Chapter 27: If I Can Never See You Again

Tina had been tailing Althea since her departure, following her into this isolated pocket of the world.
She overheard Althea’s conversation with the villager clearly, and the presence of the Mistmoon Cult was an unexpected variable.
It seemed following her was the best decision Tina had ever made.

Meanwhile—

Althea struggled forward, using a wind barrier to shield herself from the blizzard. The higher she climbed, the harsher the climate grew.
She relied on fire magic for warmth while staying vigilant for beasts lurking in the woods.

Reaching the mountainside, the storm eased, clearing her vision.
Before her was a flat clearing with several black tents, likely a temporary camp.

“As expected, the colors and style scream Mistmoon Cult. Let’s see if anyone’s around.”

After observing and finding no patrols, Althea crept along the stone wall, slipping silently into a tent.
Inside were tables with steaming cups, suggesting recent activity, but nothing useful—just firewood.

“Let’s try another.”

She entered another tent and heard muffled groans.
A girl, about twelve or thirteen, was tied to a wooden frame, mouth gagged with paper, her frail body covered in scratches.

Althea quickly freed her, sharing some of her rations.
After catching her breath, the girl, voice trembling with tears, said, “Thank you, big sister. If not for you, I…”

“Don’t be scared. You’re safe now. Tell me, who tied you up, and why?” Althea soothed her, eager for clues about the cult.

“They were black-robed people, talking about controlling the guardian beast, preparing for it. I was playing hide-and-seek with friends, overheard their plans, and got caught…”

Blood still seeped from the girl’s wounds—she’d clearly been tortured and couldn’t descend the mountain alone.
“Here’s the plan: I’ll bandage your wounds, you come with me up the mountain, and I’ll get you home after. Okay?”

Time was tight. Taking her back now would waste half a day.
“Okay.”

Before she finished, an arrow pierced the tent, grazing the girl’s face, leaving a fresh scar.
“Get behind me!”

Althea raised an earth wall, blocking more attacks, only to see high-ranking Mistmoon Cultists surrounding them.
“Well, well, isn’t it our new king? How’d you find this place? After the beast too, huh?” sneered a robed archer.

“You’re the ones with ill intentions, not me.” Althea had no time for chatter—she wanted this fight over.

But outnumbered and drained from the climb, protecting the girl while defending herself was tough.
After several defensive counters, she took minor hits. They were just scratches, but she couldn’t keep this up.

As she strategized, an elite with a greatsword flanked her. She instinctively fired ice spikes, but simultaneous magical bombardments came from both sides, targeting her and the girl.
Resistance seemed futile—one of them would get hurt.

Suddenly, the puppet at Althea’s waist glowed faintly, instantly immobilizing the attackers.
Seizing the chance, Althea unleashed wind blades, slicing through the frozen cultists, ending the fight.

“It’s… over? The puppet has magic?”

Still reeling, Althea realized that while she aimed to save the disabled girl, Tina had saved her instead.
In a nearby tent, Tina quietly picked up a cultist’s notebook, reading:

[The guardian beast is deranged. Breaking its seal releases curses that cause severe mental effects, even hallucinations. A magic array must be used at the moment of unsealing to control it, allowing its curses to be studied.]

She tore the paper to shreds, letting them scatter into the snow.
Tina had no intention of sharing this with Althea, growing more curious about the moment they’d face the beast.

To leave this place, the witch’s seal had to be broken. But doing so would unleash a berserk beast, potentially leveling everything. Failure to control it could destroy the kingdom.
Only another witch’s seal could subdue it.

Tina wondered: would Althea sacrifice the kingdom or just one witch—her?

…

With her remaining magic, Althea rested briefly before continuing with the girl.
After climbing further, the peak’s jagged stone came into view—eerily like her dream.

The déjà vu unsettled her, fearing the dream’s horrors might repeat.
But a bigger problem loomed.

On the only path to the peak, a thick fog rose, shrouding everything, obscuring direction.
As the fog spread with the wind, Althea was soon engulfed.

Voices echoed within—familiar ones.
Her late father’s figure appeared, scolding:

“Why come here alone? Is a cripple worth abandoning your kingdom, your life? Are you worthy of your people?”

The harsh words snapped Althea awake—it wasn’t her father, just a fog-induced phantom.
Her real father loved her unconditionally, always supporting her.

Ignoring the illusions, she pressed on.
Another voice came:

“Big sister, you never saved me. Your so-called help was a lie, leading me to tragedy. You killed your own kin.”

It was Rune, but Althea didn’t react much.
She’d wronged him before, but made amends later.

Their last meeting held no resentment from him—only guilt.
Althea knew the fog amplified and twisted inner fears, targeting those with weak mental defenses.

It couldn’t harm her.
Her resolve was ironclad.

“I’ve never been happy with you.” A light voice froze Althea for a moment.
It was her.

“What can you do? Without a witch’s help, you’re just a fugitive princess, unable to save the kingdom even in death.

Your dreams of being together, of marriage—they’re delusions. I set this trap to watch you suffer, and you fell for it without a thought. What a naive fool.”

“…She wouldn’t say that.”

Althea clenched her teeth.
“Oh? You think I truly love you? Love at first sight? Laughable. Isn’t it you, weak and desperate, trying to chain someone who doesn’t belong to you?”

“Enough… stop it!”

Anger surged, and Althea’s wounds bled again.
But moments later, at the fog’s center, the clamor faded as the mist cleared, revealing the path.

“What happened?” She scanned around, seeing only the girl.
A voice came from behind:

“Don’t worry, Althea. I’m always with you.”

A warm pair of arms wrapped around her. Stunned, Althea wondered if the fog lingered, if this was another illusion.
“I’m not fake. Look behind you.”

That familiar face appeared, her expression a mix of excitement, worry, annoyance, and a touch of relief.
“Why’d you follow? I told you it’s dangerous!” Althea’s first concern was Tina’s safety, not surprise.

Tina was her only weakness.
“Don’t lecture me! You came alone—don’t I get to worry too?”

“Sorry…” Althea had no counter. “The puppet and the fog—was that you helping me?”

“Yup.” Tina nodded cheerfully.

“Thank you, Tina.” Words couldn’t capture Althea’s feelings. She just wanted to walk this path with her, overcome the odds, and be together forever.

“Don’t worry, we’ll succeed.”

Tina smiled, encouraging Althea, though perhaps only she knew it was a hollow smile, pushing them toward a doomed end.
It was time to find an ending for their simulation.