The frostbound oath

The Phoenix Palace stood tall against the sky, its vibrant banners fluttering in the evening breeze, casting long shadows across the sprawling grounds. The serenity of the place, usually calming, now felt stifling to those who could sense the storm brewing just beyond the horizon. The recent appearance of the dark tree near the Academy had unsettled everyone—especially those who had lived through the quiet years of peace.

In a small, secluded room, Flavia, Klaus, Irathion, and Rey convened. The discussions were tense, filled with an unspoken understanding that the threat was far from over. Rey, standing by the window, gazed out at the fading light as the others spoke in hushed voices, the weight of their words pressing upon him.

"The tree... it wasn't just some random occurrence," Irathion said, his voice thick with concern. "It was deliberate. Whoever planted it knew what they were doing. The energy... it felt like nothing we've encountered before. But what I don't understand is why near the Academy, of all places?"

Klaus clenched his fists, his sharp gaze fixed on Irathion. "We were too careless. The Academy has always been protected, but it's no longer the impenetrable fortress it once was. We've grown complacent. This is someone's carefully executed plan."

Rey remained silent, his posture still but his mind racing. The mention of the Academy and the dark tree stirred something within him—an ancient sense of responsibility he couldn't shake, like a whisper from a time long forgotten.

"Whoever is behind this... they know more than they should," Rey said quietly, his tone laced with the cold precision of someone who had learned to hide his emotions behind a mask. "We need to be prepared. This is just the beginning."

Flavia nodded, her eyes unwavering as she turned to face the others. "The primary concern is Iris. We can't ignore the possibility that this dark force is tied to her. The tree appeared near the Academy, and Iris is already in danger. We must keep her protected, whatever it takes."

Rey met her gaze with quiet resolve. "I'll protect her, Flavia. No matter what."

In the quiet solitude of her room, Iris lay upon the soft, silk sheets of her bed, her body recovering from the strain of the earlier events. Her head throbbed painfully, but it was the fragments of her dreams that plagued her more than anything. Her mind, fragile and lost, could not escape the relentless pull of the snow-covered landscape in her mind's eye.

She saw the snow again—endless and pure, stretching across an ethereal landscape. It was cold, yet comforting, as though it belonged to a time long forgotten. Through the swirling flakes, two figures appeared—blurry at first, but growing clearer as they approached her. The man was tall, his figure strong and regal, his presence commanding the very air around him. The woman beside him glowed with an ethereal light, her eyes sharp and piercing, yet soft with kindness. Iris felt a wave of familiarity rush over her, a bond she could not explain.

The woman spoke, but Iris could not hear her words, only the unmistakable sense of connection. There was an unspoken understanding between them. The man—his presence felt like a distant echo from a time long past—looked at Iris, his voice filled with warmth, "I will always remember you, aleori… no matter where you go."

Iris's breath hitched in her chest as the vision started to fade, the figures dissolving into the snowstorm, leaving only a lingering feeling of loss.

Her eyes shot open, her heart pounding in her chest. The dream had left her unsettled, her thoughts whirling in confusion. What was that place? Who were those people? And why did she feel as though she knew them, as if they had been a part of her life?

Her mother, Flavia, had insisted she rest, and Iris didn't have the strength to argue. The fatigue from everything that had happened—the tree, the battle, the sudden flood of memories—had taken its toll. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, and she closed her eyes, hoping for a moment of peace.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Rey stepped inside, his presence bringing a sense of calm that she hadn't realized she needed.

"Iris," Rey said softly, his voice gentle, "How are you feeling?"

She blinked, disoriented for a moment, before offering him a small smile. "I'm... better now, I think."

Rey nodded, his eyes watching her carefully. He could sense the unease still lingering in her, but he didn't press her. Instead, he stepped closer to the bed, taking a seat beside her, his gaze faraway as though lost in his own thoughts.

For a long moment, there was silence between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that spoke volumes—a quiet understanding shared between two people who had known each other long before the weight of their current circumstances.

"I... I think I remember you," Iris said suddenly, her voice small but certain. "You look familiar, but I don't know why. Did we meet before?"

Rey's lips twitched in a faint smile, his eyes softening. "We did. When we were children, remember? Our mothers were best friends."

The mention of their mothers brought something rushing to the surface in Iris's mind, but the memories were hazy, like an old photograph fading with time. "Our mothers..."

Rey nodded. "Yes. Your mother and mine—Areia and my mother—were inseparable when we were young. They met long before we were born. We grew up together, but... after a time, our paths diverged. we lost touch."

Iris's eyes widened as the fragments of her childhood slowly began to fall into place. She remembered a day from her early years when she was really young—a day when she and Rey had played together in the garden, laughing, running through the blooming flowers as their mothers watched over them from a distance. It was a simple memory, but it was one she had cherished, even though it had faded over time.

"You were the boy from the garden," Iris murmured, her voice distant as she pieced it together. "The one I played with... I remember now."

Rey's smile grew, though there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Yes, we were children then. But it feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?"

Iris nodded, feeling the weight of time press down on her. She had always felt a strange connection to Rey, but she never understood why. Now, with the memories returning, it was as though a puzzle piece had fallen into place. But there was still so much she didn't understand about him—or herself.

Before she could speak again, Rey stood, the air around him shifting with the grace and power that came with his royal bloodline. His gaze turned to the window, his expression pensive.

"You've been through a lot, Iris," he said, his voice quiet. "And I know you have questions. But for now, just know this: whatever happens next, I won't let you face it alone."

Iris blinked, touched by his words. There was something steadfast about Rey—a kind of quiet strength that comforted her even in the midst of uncertainty. She didn't know what the future held, but in that moment, she felt that, with him by her side, she could face whatever came next.

Rey turned to leave, but before he did, he gave her one last look, his eyes soft and sincere. "Rest. We'll talk more soon."

As the door closed behind him, Iris lay back in her bed, her mind still swirling with questions. Her childhood memories were slowly coming back, but they only seemed to raise more questions than answers. What did Rey mean when he said his mother and hers were close? And why had they lost touch? Was there more to their past than she realized?

Meanwhile, in the quiet corridor outside, Klaus and Irathion had quietly retired to an adjoining room, away from the others. The two men stood by a tall window, looking out over the sprawling gardens of the Phoenix Palace, where the faint glow of the setting sun bathed the world in a warm, golden light.

"I've been thinking about the tree," Klaus began, breaking the silence. His voice was low, serious. "It was far too... intentional. That dark magic—it was no accident. Whoever summoned it has been watching us. Watching the Academy. But who would dare come so close?"

Irathion stood beside him, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, a look of deep thought crossing his features. "It's not just about the tree. The magic—it feels old. Far older than we are. Whoever is behind it is not just someone with dark magic. No, this is the work of someone who knows the depths of forbidden arts."

Klaus nodded gravely. "A power like that... It has to be someone who understands the ancient magic, the kind we used to know in the God Realm. I haven't felt anything like it since..."

Irathion cut him off with a sharp glance. "Since the Realm fell, yes. We know."

Klaus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just keep thinking back to the old days—when we were still disciples of the gods. Do you remember those days, Irathion? Before the fall?"

Irathion's gaze softened with nostalgia, but there was a hint of sorrow in his eyes. "How could I forget? We were just four disciples, young and full of potential. Lucius, Helint, you, and I... all under the guidance of the Four Ancient Gods. We trained, we learned. But then, everything changed. The Realm was destroyed, and we each went our separate ways. Now one is the King of Heaven, and the other the King of Demons. We've all walked different paths since then."

Klaus's voice dropped to a whisper. "And yet, it feels like the world is slowly crumbling again. What we fought to protect... I wonder if it was all for nothing."

Irathion shook his head. "No. We fought to preserve peace, not to maintain an illusion of safety. The world is changing, Klaus. It always does. We just need to be ready for what's coming."

Klaus turned to Irathion, his face hardening. "And that's what scares me. We don't know what's coming next. But we will stand together, just like we always have."

Irathion gave him a sharp nod, the weight of their past and the uncertainty of the future hanging between them.

The quiet hum of the palace filled the air as Rey and Flavia walked through the corridor, the tall windows casting long shadows as the last rays of sunlight began to fade. Rey's usually calm demeanor was slightly more withdrawn, and Flavia noticed the subtle tension in his posture.

"Rey," Flavia said softly, breaking the silence between them. "How is your mother... the Dragon Queen, Ariea? I haven't heard much about her lately."