Harbinger of Calamity

As I soared through the endlessly vast sky, only one thought swirled in my mind.

Lico…

I had left that child alone for three years.

Lost in drink for three long years.

What had I done?

“Frostia-nim, are you alright? Shouldn’t we slow down a bit…”

Nis’s voice was carried away by the wind.

She clung to my back, desperately trying to maintain her posture, but I had no room to care about such trivialities.

Right now, only Lico mattered.

I had to go faster.

My muscles bulged further, and my wings sliced through the air with greater force, increasing my speed.

“Wuuuuuuuu!”

Nis, clinging tightly to my back, managed to endure, though her voice trembled.

Her usual elegant demeanor was gone, her hair disheveled by the wind.

“Y-You’re r-really f-fast!”

Nis’s voice shook.

Her appearance, so unlike her usual poised self, didn’t matter now.

I didn’t respond, maintaining my speed.

In the distance, the silhouette of the Shia Kalt Mountains began to emerge on the horizon.

The snow-covered mountains glistened under the sunlight, radiating a silver glow.

A sight that would normally be breathtaking now only made me think, “Still so far.”

Lico, wait.

I’ll be there soon.

Anxiety surged and receded in my heart like waves.

What was Lico doing now?

How anxious must she be, waiting for me?

Or… was she angry?

No, Lico wasn’t one to get angry easily.

But three years…

The mountains drew closer.

Finally, I arrived at the labyrinth entrance.

Sharp ice formations adorned the entrance, and a cold breeze blew out from the cave.

Our home, Lico’s home.

“Let’s go inside now,”

Nis said, dismounting.

Her face was flushed from the wind, her usually immaculate hair a mess.

But her eyes reflected the same worry as mine.

“Yes.”

I quietly replied, transforming into my human form via polymorph.

The cold air felt sharper in this form, but it brought me a strange sense of calm.

Nis also tidied herself up.

Her voluptuous figure, as always, was flawless.

Her black dress accentuated her elegance.

But her crimson eyes, usually playful, were now serious.

“Let’s go.”

I said curtly, diving into the labyrinth.

Nis followed closely behind.

The labyrinth was as cold and quiet as ever.

Ice crystals on the walls reflected faint light, dimly illuminating the path.

We ventured deeper, passing through the upper, middle, and lower layers, heading toward the deepest layer.

The labyrinth must have changed over three years.

I wondered how Lico’s space had changed.

Her area was always filled with warmth.

A cozy flower blooming in the heart of the icy labyrinth.

Like an oasis in the desert, a miracle.

Her presence meant that much to me.

We moved swiftly through the familiar ice tunnels and caves, encountering traces of monsters along the way.

But there were fewer than usual.

Finally, we reached the vast cavern where Lico had stayed, between the deepest layer and the core.

My heart raced.

I would see her again soon.

But as we entered the cavern…

“Ah…”

Lico was gone.

The vast space was empty except for the small flowers Nis had created in Lico’s likeness and numerous insect monsters.

Only the faint trace of her roots remained where Lico once was.

My mind went blank.

“No…”

What had happened to Lico?

Could it be… someone took her?

Horrible images flashed through my mind.

Someone forcing Lico away, her wilting in pain.

The dangers she might have faced while I was gone…

“Frostia-nim, snap out of it!”

Nis’s sharp voice broke through my thoughts.

I realized the temperature around us had dropped sharply.

My emotions were affecting the environment.

Nis grabbed my arm, her face a mix of concern and shock.

“Look at the insects.”

Following her gaze, I saw butterflies flapping wildly in the air.

Below them, ants, beetles, centipedes, and mantises formed a large flower shape.

My heart pounded again.

The insects seemed to be trying to tell me something about Lico.

“Is that Lico?”

I muttered.

The flower began to transform, its petals forming a body, stems turning into legs, until it became the shape of a small girl.

“Oh my! It seems Lico has learned polymorph!”

Nis exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

The insects continued their performance.

Beside the girl shape, a large bee formed by smaller insects, two butterflies, and a spider gathered.

Their movements grew more complex.

The girl reached out as if pointing, then walked in that direction, before the insects dispersed.

Impressive.

I couldn’t help but be amazed.

Last time I saw them, they couldn’t perform such intelligent actions. Lico must have raised them well.

“But… she must have polymorphed and gone to find me.”

The situation became clearer.

Lico had learned polymorph, taking on a human form, and left with four insect companions, likely named Miel, Cecilia, Glacia, and Rote, to find me.

My heart ached.

How long had Lico waited?

How long had she waited before learning polymorph and leaving?

Guilt and regret washed over me.

It was my fault.

Leaving her alone for three years, lost in drink.

“Let’s go find Lico! If she can polymorph on her own, she’ll come quickly!”

Nis said cheerfully.

Her face bore a excited smile, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

I sighed.

She didn’t understand the gravity of the situation.

Didn’t she wonder how Lico felt, polymorphing and leaving?

But now wasn’t the time for such emotions.

Finding Lico came first.

“Yes, let’s go.”

My voice was calm, but turmoil raged inside.

Where could Lico be? What dangers might she face? And above all… what would she say when she saw me?

Heading back toward the labyrinth entrance, my mind raced.

Where to start looking for Lico in this vast world?

“Where should we go now?”

Nis asked, as if reading my thoughts.

Her eyes shone with anticipation for what lay ahead.

“Well, if Lico went to find me…”

I paused, thinking.

She might have gone to Desmere, but if she found I wasn’t there…

Where else would she go?

Or maybe she’s traveling the world from the start.

“It’s so overwhelming. I didn’t realize the world was so vast.”

I sighed, looking up at the open sky.

Finding little Lico in this wide world…

“I have a good idea,”

Nis said brightly.

A mischievous grin spread across her face.

“What is it?”

“We’re famous worldwide, right? Why don’t we just destroy a country? Then news of us will spread quickly, and Lico will hear it!”

My eyes widened.

Crazy as it sounded…

Upon reflection, it wasn’t a bad idea.

“Hmm… surprisingly, that’s not bad.”

Nis’s eyes sparkled.

“I know, right? It’s the most efficient method. Humans die so easily, after all. Their lives are but fleeting moments.”

Nis waved her hand casually.

To her, human lives were like flowers that bloomed and wilted quickly.

From my perspective, having lived thousands of years, humans were indeed but brief, passing existences.

Lico’s affection for them often puzzled me.

Speaking of which, her concern for Michel, that god, had always bothered me.

Michel cared for humans, after all.

But if we didn’t draw attention by razing villages, news would spread much slower.

“Yes, it’s a good plan. We’ll spread the word and find Lico.”

“Yes! Let’s go to a central nation on the continent!”

A surprisingly logical suggestion.

The continent’s center…

Not knowing which country was there now, but it seemed appropriate.

News would spread quickly, and Lico could find us easily.

“Good idea.”

I smiled faintly.

Nis beamed like a praised child.

“See? I told you I’d be helpful!”

“Yes, yes.”

I replied with a wry smile.

Nis’s methods were always extreme, but in this situation, they might just work.

“Lico… we’ll see you soon.”

I murmured, preparing to fly again.

***

Om nom nom nom!

The evening banquet at the Haind manor was more extravagant than imagined.

A roasted boar sat at the center of the table, its brown, crispy skin oozing juicy meat when carved.

“Crazy! It’s crazy good!”

I said, mouth full of meat.

The manor’s chefs were the best.

Especially the vegetable dishes, meticulously prepared without a single green in sight, left me in awe.

High-grade lobster dishes, tender steak, spicy seafood stew.

“So delicious!”

“Not bad at all.”