Snowholt; The Capital City of Frozehaven.

In the Royal Library, tired and drained, a certain white-haired Queen was gazing longingly at the book in her hands until a familiar maid with a cherry-colored hair walked into the room and placed a cup of tea on the table and took the tray away. The Queen closed her eyes and embraced the book tightly; she had better days sometimes, but even after she had recovered, her heart didn’t.

“Your Highness, if I may, you should leave the room and get some fresh air.”

“Gabriella, am I a bad mother? Because I think I traded my recovery for my son, did I unknowingly make an unforgivable deal with that creature?”

“No, you didn’t, Your Highness. It wasn’t your fault.”

“Then whose fault was it? I did nothing to stop my husband, and now my son is out there, alone and hurt.”

“It wasn’t anyone fault, Your Highness. Things happened sometime without a reason.”

“That excuse is not good enough!” The Queen raised her voice, and afterward, the room fell into silence.

“I’m sorry, Gabriella. I didn’t mean to yell. It has been hard for me to sleep at night, every single waking moment I couldn't stop thinking about Victor.”

“It’s perfectly fine. You are a parent, no one expected otherwise, my Queen.”

“Victor always loved to read books, and he always spends his time here. Just reading and reading without a care in the world. So passionate, so curious of everything around him, he never lay a hand or raised his voice at others. He’s a sweet kid. Kinder than anyone I have ever known.”

“He was an excellent Prince, Your Highness.” Gabriella embraced the tray tightly. “If you want to blame someone, blame me, Your Highness. I was supposed to take care of him. I have failed my duty.”

“It wasn't your fault, Gabriella. I know you did your utmost best to care for him. Victor had always said that you were more than a servant to him, he treated you like a family and I did too.” The Queen placed the book down on the windowsill and turned to face the maid; her eyes were wet from remembering her son.

“The council suggested another heir.” The Queen placed her hand against her stomach and gritted her teeth, “I’m disgusted by that suggestion. The thought of replacing my own son with another child sickened me.”

“What does The King think of it?”

“I don’t know. These days I barely spoke to him. I don’t know what to do, Gabriella.”

“If I may be bold, Your Highness. You should have another heir, this Kingdom needs it. However, if you would let me, then release me from my duties, so I may seek Victor and care for him.”

“I can’t, Gabriella. You would be committing treason if you help Victor.”

“Then let it be,” Gabriella gazed at the queen with determined eyes.

“Are you sure of this?”

“I have pondered on it so many times, and I’m sure of my decision if only Your Highness would let me. Based on my military background, I’m sure you can trust me with his safety. I promise you that I would care for him for the rest of my life and would sacrifice myself to keep him safe.”

“Of course, I trust you. I trust you with my life, but I don’t want to exile you from your home.”

“Don’t be mistaken, Your Highness. The Vanderbilt family has always served the royal family and we always put our duty first. I’m here to regain my honor, even if it cost my life or my home. Besides...Victor was like a little brother to me and I’m not going to abandon him.”

“There's nothing I could say to convey the gratitude I have for you, Gabriella.”

“No, thank you, my Queen. I shall make the preparation as soon as possible,” Gabriella curtsied gratefully at the Queen.

***

The Jungle of Yakawa.

Sweat washed over Victor’s body down to his feet, huffing and puffing every breath he took. Victor hasn’t had any rest for a while now, the hooded woman never once stopped or slowed in her tracks. As Victor looked up the steep climb, he couldn’t help himself but sigh, and yet he still climbed that small hill. Upon arriving on the top of the hill, the hooded woman finally stopped and Victor dropped to his butt while leaning against the bag.

With his arms and legs spread apart, Victor yelled out his exhaustion. The hooded woman took out a waterskin and tossed it at the exhausted boy. Victor quickly caught the waterskin then drank as much as he could.

“Where are we heading again?”

“Oh yeah, you don’t speak much, but I kinda love that about you.”

“So quiet, and mysterious. Just Woah. Hahaha.”

“What do you need strength for?” The woman finally asked him a question.

“Huh?” Victor was surprised that the hooded woman spoke but quickly gathered his answer, “I need strength to protect myself and the people I cared about. There are a few points in my life that I was useless, I failed to do anything because I lack strength.”

“To protect someone requires you to cause pain to the others. Do you even understand the magnitude of it?”

“I understand!” Victor stood up with furrowed eyebrows.

A fist suddenly struck against Victor’s stomach, he fell to his knees, coughing and grunting. A tremendous pain exploded from the center of his stomach, he almost had to puke out the food and water he consumed earlier. His eyes widened with confusion when he gazed back at the hooded woman.

“You don’t understand anything. You are just a child.”

“I do understand it!”

This time instead of a fist, the woman's leg struck Victor’s side and tossed him back downhill. Victor rolled down the hill. His head and body grazed against the tiny rocks that lay on the path, leaving multiple cuts until he stopped rolling at the bottom of the hill. Along the way his bag had come undone and was left far away from him. The hooded woman walked down the hill while taking her hood off, and revealing a pair of cold obsidian eyes.

“You don’t. You’re an impulsive child who doesn’t know anything about pain. Whose only plan was to talk to me so you could get close to me and depend on me to take care of you because you can’t do anything by yourself.”

“I’m maybe an impulsive child, but the rest is not true...I had lost everything, from my family and my home, and I had lost it again for a second time. I failed to protect the one I love and stood up for the people who cared for me. So believe me when I said that I know pain, I know loss, I know grief, I know regrets, and I know pain!”

Victor coughed loudly as his body was slowly bleeding, but he still raised himself and stood where he fell, “The reason I talked to you was that I, myself, don’t know what to do next! My friend said, ``The only way is forward``, so I’m trying to move forward, but how could I move forward when I’m weak to do anything else, just like you said. So I beg of you, please train me!”

Tears rolled down Victor’s cheek as he shivered his breath out, “I’m trying so hard…when it’s even easier to give up, but I don’t want to give up. I want to keep moving forward.”

“You seek strength?”

“Yes!”

“Even if that kind of strength is different than you seek?”

“I’m willing to take anything by now.”

“You are a naive one, but what are you willing to give in return?”

“I don’t have anything that is valued, but I’m willing to give myself to you. You can treat me as a slave, I do not care as long as you teach me.”

“I don’t need a slave. What I am to teach you is to understand pain first and foremost, then, only then, I shall teach you how to fight, but in order for me to teach you, all I asked of you is your loyalty. Are you willing to give it to me?”

“I am without doubt as for right now, loyal to you and only you,” Victor felt a warm hand on his head.

The hooded woman took off her bag and laid it on the ground; She dug into it and brought out bandages and some herbs. The woman then proceeded to care for Victor’s wounds, the Prince wiped his tears and sniveled constantly as she applied the medication. The woman wasn’t so bad after all, her touch was gentler than he thought and she was more caring than Victor had expected.

“My name is Victor. Just Victor. What’s yours?”

“My name is Keiko Mizu. Now seat, I need to treat your injuries first.” The woman forced Victor to take a seat on the ground as she treated the cut on his head.

There are a lot of questions Victor wished to inquire about but was too scared to ask after the promise of loyalty he made to her. Keiko noticed the puffed out cheeks on the boy's face and rolled her eyes to the side. With her little thumb on one of his cuts, Victor yelped in pain.

“If you are that desperate then ask away.”

“Are you sure?” His face lit up with happiness.

“No.” The pouted lips on the boy’s face caused Keiko to sigh, “Fine. Go ahead.”

“Is that a sword?” Victor pointed at the tall item wrapped in fabric.

“It’s a Katana.”

“Where are we going anyway?”

“Move first then we talk.” Keiko grabbed the bag beside her, slipped her arm in the straps, and started to walk up the hill again. “Don’t forget your bag.”

Victor rushed back to his heavy bag, and carried it with him up the hill; He had almost forgotten how heavy it was, “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere.”

“Come one that’s not a good answer, can you give me another one?”

“Somewhere.”

“Hahaha, you’re so funny, Master.”

“Don't call me that.”

“How about, Teacher?”

“Fine. Just keep it moving.”

“Okay, Teacher.”

“I'm starting to regret agreeing to that. Just call me, Keiko.”

“Does everyone cook like you, Keiko? Because the food you made was like a first-class cuisine.”

“Not everyone. It came with experience.”

They walked along the path and it seemed to be forever, just walking and nothing but trees, bushes, and nature. A couple more unnecessary stops were made for Victor as he was not used to walking for a long distance, Keiko seemed to be slightly mad about it, but wasn't mad enough to leave the boy behind. Their travels continued again and were gifted with a clear vast blue sky that was pulled straight out from a painting. After a short rest, they began moving again, through the forest of vines and tall then through a seemingly endless field of grass.

Victor was ecstatic to see the new thing that he had only seen in the books he read. Exotic plants and animals were littered across his path. This trip was like a wish come true for the boy, but not exactly pleasant for Keiko as she was being slowed down by a curious boy whose smile seemed to be brightest when looking at his surroundings. They almost didn't make it time as the sun began to set in the far horizon, but that thought was thrown behind them when the scenery changed to farmlands.

“Is that rice paddies?! Woah! They even built it on the side of the hill like some sort of stairs of paddies.” Victor jumped up and down as he waved his arms above him.

“Why are you so excited?” The woman raised an eyebrow.

“I’ve never been truly outside before, so everything I see is a new experience for me.” Victor waved to one of the farmers, but no response from the farmer so Victor shrugged his shoulders.

“We’re getting close to a town. Do not talk, understand?”

“Why?”

“People here aren't very welcoming to outsiders.”

“Oh. That’s a shame, I kinda want to ask them a few questions.”

“Do not ask them questions, do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“Also cover your face.” Keiko took out a clean cloth and wiped the smudge on the boy’s cheek.

As they were getting closer to the town, Victor pulled up his hood and brought his chin down to hide his face. When they set foot inside the town, Victor had to keep his excitement in secret as he excitedly glanced around him at the new things he saw; different types of clothes, no smooth edge, more looser, and less vibrant than what the Empress showcased back in the castle, maybe because this town contained mostly lowered-class people. However, it seems to be a select few people who have a more unfortunate way of living, the ragged clothes, they must be the slaves or bottomed class, citizens.

The buildings were also built differently here, containing more wood, thatch, and bamboo than stone; Victor doubted it can stand the strong wind of Frozehaven or insulate the cold that he was accustomed to, back home. Even the design was varyingly different, a grid-like method to create the wall of every building. It wasn't just the wall that was different, the roof itself was shaped into a downward arc.

A few glances from the residents wandered at both of them, despite it slowly getting dark outside, they were curious and who could blame them. Victor had to bring his chin down even further while Keiko pulled up her hood. Both of them stopped when they arrived at a certain three stories building with a veranda on the top and middle floors. This particular building looked to be some sort of housing or tavern. However, before they could enter the building, Keiko stopped Victor.

"Wait outside.”

Victor responded by nodding his head and stood beside the door. Keiko entered the building while leaving the boy behind, Victor stood outside fidgeting and occasionally glanced around him to watch the people of this town getting ready for the night. There were two things that bothered Victor, a bunch of kids about his age were peeking at him; one of them, a girl with curly brown hair that draped above her shoulders, thick eyebrow, big lips, and dark-skinned girl. That dark-skinned girl seemed to be lower class and seemed to be alone.

Another group was staring at him, it was a group of kids too hard to see behind the corner but managed to see a young girl with straight-dark-haired that draped down her shoulders and have a pretty impressive fair skin; she seemed to be the opposite of the dark-skinned girl, a higher class of people. Could be the daughter of the town mayor, Victor had to make a mental note to stay away from both of them, he doesn't want to attract more attention, and judging by the order Keiko gave him; he should avoid trouble at all cost.