Moving unsteadily, Maven walked through the tunnels of the Crystal Palace. Here and there, she saw several obsidian and crystal giant golems either standing frozen or lying on the ground, whether intact or scattered.
Good riddance. Perhaps the obelisk was the main core crystal that controlled the entire palace. Its power has been absorbed by Nepathya Lei, then drained dry when the ‘new goddess’ fell. My trip has become easier but I still have to stay alert. Thinking that, Maven gripped her daggers tightly.
Then her steps were stalled. Her eyes caught a short figure who was kneeling beside a lying bear.
“Bangor! What happened to Tobar?” Recognizing the two, Maven rushed towards them.
Maven was replied with sobs. The dwarf with thick, two-braided beard turned towards her with swollen eyes. “As you can see, Tobar has sacrificed his own life to save me. When we were fighting, suddenly came a series of shockwave engulfing the battlefield. The golems were thrown or shattered, but I only got hurt lightly. The shockwaves kept coming, however, followed by a freezing main attack. It was when Tobar threw his body to become my shield. After the attacks had settled, Tobar fell and died. His body was frozen, no longer able to withstand the barrage.”
With teary eyes and a mixed feeling between grief and admiration, Maven approached the bear's frozen corpse. She touched him briefly, mumbling, “Tobar, the mighty bear… I will never forget you as long as I live, carrying the tale of your bravery to the next generation.”
Maven then turned around, patting the dwarf’s shoulder softly. She said softly, “My utmost condolences for your loss of a partner and a friend, sir. I also have to apologize, since it was us who have caused all this.”
“Haah, no need to apologize, young lass,” Bangor replied while wiping off his tears from his reddened cheeks. “Besides, it was I who decided to face my fear and enter the ice palace. I’m satisfied enough to have seen the core of this palace. Whatever befalling us is a professional risk that we have to face. So, don’t worry about me, lass. I’ll be fine.”
“I hope so. Hmm… I just remembered. Since the guards are already gone, now the myriad of crystals that are lying around this palace are free to study and use.”
“Aye! You’re right! It seems that Tobar’s sacrifice won’t be in vain. I will sure to utilize every magical resource available here for the good of the whole world.” Bangor almost jumped in excitement. He then cleared his throat, again curling a simple, wide smile.
“All right then, Bangor. Well, see you again.” Maven bid farewell by waving her hand. Then she turned around.
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“Hey, wait! Where are your friends? You must need a guide to get out of here, right?” asked Bangor.
In order to be polite, Maven turned back. “Reyl, Sophia and Declan are still in the core chamber. You should help them. I still remember the way in here.” She pointed on her own forehead. “Besides, it’s about time for me part ways with them, to go to my own adventures and find my own destiny.”
“Whoa, I don’t understand whatever is going on here. So I can just say, may you get what you’re looking for, Mave.”
After saying “thank you”, Maven dashed to leave the good dwarf. She had a funny feeling that Bangor would live in prosperity from running the greatest magical crystal mines in Eastern Aurelia. He would become a role model in a success story through honesty.
==oOo==
Like she had boasted, about two hours later Maven had managed to reach the main gate of the palace. She exited the place on her quick feet. Her eyes never strayed from the scenery of the snowy forest before her. The dawn of the morning sun was reflected by the dew, snow and ice. Everything seemed to be glistering brightly. It didn’t seem to be any bird around, but the voices of other beasts could be heard from afar.
Maven kept walking toward the opposite way from the rising sun. She didn’t even reach five hundred steps before her feet and entire body suddenly felt painful. It seemed her body was pressuring her to rest. It was best to heed this ‘warning’, since this meant she was really very exhausted from almost endless chains of fights she had just gone through.
So Maven looked for the nearest large rock and then wiped the snow off it. She rested her body on it, with her own dirty, bloodstained mantle as the bed cover.
When Maven was resting, her mind wandered. The memories of her past surged in her mind like moving pictures.
Her childhood in the Saint Ambrosius Monastery.
Her friendship with Declan, the ‘big brother’.
Her training as a thief under the Viperwolves.
Her fight against Baron Croac le Toadt.
Her first encounter with Reyl.
Her journey across the continent with Reyl.
Her arrival in Lu Vazr that resulted in a heartbreak.
Her theft of Saint Ambrosius Rosary with Declan.
Her sorrow upon Father Nigel's sacrifice.
Her revenge against Calhoun and Theana.
Her hunt for Udmelekh, ‘The Fat Lady’.
Her motive to help a friend out of jealousy.
Her ended up saving the whole world.
Abruptly, an idea occurred to Maven to write down her extraordinary life story, as a memento of the harsh life that this sensitive girl had gone through.
When Maven's mind was pumped up to arrange word by word, suddenly a yell distracted her. “Maven! Ah, there you are. Thank goodness that you’re not already far away.”
Maven immediately looked back. She was baffled, with the steam coming out of her small nostrils. Before her stood a man with black hair with the handsome face she knew very well. Three other figures stood by his side.
“Reyl?” Open-mouthed, Maven couldn’t believe her own eyes. “Sophie, Declan and Mister Bangor too?”
“Yep, that’s us,” said Reyl softly, curling up his rare smile. “You didn’t expect us to catch up with you, did you? I have searched for you everywhere. Thank goodness my intuition was right. We followed you to the west and found you here. You left us without saying good-bye, Mave. At least give us a little courtesy by leaving us a note or something like last time.”