The murmur of the brook Āṟṟal was heard like a sweet melody everywhere. The same happened to the place where the brook was located: it was magic, surrounded by secular trees, and greenness. Moreover, even though you had to cross some hilly paths to get to the brook, it was worth the effort, for, once got next to the crystalline water of the brook, you forgot about everything.

That is why Boor came that morning to the brook: to forget about the problems. Nevertheless, because Boor did not know the place very well, it seemed to him that he would get lost at one point. He did not get lost eventually, for even though the Rophion Forest seemed savage in certain places, it had its own magic and secrets, and one of those secrets was the magic wave felt on the skin while being in the woods. Namely, that magic wave led his footsteps towards the most beautiful places in the forest, especially to that hidden, savage, and magic place as Āṟṟal was.

Entirely covered by green moss and lianas, the brook’s bank was a tricky one, for even though, under those lianas and the moss, it was hard soil, with white stones, it was still slippery in certain places. It was because of the water that deeply entered the ground between the small stones, and even in the fallen leaves that were seen everywhere around the brook. Thus, permanently being in contact with the water and stepped on by the animals’feet that came to drink at the brook or of the Rophions that took water from there, those leaves were covered by mud, making them sticky. That is why it was easy to slip on them. Therefore, if the one who slipped on them was not attentive, he could break his bones eventually, rolling on the not high but slope brook’s bank.

Even so, the air that could be inhaled there was pure. That is why Boor smiled getting up, on the brook’s bank. Then, closing his eyes, he stood like this for a while, sniffing the horizon to see if it was good to breathe. Thus, feeling that he filled his chest with fresh air, he opened his eyes and, smiling, he said, „Yet, it is magnificent here. I missed such places, full of magic and beauty.”

Thus, too pleased by the surroundings, he did not pay attention to where he put his foot. Therefore, stepping on those sticky, wet leaves, he lost his foothold and slipped. Yet, he was not ready to fall and tried to keep his balance by leaning back and his foot hit the sharp edge of a stone eventually. The hit with the stone hurt like hell, but Boor only gnashed his teeth, happy that he did not fall. Then, straightening his back, he looked down, at that small waterfall formed by the brook’s water, which met a wall of white stones, about two meters in height, in its way. More than that, up, on that stall, Boor saw a thick trunk, of a fallen tree, put to the ground by time, and, crossing that brook, it formed a kind of natural bridge.

This made Boor smile again. It was because he was clearly seeing the roots of that fallen tree stretching to the water. Actually, they even entered the water, making that tree still seem alive and having its branches of a light brown color. Nevertheless, when Boor carefully looked at that trunk, he saw that the wood-boring drill in some places ate it. Probably because of this, a woodpecker sat eventually on the trunk. Then she started to hit it with her beak. Thus, she was trying to heal that „bridge” that was crossing the river and served as a path for many to cross Āṟṟal because, even though the brook’s water was not deep and it was easy to cross on foot, people and animals preferred the trunk to cross on it, just not to wet their feet.

„Now I understand the real meaning of this brook,” murmured Boor, seeing that fallen tree still sticking to life with its roots. „It’s because of the water, which is pure energy like its name is - Āṟṟal (energy.)” Then, looking around, he saw that that place was as the Rophions described it last night, for he found out about the brook from them while staying around that big pyre, late at night when the children went to sleep and the adults could tell stories only for them.

Eventually, when that stone, which he hit before, got out of its place because of the wet soil, Boor kept slipping on that slope more and more. Thus, bending to the left and to the right to keep his balance, God got to touch the brook’s water with his right foot eventually. Then the coldness of the water made him shudder, something strange in fact, for he was used to cold water and coldness while living in the Kingdom of Ice.

„Brr, it is cold that cuts to the bones. Nevertheless, it’s still pleasant,” said Boor. Then, moving his foot away from the water, he looked around. Thus, he saw a deer, on the water shore, somewhere to his left. Yet, it seemed strange that deer to him, for he thought that the animal was looking askance at him. That is why Boor frowned and asked the animal, „What? What is your problem with me? Didn’t you ever see people or what?”

The deer shook his head and bleated as if he answered Boor, „I have nothing against you, man, I was just watching.” After that, he shook his head again, moving his beautiful antlers. Then, looking at Boor once again, he bleated one more time.

„Yeah, yeah, I got it right from the beginning,” mumbled Boor. „No need to make fun of me.”

The animal, however, did not pay too much attention to Boor’s mumbling, for… that word - each of us with his demons. Instead of this, he preferred to approach the water and thirstily drink. Nevertheless, even though the animal left him alone, Boor kept staring at him, for something in the lazy movement of the deer was calming him down. That is why he squatted next to the water eventually and carefully looked at the lazy way the deer was drinking water with his pink tongue.

That laziness of the deer, which was all the time shaking his head while drinking, made Boor smile and kindly say this time, „Tasty, isn’t it?”

Yet, the deer was not too talkative and decided to ignore Boor. Then, after being tired of drinking, he simply showed his small tail to God while climbing that slope. Later, being already up that slope, he simply lazily moved away through the trees. This made Boor cook his nose, seeing that the animal did not look back even once. However, understanding how weird he was for being upset because a deer ignored him, Boor shook his head reproachfully. After that, he squatted next to the water again and drank.

Suddenly, he winced, hearing Dike’s laughter to his back. Looking over there, he saw the Titan not that far from him, supporting his body against a trunk. Dike, seeing Boor looking askance at him, said smiling, „No offense, but it had been really hilarious to see you drinking along with the deer and being upset because he ignored you.”

„Me? When? And… have you been there for long?”

„Of course. Right from the moment you tried to transform Meṉmai into your pet.”

„Meṉmai? Who is this? The deer?”

„Yep. Thus, seeing you so confused, I tell you one secret: Meṉmai, in the ancient language, means Kindness. His name is unusual like this deer in fact, for… he is magic. And… I think he is as old as this forest is.”

„Hey, take it easy, ok?! And use less that ax of cutting lies, Titan, for I’m not a child to believe this,” said Boor, offended. „And, if this isn’t a secret, where did you learn to lie so beautifully? Isn’t it from Ūḻal?”

Dike burst to laugh. Then, moving away from that trunk, he headed toward Boor, carefully stepping on that slope just as Meṉmai did. „I said to myself that you wouldn’t believe me. Actually, it is not something out of common. You have always been a skeptic. A big headache as the Rophions call those like you.”

„Yes, yes, if you say so. And you are the same Kindness, just like that Meṉmai. But… be as you wish. And… may I know what have you lost here? As far as I remember, you said this morning to leave you alone that you don’t want to see any brook.”

„Did I say that?” Dike asked, thunderstruck. „When? I don’t remember having said something like this.”

Hearing Dike justifying himself like a child, something difficult to believe actually, Boor slapped his forehead. Yet, touching the water with his foot again, he shuddered. Then, staring at Dike, he said, „Even seeing you here, I still think that you haven’t come here for me. So, tell me quickly: what plan do you have in mind?”

„Me… nothing. Bestla, instead, yes.”

„Bestla? And… may I know what has crossed that little troublemaker’s mind this time?”

„Nothing out of the ordinary. She just needs your help to enter Edda’s world.”

„Edda’s world? And, what did she lose there this time?”

„As I said: nothing out of the ordinary. She just wants to talk to her mother about Villō and how the witch has gotten to be a willow, for…,” he swallowed hard eventually when Boor yelled at him:

„You definitely lost your mind. All of you.”

„We? What did we do this time?” Dike asked, amazed.

„Nothing out of the ordinary,” Boor ironically replied. „You just look for the devil all over and you don’t even realize this. What? Cannot you stay calm, can you? You want to meet that old witch to break your bones. That’s why you try so much to get to that weird clearness.”

„So, you knew about this. And the story.”

„Right. A story that is a tragic one actually. So, tell me quickly where Bestla is, or I leave you without your head,” Boor hissed through his teeth, climbing that slope so fast as if climbing stairs. The speed he used for climbing that slope and more because his eyes were sparkling because of anger, made Dike look for shelter. Yet, it was not because of fear. Just to play a little with Boor. That is why he kept innocently looking at Boor, trying to make that one calm down, for he saw him ready to set fire to the entire world.

His „I’m still innocent” glance did not help Dike too much to calm Boor down. That one, getting in front of the Titan, stared into his eyes as though he was the cat that caught the mouse into her paws. Then, he hissed through his teeth, „Where is Bestla, Dike? Don’t tell me that’s with Villō right now.”

„Yes, but I don’t understand why you are so angry. They are safe there. Samaya is with her.”

Dike’s words made Boor angry, for he definitely could not understand Titan’s foolishness to trust others. Thus, to show Dike that he was mad, Boor squeezed his fists and the sky crackled in four. Namely, this made Dike understand that it was a bad sign. That is why he innocently asked. „Don’t you also think so?”

„Of course not, Dike, for Villō is a real danger.”

„She’s only a willow,” said Dike, confused, scratching the back of his head. „I don’t understand what she can do now that she…”

„Of course, she can, for even though Villō is inside that willow, she’s still powerful. Actually, do you know over whom Villō has power? Over that one who has closed her there. Over Bestla, actually.”

„Wait a minute, Bestla? Do you mean that Bestla is who…?”

„Yes,” Boor hissed through his teeth. „Being only a child, Villō kidnapped Bestla intending to take her power. Even so, Villō did not make it. Eventually, Bestla, with Yahon’s help, closed that witch inside the willow. Yet, they could not take her power and Villō cursed her to find peace only after releasing her. That is why I say that Villō is a danger. So, let’s go there as quickly as we can before we’ll cry forever seeing our daughters transformed into crying willows.”

***

Crossing the forest in the mad gallop of the horses, Dike and Boor felt their souls set on fire. How not to be this way when their daughters, their blood, in fact, were in danger? More than Boor, Dike was blaming himself for his foolishness of trusting others and leaving Bestla and Samaya at Villō’s mercy, who had been so cunning that managed to deceive namely him, even though she needed two decades for reaching that goal, of bringing Bestla back to the place where she had transformed the witch into a willow. In addition, because of the same fire felt in Boor and Dike’s hearts, their horses, black-like pitch, Shinar and Tūfon, were galloping like mad souls, feeling the danger close.

Even so, even though the horse under him was galloping like a crazy soul, Dike was still spurring him, for he knew the power of that rouncy, more when he was worried. Boor did the same as Dike. Yet, while spurring Tūfon, Boor was seeing, in front of his eyes, fragments of the day Bestla, who was four years old at that time, returned to the palace with her clothes and hands stained with blood while her blue eyes were whirling. Seeing his daughter’s eyes, Boor went crazy, for he thought that his daughter was possessed.

Nevertheless, descending the stairs and taking her into his arms, he calmed down, feeling no black energy flowing through her veins. Even so, he asked her, scared, „What happened to you, Bestla? Why are you shaking like that?” His shout brought Island and Inlan Diar out of the palace.

Looking at them and seeing no more danger around, Bestla’s eyes slowly got their usual color, the one of a clear sky. Then, she started to cry. Later, with her little arms around her father’s neck, she whispered into his ear, „They came back, papa! I saw them again!”

„Whom, Bestla? Whom did you see again?” Boor asked her, even more scared.

„The demons. Uncle Ahi’s demons. They escaped from mummy’s world. And, today, they took me on their back and took me away from here.”

Those words, even though innocently said to him, made Boor’s heart stop for a few seconds. Then, he looked at Island. The Titan, understanding what his son wanted from him, approached him and took Bestla into his arms. After that, he whispered to Boor, „Go and check what happened. I’ll take care of her.”

Yet, even though Boor checked the entire Realms of Ice that day, he did not find anything strange. Much later only, while riding on Tūfon’s back when he allowed the horse to take him wherever he wanted for he just wanted to stay on him with his eyes closed, Tūfon brought Boor to that clearing and he saw that crying willow that was whispering her name. Thus, he finally understood that Bestla cursed and closed that witch inside that willow. Nevertheless, besides hearing her whispering her name, Boor also heard her curse, „Ah, you, child, with eyes like the summer sky, to always cry for your destiny. To be always alone and to never find love just as I will not ever freely wander this earth. However, if you want to be free again, you should come to this clearing and release me first. Only after that, you will feel freedom flowing through your veins again. Before that, I wish you to forget me and my name, for only this way I can deceive Fate and bring the world to its knees.”

Hearing that curse, Boor spurred Tūfon and they turned back to the Icy Palace. There, he told Island and Inland Diar what he heard in that clearing. Then, the three of them decided not to allow Villō to use her power and curse the child’s destiny. For that, they „froze” Bestla’s memories before Villō’s curse could influence the girl’s destiny. However, what they never took into account were the consequences: ignoring Fate, they made it turn its back on them, and what they feared the most was about to happen.

***

„Bestla, behind you!” Samaya shouted. However, when Bestla turned and looked where her friend told her to look, she saw in amazement the branches, which she cut from the willow with her sword, Villō’s branches, slithering toward her. That is why she threw both swords toward those snake-branches, intending to form the famous icy cube around her to protect her. The swords, however, hit other swords eventually, thrown toward her by Villō. Thus, cut into two, Bestla’s swords touched the ground as water drops.

Yet, when the water drops touched those snake-branches that were slithering toward her, threatening to wrap around her body, they gave more power to them and the branches increased their speed. That is why Bestla turned her back on them and started to run toward Samaya, thinking that by getting next to her friend, they would be able to join their power and freeze that place. Nevertheless, after a few steps, she felt a strange burning on her back, as though a whip touched her: it was because of those branches, which suddenly formed a knot and hit her, squeezed by the invisible hand of the witch.

That hit made Bestla sigh, feeling big pain all over her body. Then she stopped and closed her eyes, trying to chase the buzz away from her ears. Yet, it had been her mistake, for, the moment she opened her eyes again, she saw herself surrounded by those branches that were dizzily moving around her, tightening the circle more and more.

Scared, Bestla looked at Samaya, trying to ask her for help. Yet, she saw Samaya looking as though she was frozen. Thus, she understood that the last help was gone, and her eyes filled with tears, understanding this.

Eventually, she closed her eyes again and allowed Fate to do whatever it wanted to do with her. She had not the power to do something else or to oppose it at that moment. Thus, the willow’s branches wrapped around her more and more. Then, tied around Bestla’s body, they lifted her in the air and let her float two meters above the ground.

Nevertheless, it was strange, for, so suddenly, Bestla felt that it was so warm on her soul. Even her eyes had cleared of tears and she could see the sky. Yet, it was not dark as she had seen it before, but it was clear and beautiful as though the golden rays of the sun bathed it. That is why she smiled and said, „I thought that I wouldn’t see it again looking this way, so blue, so clear.” After that, feeling her eyelids so heavy, Bestla closed her eyes again.

She opened them so suddenly, remembering something she thought she had forgotten. It was a memory from her far away past, when she was only four and was playing in the yard, in front of the palace. She was happy then, for it was a sunny day and the sky was so blue, just like her eyes were blue and clear at that time.

That day, while playing, she saw a beautiful white butterfly, something she had never seen before. That is why she found it interesting and smiled. Then, when she saw the butterfly going away from her, she stood up and followed him. She was not at all scared following him and moving away from the palace, for she did not realize that she was going so far from her home that day. Actually, it was strange because nobody saw her leaving that day. Not even the guards.

Nevertheless, right after crossing the border of the Realms of Ice, the girl stopped. She stopped when she felt the fear sneaking into her chest. She had why to fear in fact, for, right in front of her, Bestla saw those six demons, which she transformed in smoke and swallowed through those ink eyes into Edda’s world a year ago. Yet, at that moment, they were all six in front of her, only a few steps from her, devilishly grinning.

Screaming, the girl withdrew, intending to get to sure land again and shelter. Yet, after two steps only, she hit something with her back. It was so cold what she touched, with her back and with her small palms, too. What she touched, she did not know actually. That is why she turned and looked at what was blocking her passing, afraid.

Thus, she saw a big mirror at the border of her country. Yet, it was not a mirror created by her. That is why she could not pass through it. Something strange in her opinion, for she could clearly see through it. That time, she saw the soldiers looking at her. Yet, they looked as though they did not see her. Even so, she shouted, asking them for help. Yet, they did not move. They looked like alive statues and this made her understand that they fell prey to a spell. That does why, terrified, the child started to hit that mirror with her small fists, asking for help.

Nevertheless, everything was so strange. More when she realized that she was unable to hear her own voice. That is why she stopped hitting that mirror and looked around to see why it was so strange there. Thus, she saw that white butterfly flapping his wings right in front of her, above those six demons that were still staying in the same place, grinning and rubbing their palms while watching the child. Yet, even though that image was not something out of the ordinary or something she had never seen before, the child winced. More when she heard a woman’s voice that talked to her with hatred, „Now you are in my paws, monster-child. Moreover, you will not escape from here. Only dead.” Then, right in front of the child, the butterfly turned into the witch Villō.

The moment Villō appeared in front of the child as she really was, she smiled: devilishly, but smiled. Yet, that smile did not impress Bestla. She only made the child frown, for she really disliked that woman that looked about 35 and that was weirdly staring at her.

Actually, it was not strange that the child disliked Villō, for even though she was beautiful, her beauty was a product of Black Magic, for she was 300 years old at that moment. In fact, Villō managed to keep her beauty by „sucking” the youth from the Virgins’bodies, who she was cunningly making to get to isolated places where she was taking what she wanted from them, secretly. Thus, nobody ever found out about the witch’s mean deeds.

In time, however, Villō’s trickery stopped helping her. Thus, feeling that she could not keep her youth and power anymore with the help of the Virgins, she started to hunt children, thinking that this way she would get the immortality she always wanted.

Thus, because she was feeding her power with the Innocence of the children, Villō had a dream. That dream, however, did not warn her about something evil that would happen to her. On the contrary, it was like good advice from Fate about how to get Eternal Life, just as she wanted. More than that, in that dream, Villō saw herself sucking a huge power only by watching two blue eyes, two crystal eyes, of a child born in the Realm of Ice. That is why she started to watch the border, hoping that she would see that child one day and would have what she always wanted: Immortality.

What she never knew was who actually sent that dream to her. Even so, even though she had no idea that she fell prey to Ahi’s spell, Villō kept looking for that child with crystal eyes, completely blinded to get more power. Thus, to be sure of her success, for she saw the six demons the girl destroyed by swallowing them through the ink eye, Villō created six similar demons, and this only to deceive that girl and make her fear her.

Then, day after day, Villō stood, not that far from Inlan Diar’s kingdom, and waited. Yet, to be sure, that nobody would see her and would not warn the Titans, she took the form of a white butterfly. Having the form of this butterfly already, the witch found in amazement that she could also cross the border. Then, understanding this, she crossed the border, looked for the girl, and then decoyed her out of the Realms of Ice.

Doing this, Villō was happy. More, seeing the terror in Bestla’s eyes. Even so, the girl did not cry or sob as the witch expected a four years old girl would do. On the contrary, Bestla kept staring at Villō while that one was laughing like a mad person, making the surroundings shake in fear.

Nevertheless, things changed for the girl the moment she saw the six demons heading toward her: she started to shake with all her body. This was strange because when they attacked her, a year ago, she did not even blink. At that moment, however, she was shaking like any terrified child and this was undoubtedly the product of Villō’s spell, which managed to weaken the Barrier of protection from Bestla’s soul.

However, when Villō kept silent, the girl looked at her again. Thus, staring at the witch, Bestla saw her bending toward her while moving her head from one side to another. Then, looking straight into the girl’s eyes, she grinned and, somehow licking her lips, she demanded the demons, „Take her!” Yet, her voice was so soft, something that could deceive anybody.

It did not deceive Bestla, however, for she understood that it was only a trick. That is why she stared at the demons and saw them pouncing on her. Therefore, terrified, Bestla covered her face with her arms, trying to protect herself as she could.

Yet, to her great surprise, the demons did not hurt her. They only grabbed her by the arms and climbed her on the back of one of them. After that, on both parts of that demon, they started to run away from the border, taking the girl away from there, as fast as they could, while Villō, climbed on a magic flying stick, standing, followed them about three meters above the ground. Yet, while moving away, Villō did not stay still: she kept throwing gray dust behind them. That dust was erasing their footprints and smell, just to be sure that nobody would ever find them.

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Thus, running like desperate people, the six demons and Villō got to the Glade of Ahilar. Why there? She was not that sure. She only saw that place in her dreams and thought that it was because of the „prophecy” Fate decided for her.

Nevertheless, right after crossing the border of that glade, Villō fell off her stick, thrown away by someone’s power, a bigger power than hers. Thus, hitting the ground, she rolled a few meters away while her „modern flying broom” fell on the ground like any normal stick. This way, when their „mummy” kissed the ground, the demons also stopped. Their hooves even slipped on the ground, as if someone tripped them. Therefore, slipping about two-three meters in front, a kind of unpleasant creak deafeningly resounded around.

Even so, even though the impact was an impressive one, Bestla kept staying on that demon’s back, and this happened because, terrified, she grabbed his fur with both hands and squeezed it. She did not even open her eyes when they stopped, being too scared. Bestla only squeezed that fur more, making the demon feel a great pain all over his body, something that made him unpleasantly grin at her. Yet, having her eyes closed, Bestla did not see him.

The demon, however, felt that the grinning was not enough and tried to slap the girl to throw her off his back. Yet, the moment Villō, who was on all four at that moment, trying to stand up, shouted at him, „Don’t even dare do that!” the demon painfully yelped and… stood still.

Villō, however, even though she saw the hatred in the demon’s eyes, did not punish him, as he deserved. She only stared with hatred at the Ahilar’s tree, which started to outline its shape not that far from them. Actually, she did not lose sight of it because she saw that the Ahilar had an unusual shape at that moment and not the one she knew. It was strange. More, when she saw, instead of the tree, a Spirit sitting on his throne, burnt in places. This made Villō frown and she eventually stood up. She was outraged, for she noticed that Ahilar was staring at Bestla. Moreover, when she heard him deliriously whispering, „What a pleasant surprise!”

„Do you say so?!” Villō hissed through her teeth, stepping in front of the child and hiding her from his eyes, considering Bestla only her prey. Yet, seeing Ahilar standing up from his throne, also outraged, and forming his famous black with red stripes sphere above his left palm, Villō shouted again, „Don’t even dare to use your power to have the girl, Ahilar.”

„Or what? Will you fight with me for her?” Ahilar said in mockery.

Villō, however, laughed. Something that made Ahilar attentive. He even looked askance at her, wondering what she was planning. Yet, he had to wait for a long while, for, only after minutes of „agony,” Villō told him, „I have something better against you than fighting with you. Moreover, I say that the best punishment for you will be to feel the flames slowly eating your body, just as it happened when you swallowed her grandmother… Curse.” Then, laughing like a mad person, Villō formed, above her palms, two fireballs. Yet, she stopped laughing when she saw Ahilar yawning: he was bored.

More than that, while sitting on his wooden throne again, still yawning, Ahilar said, „You can try if you can.”

It was Villō’s time to be attentive. This was because she had known Ahilar for a long time. In addition, she knew what he could do when he was mad. Even so, she decided that the best defense was the attack. That is why she threw her fireballs so suddenly toward Ahilar.

The fireballs, however, controlled by Ahilar in a strange way, changed their direction and hit two of the demons eventually. They, feeling the fire burning their skin, started to yelp like desperate people. Thus, afraid, the one, on whose back Bestla was, finally threw her off his back, intending to run away just to stay alive. Yet, he did not get too far from there, for he right away stuck his nose in a transparent wall. Then, yelping, he started to hit that wall with his fists, trying to escape.

From there, however, nobody could escape. The same happened to Bestla, who finally opened her eyes and, afraid, looked around after she went head over heels a few meters when he threw her off his back. Then, finally realizing what happened, she looked around and saw the demon, on whose back she got there, hitting the wall, two trying to extinguish the flames from their fur, while three of them were staring at both Ahilar and Villō, trying to avoid the fireballs.

The child winced eventually and stared at Villō when she screamed like a mad person, „Damn you, Ahilar!” This happened because she saw him blowing air to extinguish the small smoke from his palms. „You are always pissing me off, Ahilar. Actually, I have you stuck in my throat. So, tell me: for how long will you still poke your nose in my businesses?”

„What do I know?!” Ahilar replied, bored. „For a while, maybe. Or, you can get rid of me by giving me what you brought with you.” Then he pointed with his head toward the girl.

This made Villō burst laughing again, „Well, you can whistle for it! Not for nothing I had worked so many days to allow you to take advantage of my work.”

„Then, my dear, you won’t ever get rid of me,” Ahilar told her in mockery. „And… I think that you will not ever go away from here, too, for… the child… who you protect so much… has brought you into the perfect trap. Just as I like: well done for frying on the grill.” Then, to rub salt on Villō’s wounds, he blew some sparkles from the blackened nail of one of his middle fingers.

The witch, however, even though she was outraged seeing how much shamelessness could be in a „tree,” looked askance at him at first. After that, she told him, „And… what happens if I really escape from here?”

This time it was Ahilar’s turn to be attentive. More seeing her grinning. Then, to be beyond all doubt, he asked, „May I know what are you planning this time?”

„Of course,” Villō replied, extremely serious this time. „I won’t hide from a convict that he’s about to die.”

Catching the witch’s glance somewhere past him, Ahilar looked to his right. However, before seeing something, he gasped when the blade of a dagger deeply bit from his right shoulder, closer to the neck. Eventually, even though he saw who was hurting him and was trying not to allow Ahi to kill him, Ahilar could not do anything else than shake with all his body.

Actually, he had a reason to shake, for Ahi, while saying, „Do you really think that I’ve created you just to allow you to become even more powerful than I am?” sent a kind of fire energy through the wound and Ahilar started to melt. Even so, Ahi’s hatred did not decrease. On the contrary, it seemed to increase more and more, for he put some venom in his words while saying, „Of course not, my dear! You appeared in this world to be my sweet revenge on Island! That is all! So, do not dream to grow more than you can, Ahilar, or you can be burned to the ground eventually. Moreover, think better about what you are doing! If not, you can find out what Ahi, the Mago of the Black Stones, can do.” With hatred, Ahi took the dagger out of the wound and Ahilar fell to his knees. Then, Ahi looked at Villō and told her, „You are free to go now! Alone!”

„This is what you think!” Villō madly shouted. After that, she started to throw fireballs toward him and he turned them back to her. However, while fighting with the Mago, none of them noticed when Bestla vanished from where she was when a kind of magic air current, almost transparent, surrounded her.

Nevertheless, even though Ahi and Villō did not notice that Bestla vanished, the demons did. That is why they started to lament, seeing those fireballs flying here and there, forcing them to lay back, jump, squat, or lay on the ground just not to be hit. At one moment, all of them even gathered in one place as though something secretly called them there. Thus, when they were all together and telling their pain to the others through cries, they understood that the punishment only started for them when a black net, thrown over them from nowhere, caught them like in a sack. After that, the net started to burn and extinguished only seeing those six demons turn to black dust, blown later by the wind.

The moment he understood that staying in place is a bad hint for him and that he could end like the demons, Ahilar took the throne on his shoulder and vanished. Behind him, only a few sparkles were still seen floating in the air. Yet, the sparkles did not extinguish eventually, but gathered in one place, formed a sphere, and, after that, as though it was a missile, it threw itself toward Ahi.

Thus, hitting Ahi’s back, the sphere threw the Mago toward Villō. Yet, he did not hit her because, seeing him flying toward her, the witch vanished from where she was. That is why, having nothing else to hit, Ahi kissed the glass wall of that cube eventually. Then, outraged, hissed through his teeth, „Damn you, Ahilar!” while slipping on that wall.

Yet, Ahi did not stay on his knees and cried his pain for long, for Villō, thinking that she won, started to laugh like a mad person. She even started to tease Ahi with acid remarks, „Now, do you understand how stupid you have been, Mago Ahi? Growing a snake means dying because of its venom. So, if you don’t want to hear your bones cracking because of me eventually, get lost from here while you still can do that.”

Eventually, she suffered the same shame Ahi suffered when a black sphere hit her stomach. That is why she touched the wall with her back in the end. However, even though she thought that Ahi threw that sphere, she was wrong because it was not his credit. At the same time, the Mago was not he the one who punished her for talking too much. Thus, slipping on that wall, Villō touched the ground with her butt eventually, seeing different birds flying in circles in front of her, something that made her smile like a dement.

Thus, while she heard those birds singing, Ahi had time to stand up. Then, moving his head to the left and to the right, he chased the pain away. After that, using the power of his right hand, he made the witch’s stick come to him. Later, at a slow step, while hissing through his teeth, „Damn you all, idiots! I fed you and protected you just to feel the bite of your teeth on my skin,” he headed toward her. Then… he hit.

Villō, however, as though protected by Fate itself, came to her senses just in time. Thus, seeing her stick almost kissing her back, she bent to the right and the stick hit the air. Ahi, seeing this, did not give up and hit to the right. Yet, he did not manage to hit Villō eventually. This happened because she was jumping, snapping her fingers to appear and disappear, laying on her back, and so on, and the fact that he could not teach her some manners made Ahi roar like a desperate man eventually.

Nevertheless, when he was about to set fire to that place just to erase Villō from the earth’s surface, Ahi suddenly stopped, feeling a strange vibration of that transparent cube inside of which they were. Not knowing who was to blame for that miracle, he stared at Villō. She, however, was as scared as he was, looking to the left and to the right to see who was controlling the cube. Yet… they saw nobody there. That is why she looked at Ahi eventually and, scared, she shouted, „Stop this! It’s not funny at all!”

„I do nothing!” Ahi also shouted. „I thought you did!”

„Why should I do something like this?” Villō hissed through her teeth. „I am not stupid to die here. So, if you consider yourself so powerful, the Mago of the Black Stones, do something and stop this cube shaking!”

Her stupidity made Ahi furious, for how was it possible that she did not understand such a simple thing? If a glass cube or an icy one was shaking, it meant only one thing: they were moving through time and space, and, eventually, someone was paying with his life. Who exactly?! He just hoped not to be him. That is why he decided to keep silent and wait to see where the cube was taking them. Then, once there, to make sure that he saves himself.

That cube, however, seemed not to stop shaking. More than that, at a moment, he started to spin, and so fast actually, that Ahi and Villō flew left and right as though they were toys in a washing machine. That is why they started to scream like mad people, understanding that their death was close. They even embraced each other eventually when that cube threw them one into another. Then… they simply fell, still hugging each other, when the cube stopped.

However, the two seemed not to realize this. They only cried and asked for mercy, feeling pain all over their body. Eventually, seeing themselves hugging each other, they moved toward different corners, growling at the other one like two dogs that were about to fight. Yet, they had to let the fight for later when they noticed that the upper face of that cube separated from the rest of the cube and then vanished like smoke while the other faces fell apart, breaking into pieces right in front of them.

„This is real madness!” Murmured Villō, thunderstruck, staring at Ahi. „Your job?”

„No. I thought that was your fault!”

„Why me? Do you really think I can control this cube?” Yet, noticing that Ahi was looking to the right, she also looked there and saw Bestla, staring at the two while playing with the famous gelatin. That is why Villō hissed through her teeth, „Now I understand who is to blame for destroying this cube! Of course, how couldn’t I think about this before?! Only the creator could destroy it! Ah, you damn child! Let me have you in my hands and I’ll show you what it feels to be like a stone in a cauldron that spins.” Outraged, she stood up, intending to approach Bestla.

She fell on her stomach eventually when Ahi pounced on her and, grabbing her by the left leg, he pulled her with all his forces toward him. Thus, the witch lost her balance and fell. Yet, even though Ahi did this intending to be the first one to get the girl, a stick hit the back of his head and forced him to kneel. Staring back, he saw that it was Villō, who used her power to control that stick. Then, the two did whatever they could to impede the other one to get the girl.

Eventually, they had to calm down when they finally understood where they actually were: on a kind of barren soil, in a clearing in the middle of the forest. In addition, on that barren soil, ashes were seen everywhere, and later, gray feathers started to fall from the sky, right over them.

That is why Villō shouted at Ahi, „Stop fooling around!”

„It’s not me!”

„And who if not you? The girl?” However, they both looked at Bestla and saw that she was not alone there: someone was standing in front of her, with his back to them, someone wearing a long white robe. „And this one? Who the hell is this one?” Villō hissed through her teeth. Yet, she was afraid.

Eventually, Villō looked at Ahi, feeling him staring at her. She even grinned unsatisfied when he told her in mockery, „You can go and ask if you are so curious to find out.”

„I’m not that curious, actually,” growled Villō. „Yet… I heard that you are a very curious person. So, what about trying to see who is about to have our prey?” She teased him. Then she tried to push him toward the girl and the stranger.

They calmed down in the end when they heard an eagle’s shout above them. It was curious how an eagle could be there, for that place, where they were at that moment, seemed to be from a different world. Even so, Ahi, who seemed to think faster than the witch, told himself that if there was life above them it meant that they could return to the real world. That is why he jumped the moment Villō, who kept staring up, looking for the eagle, released his robe. Yet, the moment he thought he was out of danger, Ahi hit his head on a transparent ceiling. It hurt like hell, for he had risen up with speed. This made him gnash his teeth. Yet, he kept floating in the air, touching the ceiling and trying to find a gate to escape. Nevertheless, touching the entire ceiling, each millimeter of it, in fact, he did not find a gate. This made him furiously hiss through his teeth, „Another cube! How the hell does that little dwarf manage to create cube after cube?” Yet, understanding that, otherwise, he will not find out, he looked at the girl.

He could not see her at that time because of that stranger that was in front of her. Yet, he looked at Villō eventually when he noticed that an invisible force dragged her toward the place where Bestla and the stranger were. Even so, the witch did not get to their feet but stopped moving about one meter from them. This made Ahi turn toward them and carefully look at them when he understood that there would be more surprises. He was actually right, for, the moment Villō looked up, at that stranger’s face and at Bestla, she and Ahi saw that the place, where the three were, was not covered by feathers, but by white snow: they were on the top of the mountain.

„This is really what I call a devilish thing!” Murmured Ahi, amazed. Then he rubbed his eyes and looked again toward that white place. Yet, he saw the same snowy mountain ridge and the three staring at each other.

Villō, however, unlike Ahi, who was curiously looking at them as though watching a theater play, understood that what was happening to her at that moment was not a joke. That is why she carefully looked at that stranger’s face and sweetly asked, smiling, „Who are you, mister?” Yet, even though her voice was sweet, her words felt as though greased with venom, for, while innocently looking at that stranger, who she didn’t know, but who was Yahon in fact, she formed a dagger in her hand: a dagger with a blade in a zigzag form and with a red handle. Nevertheless, she kept it hidden under the tails of her dress at first.

Then, while smiling like a dement, staring into Yahon’s eyes, who was also staring at her but with empty eyes, Villō tried to stab the child’s chest with the dagger. She yelled in pain eventually when she felt something squeezing her hand. That is why she took her hand from under her dress, still squeezing the handle of the dagger, which she saw completely covered by a blue icy cloth, which was making her feel pain in fact. Therefore, because of that blue cloth, her hand was shaking like hell. Even so, she found the strength to look at the girl and saw that her eyes were not blue anymore but whirling at that moment.

Yet, the moment she saw Bestla looking at Yahon, Villō also looked at him. Thus, she saw that that stranger had the same eye color as Bestla. That is why Villō asked him in a shaking voice, „Yet, who the hell are you?”

„Me?” Murmured Yahon, smiling. „Only… a traveler.”

Even so, even though those words didn’t tell Villō too much, Ahi devilish smiled, understanding their meaning, and whispered, „Yahon again. Interesting: what does he want to do this time?”

He became attentive hearing Yahon’s voice in his left ear, even though Yahon kept standing in the same place, staring at Villō, without moving his lips, „Nothing strange, Ahi. I only try to teach you a lesson because I see that you have not learned the previous one. Just as you haven't understood that you can’t defeat me or hurt the one I protect.”

Ahi grinned again, „At least I tried. More than that: I caused you trouble today. So, I’m happy.”

„Of course, you tried: not to drown like the rats. Nevertheless, I do not really have time for you right now. So, just stay still and watch! I hope you will learn the lesson today and stay away from this child later.”

„If you say so!” Ahi told him in mockery. After that, he took a comfortable position, still floating in the air, with his arms crossed over his chest and crossed-legged.

This, however, was not something interesting for Yahon. He only kept staring at Villō, who was screaming in pain and released the dagger, not being able to handle the pain anymore. Then, understanding that it was time to give up and go away from there, she started to crawl as far as possible from the two.

She stopped eventually when she heard Yahon’s voice, „The cowards always run, old witch. Just as you are doing: you are leaving the boat that’s sinking.”

„I’m just giving up! Moreover, I accept that I lost. That’s all!” Mumbled Villō without watching him. „Now that we have accepted our faults, I think it’s time to go away.” Then she stood up and started to run.

Yet, she did not get too further, for she right away felt something wrapping around her waist. Then she felt something pulling her back, something that made her unable to keep her balance. That is why she fell on her stomach again when she tried to bend and keep her balance. Then, she saw, in amazement, that she was in the same place as before after that something dragged her back. However, even though she was curious to find out how the stranger managed to drag her back, she was still afraid to look at him.

Eventually, she looked to her left when she saw that she was not moving anymore. Thus, she saw blue air currents moving above Bestla’s palm that were forming two ropes about ten centimeters, which were actually heading toward her. Thus, confused, she looked at her waist and saw that those ropes were wrapped around her, and they felt strange while moving around her body. This made her shout, furious, „Damn you, puppy! How did you dare, a…?”

„Quiet!” Yahon shouted. This made Villō look askance at him, a hint that she disliked that he silenced her. Yet, she kept silent, seeing Yahon squatting not that far from her. After that, staring into her eyes, he told her, „It is over, old witch! So, stop struggling so much!”

This made Villō shake like hell eventually, even though she was not aware of why she was shaking. Yet, she kept staring into Yahon’s whirling eyes as though he was charming her. Then, barely heard, she asked, „Is it over? What exactly?”

„Your life!” Yahon replied in a murmur. He was really controlling Villō somehow, for even though the power of his eyes was not something visible, he was sending his demand through them. Therefore, so soon, they turned from dark brown to a kind of unclear blue. „Just as you pay today for old sins, Villō, those made while dreaming about immortality, when you hurt many souls.”

„I only tried to stay alive,” murmured Villō unwillingly. „I… only wanted to live.”

„Just like all those who your greed killed,” Yahon hissed through his teeth. „Yet, even though they don’t have any other chance to see the sun, you’ll still have one.”

„Chance? What chance?”

Yahon, however, did not answer her right away. He just kept moving toward her, pushed from behind by his power. Then, being next to Villō, he whispered into her right ear, „You will see! Don’t rush or you’ll lose all the fun!” After that, he looked at Bestla and told her, „Cover your eyes, princess, with blue eyes, for what comes next, your innocent eyes don’t have to see ever. Also, whatever you hear, do not open them! Did you understand me?”

Bestla said nothing. She only nodded, a hint that she understood. Then, finishing to form those blue air currents, which controlled Villō, currents that suddenly vanished, also releasing the witch’s waist, allowing her to breathe, the girl covered her eyes with her palms. Later, she even sat down on the snow.

At that moment, seeing that the girl had her eyes closed, Yahon pulled that dagger with a red handle toward him. Then, squeezing the handle in his right hand, he stabbed it into the witch’s chest. Only then, Villō painfully sighed. After that, while her life was leaving her, the witch’s eyes slowly cleared and she could so clearly see the sky. Then she smiled, for… that blue sky was the last testimony that she lived on that earth once. After that, closing her eyes, she powerlessly fell on the snow.

Seeing her almost dead, Yahon stood up, approached Bestla, and took her in his arms. Feeling him next to her, Bestla hid her face by touching his chest. This made Yahon smile and he kindly told her, „Don’t be scared, princess Bestla. It’s over now!”

Trusting his kind voice, Bestla looked at Yahon first. Then she looked at Villō. Seeing the witch’s white face, she asked the Spirit, „Is she sleeping?”

„Yes!” Yahon murmured into the girl’s ear. „Like a charmed princess. Thus, as the charmed princesses sleep only in a palace, I say to build one for her, too. What do you say: can you help me with this?”

Bestla watched him for a while. Then, seeing that Yahon’s eyes turned clear blue again, she smiled, „Of course,” she said. That is why the Spirit put her down, and Bestla approached Villō. Thus, next to the witch, the girl formed that ink eye on her palms again, just as she turned Edda into a river. Yet, even though she was only a child, she knew that she should not close the witch in the same place as her mother. That is why she told Yahon, „I think that the evil princesses must be closed in a different kind of palace. Don’t you think so, Yahon?”

„You are right. But… in what kind of palace should we close her?”

„In one from where she mustn’t ever escape,” the girl murmured. „Thus, as she always wanted to be beautiful, I say to allow her to always see her face. That is why I’ll turn her into a willow, to always watch her face in the water of her soul.” After that, stretching her arms toward Villō, palms facing the witch, she allowed that ink eye to send a kind of weird energy toward Villō, an energy that liquefied her, just as the demons vanished a year ago. Yet, that „liquid” did not enter the ink eye, but moved through the air, forming the willow and the river later, the place where Villō should live forever, for she dreamt about immortality.

Then, forming what she promised, Bestla turned to Yahon. He was not alone there but along with a white pony that was next to him. That is why the girl laughed seeing the animal, „Where did he come from?”

„From the palace, of course, for… princess Bestla, I think it’s time to return home.”

„What about you?”

„Me? I will catch up with you! I still have something to do here,” murmured Yahon, staring at Ahi, who was in the same place. Yet, Ahi did not look at them but at the willow and at the river that appeared there from nowhere. Thus, he did not see Yahon putting Bestla on the pony’s back, who passed through the cube’s wall, leaving the snowy ridge behind him and heading at a slow step toward the Realms of Ice.

Yahon instead, seeing that Bestla was already far away from there and couldn’t hear him anymore, turned toward Villō, the willow, and hissed through his teeth, „To never find peace, Villō, and to always cry for your cursed fate, for the evil that dreamt about immortality, just as you did, couldn't rest in peace ever.” Then, suddenly moving his hand toward his chest, he took the dagger out of the willow’s trunk, for, after stabbing the witch, the dagger hid in Villō’s chest. After that, when he squeezed the dagger in his hand, his clothes and hands sullied with blood. Miraculously, the same happened to Bestla, and her whirling eyes, staring at the red hands, suddenly filled with tears.

Not the same happened to Yahon, he did not cry. He only looked at the dagger and turned it into ashes while listening to Villō’s cry. This made him smile. Then, looking at Ahi, he said, „You are free today, Ahi, for I think that the earth has seen enough suffering today. Yet, remember this: don’t ever approach the girl again or try to hurt her or I swear that you’ll have a crueler fate than Villō had, for this world always looks for justice and makes it with its own hands.” After that, Yahon simply turned his back to Ahi and moved away on that snowy mountain ridge.

Doing this, he did not see that, behind him, the barren soil, covered by ashes and gray feathers, suddenly covered with tall soft grass. More than that, there were multicolored flowers in that tall grass. Yet, even though Yahon did not see it, Ahi saw it. This made him smile and murmured, „Yahon is right! This world really looks for justice and makes it with its own hands.” After that, closing his eyes, he also vanished.

Only Villō remained there to cry her pain. Her cry, however, was not heard even by the wind. Yet, even though she was seeing the birds flying in the height of the sky, they did not see her. That is why Villō finally understood that she was a captive there. Forever.

***

Painfully sighing, Samaya looked at the sky. She was lying on that soft grass at that moment. Then, when she felt that she regained her strength, she murmured, „Yet, Villō’s destiny was a tragic one, even though her story is a fairy tale in the end.”

„You are right,” Boor replied while approaching Samaya and Dike and carrying Bestla, who was asleep, in his arms. Then, leaving Bestla next to Samaya, he sat down by Dike and looked in the distance.

„Still,” said Dike, „even though we found out this story, it’s still sad that Bestla remembered it. As though Fate is stubborn and doesn’t want to let her forget it.”

„I think you are wrong, papa,” murmured Samaya while looking at the sky. „Sooner or later, she would have found out. Or… maybe she would have been able to reflect on her memories.”

„Maybe you are right, Samaya. Yet, I think it would have been better to be later and not now,” said Boor, sadly smiling. „Still… I understand that we are nobody to play with Fate. In a way or another, we are meant to find out what she is planning for us, even though we don’t want this.” After that, standing up, Boor took Bestla in his arms. Then, at a slow step, carefully stepping through the tall grass, he headed toward the horses.

Behind him, Dike and Samaya remained in the same place. Samaya even sat next to her father and laid her head on his shoulder, allowing him to comfort her. Eventually, she also said, „Papa, what do you think, what Villō hoped to get by bringing Bestla here?”

„Probably… to get revenge, my child, for Villō always wanted revenge. At least in these 20 years since she has been closed in that willow. Today, however, she lost her last chance to be released one day.”

Hearing his answer, Samaya said nothing else. Then, she stood up, just as Dike did, and both looked at the willow. Thus, seeing the willow looking as frozen and with many of its branches cut, branches that were floating on the water’s surface at that moment, Samaya felt sorrow for her. Dike also felt it. Yet, Samaya said nothing else. The same happened to Dike: he also said nothing, neither to scold her for having such feelings nor to make her feel better. The Titan only rested his palm on his daughter’s right shoulder and forced her somehow to also head toward the horses.

Then, when the four of them were far away from her, Villō regained her previous body. It was only the mirage of her in the middle of that green field while the cut willow kept staring at the water. In addition, Villō did not look as though she lost the battle. She just sadly murmured, „Yet, you are wrong thinking that I've brought that child here to get revenge. You will understand this one day. However, it will be too late: then the mirage will definitely be gone and you’ll also understand that there’s no future for any of us.”

Yet, even though she felt pain, Villō kept looking at the horizon, there where was the real world and where she wanted to return one day, at any cost. Nevertheless, it was too late for her, for Fate brought her to her knees once again. What was left for her was to accept it and stay forever in the middle of that field of tall grass, watching the distance.