Chapter 25 The Flame’s Lantern
With a slight thought in his heart, Verafia turned her small face, and in the air, the will of frost surged, lingering within the frost and snow storm outside the flame boundary. She suddenly shook her head and said: “This flame, at least, can last until tomorrow. Ig, tell me, should we…?”
“Perhaps this storm will disperse after dawn,” Ig said, looking at the obvious fatigue on the girl’s small face. “Veer, you should go rest first. I’ll stay on watch tonight.”
Verafia shook her head and stubbornly sat beside Ig. Ig chuckled, looking at the girl’s innocent and beautiful face, which was clearly difficult to sway from her decision. He didn’t refuse but instead draped a thin layer of fine wool blanket over the girl’s slender frame in her thin dress.
Time flowed by with the whistling sound of the frost wind. In the air, the golden light of the divine power crystal ignited, like the gentle morning glow, adorning the girl with soft colors and outlining a few captivating slender lines.
Ophi sat on the other side, her injuries from resisting the frost storm quickly recovering. She rested her hands on her spear, playfully drawing circles on the ground with the butt of the spear. As she seemed to be a bit sleepy, she yawned several times.
It seemed that only the sound of melting frost and snow outside the firelight proved the passage of time. Ig’s one hand was held by the girl beside him, and his eyes were still gazing at Verafia’s serene profile. With his other hand, he picked up a small twig and lightly sketched on the soft soil.
Under the gentle firelight, it was just a few simple lines, but it was a captivating portrait of a young girl’s face.
It was missing the last stroke. Suddenly, Ig’s shoulder dipped slightly, and the last stroke he drew was slightly off.
He turned his head, and the girl’s small head leaned on his shoulder. Her exquisite and long eyelashes were slightly lowered, casting slender shadows on her delicate snowy cheeks.
He felt a subtle wet and soft touch on his neck, like the girl’s light and delicate breathing, which once again tugged at Ig’s heartstrings. He couldn’t help but lean over slightly, wanting to reach out and pick up the girl, but his left hand was still held tightly by her.
“What a willful young lady,” he chuckled softly. After a while, Ig managed to take his left hand out from between the girl’s small hands and gently stroked her beautiful hair.
Silky smooth golden threads flowed through his fingertips. Ig’s clear blue eyes looked at the quiet, beautiful, and increasingly captivating soft little face, a tender and lovely presence. His emotions couldn’t help but stir once again, and he couldn’t help but lean in for another kiss.
Of course, Ig quickly noticed the Ice Dragon Girl opposite him, who was holding her spear and yawning out of boredom. The sudden shame made him quickly turn his head to stop himself.
Ig silently recited three times in his heart, called Ophi, handed Verafia to her, and asked her to take the girl to the tent to rest together. Then he sat back in front of the firelight ignited by the divine power crystal, keeping watch alone.
Behind him, in the boundless night, the frigid snow whistled, but the firelight in front of him shone like a lighthouse.
“If… I were to sit here with my hands propping up a sword, it would be quite artistic, wouldn’t it?” Ig thought suddenly.
It was just a pity that when they fled Lichen City, Verafia had shattered the End’s sword blade when facing Knight Commander Rodrigo, who was blocking them, and released the Phoenix Fire within.
Even now, Lancelot’s sword was still damaged and unusable. For now, Ig was using a well-made fine iron long sword that he had traded for during their escape.
Ig shook his head, his raised gaze sweeping over the falling frost and snow in the sky. The frost, which had already “died” in his True Sight Eye, now reflected a crystal luster in the glow emitted by the fire of light.
…
The flame of the divine power crystal continued to burn until dawn. Ig looked up, and there were still residual embers around, and the blizzard had stopped.
He stood up, stimulated his somewhat fatigued spirit with magic, and moved his stiff limbs a bit. He walked to the side of the tent and softly called out, “Young Lady, Little Fei?”
There was no reply. What lingered in the air were the faint breaths of the girls, as if they were still asleep.
Ig hesitated for a moment, then pulled open the tent. In his sight, Ophi was cradling the petite girl in her arms as if she were a soft doll. Her exquisite little face was resting on the girl’s delicate, exposed shoulder as her dress was half-undone. Her frost-blue slender dragon tail was also loosely coiled around the girl’s slender waist.
“Why does it look like the Young Lady is being eaten by Little Fei?” Ig couldn’t help but smile. However, there was no movement during his watch. Thinking about it, it was probably just this lively and active little princess of the Dragon Clan who was restlessly tossing her Young Lady around after falling asleep.
… Well, Veer is quiet after falling asleep, so it’s mostly Little Fei causing trouble.
As he approached the tent, Ig also saw that his Young Lady’s small head was resting on the Ice Girl’s soft chest, her snow-white little face slightly flushed. Recalling that Verafia had been sulking several times over the past three months due to comparisons with Ophi, a smile crept onto his lips.
However, Ig still shook the girl’s slender arm.
“Mmm…” Verafia opened her long eyelashes somewhat hazily, uttering a faint sound in a soft voice. The Ice Dragon Girl beside her also opened her eyes sleepily. Seeing them get up, Ig consciously withdrew from the tent.
After a good while, Verafia pulled her dress together, slipped her small white feet into her high-heeled short boots, and walked out of the tent.
“Mmm, has the snow already… stopped?” She opened her golden eyes somewhat hazily, but the surroundings were still a vast expanse of white, like frost-covered mist diffused in the air. A cold wind blew, making her involuntarily hug herself tightly and shiver.
“Veer, the wind is still very cold. You should still bring your magic device,” Ig’s voice came from the side as he tidied his belongings. Verafia nodded her small head obediently and took out the magic bracelet embedded with a flame crystal, fastening it onto her wrist.
“This frost mist should be the remnants from yesterday’s snow. In True Sight, it still carries the will of ice and cold, but it seems to be suppressed by the residual light from the burned divine power crystal.” Hearing Ig’s voice, Verafia moved her golden eyes. After the flame crystal divine power burned out last night, it looked like a flame gemstone with settled colors, still emitting light and blocking the surrounding frost mist.
“Perhaps, if we carry it with us, it might be useful?” Verafia tilted her small head and said speculatively.
Ig nodded and asked Ophi, who had just emerged from the tent, to condense a lantern with frost magic. After placing the flame gemstone inside, he handed it to the girl.
