Eternal Ice
Chap.2 "A Decision"

"Hm." Alice muttered while propped up with her chin, her eyes watching the snowflakes coming down from the sky. He was still confused and felt a dilemma, between leaving his hometown and his mother to find gold flowers or remain silent and find another way. Alice was still unwilling, leaving the place where she was born and the mother who lay weak. What if her mother woke up while she was away on an adventure? Where he needs recovery so can not move for a while. Moving excessively for a moment can definitely faint. No, don't imagine, it's a nightmare. His mother could have been unconscious or even dead.

The book he got from the dark magician's grandfather was indeed very useful. However Alice was more interested in the Eternal Ice Witch's part. Like someone who has a relationship with him.

"Did I ask Aunt Eira to take care of me? No-no. Could the crazy old lady of money demand a big payment. Gosh." Lately, Alice muttered more and more. Problems keep coming in every day.

It feels like this time it is wrong. If she leaves, her mother could wake up and do nothing, Alice has a bad feeling about it. And if he was silent, his mother could never wake up and her condition continued to worsen.

"If only Dad were here." Alice remembers her father. But he didn't even know his father was alive or not.

"Yeahhhh." Alice breathed a tired sigh. There are so many unresolved issues in his life. Plus the useless rant from her aunt further clouded her mood. Aunt Eira, her mother's half-sister is such a bitch. Just because she was the eldest child and her mother was the daughter of a Baron, Eira became indifferent towards her half-sister. Bianca, the mother whom Alice loves very much. "I'd better go see Georgia." Alice left the small library in her house.

Today the snow is not falling. People began to continue their daily activities. The streets look so crowded. Merchants who offer or transact with buyers, singing from street singers, to magic attractions performed by comfort magicians have become a sight that will certainly be seen if passing through the market. His steps stopped in front of a fairly large library building.

'MAGIC LIBRARY', the name of the building was plastered on a board attached to the top of the window.

The crane!

A voice from the library doorbell rang out as Alice opened the door. People were busy with their activities that had stopped due to snowfall yesterday, so the library was quiet. Alice approached a girl of her age who was sleeping while propping up her cheeks in the library information center.

"Georgia!" Alice shouted as she kicked down the information center table.

"God, Alice! Can you wake me up in a relaxed manner? You're shocking me!" Reply to the girl with grayish blonde hair named Georgia, her hazel eyes stared in annoyance at Alice. "We've been best friends since childhood, how could I not know how my own best friend behaves huh? You wouldn't wake up if I just casually called out your name" Alice replied, her expression mocking Georgia.

"Then why did you come here? If you invite me to go to the fair in the next town I refuse. My mother, she forced me to keep the library." Georgia said, a sense of laziness can be felt by Alice in every word Georgia said. Obviously this girl wanted to run away and go to the ice sculpture exhibition in the next town. But, he could not win at all from his mother who was more sinister than the dark magic grandmother.

Alice sighed again. "That's not what I mean, I just need a chatter buddy. I can't make a blue rose in my garden as a talking companion." Alice joked a little. "Ha ha ha, you're funny. But good, I'm bored here. Because it was snowing yesterday and it was sunny today, their reading interest was declining" Georgia said.

The two of them then sat down on a chair near the ledger shelf where thick books lined up. "So, what's your problem this time Alice? Did Eric say something that hurt you? How insolent he is, next time I'll beat him up." Georgia seemed excited to listen to Alice's matter. He even showered Alice with various questions. "Ck, how could he dare to me." Alice patted her forehead.

"I will go on an adventure outside the kingdom. Surrounding the world, looking for flowers for my mother's treatment." said Alice, looking down at the window.

Alice's words were indeed 'very surprising' managed to make Georgia spout tea that was in the drink. Uhuk! Uhuk! "Did my ears not hear wrong?" tanya Georgia coughed cough from choking. "Yes, Georgia. You didn't hear me wrong." Alice replied casually, in contrast to her best friend who was shocked to the point of being speechless.

Georgia put down her tea cup, took a breath and spoke. "Are you sure you can navigate the cruel world out there? What flowers are you looking for? When it comes to healing flowers my mother also plants a lot in the garden." Georgia asked again with worry. Maybe he could go with Alice. But the magic is not very strong. He was afraid to trouble his best friend.

"Golden Flower is the flower I want to look for, Georgia. In the history books, it is written that the golden flower has incredible healing magic" Alice said. "I can come with you, then what else are you worried about?" georgia.

"No, no. I'm sure this adventure isn't harmless. I'm just worried about my mom. If I leave, what if you wake up and can't do anything? That's terrible, you know?" Alice told me excitedly. "Hey, what about your aunt who said she had a lot of money? Doesn't it have a lot of land to sell? You can ask for money and then pay someone to look after your mother, right?" The advice Georgia gave this time made Alice a little upset.

"Why do I wish for that woman? The interest on the loan is so great. He always demands to pay the loan debt in a short time or all his property will be confiscated, another way to pay off the debt is to give it our own lives. Sometimes I pray that he gets karma." Alice told me about her aunt who was very apathetic.

Her best friend who heard that finally put on a giving up face. But suddenly his face brightened, like a brilliant idea came to his mind. "Alice, what if this was the case," Georgia approached Alice and whispered something into her ear. "You mean, you and Uncle Theo? Ah, fine!" Alice's face immediately became cheerful again after hearing her friend's idea.

"Why didn't you think about it? You're dramatizing the situation." said Georgia, inexhaustible with what Alice did. "I'm not dramatizing things. I just don't feel good about Uncle Theo, you know that every day he has to deal with nobles who want to buy land." Alice said at length. "So, the one who will accompany you?" Georgia looked at Alice with one raised eyebrow.

"Yes, of course our golden-eyed mercenary" Alice replied

"I can already guess your decision." said Georgia

"My decision is already round."

After she finished chatting with Georgia, Alice went to see her uncle in one of her family's vacant large estates. The 30-year-old man he called his uncle was the half-sister of his own mother. This uncle is much better than his aunt. At least someone helped him.

"Uncle!" Alice shouted to Theo, her uncle panting. He ran with all his might to get here fast. "Alice! What are you doing here? Where's mommy? Is your mother conscious?" Just like his best friend, Theo floods Alice with questions. 'I've guessed that they fit, they fit, ' Alice's inner self, hinting to her uncle to bend a little to equalize them. "So uncle, I need uncle's help," Alice whispered her plan, her legs spotted on tiptoes.

"Are you sure your gray-blond friend will come? You're not tricking me into your trap, are you?" Theo asked, actually just kidding. "Uncle just calm down! I'm sure, when I get home, your wedding ceremony will definitely be held!" alice said excitedly, Theo was like seeing a blazing fire in the blue eyes of Alice's sapphire.

Finished negotiating with his uncle, there was one more person left that he had to meet. A mercenary of his age whose identity was full of mysteries. Just as mysterious as Alice's father.

On the other hand, there was a young man with brown hair sitting on a roadside chair. His back was leaning against the back of the chair, his head looking up with newspaper leaflets appearing to cover his face. Call him 'Eric'.

"Gear!"

Hearing his name being shouted, Eric turned his head. The newspaper covering his face fell down, displaying his extremely handsome face and a pair of extremely charming golden-coloured beads. "Curtain, basic. Hey come on, I just want to relax for a little while. Why does the universe seem to not allow me to rest?" eric ruffled his hair.

Eric is mysterious, very mysterious. His name which has the meaning of 'Eternal Lord' is a name that should only be given to the first son of the king who will replace his father leading the kingdom. While he who is just a boy who is not clear of his origin, it is very inappropriate to be given a name that has a great meaning. His golden eyes were also the subject of conversation of those who saw him. As the dark wizard who lived for thousands of years said, this witch has been helping the royal family for several centuries, that is the reason why her name can be listed in the royal history book.

'Those who are the jewels of the kingdom are the golden-eyed and are the descendants of the throne owners.'

But people only talk about it for a while. Not protracted as the discussion of household gossip of the nobles. Because from the beginning, Eric was just a child who lived without a purpose who eventually became a mercenary after being discovered by one of the soldier commanders. A person who was weak and could not even support himself, turned into the most dangerous mercenary in his era.

"Shut up, Eric! It's your fault, too! Where did your mind come to think that you could rest in peace in a crowded street chair like this?" Alice replies, she stomps on Eric's feet because she is already upset.

"Arghhh, sick! Your shoes, Alice! What did you call me for?" Eric screamed in pain as Alice's shoes stomped on his feet.

"O warrior lord, do you want to earn a lot of money from selling magic artifacts? You know, the magic goods auction. All the nobles came and offered prices that were not cheap. Maybe, you could buy a mansion or live with fun to the point of getting sick." Alice was like a shrewd salesman offering her merchandise.

While the young man sitting opposite him started to react when he heard the word 'money'. Eric stood up and shook Alice's shoulder. Money is everything in his life.

"Why are you still asking? Of course I, the most handsome man in the universe wants money!" Eric half-cried in front of Alice's face. Both of his hands were still shaking his friend's shoulders. He even had time to boast of his good looks.

"Hey, can it be that at a time like this you still have time to show off yourself? And do you think if you shake someone else's shoulder, that person will be happy?" Alice pushes Eric's body. Sometimes this childhood friend of his could not read the situation and what annoyed him the most was his sky-high level of confidence. He can boast of himself anytime and anywhere without shame and doubt. Honestly, Alice's mother also admitted that Eric was the most confident person of all the people she had ever met.

"Where can I find that magic artifact?" Eric sat down and sat down. His face turned serious.

Alice took a breath and told me everything. Eric who was listening just nodded, but Alice hesitated if Eric listened to what he was saying.

"Alright, alright. I'm going to come along. You will need me very much. Yeah, I don't know why I'm so amazing". Eric got out of his chair and walked away.

"Where are you going?" shouted Alice.

"Where else? I'll be ready, we'll be gone tomorrow. I have a lot to take care of before I leave. Including asking permission to the commander." Eric replied before his steps further away.

After which, Alice smiled with relief while looking at the clear sky. He has found a solution to his problem. His heart felt completely calm.

"I'd better find a father besides looking for a magical golden flower. I'd be happy if I brought you back."

The To Be Continued.....