Selby

Four days into their journey, Freydis’s envoy has made great progress. The northern half of Mithold has no large settlements, much of it forest land and inhabited by smaller monsters that are easy to dispatch.

Plans for settlements in the area are few given the proximity to other realms. The dangers are high but considerations for development will be quick should Freydis be successful.

Early in the morning, the envoy prepares breakfast before continuing their journey.

“Hiya!” Freydis is flipped and thrown onto the ground by Runa.

Freydis’s body is weak without energy from light. Although she can gather incredible power from light, there are repercussions she must deal with afterward. For example, she broke three fingers after helping find Eiric in Urd’s dimension.

Training her body without the boost from light helps minimize damage, but Freydis is reminded of her natural weakness as she stares up to the sky.

“Are you ok?” Runa asked.

“Can I just stay here forever?”

“Are the clouds that pretty?”

“It’s peaceful and the weather is nice this early in the morning.”

“Unfortunately, leaving the princess would make the people of the kingdom sad.”

“Would it make you sad?”

“Very.”

“Fine then. We’re almost there. I hope everything goes well, it must.”

“You will make it so Freydis.” Alvis offers Freydis a hand, “I’d like to check on your friends, it seems Eiric has having difficulty getting up.”

Sigrun caresses Eiric’s hair as his head lays in her lap. He’s fallen into a deep sleep the past three nights, unable to wake after being called by others.

“It is worrisome.” Alvis said.

“May I ask, how was your friend able to remain himself for long?” Sigrun said.

“Sten was a special case. His blessing made him the best healer alive. He healed his mind as it deteriorated, constantly so he could remain sane. But even he said that it became worse with time, that eventually he could no longer heal it fast enough. Because he had to heal our terrible wounds, there was no chance for him to save himself then.”

“I believe Eiric is receiving more memories from his blessing. I wish I knew how painful it is for him, I wish I could help him.”

“It’s still a wonder that he is himself, but it is possible, even likely, that he will turn soon. Are you all ready for that?”

“We are.” Vilgur said.

“I will make sure he harms no one.” Sigrun said.

“Fine, but you all should prepare yourself. There hasn’t been a turned that doesn’t go berserk against even those they love. I will help if you need me to.”

“What about Livhild?” Freydis said.

“The immortal one? She was an interesting case, but from your reports she wasn’t sane, just in control. If Eiric could do something similar we could hold him somewhere he can harm no one. I only ask that you prepare for all possibilities.”

After Sigrun and Eiric are left alone, Eiric wakes to find his beloved fiancée smiling at him. Anytime they have the opportunity to sleep together she does the same without fail. Her reasoning is that she wants to be the first thing he sees every day, but Eiric believes she worries he could turn upon waking.

He appreciates her precautionary efforts, he only wishes he didn’t worry her as much he does.

“Good morning love.”

Eiric smiles before turning towards Sigrun and wrapping his arms around her. “Sigrun, how much do you know?”

“I know that I love you very much, in each and every life.”

Eiric squeezes Sigrun before appearing behind her to pick her up. He spins with her in his arms, Sigrun laughing before speaking again, “Your dreams of me must have been sweet.”

“They always are.” Eiric stops, pressing his head against Sigrun’s, “Thank you. I believe, in each and every life, you bring me peace. But I don’t want you to bear that weight alone.”

“We will bear it together. Love, how do you feel?”

“The memories are heavy, but I am at ease with you. I’m fine.”

“You will tell me if anything is wrong, promise?”

“I will, I promise.”

“Selby lies ahead!”

Freydis hops out of her carraige as the town of Selby appears over the horizon. Their long journey comes to an end; her nerves swept to the side as she pulls Runa and the others from inside the carraige.

“It’s time to explore! I hear Selby has wonders from across Ymirra!”

The guards of Ymirra gather at the gates to welcome Solgrad’s envoy. The members are of different races, Selby one of few towns that houses more than one race.

“We thank you for coming, princess Freydis.”

Freydis bows. “The honor is mine. May I ask, have the other envoys arrived safely?”

“You are the fourth to arrive, the representatives of master Bjorn should arrive soon.”

“Wonderful. Thank you all very much for meeting us.”

The inside of Selby reminds Eiric of home. Sanctuary, in hopes of utmost protection, lacks shops and other amenities from his home village. Just within eyesight are droves of stores, dance parlors, bars, and even street entertainment.

Eiric stops in front of an Elf performer. They’re tall, slim, and their jade eyes focus on Eiric’s magic as he focuses on her beauty. It’s unlike Sigrun’s astonishing beauty, the elf’s mere sight brings calm.

She continues her performance, spinning as her partner appears from within a bunch of roots she summoned. They dance, flowers blooming at each of their steps before bursting and allowing the petals to float around them.

Their happiness is tangible.

The man becomes sick, kneeling as he struggles to keep up with his partner. She continues to dance, now devoting her performance to him with a smile that never fades. His eyes never leave her, but he wishes to let her go, believing his sickness could harm her in time.

She refuses. Returning time after time despite being sent away. It is then, at the end of the performance, where she sacrifices herself to breathe new life into him.

His dance is revitalized. More beautiful than ever before, yet, his tears never stop.

Eiric returns as the man bows with his partner in his arms, the performance now done.

“Did you like it?” Sigrun said.

“It was beautiful.” Eiric said.

“I think so to.”

“Eiric!” Vilgur waves Eiric over as Freydis enters an arm wrestling competition.

Runa stands behind Freydis covering her face as Freydis tends to lose herself to the fun of crowds.

“Princess of Solgrad is on a five match win streak! But can she beat our local champion, Torgrim himself.”

“Hahaha, you’ll learn that the princess of Solgrad has the strength of a thousand princesses!” The crowd roars as Freydis plants her foot on the table with her arm held high.

“Will she be ok?” Eiric asked as a tall man with bull horns sits across from Freydis.

“Ah, well, she’s showing more skin than usual.”

As Vilgur said, Freydis’s arms are uncovered. With the sun high, the match between Freydis and Torgrim begins on equal standing. Soon after, Freydis blows her veil away, newfound strength crushing her opponent’s hand before she slams it down and jumps into the crowd to celebrate her victory.

“Unbelievable!”

“Hahahaha!”

“It’s time you begin thinking of the consequences of your own actions, princess.” Runa said as she pinches Freydis’s cheeks.

After a long day of exploration, the envoy of Solgrad settles into a large manor prepared for them. Runa stays with Freydis at all times.

At the moment, Freydis rests in Runa’s lap after using her ability to empower herself earlier. Doing so leaves her exhausted, the more she empowers the worse off she is left.

“Sorry, I just wanted to have fun today. Before the days to come.”

“Does something worry you?”

“Livhild said I died, and that my death brought ruin to Mithold. Even if that were to happen, if I could just create peace with the other realms, and repair our relationship with the people of Sanctuary, it won’t matter if I die.”

“I will not let you. The kingdom needs you, even if I must give my life in exchange.”

“I don’t want you to. I’m…” Freydis’s lip quivers.

Runa pulls Freydis’s body up, embracing her as tight she can. “Is it today?”

“I killed him, Runa. I used of all my strength to do so, he begged me to as he turned. I had to as his sister. But I wanted nothing more than to be strong enough to help him. I can’t fail. I want him, I want our parents to know that I love them so much. I would give everything for them. Even if I couldn’t then.”

“You will succeed. I know it. So please, stay with us.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s ok.”

Freydis allows her emotions to pour out as she lay in Runa’s arms. She must do so before her biggest challenge yet, one which she believes she must succeed or lose all advantages she holds over her opponents back home.