CH3 Queen of Ice

- Sorry! - I apologize again. Meaningless pretext follows - I could not do anything.

Apologizing is all I do. I wonder if she is tired of it already. The pathetic and incapable, that side of me.

- I will follow you no matter where. - Words sound fake and distant. The girl answers looking out the window with a stale gaze. Wind is messing her hair. Something is off.

In search of salvation, my eyes slide back to the garden. If I seek strength, I need more Ls. That place is a paradise of new discoveries, no matter how dangerous that could be.

I lock the door. No one can enter and interrupt now. I can do what needs to be done.

I look through the Shop and from the leisure time goods section buy two items for Shea. One is smaller, with soft, silky cover and one is thicker, covered in small, weird bumps. One should be to her liking. Both are more targeted to women but look interesting, maybe I too should check them out tonight.

I put both books on the bed, side by side, with words - These will keep you company while I gather some Ls. Do not let anyone in. When I am done, I will teleport to your position, do not leave.

Shea chooses the thick tome and sits on the bed. I see she likes a challenge. Note to myself: I need to ask how was it.

I focus my mind on the spot before the entrance to the flower garden. It's a success! I The large gate with blooming stone vines reaching towards the sky appears in front of me. I slip in and hide behind the rock wall serving as a fence. No one should see me now.

"Matsuda has entered the garden!"

Tens upon tens of flowers, bushes and small trees are in full bloom. Most like nothing I have seen. Butterflies and bees flutter around. A sight so different from the emptiness of the meadow where we spent two days in dead nothingness.

Cool air is filled with a cocktail of scents. One particularly sweet and persuasive is brought along by a timid wind.

I sneak along the wall. When at a safe distance from the entrance, I take out the book and open it. Ancient spirits come out and haste to do the job.

Now that I am in asylum and expect to get some additional Ls, it is time to look into this book more. It too has an option to upgrade. The first upgrade costs 2500. I hesitate but choose to do it.

"Explorer's journal upgraded to LVL2!"

"Exploration distance: 20 (+16);

Explorer units: 250 (+150);

Linker units: 5 (+5);

Network capacity: 7500 (+3000);

New skill: Compact Mode;

New skill: Covert Mode;

Skill upgrade: Consume;"

A large wave of new light bubbles spreads out. Five, many times larger and brighter, follow. These new move very slowly, arranging at an angle of 72 degrees. Further light bubbles now visit the bigger ones, not the book. Some now fly between the bigs and the book, making a live network. Bubbles reach out much further.

- Covert Mode! - I command and bubbles turn transparent, only at times revealing their position. A meter saying "Detectability: 5%" appears in sight.

- Compact Mode! - I order and the book turns into a large white sphere, raises into the air and begins slowly rotating around. It too is almost invisible. My hands are finally free.

The Menu has a "Network" tab now. A scheme displays the position of 5 bigger bubbles and the book. "Positioning: Spread Out" says a selector below. Under the map sit parameters: Session total: 1691, Data rate: 22Ls/sec, Damage rate: 0 u/s, Capacity: 22%. There is a list called "Ignore" at the end.

This is great! Upgrading was a success! Soon I have recovered the 2500Ls spent.

I keep moving further along the wall, every time the data rate drops. There is just enough space to get through without damaging the plants. Making any mess after the wonderful treatment we received is a bad idea.

A row of large flowers leaning against the wall inevitably blocks my progression. I hesitate but step on one of the stone pathways running throughout the garden.

Only a wall of bushes with tiny blooms separates me from the center of the garden. I can see the roof of the gazebo on the other side. I wonder how it looks and what is it used for...

Detectability shoots to 65%. A wave of frigid fear runs down the spine. Freezing gaze easily passes the lush growth and hits my back paralyzing. A monochrome command comes from the other side - Come here!

I hastily put away the book and step out of my hideout, ready for punishment. Frosty breeze hits my face.

A lonely girl like a mirage all lost in a book is sitting on a bench in the gazebo. Expressionless eyes matching in color the sky above are flying through the lines. Light dress decorated with summer sways in the wind, bangs flowing from under an enormous hat smash against the shoulders and shatter, porcelain skin wears bits of the evening sun - all that white as the cleanest snow.

I am much better covered, but my body feels so cold. I am about to start shivering. How is it possible to sit here in such a light attire.

The girl raises the eyes from the book and looks directly into mine. Icy dessert spreads around freezing my body on spot. Warmth quickly leaves the blood, each heartbeat takes more and more time. Even my thoughts ruthlessly slow down.

- Lem lai-la sei! - words like a bird's morning song in spring come my way. Cold slowly leaves the body, giving place to a pleasant warmth. The girl is still looking in the eyes, now these blue bits of the sky warm like a gentle sun.

After a moment the girl shakes her head in disbelief and returns back to the book. The omnipresent cold has disappeared forever.

Something blooms in the heart. I instinctively know these words were important, maybe the most important I could hear, but I don't understand them.

- I do not speak Ancient. - I hurry to explain in Demon, but there is no reaction. I wonder if she even heard.

Should I leave? Or stay? I feel anxious. Why did she even call me, and what is with that debilitating gaze I felt earlier.

- Sem alen in? - after reading for a while the girl closes the book and puts on the lap. She looks surprised.

Sorry! - is all I can muster and she probably does not understand that. Her pleasant words are a mystery to me.

- Ailin? Nali? (The girl, Ancient)

Lei Kooli! - the girl points at her chest - Kooli! Sem?

Is she asking for my name? I point at myself. The girl nods lightly and answers with vigor - Hal!

Lei Matsuda! - I adapt the expression she used.

- Sei al Ma-tsu-da? - eyes of the ghostly girl open widely.

I nod in agreement - Hal, Matsuda!

- Si ali ka-lai! - Girl bursts into laughter. She stands up and slowly says with clear diction - Tali al kai-la-si eni...

After checking my confused expression Kooli says, this time in Demon - Eaten… went… neede...

"Need to go eat", it finally hits me...

- Lalim! - after confirming success the girl leaves towards the gate.

I hide behind one of the large, white marble columns that support the gazebo's roof and teleport back to the room.

Shea is overjoyed to see me and without saying a word hurries to the restroom.

I'm standing near the window when Kooli passes below and looks up. Our eyes meet again. Confused she looks back at the gazebo, then again at me. She nods and goes further.

When Shea returns I start the question torturing me - Lem lai-la sei!

Shea is astonished and blushes - You entrust your heart to me? I do not know what to answer, I...

- Ah, that's what it means. I wanted to ask for a translation. Sorry! - What did Kooli mean with that?

- N-no, it's fine. - Shea is at first disappointed, but then asks with renewed interest - Where did you hear that?

.

- A lonely, ghost-like girl in the garden said it. - Wait, this is not going to end well. Why did I answer without thinking.

-A-a girl? - Shea stutters, nailing me in place with her stare.

Knock! Knock! - we are interrupted just in time! This person deserves a kiss of gratitude!

An orderly dressed man in his thirties enters the room. He is wearing a black lackey uniform. His name is "Belhe" and he is a 49th level red dragon - It is time for the supper, sir Matsuda, lady Shea. Please, follow me!

The kiss will have to wait. I need to prepare my heart and mind. He looks handsome though.

- Can I wear the dress? - Shea childishly pinches my hand. I can see a plea in her eyes.

I nod in agreement. It's not something I would support in our situation, but it seems too important for her to prioritize cold reason.