Artore kingdom, located in the central of Aproxi land. Artore kingdom is one of the oldest kingdoms that survived for more than 1000 years. It was more than satisfying that it could survive for more than that. As one of the oldest kingdom. Artore is respected and feared. Their army consists strong individuals and always been trained well. The royal family only birth one or two children so there is no fight over the throne. Except if the first and the second children is a girl, they will have the third child till a son is born.

But the current king outlawed this unwritten rule. He had three princes and four princesses. Royal dispute clearly will happen and people might afraid that the kingdom’s balance will be destroyed. So far, their previous kings are good and wise. Even though they are not master in any subjects, they able to make the kingdom prosperous in their own way.

The current king is Thanor XXII Gulstrein. He had three wives and seven children. Known as naughty king but smart in economy manipulation. His people always worried about this king.

But it’s not about this king. It’s about the fourth princess. Clara Gulstrein. Age fifteen years old, her mother is a maid becoming a concubine. Even though she is a princess, she is not living as a princess. But as an apprentice of the royal wizard. Her aptitude for magic is amazing and she also possesses the black flame. A flame that burns anything and never extinguish except by the wielder’s will. She got it after her mother saved a fallen dragon and took care of him till he is able to fly. The dragon reveals that he is the crown prince of the dragon and promise that the daughter of her will inherit black flame as a gratitude.

Even though black flame is a bless, it also bringing calamity. Assassins attempt to murder Clara or kidnap her. To make sure her safety, she lived inside a tower and only a few allow to meet her. She then became the royal wizard’s apprentice to train her magic and control her black flame.

Right now, she is inside her bedroom sitting nearby the window and gazing the dark sky without stars and moon. Her face is beautiful and her hair and eyes are fiery red. This isn’t inheritance from her mother or father, it’s because the black flame changed her gene. Her body is considered tall for a girl and still under developing.

Knock knock

“Enter.” she said softly and a lady enters the room. The lady wears an elegant robe that covers her body line and she wears a hood that covers her face.

“Not sleeping?” the lady asked.

Clara didn’t turn her body and keep gazing the sky, she replies.

“Master said black flame can’t be extinguished. But I found that white ice can extinguish it.” the lady is none other than her master, the royal wizard.

“Clara.... Black flame can’t be extinguished but there are several ways you make black flame disappear. Such a dimensional change. But what about white ice? It’s an ice that isn’t supposed to be here.”

“What do you mean?” finally Clara turned her head towards her master.

“White ice was created by the Hero Reifu, he is the master of elementals and but mainly use ice magic. He created white magic when he encountered Dragon king. To defeat the black flame, he created a white ice. An ice colored by white, not transparent. The ice isn’t cold but never melted. It only melts once it meets black flame and so black flame will extinguish once meet white ice.” her master explained.

“So.... It’s like weak each other. Is there anyone besides Hero Reifu?”

“After Hero Reifu death, Undead king begins to arise and he also possessed white ice. Not just white ice but also a black ice. An ice that cold and deadly that it will take weak souls. A forbidden ice. After the defeat of Undead king. Till now, there isn’t sight of white ice.”

“Does that mean black flame can’t be defeated?”

“Yes.... There is no one strong enough to face black flame magic except the Dragon king and his bloodline. But Clara.... If there is a person with white ice. Get closer to that person. With both of you together, black flame and white ice shall become the strongest duo.” her master chuckled thinking about that. Clara didn’t understand what her master thinking about but she really wanted to see a white ice.

“So Clara, the reason why I come here-”

“Academy isn’t?”

Her master is silent but then confirm it.

“Yes, you shall attend Rashburg Academy in neutral zone. You also must bring two bodyguards with you.”

Hearing that, Clara laughed and move to her bed.

“Is there any other person that I could trust to become my bodyguards?” she asked with a smile. In her life, many people tried to assassinate her or kidnap her. She felt the terror and afraid to interact with others except for people she trusts. The reason why she will go to the academy is because of her age and she must face the outside world.

“I don’t know, but you have to. Your father will prepare-” she stopped and shifted her gaze to the window. Clara frowned upon seeing her master quiet all of sudden.

“Master?”

“This is bad....”

“What’s the matter, master?”

“Undead king...”

◆◇◇◆

“Undead king has returned, gather all units!”

In the deep forest located to the north. Lies a hidden village of elves. An elf man looks troubled and many other elves gathered and kneeled before him.

“Elder, did something happened?” one of them asked.

“Undead king has returned, contact the Union and search the Undead king whereabouts!”

“Yes, elder!”

Those people quickly leave and start moving.

“Lita!” the elder called an elf girl. The elf girl stopped and turned towards the elder. She has white hair and green eyes. As expected of an elf, she is beautiful and young.

“Yes elder?” she said.

“You will refrain from going on the search.”

“What? But-”

“You will go to Rashburg Academy. You have an important mission there.”

“Mission?” she asked in curiosity.

“To make sure the Azure crystal doesn't fall to the Undead king or his followers.”

“Yes, elder.”

Lita bowed and then leave. The elder then sighed and walks around the village. His name is Calez. Lived for 800 years, even though he never saw or felt the Undead king’s terror. He heard the stories from the other elves when he was a kid. He heard how frightful the Undead king is and must be stopped by any means.

He took out a pendant he wore in his clothes. A small round pendant with small white ice inside it shining. This is the reason why he could felt the Undead king is returned.

There are 12 pendants like this. Once, these pendants were a white ice that Dragon king kept but he separated it into 12 pieces so that 12 chosen people able to notice the Undead king arrival. This white ice is special, it’s imbued with Undead king’s power and if another Undead king appears or the late Undead king returned, the white ice will shine and giving a chill.

“Let’s pray it never happen again...” he said, he prays the nightmare winter will never happen.