Just a couple hours ago the blackness was absolute, but now the mist was visible silvery. Against the backdrop of trees were silhouetted, still as an oil painting and darker than the ravens. The sky started to glow like a summer peach and the colors of the foliage return to green as the air wamed up. It was the perfect dawn, one to savor. Under this radiant beauty Yurika could see the leftover of destruction she had made.

The once green lands were mixed with ash and charcoal. The morning air was mingled with the smell of burnt and smoke. There were some destroyed buildings, tumbled down trees, and rubble all around. Her mind played out the incident once more, the deaths, the injured, and those who lost not only their belongings also their beloveds. The Adventure guild stood in Ursa land as the new capital of Ursa. No king in charge, Lucia was the head of the guild that managed the people of Ursa ever since the kingdom downfall.

Her lavender eyes consumed her surroundings. One second passed, two seconds, on the third one her guilt eaten and pestered her. A fire burned in her mind and throat. Remorse hit her like a sledgehammer. She knew what she had done and she must work hard to repent it.

"What are you musing about?" Lucia called her out. Yurika was in front of her mount, a Camelous -a flightless giant bird that has high running speed and huge sharp claws-. Like everyone else in the team, Yurika was setting up her mount and her traveling bag. Wen had gone to her Camelous while complaining quietly, saying that her mount would run faster than the birds. Yurika turned her head toward the Zanj. Her glassy eyes have answered for her.

"Stop regretting things that already happened," Lucia said as she was checking her mount saddle, "I can't stop you from feeling what you want to feel. Just don't let it eat you up, it won't do you any good. Instead, use it as your reason to master the legendary stone. The sooner you master it the lesser chance of disaster like this happened again."

Lucia tightened her mount saddle belt and climbed on it, as she sat on her mount she turned her head to the girl. Her silver foxy eyes were gentle.

"Trust me, I know exactly how you feel," a bitter smile rose on her pink lips. Yurika realized what the Zanj meant. She quickly brushed out her eyes from the emerging tears.

"I will, I promise I will master this gem, bring back the Goddesses, and world balance," her fuchsia eyes were full with new determination, "not for the sake of the mission or the Goddesses, but for those innocent victims, for the people I love and for myself."

Lucia nodded and smiled.

"Is everyone ready? We should depart now if we want to reach Marama as plan," Jace's voice blared. Yurika quickly checked up her gears, saddle and her bag one more time before finally climbed on her mount.

"All set," Marc said while fixing his glasses. Amierra nodded at Jace as a sign.

"Fuah...," a loud yawn came from Lyall as he rubbed his eyes lazily, "sure, sure let's get going."

Scry on the other hand was hugging and kissing a few girls. The girls were giggling and chuckling at his affection.

"Now ladies if you excuse me, I hope you don't miss me too much."

"Scry, get on your mount already," Z grumbled at the Casanova. Scry glared at him for a few seconds before he finally left the girls and climbed on his mount.

"I don't know what those girls see on that snake," Wen sneered as she moved with her mount to stand next to Yurika. Her voice was loud enough for Scry to hear it. His amber eyes glanced at Wen while a mocking smile creeped out on his lips.

"Do you want to know?" He taunted Wen, "I would gladly show you the real beauty of a 'snake' "

"No, thank you. Keep your poison to yourself or those crazy girls," mocked Wen back.

"Enough!" Jace barked, "we don't have time for your bickering. Wenona Alstairs, I had promised to treat you equally. But I am still the leader of this party and I expect you to respect that. That goes to you too Scry."

Scry just shrugged as if he was innocent.

"Urghhh! I hate that turnip as much as that snake," Wen muttered under her breath, but then she made a loud annoyed grunt and a forced nod to give a sign that she was ready.

Jace's blue eyes then moved toward Yurika. He didn't say anything and just stared at her for a long couple minutes with an unreadable emotion. Before he finally spoke out, "ready?"

Yurika quickly nodded, "yes."

"Okay, Let's move out!" ordered Jace and he kicked a start. His Camelous leaped and everyone followed behind him.

"Wen..., " Yurika said while riding near her friend, her face looked concerned, "are you sure you still want to be in this group? You don't need to force yourself just for me. You know you are not obli--"

"Shut up Yuu! When I say I am going means I am going!" Wenona snarled at her, but then her face softened, "sorry, just those two making me angry. I am doing this not just for you. I have my own goal too on this journey. Don't worry, I am not doing this by force. Besides, I need to return to Marama too. If what Lucia said is true, I will need all the power I can have to keep everyone safe. Even if that required me to work with the people I hate."

Then Wenona's Camelous speed up and run ahead

Yurika went quiet, there was admiration and gratefulness in her eyes as she stared at her friend's back. Her hand reached toward her pendant. Her right hand clenched it close, her determination went stronger and she pushed forward to match out the others.

The air that morning was crisp and cool. Then the first flakes began to fall. The white rain glittering as it fell soundlessly, taking their time before they reached their destined places. Jace's and everyone galloping toward Marama while the first snow fell like colorless confetti that sending them away to their journey.

***

"Eireen, look it's snowing, come!!" Grace pulled young Eireen toward the garden. They played under the soft swirling white, not caring that it was cold, they danced and twirled. When the snow stopped, they both lay down on the soft bed of frost; giggling.

"Do you know what will come after snow?" her mom asked her.

"I don't know mommy, what is it?"

"Spring!" her mom shouted as she cuddled Eireen, "Spring, means hope. No matter how harsh and cold life can be, there will always be new hope. Never give up and believe, spring will come eventually."

Tears fell down on her rosy cheeks, stinging like an ice snake. She quickly wiped it and she hugged her little girl tighter.

"From now on, just us. But that's okay. We will be okay," she whispered.

"How about daddy?" Eireen looked at her mother with her round innocent eyes.

"Daddy is in heaven, watching us from above. He sends snow as his goodbye and promises that we will see him again someday."

"Oh...," Eireen glanced up the sky for a few seconds, then with an angelic smile she waved her tiny hands at the sky, "thank you, daddy, see you soon!"

Grace smiled and pulled her daughter closer and tighter.