Tear of Ice

Chapter 16

We walked through the Guecedand once more, this time it was different though. We weren’t in a weird rush and knew that our home and our family were okay. So as I walk with Lia at my side, I felt more secure even though we are entering territory I never even knew about.

“Rose really never mentioned anything to you?” Lia speaks up.

I shake my head, “Only small details, but really nothing of her life before Wiesse.”

Lia looks down, “That’s a bit-”

“Worrying? Yeah, I think so too.”

We move forward and when I look up and farther into the horizon I spot something. Kneeling to Lia and tugging her hind leg to look up at it with me. When she steps back and follows my pointing she spots it.

“Is that-?”

“I think so, but we should get closer first.” She nods and we start to run towards the peculiar shape. It was odd, jagged, and not normal for the Guecedand.

Soon as we came closer and closer there were familiar blue flecks floating through the wind past us. They faded and blew past us as the shapes became more and more like stalagmites rising from the ground. Tall spikes, jagged and cool, stabbing through the earth. And then around them, charred wood. We stop running and make it to see a shattered archway. Black and splintered. The old sign of the village’s name is long dead. Far too burned and splintered to even be read as it lay on the ground under the arch.

I step forward past the arch, looking at the debris of wood, burned buildings, and shards of ice. The ground was covered in a sheet of ice, cracked and withering, with buildings all destroyed and burnt and crumbling. As if it was rotting for so long. Barely anything was left-

“This ice. Wiesse’s Ice.” I touch the large staggering shard of ice from the ground, cracked but strong after who knows how long it exists here.

“Did-Did Rose really do this?” Lia asked the question we both thought. The idea that my Grandma, that sweet old lady who died for her family caused- this.

“There is only one person able to use Ice, and that is the Wolf Ringer.” Looking up at the stalagmite before glancing down at my own hands. We step further and further into the village ruins. Coming to see more destroyed buildings, charred wood, and eventually scattered bones as well.

As I looked at the remains of not only buildings and shards of ice but also people, I recalled something Grandma often said.

“I bear the blame for this during my younger years..”

Lia looked at me, surprised at my words. I turn to her, “Remember? Grandma used to say that so often.” I look back at the wreckage.

“So this was what she did. She destroyed this village, Rio was right.”

“Why?” Lia blurted out.

I approached the bones and debris, touching them hesitantly. Imagining what could’ve happened to push Rose to do such a thing. To destroy an innocent village. Were they really innocent?

After all, the Guecedand has always had a rough time, but it was because of this that the hatred for Loraines came to be. That they took everything Loraines could do as a threat. To abandon children, abuse people, and leave them in harsh places. But what would make Rose do this? She wouldn’t just destroy a village for no reason? What did these people do to earn the wrath of the Wolf Ringer?

In the end, does it really matter?

“I think,” I started, “ I don’t think we need to know.”

Lia comes to my side, sitting beside me as I turn back to the large sharp pillar of ice. Touching it, I feel it somehow pulsing under my hand. Still wracked with power after all these years.

“I mean, this was clearly a mistake she made. And a mistake that affected all of the Loraines.”

“Then,” Lia pauses, looking at the surrounding debris. The empty stillness of the village is worse than the silent flurries of the Neigless.

“What should we do about it?”

My hand slides down the pillar, as I look at Lia. My free hand petting her head and grinning.

“Well, we were only able to get Wiesse back with Rio’s help. So there are merits to relying on others besides just our family.”

Lia scoffs, “So what? That weirdo is one in a million. Or billion depending.”

“But still- The Forest is weak right now. We lost a lot of family. What better way to lessen the number of enemies is to make no more enemies”

She sighs and rises, walking to a building whose porch was still somewhat intact. After a slight test step, Lia runs up the stairs and looks around the destroyed and crooked railing. “Hey! Carmine!”

I run over to Lia, skipping the 3 weak stairs as I look over at Lia who is staring at the corner. When I walk closer I could see a little glimmer of something gold. Under the wood and shaved burned pickles, I knelt down and picked it up. Revealing a small metal clasp, bent and ugly. But it almost looks like the same clasp on the cloak.

“What the-” I hold it up to my eyes, seeing it closer, and then bring it to my chest. Comparing it to the current clasp over the cloak with it’s small red gem.

“An old clasp?” Lia leans in, smelling it gently. “Can’t smell anything on it.”

“Who knows how old it is?” I hold it in my palm, clenching my fingers around it as I rise up.

“This had to belong to Grandma.”

“Seems like something Rose would keep.” Lia hums as she follows me back down the steps of the crumbling porch.

I look back at the tall stalagmite of ice, and down to my closed fist over the dirtied clasp. Placing it into my skirt pocket, I look back to Lia.

“We should try to connect to the rest of the Guecedand again.”

“You sure?” Lia asks as she reaches my side. “They don’t seem too open to the idea.”

“That’s because of what she did, but I’m not Rose.” A hand to my chest as I leaned into the words.

“Let alone, what has resentment done but only caused- this?”

Lia hums, walking around me and patting the pillar herself. “I mean, if no one hates us, why attack us?”

I nod to her. “Exactly.” I walk past the pillar and turn back to Lia with a smile.

“Of course, it’ll take a while. And who knows what could happen. But it’s better to try, right?” My arms are wide as I gesture to the deserted area. Lia looks around too and nods.

“Then, why not? We made it this far.” Lia chuckles as she walks past me, a small nuzzle to my leg. “We should get back, we can start on this tomorrow. For now, I’m beat.”

I snort into my hand, poking her head. “You’re always tired. But for once, I really agree with you.”

“So, quick run home to take a long nap?” She flicks her head at me and I sigh.

“Sure. We…really earned a nap.”

Lia chuckles again, as she takes off ahead of me. “Hey!” I ran after her as we left the remnants of this old village behind.

We had a goal now, something to work towards. Something I can do that Grandma couldn’t. And with Wiesse home with us now, we can truly start rebuilding and making the Neigless Forest strong again, in a new way.

This time, we can spread the ideals that Wiesse held properly. This time we could show that Wiesse’s love wasn’t only for her family. But even more important than Wiesse we can do what must be done for the sake of the living ones left.

Thank you Grandma, for showing me that your mistakes are not my only path. For taking me in, against all odds. Thank you Icarus for showing me the true meaning of Wiesse. Of her love and her willingness to sacrifice for it.

I will sacrifice just as she, for my love is greater than I-May her life echo on in the eternal snow. And live in a way that spreads her love- our love.

May Wiesse be your light.