─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Hello and welcome!

Thank you for giving this story a try. The story and characters are my ideas. I do not allow translations nor copying my story. Let me know your thoughts as you read along, I love reading comments! Don't forget to vote, it helps!

Without further ado,

Have fun and happy reading!

-ZappyKite

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Rain trickled down the cold windows of a small house.

Tucked away behind enormous bountiful trees, a humble home stood overshadowed by the lively nature around it.

There lived Kazia Eira along with her grandmother Elara, who had taken her in after Kazia's parents left her. Elara was her only family.

In a way, Kazia felt like her grandmother's house. She always stood in the background, far but close enough to observe the outside. She enjoyed that as the simple thought of being the center of attention frightened her.

But deep down in an obscure corner of her heart, she sometimes wondered what that would be like. Being out there.

Perhaps she unknowingly yearned for something more that was seemingly out of reach and unknown.

Her monotonous life was occasionally interrupted when Esla, her best - and only - friend would visit. Esla had been her best friend for as long as she could remember. Kazia had a faint memory of seeing Esla when they were both very small. Her best friend was very mysterious at times, Kazia had never met her family or seen where she lived. It was strange, but she didn't dare to ask.

Kazia believed Esla came from a rich family. Perhaps she did not want to dwell on her family issues, which is why she never talked about them, Kazia knew that feeling very well. But at times, she felt like Esla pitied her in a way.

Today, everything felt strange to Kazia. The air was colder and smelled like pine cones with a faint sweet woody smell from the burning oak wood in the fireplace. It felt strangely nostalgic.

Kazia's POV:
We all sat at our dining table to eat.

Esla looked like she was having an internal argument with herself for a while until she spoke up.

She took a deep breath, "Um. Well. Okay, so there's this really cool place that I would love to go to, but I cannot dare go alone. Could you accompany me?" Her eyebrows raised in hope.

I looked towards my grandmother in confusion, "Are you well, Esla?" 

Why is she so jittery?

"Oh yes! Why wouldn't I be well? I'm fine!" She smiled.

I looked at her in worry, not buying her words, "Right... Well, where is this place?"

"The place is nearby. Yes."

"And what is it?"

Her eyes darted to my grandmother and then to me, "It's an old museum."

"Since when are you interested in museums?"

"Come on! I enjoy the arts and this is not just any museum, it is an old castle. Don't you love admiring old buildings and stuff?"

I nodded, "Yes, but..."

My grandmother spoke, "You should go. This will do you well."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

She nodded.

Esla clapped, "Great! I'm so excited."

"When are we going then?"

"Tomorrow!"

~Next Day~

I hugged goodbye to my grandmother as she promptly reminded her to take care.

Esla turned the car on as I placed my backpack in the trunk. I waived once more before getting in the car.

At some point, I began to feel excited to see this castle.

However, my excitement began to dwindle when two hours had passed and we were still not there.

"You said it was nearby." I reminded.

Esla nodded, "A few hours away is not THAT far away."

I sighed, "Wake me up when we get there."

After what felt like a few minutes, I began to wake up.

The tallest of trees surrounded us as we passed through a forest.

Finally, a castle began to peak through the trees until it was in full view. It's smaller than I imagined.

Esla drove closer and parked. I quickly got out and stretched as I looked around.

"There's no one here." I spoke.

"It's early. More people will come later. Let's go in."

The large doors creaked as Esla pushed them open. Dust swirled around us as we stepped in.

"You said this was a museum? This place looks like it hasn't been touched in years."

I dusted off the floor with my shoe, it seemed to have some words engraved.

"Do not do that!" Esla panicked.

"I just want to read what it says."

My body froze as soon as I was able to read the letters engraved on the floor.

▪︎EIRA'S LINEAGE PASSAGE▪︎

"What?" My voice sounded like a whisper.

"I'm sorry." She quickly took my hand with a guilty look before she continued,

"Frosted lands surround our empire,
Ravaging ice crystals protect our power,
On crystal spires, the frost warns,
Silver winds through frosted streams,
Tales of our ancestors carved in ice,
As ancient ice begins to glow,
Remnants of stars cover your heart,
Yield our entrance,
At last, let your descendants pass!"

We began to levitate in place once Esla went quiet.

"What are you?!" I screamed in horror.

I closed my eyes as I felt myself floating. A cold breeze swirled around me. I opened my eyes to find myself surrounded by darkness. A big flower began to twirl around me as it emitted a blue glow. But once I touched it, I began to rapidly fall.

Birds chirped in the distance...

As I jolted awake, I was met with a tall ceiling and a hanging chandelier above me as my eyes adjusted to the light.

"Kazia, you're awake. Are you okay?! I'm getting help, please stay here!" She talked fast.

I kept quiet. What is happening? I sat up from the large bed.

I'm so dizzy.

Gathering all my energy, I got up and approached a window. As I moved the curtains to the side, more questions clouded my mind.

I saw a never-ending forest covered in snow. There is nowhere close by us that has snow.

Where are we?! What happened?!

Quickly leaving the room, I speed walked in hopes of finding someone that could help me. I continued until I found a woman.

"Excuse me, could you tell me where we are?" My voice was weak.

She looked surprised before bowing her head, "Welcome back."

"Welcome back to where?!"

"Well, it seems your studies abroad have been for far too long. You have forgotten about your home." She chuckled.

"My home? Who are you? Tell me at once where I am!"

"Oh dear, have you actually forgotten? Well... you were very young when you left." She paused as she inspected my face in pity, "This is Frostarya." She smiled.

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

That's it. I'm finding the way out of here on my own, something very strange is going on here.

"Where are you going?" She worriedly asked.

I ignored her and continued walking. She then called for some guards to chase me as I began to run.

What is wrong with this place?!

The adrenaline in my body made me run like I had never run before as I felt the chills running through me.

After some time, it appeared like I had lost them, but I could not stop running.

I need to get out of here and I still don't know where I am!

When I approached a grand staircase, I began to jump to skip some steps but slipped on the last few steps.

In an attempt to regain balance, I turned my body to try and hold on to the large railing with both of my arms, but still fell.

My legs were propelled on the last few steps as my back rested on the cold marble floor.

"Ouch." I closed my eyes as I grunted in pain.