Chapter 2. The Northen Lights 11

When the paladins were ready to move, Gray asked,

“Shall we leave now?”

At that time, Eiolin asked Duran,

“It is strange. Sir Duran, have you seen Rashid today?”

“Isn’t he in the tent?”

Eiolin got inside the tent and checked,

“No, he isn’t. And his sword and armor are gone.”

“Where is he going?”

Paladins were looking for him, and took all around the
village, but they could not find him.

“Hmm.. it is….?”

Gray found something on the snow field. Eiolin asked
Gray,

“Did you find anything?”

Gray pointed out the footprints on the ground.

“Take a look at this. As I can see the size, and depth
of the footprints, surely they are Rashid’s.
He must have gone this way.”

Gray pointed out the place, and there was Castle of
Ice.

“Oh my!!! Rashid!”

Eiolin and everyone there were astonished.

“It means Rashid is in Castle of Ice now?”

Gray calmed down Eiolin and paladins.

“Calm down, I will go to Castle of Ice to bring him
back here. Please wait for me in the village.”

Locarno disagreed,

“No! What if our prince is hurt or dead by frost
dragon?  What should we do here? I will
go there to find him!”

“If you want, I will not stop you. Hope you would find
the prince safe.”

“Fine! You coward just pray for prince’s safety.”

“I will pray for you as well.”

And Gray got back into the tent.

    “He has so narrow mind!”

Locarno kept complaining, and Duran hurried him up.

“We don’t have time, go to find the prince now.”

“Yes, sir! Just wait for me for a while. I will be
back soon with him.”

At that time, Eiolin said,

“Wait, I will go with you.”

“Huh….? Princess… are you going…..with me?? I like it…but..
no no, it is dangerous.. no no….”

Locarno blushed red, and he was speaking gibberish.

Duran also disagreed,

“No, Princess. It is too dangerous.”

Locarno said in hurry,

“I think it would be better for Princess to go
together. She knows the prince well, and it would make it easier to find him.”

“Locarno! What are you talking about?”

Eiolin said,

“It’s Ok Sir Duran. I also think Locarno is right. Do
not worry too much, I will go with him.”

“Your highness, as you wish.”

“Ok, let’s go Locarno!”

After they left to the castle, Gray got out from the
tent and he said,

“Finally, Princess also went there.”

“Gray!”

“Well, I also have to go there not to be late.”

Duran asked back,

“What??”

“I already expected she would go there. If I cannot
stop her from going, it is better to follow them back. Please wait for me here
until I bring them all safe here.”

“Stop! Gray!”

Duran handed over his sword,

“Take this.”

“Is it….?”

“It is our family treasure. Your sword needs to be repaird
because of the battle against Locarno. Instead of yours, please use mine.”

“I appreciate that, but I cannot use yours.”

“Why? It is a just sword.”

Gray finally took his sword and said,

“If so, I will return it after saving them all.”

Gray finally left to the castle with Duran’s sword.

Locarno and Eiolin entered Castle of Ice. There were
so many beautiful sculptures in the castle, and all the columns in the castle
were made of Ice.

“Where is Rashid…..?”

Eiolin worried a lot and Locarno comforted her,

“Do not worry, your highness. He must be fine.”

“I hope so. Locarno, why don’t we find him separately?”

“Huh? It is….”

Locarno thought for a while

‘If I help her when she is in trouble, I will be seen
like a savior! It would be so dramatic!’

“Why? Do you have any other idea?”

“No, your highness! Let’s find the prince as you said!”

“Ok, I will go this way, if you find Rashid, Please
wait for me there.”

After Eiolin left, Locarno stayed there for a while,
and thought.

‘Ok, it is time to save my princess! Locarno is going
now!’

At that time, he felt falling deep down and realized
that he was caught in a trap.

“Oh!! It’s a trap!”

Locarno’s scream re-echoed in the hole, but nobody
could hear that.

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