her mother's father in the elemental witch position unless she was an only child and had no brothers. Each Signorina inherits a magical jewel from their mana ancestor, Lorraine.

Signore :

• incident: Signorina Aine

• Signorina Alice

• Signorina Celestine, Signorina Celine

Signore: A call to the male descendants of the sun magician disciples. Signore is the most entitled to replace his father or mother in occupying the position of elemental witch. A Signore must have a partner from a high-status family in social circles. Just like Signorina, only biological offspring can be called Signore. Each Signore inherits an heirloom weapon from their mana ancestor, Lorraine. Signore who has reached the age of adulthood has its own territory like a noble.

Signores

• incident: Signore Aidric

• Signore Rei, Signore Rai, Signore Rayn

• : ???