Itsuki quickly ran up the steps, holding Akeru, who looked embarrassed.

Akeru: Y-Y-You can put me down, you know!

Itsuki: Quiet…I barely got out of there; I had to do something!

Akeru: I get that, but I can walk just fine!

Itsuki: Just shut up; I see the top anyways.

Akeru: Oh heavens, you are not going to jump again, are you…?

Itsuki: Yep-

Akeru: Why do we have to jump constantly!? I hate this!

The two make it to the top to see that it was closed off to the outside. It was merely a viewing deck to look at the outside world. You couldn't even tell the see-through ice was surrounding it from the outside! Itsuki put down Akeru and looked around.

Akeru: Thank god…your ice hand was freezing me!

Itsuki: I can't thaw it out, I don't think…

Itsuki tried using Pyro on his frozen hand, but it didn't work.

???: Of course, you can't; my ice magic is too high to deal with at your level, boy!

The woman finally reached them. The two backed into a wall as they watched her slowly approach them.

Akeru: P-P-Please just let us live!

???: After you invaded my home? Why should I?

Itsuki: We were just trying to find clues to find this amulet's sibling!

???: Amulet's sibling?

The woman looked at Akeru's amulet and just stared at them, walking over to them and then grabbing the amulet, holding it in her hand. Akeru was white in the face, scared of her.

???: Where did you obtain this? Or will you not tell me that either?

Akeru: I-I-I-I-I don't know! I don't remember anything! I woke up with it!!

???: Intriguing…

The woman turned around and went down the stairs, leaving the two confused.

Itsuki: What just…

Akeru: H-Hey, wait!

Akeru chased after her back to the throne room as Itsuki followed her. The woman sat back on the throne, sipping a cup of tea.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Itsuki: W-What do you know about the-

???: Silence, boy, I didn't permit you to talk to me that way yet. Let me finish my tea.

Itsuki raised his eyebrow and tapped his foot, waiting for her as Akeru puffed her cheeks a bit at the woman wasting their time. The woman put her teacup on the table next to her and looked at the two.

???: The Amulets of Dawn and Dusk. That is what you are looking for…and what you have around your neck. How you obtained it is beyond me…

Akeru: Dawn and Dusk…

Itsuki: Those together would make Twilight…do you think Aurora is involved?

???: A name I haven't heard in centuries…how is dear old sister?

Akeru: So I was correct; you are a Witch!

???: The Ice Witch, Ci Yuki.

Itsuki: C-Ci? That's a lazy name…

Ci: Hold your tongue, boy; we do not get to choose the names we were born with! Anyways, I believe you are looking for the Dusk Amulet.

Akeru: So this one is the Dawn.

Itsuki: Makes sense…I mean, the jewel in the middle is orange like the dawn…

Akeru: Do you know where the Dusk Amulet is?!

Ci: I do not, nor do I care to look for it.

Itsuki: Is it not important?

Ci: Not to me…but I will ease your minds that my sister had nothing to do with this. I may dislike my siblings, but I will never lie.

Akeru:...Can you answer something for me? Why do you hate each other?

Ci: Even if I told you, you could never understand.

Akeru: I can try-!

An ice spear goes flying past her head as Ci looks outraged suddenly.

Ci: No one but a Witch will understand what happened that night! They couldn't!

Itsuki: Try us! It's bad enough we had to deal with three other Witches besides you-

Ci: Three others? Whom are you referring to?! Answer me now!

Akeru: Why are you so mad all of a sudden?!

Ci: Answer my question!

Itsuki: Cleo and uh…the Sky Witch, I think?

Ci: Cleo and Amani…good.

Ci looked slightly relieved as the two just looked at each other confused.

Ci: I told you what you need to know; I unthawed the door…please leave my tower and don't come back.

Akeru: B-But-

Itsuki dragged her away as Ci unthaws his hand. He takes her outside as the door closes and freezes behind them. Akeru breaks free and glares at him.

Akeru: Itsuki! Why did you do that for?!

Itsuki: It's clear that we won't get anything out of her.

Akeru: But I need to know-

Itsuki: We can ask Aurora when we get back; she seems like the only Witch that isn't a nutcase.

Akeru: That's what concerns me!

Itsuki: What do you mean?

Akeru: Why is Aurora the only one that doesn't seem to hate her sisters?! Why do the others fight one another to the death?! Not only that…why was she so concerned about which Witch we saw?

Itsuki: I get your concerns…but we need to find that amulet first-

Akeru: But we still have no leads! This island is enormous…we will be here forever looking.

Itsuki: Then we will take forever; we will find it. Now come on, let's search these buildings for any clues. Maybe there is another town with people in it somewhere here?

Akeru: Okay…

The two thawed out the buildings and split up, looking through everything they could. But, little did they know, Ci watched them from on top of her tower.

Ci: Aurora…who are these two? Did you send them here…no, she wouldn't want them to come to me. After all these years, I still don't understand…how you can't hold hatred in that heart of yours…

The two came back together after hours of searching. Akeru and Itsuki both looked exhausted as they had nothing in their hands.

Akeru: You find anything?

Itsuki: Nope…not even the tiniest hint. Maybe we really will be here forever.

Akeru: Damn…I can't even tell which way we came from; this whole island looks the same!

Ci: Then you require a guide.

The two turned around to see Ci behind them. Akeru and Itsuki back up a bit.

Itsuki: W-W-We didn't do anything this time!

Akeru: Y-Y-Yeah, you said just your tower! Oh god, are you mad about the buildings too?!

Ci: Relax…I do not wish to hurt you. I just wish to ask you something, did my sister send you here?

Akeru: No… we came on our own. She merely gave us shelter for a month and lent us resources to better our strengths.

Ci: So it is as I expected…very well then. Let us go.

Ci started walking in a direction as the two just stood there confused. Finally, Ci looked back at them.

Ci: Did I stutter? I know these lands better than anyone. So follow me, children.

Akeru: Itsuki…?

Itsuki: Yeah… let's go.

The two follow behind Ci as they leave the icy city, towards the island's west end, where they see an actual town in the distance.