I Visited The Northern Lake!

Today is a new day in the Sinclair Capital of the Sinclair Kingdom. The sun may have risen, but it only illuminates the numerous problems of the poverty-stricken Capital.

What am I doing?

“Fresh water: 2 bronze coins a canteen,” I mutter.

“ME, HEROINE! ME! ME!”

I sigh, producing a small amount of water into the metal canteens the kingdom provided me. Yes, I’m a stall owner who sells only water.

“WHY THE HELL DID I GET ROPED INTO THIS!?”

I turn around with a smug smile to the boy working his butt off washing canteens. “Because I snitched to Mr. King Sir to punish you accordingly for that stupid sneak attack.”

“Tch. I only did it because you got a clean hit on me before!” He argues. “Besides, I used my weaker flames!”

“I noticed they were golden,” I say, handing a canteen to a family of 4. “Is that a property of the Sun Phoenix?”

He nods. “As the chosen eyes of the Sinclair Family are golden, the GOLDEN FLAMES we wield can be more powerful than the regular red and orange I can create.”

“Eh? What’s the difference?” I sigh. “Flames are flames, right?”

“I’m going to burn this stand,” he threatens.

“WHOA! HOLD ON! THEY’LL HAVE OUR HEADS!”

“It’s true! The Heroine and Prince are selling water for us!”

“Hooray!”

I sigh. “As long as they are happy.”

“Right… your control is good, though. Seems you won’t be launching GEYSERS at civilians.”

“Quiet…”

“Telling a prince to be quiet? How naive. You’re a commoner. Learn your place. I’m only helping you because I’m being forced.”

“All that sweet talk from before was a lie then.”

“U-uh… like half truths!”

“Yeah, whatever. Let me just do my job.”

We continue for another 2 hours in silence before I run out of mana.

“Sorry guys, no more water,” I apologize. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Aw…”

I walk through the streets with Brendan close by. The king gave me a new wardrobe to match my status. An azure cloak that matches my eyes with an amethyst near my collarbone. For shoes, they were simple brown ones like my former ones. My long hair was kept untouched, with the sole exception of a new golden hairpin to indicate I was with the Sinclairs.

And Brendan was wearing the same clothes I had drenched the day before.

“Tch, water duty. This is no job for the prince of a nation!” He groans.

“You sound like a baby. How is it I can do all this menial work?”

“You look sick of your job, too!” He mentions.

I look at my face in a hand mirror I was given. Yup, eye bags. I groan. “A kid needs their sleep, you know? We’re both 13!”

“Well, I guess. But…” Brendan looks at my weird attire. “We’re getting nowhere to solve this problem by producing small amounts of water a day.”

“200 bronze coins,” I mutter, looking at the pouch in my hands. “With funds, we’ll be able to get some things done!”

“Like what?”

“Don’t ask me. No one told me what the Heroine does.”

“I feel a bit bad for you.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah, I do.” Brendan adjusts his gloves as we are greeted by the knights on duty at the castle gates. “Must be annoying being forced into a position with zero idea of what to do.”

I enter the hall. “Oh, come on. Magic is kind of fun.”

“Except you don’t have enough mana to use it for extended periods of time.”

I laugh nervously. “As long as no one realizes that! I’ll just fake it till I make it!”

Brendan shakes his head. “I wonder why I even put up with this.”

“Shut it. I wonder how I put up with you.”

“Ha, you’re so lucky I’m pardoning your comments. I’d make your ‘off with your head’ dream a reality if I wasn’t so nice.”

Yeah, what an a-hole. I shouldn’t be saying bad words; both father and mother thought it was crude. But I can’t find a better word in my vocabulary to describe him.

I mean, he has a nice side, but that’s a foreign sight for my eyes. He cares about his family, but he’s very short-sighted in other things. In short, I think he averages out to a neutral entity in my life.

I go to my bedroom to relax a bit. It’s only been 2 days since I arrived, and I got to know the prince and the nation’s situation.

Father, where are the lavish riches of the wealthy? My dinner was porridge again.

I shake my head. Brendan is right, though I hate to admit it. This little water gig I got going on won’t solve the root problem. Who should I ask for more information on that?

“It appears you have a question!”

“EEP! STALKER! STRANGER DANGER!” I throw whatever I can find at the upside-down man who appeared on my roof.

“It’s just me: Niko, the Oracle!”

“Ah yes, the deadbeat who left me to swim with the sharks,” I mutter, preparing to throw an expensive vase at him.

“Now hush! I see you have learned a bit more about the mysterious power inside you.”

I shake my head, letting the vase back down on the nightstand next to my white bed. “Zero! For a land of fire, isn’t it pretty hilarious that the Heroine is a water mage?”

“Yes and no. If the Heroine were born with the same affinity as the kingdom, there would be major problems.”

“Like?”

He shrugs. “It never happened, so I don’t know.”

I fall onto my bed. “AUGH! MAN, I WISH YOU HAD MORE INFORMATION!”

“Well, you should know being a water mage is rare!” Niko states. “You’re quite special in that case!”

“How? Isn’t it a basic affinity?”

“Yes, but genetically, it hasn’t really made that much of a resurgence. That, and there are also fewer water spirit guardians than others.”

“Spirit guardians?”

“Like the Sun Phoenix: the beings who bless us with magic.” Niko shows a fiery vision of the Sun Phoenix, glowing in GOLDEN FLAMES and red feathers. “Now, there is an important distinction you must make: to be chosen, and just to be a user.”

“Huh?”

“When you’re a user of an affinity like yourself.” Niko pulls off more flame tricks. “You’re able to perform spells based on your affinity. However, special cases, like royalty, are chosen, not just a user. They are given the special ability of their spirit guardian.”

“Then, what’s this so-called special ability that Brendan’s GOLDEN FLAMES has?” I mean, it doesn’t burn what’s not specified by the caster, but surely, there’s something else, right?

“He’ll tell you when he’s ready.”

“He won’t be ready; he hates my guts.”

“Oh, but he should warm up to you in no time.”

“Yeah, no… wait, I NEED IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ANSWERED! HOW IS MY MOM DOING!?”

“She’s doing well,” Niko replies. “She does miss you, but she knows you’ll be fine in the Capital.”

“How do you know that?”

He smiles, landing on his feet from his 180 entrance. “I’m the Oracle of the nation. I have information encompassing the lives of many.”

“So, you’re a mass stalker.”

“Now you’re just putting words in your mouth.”

I roll in my bed. “Then, tell me, oh great Oracle. How do I solve this kingdom’s water crisis?”

He smiles. “Ah yes, the Kingdom’s Water Crisis: caused by the contamination of the Northern Lake.”

“Contamination?” That’s new. I guess because my village is down south, I don’t rely on the upstream so much.

“Northern Lake was the main freshwater supply for all of the thriving cities north and central. However, one day, it went bad!”

“How?”

“That’s for you to figure out! Toodaloo!”

“That little!” I grit my teeth. “WHY THE HELL ARE THE MEN I MEET DEADBEATS!?”

Generalizing is bad, but I feel uncomfortable with the trend I’m recognizing.

Still, the Northern Lake. What kind of place is that? I’ve never been to the opposite part of the kingdom. I’m kind of excited to travel there. Do I need the King’s permission? What do I need for this?

I walk to the royal hall. “Yo, Mr. King Sir!”

“It’s King Aurelian.”

“Yeah, Mr. King Sir King Aurelian.”

He sighs. “What is it, Lucia?”

“I’m heading to the Northern Lake. Anything I should know?”

“The Northern Lake!?” He exclaims.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“Sorry, but the kingdom above us, the Frozen Lands of the Glacial Stallion: Fenirix, took that from us…”

“HUH!? HOW!?”

“Sold it for gold, how else?” He shrugs. “And that’s gone, too.”

Augh, as I said! Hopeless!

“What do I need to visit, though?”

“Uh… let’s not get on their bad side. They have the strongest army-”

“No! Solving the water crisis is the first step of my grand plan to save the kingdom!”

“And do you have any other steps in that so-called ‘grand’ plan of yours?”

That stark voice! “Shut it, Brendan.”

“Oh my! So scary,” he taunts. “It’s cold wherever they capture. You’re going to need my flames to keep you heated.”

“Not interested,” I reply. “You’re going to berate me.”

“I won’t,” he asserts. “I promise.”

He looked more like a man when he said that. Ha, I guess he does have it in him to be a prince when the job calls for it.

“Brendan, you just want to get out of the castle, right?”

“As if!”

His averted gaze and unusually red face are telltale signs this guy sucks at lying.

I sigh. “Well, we’ll take the blonde knight with us, too.”

“Uh, Lucia, my name is-”

“Nah, you’re blonde knight,” I reply. “So 3 people! We’ll be fine!”

“The Northern Lake may have been frozen over,” King Aurelian warns us. “I suggest you buy some gear before going.”

“With what money?” Brendan and I simultaneously groan.

King Aurelian smiles, pulling out the familiar leather pouch. “The emergency funds!”

200 bronze coins… the funds I RAISED.

I sigh. “I wonder what we can buy with this.”

The nearby shop sells staffs for reasonably low prices. As a mage, there are many useful artifacts to use. Staffs for amplifying power and reducing energy costs, grimoires for learning spells, and other trinkets that give buffs.

“But… 200 bronze coins… isn’t a lot, is it?” I sigh.

“Indeed,” the shopkeeper agrees. He has a thin mustache with a monocle over his left eye. His plaid green shirt pairs with these rugged black pants. “But since you are both special, I can drop the prices a bit.”

“Huh? Why?” Brendan hollers.

“Because with your mission, we have a chance to turn our harrowing fate around. I place my faith in the heroine and prince.”

I see. Just because I exist, I’m a symbol for hope. What a load of bologna. Do these guys know I’m from the sticks? Or does that not matter? I wonder what it means to be a Heroine from the boonies. Which title matters more?

“Then…” My eyes are transfixed by a wooden staff as tall as me. A beautiful blue orb sits in the cradle, with these mysterious wave designs spread throughout the wood. “That one.”

“That’s our worst one,” the shopkeeper frowns. “I’ll give it to you for free.”

“FOR REAL!?” I look at Brendan, who is still carefully examining the lumps of wood sitting on their handles. “Then-”

Brendan smirks. “I choose that one.”

“Huh!? A sword!?” I exclaim. Silver blade, black handle with a golden gem at the edge! So fierce!

“We don’t need 2 mages,” Brendan asserts. “Plus, I learned swordsmanship when I was younger before it was revealed the Sun Phoenix chose me.”

“B-but… I exist-”

“Hush, blonde knight.” Brendan and I were surprisingly in tune.

“A-ah…” Poor sap.

“Sir, that’s our weakest sword,” the shopkeeper sighs. “I’ll give it to you for free, too.”

In the end, we learned that Brendan and I have terrible appraisal skills when it comes to these types of things.

“Still, what determines if a staff is weak?” I ask.

“Maybe the quality of materials,” the blonde knight answers. “The crystal ore is a telltale sign of what it can do.”

“Hmm?” I look at the staff I’m holding curiously. Because of some odd magic, a staff can latch onto one’s back and stay attached. “Well, I guess it matches.”

“How so?” Brendan asks.

“A Heroine from the boonies and an underwhelming staff,” I laugh. “But I got this! We’ll cure the Northern Lake so everyone can drink fresh water!”

Brendan stares for a bit before shaking his head. “It’s not that easy. Even my mother had trouble with the Northern Lake for the longest time.”

“W-why?”

He shushes me. “They take things by force.”

It was a one-day trip to the Northern part of Sinclair. It just shows how feeble the kingdom has fallen.

News of my trip has gotten around town, and kind villagers throughout our travels gifted us resources to ease our journey.

“GOOD LUCK, MS. HEROINE!”

How many times have I heard the same cheer on this dirt path with the open, yellow fields around? How much more dead grass will I see as the temperature drops from the cold influence?

“No clue,” I reply.

“The hell you mean, no clue?”

“Sorry, I’m thinking to myself.”

“No kidding. You blurt out so many random things that I forget you’re in your own world pondering.”

“Well, I just so happen to be thinking of all the strategy plans I have!” I pout.

“Like what?”

“See!” I scribble something up fast. “Ice is weak to fire! So you got this!”

He frowns. “We’re 2 13-year-old kids, and we may see resistance against Fenirix soldiers. This isn’t a game, Lucia!”

“I-I know… don’t be so scared.” I look at my freezing hands. “We have no choice. We’ll dive into this one headfirst.”

“So rash. Best have a plan.”

“Your clothes are ripped.”

“HUH!? WHERE!?”

I laugh. “Made you look-”

I was met with the nastiest slap, sending me outside our carriage and tumbling into the snow. I see a bunch of chickens before I regain my clear sight. The frostbite I nearly receive is a good indication we’re here.

The Northern Lake. All the yellow grass has been replaced with this annoying snow. Further down are some dead trees, covered in the same crippling ice that plagues the once vibrant waters.

“So, how exactly does ice contaminate the water?” I ask.

“The Glacial Stallion is responsible for that,” Brendan explains. “Its ice not only freezes, but leaves things that touch its ice frozen, too. That’s the special power of the PUNISHING FROST.”

“So, even if we thawed this water, it’s no good.” I clench my fists. “Cruel… did we come here for nothing?”

Brendan shakes his head, holding a golden flame over his hand. “No, I told you. There’s something special about my GOLDEN FLAMES. And it is-”

Brendan swings his sword, unleashing a flame trail that breaks the mega glacier in half. “Purification!”

“Wow!” I’m in awe, to say the least. When Brendan acts all heroic like that, it gets a maiden’s heart racing.

Then you realize he’s an annoying little snobby rich kid, and that feeling quickly goes away.

“Say, couldn’t you summon the Sun Phoenix right now?” I ask.

“I haven’t gotten good at it,” Brendan answers. “At most, its physical manifestation can last for a good 10 minutes. Plus, with how it is, it depletes a good chunk of energy. Best to just swing my sword and thaw with GOLDEN FLAMES.”

“Meanwhile… my water… GEYSER isn’t too helpful here, is it?”

“You just figured it out?”

“What am I even here for?” I frown.

“To protect me from soldiers,” Brendan replies.

“Hold on! If you had this power all along, you could’ve gone here-”

“Father wouldn’t allow it,” Brendan disproves. “He thinks I would die trying to pull something like this alone.”

I put my hand on his left shoulder. “Then, I’m just glad you’re not alone.”

He leaps away, startled. “S-shut it, Lucia. Don’t touch me, you pleb.”

“So much for being nice.” I look around. “Speaking of which, where did the blonde knight go?”

“Yeah, funny you mention it, he just disappeared-”

A flying head lands next to our carriage. Lifeless eyes, an expression of fear before meeting a swift demise.

“B-blonde knight?” H-he’s dead!? I feel like throwing up. I fall to the ground, clutching my stomach and mouth.

“Ah, so that’s where those two children went!”

I freeze up. Behind us are the enemy. Brendan is busy with the golden purification! Blonde knight, what happened when we were not watching!?

Steel yourself, Lucia! Deep breath! Worry about this later!

“Who are you!?” I demand, turning around in one quick motion.

3 knights. Their armor doesn’t resemble the one the Sinclair knights wore. Blue and white, modified to be slimmer yet sturdier. Symbolized by the Frost Wings sigil on their helms. Spears of ice ready in their hands.

“Fenirix Soldiers!” Brendan realizes. He steps in front of me. “Lucia! Please stay behind me-”

“The hell!? I’m the Heroine, here!?”

“Fire beats ice!” he argues.

“Huh!? The Heroine!?” The knight on the right laughs. “So it really is true! Sinclair really birthed its own Heroine!”

“W-what about it!?” I yell.

“Nothing. It’s just interesting. However, 2 children versus 3 knights,” the one on the left boasts. “I’m sorry for sounding rude, but it doesn’t seem like much of a challenge.”

Brendan stands back. “W-well, you might regret that!”

He’s scared. I’m good at noticing it. It’s the same expression the Sinclair capital had when I first got there. Fear of the future. Fear of losing it all.

Blonde knight. My mind goes back to him. I never got to know his name, but I didn’t think he’d just up and die like that! What happened… I’m the Heroine, right? I should be able to save everyone! So why!

Why couldn’t I save him?

“The Northern Lake is glowing!”

“WHAT!?” Brendan looks behind me. “Lucia, what’s going on-”

I don’t know myself. My feet start ascending higher in the snowfall. My staff moves by itself, like second nature. I point it at one of them.

“GEYSER!”

BOOM! Because of the staff, I notice it did more damage than the one on Brendan. The boy in question shivers, recalling the moment. But the other two?

Fear. The same expression Brendan made. It’s fear. One I will capitalize on.

“A-a water mage!? Weren’t they rare!?”

“The Heroine has water affinities!? That’s extra rare!”

Brendan remains in place; I can tell he’s shaking. What did I just do? I just wanted…

To save us.

10 more GEYSERS appear overhead. “Goodbye. GEYSER."

“AUGH!”

Because of the cold terrain, once the GEYSERS hit, their trails solidify into blue ice. The 3 knights… eliminated just like that…

“WHAT DID I JUST DO!?” I yell, falling to my knees.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT DID YOU JUST DO!?” Brendan puts his GOLDEN FLAMES on my back, warming me up. “YOU WON!”

“B-but… I-I killed someone!” I shake. “My own hands…”

“Lucia, being a Heroine sounds like a job where you can save everyone, but…” He points to the head of the blonde knight, now covered in snow. “Sometimes, it’s not just realistic.”

“N-no…” I mutter. “I… I…”

“What are you two complaining about?”

“Huh?”

It’s blonde knight!

We both rush in to hug him. “BLONDE KNIGHT!”

“I have a name, you know!” he yells. “And what are you crying about!?”

“T-that’s your head, right!?”

The blonde knight looks down at the snow before laughing unprompted. “Oh, that was a training dummy I created to resemble me.”

Brendan and I frown. “We wasted tears on you.”

“Ah, come on!” He shakes his head. “I ensured no other knights could deal with you, those decoys helping create diversions.”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Any other knights on foot are gone,” he smiles gleefully.

“So, he’s competent at his job,” Brendan remarks.

“Give him a raise,” I suggest.

Brendan nods. “Yeah.”

“I can hear you two…” The blonde knight sighs. “My name is Marcellus, by the way.”

“Mar.” I blatantly say.

“Uh, is that a nickname?”

“One syllable is easier to say,” I reply.

“Even though your name is 3, Lucia?”

“2 if you pronounce it like Lu-sha.”

“And how should we pronounce it?”

“Whatever way you like. Father and Mother always argued about that one, now that I think about it.”

“Wait, your father-” Brendan’s memory is sharp if he can remember something important about someone distasteful to him. Except, I like to think I’m not that bad.

I laugh. “Don’t worry about it! Old news! Old news!”

Huh? My ears! What am I hearing? Faint cries- they sound like!

“Oh dear, air troops.”

Winged ice wyverns with ice riders on top. The gray sky is once again infected by the cold they bring.

I shiver. “I’m getting cold feet…”

“Should’ve brought thicker shoes.”

“Shut it,” I mutter.

Brendan steps up. “Well, we have no choice. We have to take back this land somehow. Our nation is depending on our victory.”

I step up with him. “What’s the plan?”

“I don’t know. Can’t you do that cool GEYSER thing?”

“Uh, you mean with my staff?”

“Yeah!”

“I can try.”

One wyvern swoops down, ready to impale us with its claws.

“Uh, GEYSER!”

BOOM!

It’s like it tore a hole through the sky. I watch 3 more in its line of fire fall from an obliterated wing. Did I- did I do that!?

“I’m so glad you didn’t hit me with that,” Brendan laughs.

I grow red. “Oh come on! Show me what you got!”

He grabs his sword and thrusts it forward. “Then, GOLDEN FLAMES!”

Another wyvern melted. As the hesitant soldier lands on the snow, he deforms and joins the other flakes.

“Wait a second!” Brendan realizes. “Ice soldiers!”

Oh, I see! These soldiers are troops of ice! I haven't killed anyone yet!

“I’M SO GLAD I’M NOT A MURDERER!” I sob.

“Huh!? What does that have to do with anything!?”

“Because,” I sniffle, preparing another shot. “I think it doesn’t suit me. GEYSER!”

BANG! Sonic booms from my staff. The powerful GEYSER may be slow on release, but it is dead accurate. I wonder if it’s because of all my farmwork that I can shoot these lasers like I’m a sniper.

Brendan leaps back to avoid a set of ice spears. He sets a GOLDEN FLAME wall to block another. “They keep coming, though…”

I examine the area. “Well, if it’s true they are ice puppets! There must be a leader somewhere!”

Mar checks around. “I mean, on my patrol, I didn’t see one-”

Slash.

“W-what?”

I look at my cloak; there’s a tear where some of my shoulder used to be.

“W-what did I get hit by!?” I yell, clutching it in pain. There’s a fallen icicle next to my feet, splattered in blood.

“Down there,” Brendan mutters.

My attention shifts to a stallion, standing on the lake Brendan once thawed. A horn like an icicle, 2 dormant wings by its side, and a light-blue-haired boy riding it. Paired with them are narrow, similar-colored eyes that show no sign of compassion.

Brendan steps back. “No way…”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Lucia, as you know, there are 5 Kingdoms, each with a sigil of their protective deity,” Brendan explains. “The Sun Phoenix of the Central Kingdom: Sinclair.”

“Is that…”

Brendan nods. “The Glacial Stallion of the Northern Kingdom: Fenirix.”

“Then, that boy!”

The boy leaps off and creates an ice ring as he moves. He looks about our age, except he’s not like Brendan. He looks dejected and cold like the snow he wields.

“Cassian Fenirix,” he politely bows. “Second prince of the Fenirix Kingdom. What business do you two have with my lake?”

It just keeps getting worse!