Everything feel like a blur to Freya, days turn to month and month turn to year. In just the blink of an eyes, everything change around her so fast. This orphanage, once so lively now filled with more silence than the sound of the wind breeze around her, while she watch everything change through time—her body remain the same—it never age, never change in any size, she could eat thousand of food and it will remain the same. She sat down in the rock, watching as snow fall from the sky and the tree covered within it. The sound of wind buzzing and magic ring in her ear, Freya turn to look at the source, finding Bryan standing in the snow and tries to manipulate it using his wooden staff. The young boy has turn into a teenager now, more polite and bold than the wimpy kid he used to be. He currently wearing a heavy winter outfit accompanied with a hat, not that it matter, the cold of the winter still hit him.

His wooden staff aim directly to the snow once again and he keep chanting the word, “Snolowa!” watching the snow tries to float, his wooden staff is keeping the hold of the snow as it float around the air, slowly forming into some block of snow… then it fell straight into his face. “GAH!” Freya look at him with an aloof expression, her eyes narrow and judging him again. “Dammit! Why does It keep failing!”

Then he complaint like a noisy kid, her hand move to her cheek and her elbow resting on her knees, “I already told you to not practice Snolowa without learning how to control your temperature first.” She said with a dismissive tone, Snolowa is a spell that focused on creating golems from snow. To use this spell perfectly, the Host must stand in an area with a lot of snow around, then they will focus on channelling their mana that cause the snow around them to grow colder and the snow will float around the air to form a golem of all size that is fully obedient toward the Host.

But the downside of this spell, when the snow get colder it will make the Host body temperature drop rapidly and in the end, the spell will failed. Snolowa require another spell to work at the same time, one that keep the body temperature in check for the Host.

“I know that… but what if I could do it without using any of those body temperature spell?” Bryan exclaim, getting up from the snow attack that he inflicted on himself.

“Then you’re an idiot. You keep failing and instead of trying to find the reason, you want to keep trying to practice it.”

“Wow… that harsh.”

“I don’t care, kid. I want you to learn that temperature spell now.”

Bryan frown, his lips pressed together as he brush the remaining dust of snow away. Freya is a great teacher, but she is so persistent and slightly harsh too. Sometime he just wish that his teacher could just leave him alone for the time being and let him do it on his own… His gaze move back at Freya as she stand up and begin approaching him with that same disappointed look. “The temperature spell is called Tempria, the spell that stabilizes your body temperature in any situation.”

“So that’s why you don’t wear any winter outfit? Because you are using Tempria now?” Bryan said with an amused expression, Freya only wear a white dress that Hatsumi give and that dress truly didn’t help her in the winter because of how plain and thin it is. Freya grab his wooden staff and raise it to the air, her eyes focused on the snowy ground, “You can say that.”

She aim the staff into that snowy ground, her body calm and her gaze focused on each snow that is slowly… start to float. Bryan eyes widen as the floating snow gradually gotten bigger and bigger, circling around her as magic flow around her whole form. Then those snow begin to stack on one another and form into a giant robot-looking golem with a diamond as it face, the snow golem lay it head and bow to Freya expressing gratitude for bringing it alive into the world. Freya stare into the golem long enough before turning to look back at Bryan, seeing the young man shocked expression was amusing, she do it all as if it’s the most casual stuff to ever exist.

“H-How did you do that?” Bryan stutter, failing to hide how amazed he is, “And you don’t even say the spell name either!” he added.

“Because I’m more experience than you are.”

Freya turn to the snow golem one last time, before swinging the staff into the golem causing the golem to disintegrated into air and every bits of snow drop to where it rightfully belong. “Tempria should be an easy one, usually new mage gonna have a trouble learning it. Even I have to take ten years to learn how to control it perfectly.” Freya approach him and give him the staff back. “But that was in the past… nowdays everything is easy to do and you can just search thing up on the big online world for any spell.” She retreated back to the safety of the rock chair while continuing her speech, “With your raw talent, I bet it must be super easy too. Because of that…”

She sat on the rock and cross her arms, “I want you to learn that in only one week.”

“EH!? One week?”

“Yes. Starting now.”

“But—”

“I will not listen to any of your attempted negotiation.”

“…You can just say no.”

She’s back to being the no-nonsense person she is. Bryan grab his burner phone from his own pocket, he got it recently when Hatsumi decide to buy it for him. She’s such an angel, but the only problem here might be that he doesn’t understand that much on how phone work… all he know is just to search up in the web and begin the spell. Just like what Freya say, it definitely easy.

While watching the young man train with all he got, the door is open and Hatsumi step outside wearing a sweater and gloves. She look at Bryan with a smile on her face, the determined expression from the young man truly lift her entire spirit today. “I guess the spell didn’t go well?” Hatsumi begin.

“You guess it.” Freya said lazily, she let out a big sigh after saying that. “I hate stubborn people…”

“Well that’s just Bryan, he’s a nice kid but he could get really stubborn!” Hatsumi chuckle as she cross her arms and yell to Bryan, “You’re doing great, Bryan! Keep it up so you can protect this orphanage!”

“Yeah!” Bryan yell back in the distance.

Hatsumi encouragement truly make the young man even more motivated now, he continue to read from those site and try to channel his Mana. It is a boring sight for Freya though, she have been watching her students been in his shoes, always so passionate and motivated to achieve what they want. But in the end, their future could show their downfall or their rise from the ashes.

“Don’t encourage him that much, too much of a mental burden if you ask me.” Freya said, keeping her tone natural. “Better to keep it realistic, we don’t know if he really could protect this orphanage or not.”

“It sound like you’re doubting his ability, Freya.”

“I don’t want to sound harsh… but I am, even if he succeded the hardest spell he could, I still doubt that he have the will to protect someone in the face of real dangers.” Silence fell among them, snow continue to fall in their gaze as the young man become the center of their attention. “I spoken from experience you know? I have a student who could have been the greatest mage ever in Eradoria only to be consume by his obsession for more.”

“I see your point, we are bind to destiny be it the worst or the best. But… in this age, the decision we made will be the one to bind us closer to this role we are destined with. A child grow in lawless area could be the first ever police they had or the child could simply embrace being in that kind of environment, bringing no changes to the situation.” Hatsumi sound full at peace right now, Freya tilt her head to look at her. “But I believe we can help them shape it, shape them into someone better than ever. Environment play a pivotal role after all, a parent could raise their child to be a bad person and a parent could guide their child to be a better person.”

She clap her hand together and spoke, “Since I’m Bryan caretaker, I want him to be a successful figure in the future and give him a lot of Motivation!” her eyes is twinkling with stars now. “Beside, we both live a long life didn’t we? There’s a time where we stop feeling motivated after all.”

“Motivation…” Freya ponder her words, she remember feeling motivated to learn more about this world, to find interesting things and discover new creature. She was young back then, just like Bryan. But those motivation eventually diminish as years come by, founding herself more and more burn out the more she force herself to do it. Suddenly, something click on her mind. “Oh, right… Hey Bryan!”

Bryan stop his practice and turn to look at Freya, “Yeah?”

“What was your motivation? I forgot to ask…”

“…What?” Silence fall among them once again, “Miss Freya, it’s been ten years… and you just remember it now?”

“Hey, I’m asking here.” Freya narrow her eyes.

Bryan let out an awkward chuckle and rub the back of his head, “Well… I wanted to join the League of Hunters and be a mage to protect the innocent children from losing everything they had, parent, home and memories.” He sound proud of himself, confidence in his dream to be the protector of the children.

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An admirable dream, the sparkle in his eyes already told her just how determined he is on going to take the next step to his dreams. No matter how hard the challenge that gonna come at him, the young man will never stop at reaching it, one step of the ladder at the time. But it wasn’t that dreams that caught her, but the group he is talking about… “League of Hunters? What is that?”

“Eh!? You don’t know what that is?” Bryan is shocked, how came someone don’t know about the league of hunters, the greatest hunters group in the whole world! “H-How?”

“Bryan, you expect someone from three thousand years ago to know about that?” Freya retort with her eyes narrowing again, as if looking at him with a death serious stare. Hatsumi cover her mouth as she giggle at their conversation.

“Well, I could help you with that, I’m actually a former member myself.” Hatsumi said, approaching her and begin to explain it. “The League of Hunter is a prestigious Private Military Company that specializes in eradicating monsters in land, sea, or air. They operatize everywhere in Eradoria to hunt monster and any other anomalies that they sees as a threat to peace.”

“I see… so they’re just some bunch of protector groups.”

“No they’re not!” Hatsumi seems to take an offense in that, “The League of Hunters are professional group of hunters that doesn’t work mindlessly, they have strategy that make them the same level as the elite Whiteblade Army of Gaia!”

Freya doesn’t seems to keen on listening further, she roll her eyes with disinterest in her voice, “Now you’re just praising them… but how come I never know you were part of them? Also, you should be the one to teach Bryan and not me.”

“Well… I only spend like… a three years because of some troubles I cause, but that’s not the case now.” Hatsumi cheek reddened immediately, her head lolling to the side as if wanting to hide the embarrassment she felt. “A-Anyway, I’m not a mage, Freya. You really expect a non-mage to teach someone who wanted to be a mage?”

“Heh… so underneath that kindness of yours there’s a naughty side too?” Freya smirk.

“I’m not!”

“Uh, guys… It’s dinner time. Let’s just get over this and have dinner together, right?” Bryan have to step in before they could argue again, Hatsumi pout and Freya have that annoying smirk of hers. God… he really don’t understand these two people who could possibly live longer than Eradoria itself.

Dinner come as usual, although this time it’s more quieter knowing there’s no more bunch of screaming children. All of them have been adopted in the last ten years now… there’s only small amount of them and they gather together to enjoy the dinner time, it felt like a big family dinner, a warmful one. Roy talking about his medical skill and bickering with the other kids, Bryan trying to calm him down and Hatsumi being the perfect caretaker ever. Such a scene she come to adapt in the past ten years with them, but all she wanted to do now was to continue her other task and do some progress on it. Even if Hatsumi keep being telling how worry she is, Freya would still do it no matter what.

The silence of the night truly welcome her and the moon shine so brightly in the sky, the star glimmering with life and the cold air keep her in peace. This is where she rightfully belong, quiet without any talks or laughs on her surrounding. She sat on the edge of the cliff, away from the dark forest looming behind her, her eyes closed as she tries to focus on channeling her Mana to close. But after minutes or even hours that come, she still feel nothing has change. Her eyes open once again and looking into her hand, “Hmm…” She clench and open her fist, “…It’s been ten years, but my Mana still won’t close… it seems I have to suppressed it for now.”

Just as she stand, a loud scream ring from the forest get her attention. Her sense is alerted once again, the forest is dangerous at night with the Ghouls coming to haunt at the darkness of it. But someone is screaming… mean someone have been wondering the dark forest and the Ghoul might have caught them. Could it be Bryan or Hatsumi? Whoever the fools that enter the forest at night should’ve known better.

Freya begin to run toward the sound, she won’t let somebody foolishly dies in this forest.

The terrified cries of a man get closer and closer as she continue to venture into the forest, the source of his voice an easy guide to find him. "G-Get away!!" The man yell loudly accompanied by the sound of the Ghoul melodious and eerie growl. "Gah!!"

The man thought everything is going to be over at this very moment, all of his lifework ended in the hand of the Ghoul. But a sparkle of light appear infront of him and the Ghoul scream so loud it almost broke his ear drums. He cover his ear and notice someone running to cover him, "Are you okay?" He look up and see Freya, the calmness in her gaze do nothing to stop the terror in his veins.

"I-I..." He stammer out useless word, but she quickly cut him off. "I'll handle them."

Freya stare into the Ghoul infront of them, the Ghoul malnourished, bluish and transparent legless human body floating in the air. Their large hole of void that replace their face let out a whiff of air and their massive human mouth that stretch vertically from the bottom of the torso to the throat with the teeth shaped like a canine and sticking out from each other opening and close, Saliva falling down to the ground. The Ghoul growl again and Freya notice it calling it friends, more Ghoul begin to appear from the Tree, bushes, and even the Woods.

"Stay here okay?" Freya told the man and the man nod urgently, he watch as one of the Ghoul jump to her with it wide mouth opening and ready to eat her. He Scream and the Ghoul scream back.

He open his eyes to see Freya jumping from each trees and the Ghouls chasing her like a zombie horde. Freya twirl her hand and a light beam appear from her palm, she dodge one of their attack and Slam the light into their wide monstrous mouth. The Ghoul scream again before disintegrated into nothingness, but it's not over yet. Freya ears ring as more Ghouls flanking her back, so she raise her hand and flame engulf her whole left arm then she swing it around the Ghouls. The Ghouls scream again before dissapearing one by one.

Another Ghoul appear from the tree, jumping down and tries to engulf her in it wide mouth. But Freya manages to Dodge once again by rolling to the side and quickly raise her hand to summon another light beam and smash it right into it back. "They shouldn't be coming again... Hopefully." Freya sigh and walk back to the man.

"You okay?" She said, both hand resting on her hips.

"Ah! Yes, thank you Miss, I'm so happy you appear!" He is relief, very relief. "I-I'm Alfred and you are?"

"Freya." Freya look down to the way he dresses, baggy winter jacket and trouser with hiking shoes and Beanie hat. What interested her is the big looking bag on his back, she wanted to ask but realizes where they are now. "Follow me."

Soon they walk out of the dark and grimy forest and reach a safer area, a bench near a lampost that is still on everyday and every time. She sat down there beside him while holding a mug of hot cocoa that he had presented as a thank you act. "So... You're a tourist?" She ask him, while staring into the cocoa.

"I prefer the term Traveler than tourist, sound more formal right?" Alfred said, a smug smile on his face as he drink his own mug of hot cocoa.

"I guess so. But still, that was a Foolish move, going into the dark forest where the Ghouls usually roam." Freya added, the Ghouls are creature who love to wander in dark and isolated areas due to their fears of the sun and anything that produce light in their area. Those creature know human are curious about the dark and use their every advantage to eat the bones of theirs.

"Yeah... I was reckless, but i got save by a pretty lady, so that's a plus." Alfred give her a charming smile while she look disinterest. "Shut up." Alfred just give her a chuckle before sipping his hot cocoa once again.

"But really, I'm grateful for your help. Without you, i might not be able to reach my dreams of traveling the whole world, Freya." Alfred put his mug down and lean into the bench, watching the moon in peace. "Also that move of yours? Totally cool."

"You're praising me too much, Alfred. I was just there when you decided to enter the forest." She dismissed him once again, staring into the pile of snow in the path.

"Oh yeah? Well I'm glad you just there." He soon realizes something. "Wait... how do you get in there in the first place?"

"I am already there by dawn, training my Mana as usual."

"Huh... So you done this alot?"

"Yeah."

Silence fell between them once again, only the sip of hot cocoa and the breeze being the only noise. How many time have she gone through this silence already? She get fed up now. So she quickly ask him, "Why did you become a Traveler, Alfred?"

"I wanted to travel the whole world again after the war, i want to see everything that have change or find something new. Maybe... I could even be the first person to find a hidden area in Eradoria?" Alfred word struck a memory that she thought she have abandoned, a memory of her young self, how she once travel the whole world with such eagerness to find new things only to get burned out and stop doing it altogether.

"You... Don't feel bored about it?" She ask, her voice stuttering slightly.

"Bored? Yeah, once. Back when every situation got worst for me, i used to stop Traveling and find myself sitting in bed and drinking beers." Alfred gaze is focused on that hot cocoa with such intensity, "I don't think i could return back like i used to be when i travel, i thought everything is over... but then i meet my wife and honestly? It brought my happiness back, seeing the mountain in Belkovsky for the first time or seeing the stars in Haloa Luna. My wife dreams is just like mine and after she pass... I have to do it for her, to reach places she wanted to go and take a picture like we used to have."

"I... See..." Freya close her eyes for a long moment then back to him. To continue someone else dream seems like a burden to her, but Alfred manages to do it with smile and it even brought back his motivation once again, "I'm sorry about your wife."

"No worries, Freya. I'm sure she must be watching me from the heaven and be proud of how cool her husband is." Alfred added casually, he had move on from her death and fully accepted the situation now. Always looking to the sky and know she must be watching.

Freya roll her eyes and sip the hot cocoa one last time, the tasty and warm feeling of the cocoa Coat her throat and then her whole body. She put the mug down as she sigh and stare at the now empty mug, she might not see her reflection again but she can sees her own eyes watching herself.

"Even after the war you still continue to travel?" She ask one last time.

"Yeah, but in the end... I manages to find my purpose again, isn't it? To travel again and to help others in need. Being a Traveler is not just about going to different places, but it also to form a close Bond with new friends we might make there." Alfred said, determination flow in his veins. War truly is horrible isn't it? She remember standing among the sea of dead bodies while venturing into the demon region three thousand years ago to stop the demon king. She thought everything will be in peace after that, but humans just gotta be humans and start another war

The thought of traveling this world again, of seeing it change, searching for something new and meeting new faces again like with Hatsumi and the others. Her eyes close as she remember those days where she travel by foot in the sea, in the land to reach the highest or lowest area and to find everything new. Her motivation surge once again and her need to travel the whole world came back once more like a blooming flower.

The time before she sleep, she approach Hatsumi sitting in the dining room chair and she boldly said. "Hatsumi, I'm going to travel the world again."