Episode 13

The days turned into weeks, the weeks into months, and the months into years, but the war seemed to have no end. While in the palace, the emperors enjoyed peace and celebrated the crown prince's birthdays, on the battlefield, thousands of soldiers struggled between life and death. Arek fought to stand, overcoming battles and the nightmares they left him with. At first, he had trouble sleeping, dreaming of his companions bathed in blood on the battlefield or feeling that if he fell asleep, the enemy would attack him. That's how the first few years were, but little by little his mind and heart hardened, becoming a skilled warrior. He wanted to end that war soon, return home and see Katerina again, since she very rarely sent letters, where she gave him encouragement and also told him that she was also training, that she wanted to improve her magic.

Arek felt at peace every time a letter from her arrived because it let him know that someone was waiting for him in the empire.

On the other hand, years ago, the empress found out where Katerina had gone and sent Rowan with the desire that he would win her love, but Katerina simply gave him lodging for a week and during that time, she ignored him. She went out to train very early and took classes. This tired Rowan, who soon returned to the palace resigned, but the empress told him that the emperor had not approved the dissolution of the engagement and although the marquis pressed, the emperor did not give in. Still, that wasn't much help. So the empress suggested that they should look for the true saint. If he finds her and wins her heart, they will have the support of the temple, which is worth much more than the support of the marquis. So Rowan, for the next few years has dedicated himself to searching for the saint, but without success.

4 years have passed now, Arek was now a 19 year old man, nothing remained of that 15 year old boy, now his appearance was more masculine and his body more toned thanks to the battles he has faced. That morning he and Jack were looking at the map for their next strategy, when a soldier enters all agitated and after calming down, tells them that the enemy has suffered a casualty on the southern slopes, a troop of a thousand men was destroyed by an unknown enemy and the northern mountains, few survived, but these claim that their comrades ended up frozen and they saw a mysterious woman who seemed to freeze everything in her path.

"The ice witch, that's what they said. The enemy sent a troop to the mountains to investigate what happened," the soldier mentions.

Jack and Arek look at each other, it was a hard situation to believe and they couldn't rejoice, although the enemy lost two troops, it doesn't mean that this mysterious attacker is on their side, so they must be careful.

Near the mountains, three men flee through the forest, terrified, one of them can barely move because his foot is frozen and the other two are shivering from the cold, because the forest itself was frozen, a fog covered the ground of that place and as they escape in the darkness, you can hear the edge of something being dragged along the ground and the mischievous laughter of a woman echoes through the forest. The men try to flee faster.

"Look at yourselves, until a moment ago you were laughing and telling your plans of what you would do with the women of the empire, but now, you are running from one," the laughter echoes throughout the forest.

"No please...mercy."

"It was all a joke, forgive me please."

"Have mercy, my lady."

"Don't worry, one of you will make it out of here, I want all your allies to know that the ice witch is coming for them."

From the shadows emerges a hooded figure dragging a scythe, which leaves a trail of ice in its wake. This weapon was lifted by that person with one hand and only the screams of those men are heard, but just as she said, only one was left alive and when he opened his eyes, he saw no more of that person, so he quickly stood up to flee from that place.

On the other side of the forest, that hooded person approaches a beautiful white griffin, which flaps its wings a little when it sees her, she climbs on the back of the animal and it rises to fly away from that destroyed camp. She will do everything possible to end the war early so she can begin her plan, which will be to gain the throne.

***

In a matter of days, it was already known about the mysterious woman who was devastating small enemy troops, so they were beginning to worry, not only did they have to defeat the army of Lutzalya, but also this woman who was attacking them. The generals of Ketzania, have reported this fact to the emperor and he has sent one of his sons, because he refuses to believe that a single woman is causing them problems, even if there are powerful magicians, no one could defeat so many men. The third prince of Ketzania, Edwin Linux, 27 years old, had arrived and was being briefed on everything, as the second prince of Lutzalya, was leading his troops well, despite being only 15 years old when it all began. Edwin points out different routes on the map, which could be used to get ahead.

"Send the fifth squadron along this route, if they can get through, we can attack from within," Edwin points out.

As ordered by the third prince, the troops were quickly dispatched. After a couple of hours, they had managed to get through, they were happy to know that they would be able to attack the Lutzalya army from the rear and inflict heavy casualties, but just on the night they were camped, they began to feel the air cooling, the temperature was dropping rapidly. So they came out of their tents to look for more blankets in the carriages, but these were already covered in ice.

"The Ice Witch," mentions one of the soldiers, who was frightened.

"What? That can't be."

"Witches disappeared centuries ago."

"There can't be anyone with that much power."

"Of course witches exist, but we live peacefully, although you have made the mistake of awakening me," the voice of a woman is heard.

Everyone looks up and on top of the carriage, was a beautiful blonde with blue eyes, who was looking at them with a smile and without them being able to do anything, Katerina raised her hands and ice daggers appeared above them, which launched themselves at the soldiers, that night only screams of despair could be heard, but some managed to escape through the forest, although the echo of some kind of gunfire could be heard, Katerina turned to the entrance of the forest and as she got down from the carriage and walked towards that place, the moonlight illuminated the image of a handsome blond with blue eyes, it was the spitting image of Katerina, but this one was a man.

"Thomas..." Katerina mentions.

"It seems you've been having fun without me," he smiles.

...

*****NOTE*****

Now the question arises, stepmother or sister-in-law 🫢 hahaha

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