Sharp scrapes on delicate flesh.

Gravity pulling his slender body into darkness. Solid ice like thorns scratched deeply, eventually tearing the thick layer of fabric on his skin. He did not feel blood. Everything happened so suddenly.

Moulin held Snow tight in his embrace. Although he did it to bring some sort of comfort to himself as he fell deeper into the earth. He felt that the hole was narrow and that it was hard to breathe. It was pitch black but he did not know that for his eyes were shut tight.

Suddenly, he felt a sense of entry. As if he had entered through something unknown, however, he didn't have the time to pay attention to it. What came next was the sudden splash of freezing water. Moulin held his breath. His body felt light but it was still falling. Like an invisible force was pushing him deeper into the depths of the waters.

Fear. He felt fear.

When Moulin thought that he was going to suffocate, his body was then plunged into a persistent force. He sensed mana. Gravity and air reappeared.

Thud!

"Augh..."

His back heavily crashed on cold rough ground. There were rocks digging into his skin. He could feel his skin breaking and peeling.

Moulin panted.

Silence filled the air as he breathed heavily and rapidly. His body was damp and white strands of hair stuck to his forehead. A droplet fell from his lashes as they fluttered open. The embrace around Snow loosened and his limbs went limp as he laid on the ground.

Snow jumped out from his arm and shook the water off his fur. Afterwards, he quickly turned and whimpered as he neared Moulin. He nuzzled his snout on his master's scratched cheek.

Moulin groaned feeling the ache all over his body. As his vision adjusted, he narrowed his eyes around him. What welcomed his sight was the dark rocky ceiling. Water dripped from its protruding surfaces.

"Ao!" Snow nudged Moulin with his head, urging his master to get up.

Snow's sound echoed around him. Moulin achingly sat up as he held his head and looked around. Where was he?

Unexpectedly, as he turned to look behind him, his gaze confronted the glinting tip of a black spear. Its shine was ruthless and dangerous. Moulin narrowed his eyes as he lifted his stare.

He froze.

Mouth unconsciously opens.

There was a pair of silver eyes staring back at him. Unlike his and Snow's eyes, it was slightly darker but the cautious gleam in them was dazzling. It was a girl who possessed those eyes.

Her straight platinum hair fell elegantly on her back. She wore what Moulin had recognized was a nightgown. There was a beautiful emerald pendant resting on her clean forehead. However, what entirely caught Moulin's attention was the points of her ears and her emerald-like eyes. Dismissing her fierce expression and the sharp spear within her grasp, Moulin squinted his eyes as he somehow found someone familiar through her...

"Who are you?" She narrowed her eyes as she threatened Moulin with the spear.

Moulin blinked his eyes a few times before realizing his current circumstances. Disregarding his tattered clothes, he forced himself to stand up. His legs felt slightly wobbly but he rose with ease. The dangerous point of the spear carefully followed his movements, finally threatening Moulin's beauteous face.

The elven girl gasped once she noticed the pair of vibrant silver eyes belonging to the young before him. Her eyes widened as she lowered her spear, "You're one of the prisoner's too? Then why..." She shifted her gaze upwards where Moulin fell.

As she was trying to find a way out of this hellhole, she hid inside this one room to escape her pursuers. She was surprised to see someone suddenly fall from the ceiling. There wasn't even a hole there! Wait... she observed Moulin. Perhaps, there was a hidden passage in the ceiling?

"You... how did you fall from up there? Were you trying to escape too?" She asked.

Moulin glanced at Snow before answering. "Before I answer can you please point that thing elsewhere?" He pointed at the spear which was pointing at his stomach.

The elf instantly apologized as she put away the spear, "Forgive me... I was startled!"

"It's alright." Moulin shook his head. His eyes swept across the dreary room then finally landed his gaze on her. "Are you trying to escape?"

She looked at him as if confused, "Yes, aren't you too?"

"I am not one of the prisoners, Miss," Moulin said as he unpinned the Leonile emblem clasping his cape together. "I am from the Leonile guild. We are here to rescue the prisoners..."

...

Her eyes widened after a few seconds. Hope filled her eyes as she sighed in relief, "Thank goodness... Oh, thank the gods there are people here to save us..." She smiled faintly as he gripped the spear. She abruptly took a step forward. Her eyes assessing Moulin. "But aren't you... an aphrodite?"

Moulin frowned. Is she trying to start a fight? A brow twitched.

"I am..." he replied blandly.

"That's amazing!" Her eyes brightened. She began to draw near with eager steps making Moulin back away in nervousness. "Incredible! Honestly, I have never seen a real aphrodite in my whole life! I've seen them in pictures and paintings but really! You are quite a sight! A sentinel at that! You must be quite powerful, yes?"

"Uhh..." Moulin furrowed his brows as he stepped backwards. "Will you please move-"

"Does that mean you completed all the trials to join the guild? Oh goodness! You must be the first aphrodite to join a guild! I can't believe it!" Her bright eyes sparkled with delight. It was completely different from her previous fierce expression when Moulin first met her eyes.

When Moulin was about to hold her still, Snow suddenly sounded. His tiny snout pointed at the wooden door.

Suddenly, multiple footsteps could be heard from beyond the door. Moulin instantly covered the elf's mouth and pulled her with him to lean on the wall where when the open door would conceal them. His silver eyes narrowed dangerously as he listened. Snow scurried beside Moulin's feet immediately

"Find that elf! Now!"

"She went over here!"

"Secure the other prisoners!"

When their footsteps gradually faded, Moulin heaved a sigh. A rosy finger tapped on Moulin's hand covering her mouth. He slowly apologized and released her.

She exhaled and patted her full chest. "I was loud, I apologize... My name is Eilhara."

"Moulin..." Moulin whispered as he bowed slightly. He then checked his gear if anything was missing.

"Moulin? Wait..." She pondered as she squinted her eyes. "Sorry, you just have the same name of the arrogant aphrodite that mercilessly ruined a poor man's engagement ceremony... I think I-"

"Really..." Moulin stopped. He narrowed his eyes at her and a corner of his lips quirked up. "Is that so..."

"Why does your expression makes me feel doubtful?" Eilhara furrowed her brows as she pouted.

"Perhaps you were just imagining it, Lady Eilhara" Moulin responded as he pushed his wet hair back from his forehead. Seriously? Was it such a big deal that the news could even reach the ears of the people in Thundralln?

"Now, we must hurry. Tell me... where are the other prisoners?" He lowered his gaze and fiddled with his conveying band around his wrist.

How do you turn this thing on again?

"Umm..." She tried to recall her brief escapade. "We were locked up in the dungeon of the west wing. But some of us were escorted elsewhere. I don't know where they are but I think they're still alive. When I heard there was a commotion within the castle, the guards who were supposed to watch us left their posts and ran off. I was one of the people who were escorted just before the commotion, I took the chance to knock off the guards but I was seen. And I... found myself here..." She gripped the spear in her hands, "Can we get out of here?"

Moulin gave her a smile. He reached out to grasp her shoulder gently, "Don't worry, your highness. We will leave here safely... you are very brave..."

Eilhara flinched. She blinked her eyes, enthralled by the captivating eyes of the aphrodite in front of him. She bit her lips as a flush secretly layered her rosy cheeks. 'Maybe I should tell my brothers if a marriage between an aphrodite and an elven royal was possible? Perhaps it would cause a terrible stir' she secretly giggled.

Wait... your highness?

She flinched. Her eyes widened in shock, "Y-You know me?" How is that possible! "H-How-... Did my brothers tell y-..."

Crash!

Eilhara shielded her face with her arms subconsciously as the door slammed open. Splinters flew and their figures were spotted. Three men in crimson robes and ferocious eyes entered the room.

"Found two over here!" One yelled at the stoned hallways before charging inside.

Eilhara stepped back in fright. They were going to be captured! She held her spear and forced herself to face the incoming danger. No way was she going to stay still! She was going to fight for her life!

However, before she could move, she felt the presence of everflowing mana and a chilling breeze. She paused. Her eyes fixed on the youth standing in front of her, shielding her from the three enemies. She felt the hair on her skin rise as the sudden cold surrounded the room.

The men's eyes widened. Red eyes gleamed ferociously. Unsheathing their swords and their wrath, they lunged at the silvered eye man.

Moulin narrowed his eyes as he lifted his hands. A frosty mist circled him. "Malefics..." The name felt irksome as it rolled his tongue.

He stepped vertically, dodging a spear piercing towards his stomach. He grabbed the metal body of the weapon and sent a freeze towards the man wielding the weapon. The gloved hands of the malefic froze, skin attached, peeling and freezing.

He released a painful scream, ceasing abruptly when the ice reached his throat.

Moulin pushed away the spear letting the man shatter as it tilted and crash on the floor. 'I should kill them quietly...' He will not risk sending another group towards this room.

A dagger grazed Moulin's cheek making the youth curse. His eyes glowed as he summoned several ice stakes and launched them towards the man with the dagger. The rat was quite agile as he manages to dodged Moulin's attack. The malefic threw groups of daggers at him. It pierced the air with a swish! Moulin gnashed his teeth.

Another malefic charged and sent a kick towards Moulin. Moulin ducked and unsheathed the sword on his belt. He kicked the man's gut and sent him a few steps backwards.

Moulin smirked. They really are tough...

"Surrender now!" The malefic with daggers roared.

Moulin glowered. From beneath his feet, he spreads out a sheet of the freeze directly towards the two opponents. It was fast and deadly. A familiar technique Moulin always uses when he was in a hurry to end the fight.

The malefics didn't have time to escape. Nevertheless, they had nowhere to escape to even if they tried. Their feet got trapped and they struggled violently. They kept shouting and screaming as the ice froze their feet, their knees, and up to their waist.

Woosh!

A spear pierced a malefic's throat, blood-splattered, ending the loud words. Moulin turned and saw Eilhara pick up a corpse's spear and threw it at the other's chest.

...

Seconds later, two frozen corpses impaled by spears stood like statues. Moulin glanced at the elven princess.

Eilhara grinned proudly, "We make a good team!"

'They would still die even if you did nothing...'

Moulin sighed and turned away from her bright eager eyes, "Let's go..."