Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was the year 851, three years having passed since the northern queen departed from this world. The Fimbulvetr castle, once resonant with joy and love, had transformed into a mausoleum of sorrow and silence. The Northern King Silvermane or Geir had changed from a soft-hearted and kind man to a grief stricken, stoic and harsh person who grew rough and ruled with an iron determination.  

People say, and rumored, that his heart turned cold as ice after his beloved queen died. While others believed he neglected his daughter, the princess, whom they gossiped was is responsible for the queen’s death. After all, she’s the chosen offering to the demonic Eikon that will soon terrorize their home.

Occasionally, in mornings, the castle staff and servants could hear the king’s anguished cry that came from the chapel room and its hallways. They knew he had lost his wife and soon his daughter, the princess.

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Meanwhile on the other side of the castle, a little girl with silvery gray hair joyfully raced and danced through the castle's hallways, weaving past the servants and guards like a fairy. This enchanting figure was the northern princess, Jillian Warrick, affectionately referred to as Jill, and had been playing as snow sylph. Her innocent laughter echoed the silent hallways, almost attempting to brighten the gloomy atmosphere of her home. The staff and servants saw her as a sweet innocent angel attempting to alleviate the grieving sadness that plagued their kingdom.

While her father remained perpetually busy with his governance, her only companion was her devoted guardian and nanny, Marleigh, who had previously served as the confidante to the former queen and now dedicated herself to being the princess's protector and caregiver. Shula, her only friend and playmate, would occasionally visit the kingdom with her father, the tributary of Mysidia, whenever there were meetings with other tribal chieftains or for family gatherings.

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As Jill danced and dashed through the hallways alone, she accidentally stepped on a ribbon from dress. This misstep led her to stumble and fall onto her knees and elbows. The pain that shot through her knees and elbows caused tears to well up in her eyes. Still, she remembered how her father’s eyes would become devoid of warmth whenever she was on the verge of crying.

She began to rise on her own, but as the pain remained, she started to falter.

Then, two gentle yet fragile hands caught her from falling.

“Are you alright, little child” 

Jill then shifted her gaze upwards and spotted a cloaked figure, which upon closer inspection, revealed to be a woman. Her face was adorned with patches of gray, and her neck bore a similar coloration. Upon examining her eyes, Jill noticed that the woman's left eye was concealed by her hair, whereas her right eye, a brilliant icy blue, was visible.

“Yes, Thank you” Jill replied meekly

“I’m glad.” The cloaked woman said in a gentle relief as she helped her to stand.

Then she knelt down and touched the girl’s bruised knee and elbows, suddenly a wave of warmth cascaded through Jill’s body as the cloaked woman cast a curative spell through her touch. 

Then she stood up and sees Jill, examined her knees and elbows noticed that the bruises were gone. 

Amazed how the mysterious woman healed her, Jill hugged on her knees and smiled at her.

“Thank you lady, Are you an angel?” Jill asked innocently 

But the woman didn’t say anything but gave her a sad smile as she finished fixing the girl’s dress and tying her ribbon dress.

“My name is Jill, what’s yours?” the princess asked again.

Just as the enigmatic woman was ready to say something, Jill suddenly heard Marleigh's voice calling out to her.

“Can you wait for me?, Nan-nan is calling for me. I would love to introduce her to you.” She said to the mysterious lady.

Following that, Jill dashed off to meet up with her nanny leaving the lady alone.

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“My lady, are you alright? Have you been causing trouble?” Marleigh sternly asked to the little princess as she checked up on her.

“I’m alright, see.” Said Jill gleefully as she twirled carefully in attempt to tell her nanny that she’s well.

“I just stumbled, and then stood up, thanks to a cloaked lady who found me.” 

“Lady!? What Lady?!” Marleigh exclaimed.

“Mhm, a cloaked lady that as gray marks on her face” answered Jill then she explained about the mysterious cloaked individual that helped her.

“I can bring you to her, she’s still there"

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Skeptical of Jill's depiction of the cloaked individual, Marleigh proceeded with caution and heightened awareness, deciding to assist Jill in her inquiry. Nevertheless, when they arrived at the spot where the woman was last seen, she had mysteriously disappeared.

“She’s gone…” Jill spoke in sadness 

 Marleigh let out a deep sigh, casting a stern look at the princess.

“What’s got into you milady, Do you have any idea what danger you might expose into..? What if she’s an assassin who will kill you, what if she’s demon in disguise as a woman. I’m going to inform your father about your meeting with this unfamiliar individual.

“But. I saw her…She even healed me” Jill stated, revealing her elbows where the bruises had once been.

“Jill, she’s trying to build your trust. If you earn her trust, she might take you someplace where you’ll be killed or do something bad. And if anything happened to you, our kingdom will be punished by your father or worse…The infernal Eikon will come and destroy our home”

“Why would, papa hurt you?” Jill questioned to her nanny and guardian.

Marleigh shook her head and left the princess alone, as she hurriedly away to find a nearby servant or staff to inform the king. 

Disheartened, Jill sat on the floor, reflecting on whether the cloaked woman was indeed real or not and to her astonishment, the same cloaked woman suddenly stood directly in front of her.

Upon recognizing her, Jill stood embraced her leg, then start ponding on it. 

“Why didn’t yoou wait? I’m in trouble” Jill cried out, but the lady remained silent as the princess kept crying, then look towards the direction where sounds of footsteps can be heard.

Just then, a servant spotted the princess in tears, isolated in her sorrow. She moved closer to the weeping girl and enveloped her in a comforting hug. Soon after, Marleigh arrived and beheld the retainer comforting the grieving princess. 

As the cloaked woman gazed at the sorrowful princess, she felt a wave of remorse upon seeing the girl in tears. Shortly thereafter, she observed the older woman embrace the tearful girl, placing the princess's head on her shoulder and carrying her to the room, accompanied by the servant girl. 

“…Jill...Forgive me, you’re the only one who can see…they don’t…but I would love to be with you…my child…”

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Within the confines of the princess's suite, Marleigh prepared the princess for her scheduled naptime by changing her into her sleeping garments. After ensuring the princess was comfortably tucked in, Marleigh exited the room, where the king stood waiting for her.

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"Marleigh, did anyone attempt to forge a connection with Jill? Geir sternly asked to the former confidante of his queen.

The nanny shook her head and began to recount that the princess had a peculiar meeting with a cloaked female figure, but when they reached the hallways, there was no one to be found. Intrigued by this account and suspecting an assassination attempt, Geir made his way to a nearby guard, commanding him and the other guards to search for the mysterious woman and detain her immediately on suspicion of assassination.

The guard obeyed, and hurriedly spread the order to the other castle guards to search of the dangerous individual.

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As Jill peacefully sleeps, oblivious to the world outside her room, a cloaked female figure keeps a watchful eye on her. With a simple wave of her hand, she calls forth her magic, enveloping the sleeping princess in an essence of ice magic that eventually transforms into a swarm of icy blue and white butterflies as she enters the dream.

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Upon opening her eyes, the princess discovered a meadow filled with brilliant flowers and expansive trees. Captivated by the enchanting scenery, Jill rose to her feet and began to appreciate the delightful beauty of the meadow. She joyfully danced and twirled around the meadow. Soon she began to fall onto the flowers in gleeful innocent laugh. 

While staring into the clear blue sky, the same cloaked woman appeared to her with a gentle smile. 

“Ah!” Jill cried out in surprise. 

The woman giggles as her gray patched hand covered her mouth to hide her gentle laughter for surprising the little girl. 

“That’s not funny, why didn’t you wait for me when I want to introduce you to my guardian?” said Jill as she puffed her cheeks. 

The woman stopped laughing and bent towards Jill as she soothed the girl by caressing her hair. “I did. But, unfortunately she can’t see me.” She answered in gentle tone. 

“How come?” Jill asked. 

“Because, she nor anyone cannot see me…Only you can Jill” 

Jill’s eyes widened when the cloaked woman told her name. “You remembered my name?” “

Of course, you introduced yourself to me, after all.” replied the cloaked woman 

Jill swayed side to side, looking excited. "Then tell me your name, please?"

“I am referred to as Ysay.” 

“Y..say..?” Ysay nodded and knelt down to the princess’s level. 

“And like you, I’m a northern princess” She then unveiled her hood, which allowed her shoulder-length light brown hair to cascade down. 

Her face was partially obscured by gray patches, with her left eye hidden by her hair, while her right eye, a piercing icy blue, was fully visible. Seeing the gray patches on her cheeks, Jill examined and carefully touched them. 

“Does it hurt?” Ysay shook her head sadly and allowed the girl to touch them.

“No, But these were the scars from my disobedience to my kindred, and I was given a punishment for my audacious deeds.” 

“Why?” Jill asked.

Ysay didn’t say anything, but gave a child a sad smile.  Then she held the child’s hand that held on her cheek tightly as tears rolled from her eyes.  

Sensing her sadness, Jill thought of a gleeful idea. 

“Ah, I know how to cheer you up Ysay. Why don’t I make you a flower crown,” 

And with that, Jill ran to the flower meadow and began to pick many flowers.

The elder northern princess observed with great interest as Jill thoughtfully picked different flowers, gathering them one at a time. After she was pleased with her choice for the floral crown, she made her way back to Ysay and sat down next to her starting the process of weaving the flowers together.

While engaged in weaving flowers, Jill started to hum a song and eventually she began to sing. 

“Star light (say goodnight)”

Star bright, where have you fallen?

“Star light (say goodnight)

Star bright, I hear you calling”

 As Jill's song resonated, Ysay became rigid, her eyes widening in astonishment, and she remained motionless as fragmented memories resurfaced: a marble altar, cloaked figures accompanying her while she was restrained, a colossal fire, and a terrifying demonic beast approaching her.

The melody of a long forgotten song brought forth tears in Ysay's eyes.  Sensing her emotional pain, Jill stood up and gently wiped the princess's tears away.

“Don’t cry,” said Jill to the weeping northern princess.

“I’m alright, thank you,” replied the northern princess as she gently pat on Jill’s head. With a smile in her face, Jill resumed her weaving and singing. Soon enough, her floral crown was finished.

“All done.” said Jill as she got up and revealed the flower crown to Ysay, who then inclined her head, granting Jill the opportunity to adorn her with the crown. 

“So pretty, you really a princess now.” said Jill with a proud sweet tone.

“I...I don’t know what to say…but I love it so much,” said Ysay with a gentle smile. Then she stood up, knelt to the child and hugged her in return.

“Thank you, my child.” 

Jill replied with an innocent giggle and hugged in return.

But then, Ysay suddenly noticed a change on the meadow and the sky, as smoke and fog rolled in, shifting the atmosphere from a bright day to a bleak and threatening one. 

“Oh no…this is…” 

Meanwhile, fear began to swell within Jill, causing her to hold Ysay closely.

“I’m scared,” Jill cried as she clung to the older northern princess.

Following this, Ysay sensed another presence lurking in the heavy walls of fog and smoke. She rose to her feet, holding the scared girl, and cautiously inspected the smoky shroud that had transformed the once idyllic meadow. In that moment, she heard a growl amidst the thicken mist, her eyes widening as she recognized the sound and realized that the fog was deliberately utilized to conceal his presence.

In an instant, Ysay identified the malevolent, fiery red eyes that emerged from the heavy mist, coupled with a loud growl. She quickly shifted her attention to Jill, holding the girl securely as they made their escape, fear evident in her eyes, while the flower crown fell away during their flight.

 The creature roared with fury, engulfing itself in flames as it pursued them unrelentingly into the foggy meadow. It left behind a fiery trail of charred earth and flowers that wilted and curled as if they had been burned by its flames. The flower crown, crafted by the young princess, was destroyed in the blaze.

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With Jill held tightly to Ysay's embrace, the two northern princesses escaped from the demonic beast that relentlessly pursued them through the forest. Each time the beast drew near, flames erupted and swiftly engulfed the surrounding trees and grass.  Before long, the princesses arrived at a clearing atop a steep cliff that descended into the rushing waters of a river. Thinking they had successfully eluded the beast, Ysay began to set the girl down. At that moment, the beast appeared from the burning trees, growling furiously at them. Jill held tightly to Ysay's skirt as the fiery creature approached them.

Ysay’s eyes furrowed at the approaching demon. She looked down to the rushing water, then to Jill. She picked up the girl in her arms and was on the verge of jumping down to the hastening river. 

Jill, filled with fear, watched as the beast drew nearer. Suddenly she detected a change in its expression as it held its clawed hand toward them. At that moment, a voice unexpectedly resonated in the child’s mind. 

“…I finally found you…my-”

In anger Ysay yelled towards the infernal demon.

“I WON’T LET YOU TEMPER HER.” 

Then she jumped off cliff while holding Jill in her arms.

The beast's roar, a mixture of fury and sorrow, echoed through the air, prompting the younger northern princess to glance up from Ysay's back. Her eyes glistened with tears as she felt the creature's pain and torment resonating in its cry. She reached out instinctively towards the beast, yet a powerful wave of water struck her back, bringing her abruptly back to reality.

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It was an early evening, upon her awakening from the dream.

Jill's eyes overflow with tears as she begins to weep. Hearing her cries from outside, Marleigh enters the room and hugged the crying girl. 

"Ma-Marleigh..." Jill cried out, her sobs echoing as she grasped her nanny tightly, overwhelmed with emotion. Just then, Geir walked into the room and witnessed Marleigh offering comfort to the distraught princess.

“Jill?”

Recognizing her father's voice, Jill raised her gaze to meet his. Aware that she had been crying in his presence, she quickly wiped her tears and endeavored to present herself as composed and “serious” before her father, the king. Marleigh subsequently bowed to her king as she took her leave, allowing Geir to have an opportunity to spend time with his daughter.

“Jill, my daughter, I heard from Marleigh that you forged connection to an unnamed cloaked female individual or someone within the castle walls.” 

“Mhm” 

Jill quietly nodded, trying to hide her tears and fear from her father’s fits of scolding. 

Geir sighed then he went towards the window of her room while maintaining a serious countenance while watching the guards patrolling the courtyard from the window. 

Then he began to pose questions to his daughter, “Do you any ideas, the reasons for my apprehension about your meeting with unfamiliar individuals?"

Jill didn’t say anything. Instead she remained silent, remembering Ysay's reminder that her existence was visible only to her. Nobody else.

Not hearing his daughter's reply, Geir turned from the window and sat on the chair next to his daughter’s bed. Then he spoke again in a stern yet slight angry voice:

“What were you thinking? What if that female stranger would kidnap you? 

What if that female stranger would hurt you? You’re still a child, you could’ve gotten killed.” 

“But…but she won’t harm me…she only healed me…”

“Only…ONLY!? My ungrateful daughter, do you not understand!!? That person that you attempt to befriend MIGHT be a kidnapper from the Iron Kingdom, or an undead human, or a demon that will take your LIFE. She might be a demon or a witch that placed a curse upon you instead of healing you-”

As her father carried on with his scolding, Jill hung her head in silence. The harshness of his words inflicted pain upon her heart, as he not only disbelieved her account of the encounter with Ysay, but also led her to question whether he had become emotionally distant or had never loved her in return.

“Listen to me Jill, I’m worried because you are my daughter and I don’t want to lose you. Do you understand?"

Jill sadly nodded in reply.

“Yes, Papa…”

Soon the king stood up and stroke his daughter’s head. Feeling the comforting touch, Jill looked up to him with sad worried eyes. 

“Are you mad at me, papa?” 

“I may be mad at you. But you only made me worried today. From now on, you will not travel anywhere unaccompanied. A guard or Marleigh will be present with you at all times. Do you understand?”

Jill, filled with sadness, nodded her head quietly without uttering a word.

Geir kissed his daughter’s forehead and begun walking towards the door.

“I love you, Papa,” Jill said meekly.

With a stern expression, Geir looked back at his daughter and nodded in reply with a small smile. He then left the room, ensuring the door was closed softly behind him, leaving Jill in solitude.

As Jill lay on her bed, she became acutely aware of the deep sorrow and anxiety reflected in her father's eyes. He understood the risks she encountered when faced with unfamiliar or mysterious figures within the castle. Whether it was the threat of assassination or a dark, enigmatic stranger, she knew her father was vigilantly guarding her against the dangers that surrounded her.

And yet. 

Jill's moments with Ysay was serene and tranquil, until the appearance of a demonic, fiery beast that pursued them through the scorched forest. She then reminisced about the beast that Ysay had endeavored to protect her from. 

The young northern princess started to feel curious yet pity towards the beast. She remembered how its eyes had changed from aggressiveness to kindness as it held out its clawed hand to her, and recalled its words that echoed in her mind.

“…I finally found you…my-“

Feeling sorry for the beast, she jumped down from her bed, then knelt by its side facing an open window where the moon shone on its early night. 

She then clasped both of her hands and started to pray. 

“Metia, Goddesss Metia, if you can hear me. The fiery beast is lonely, will you protect him from the dangers…I want him to be my friend, I want him to be my best friend. I want him to become stronger so he can protect me from all the danger. I know he’s not a bad monster…

While Jill remained praying, above the night skies Metia’s star glowed as bright as the moonlight as if the goddess heard her prayers.

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Far away from the territories of the north, a young boy of six years stood at the balcony of Rosalith’s castle, alone, looking at Metia’s star located near the moon. 

The black haired boy looked up at Metia’s star, silently asking if it could appease the entity that laid dormant inside of him... 

But all it could provide was silence.

In that instant, he felt an intense pulse within him, while the boy's sapphire blue eyes widen with fear as numerous haunting feminine voices began to reverberate in his ears.

“IT’S YOUR FAULT.”

“YOU KILLED ME, YOU MONSTER.”

“How dare you.”

“YOU MONSTER.”

“You’re not Human..BUT A MONSTER.”

“You don’t deserve to live.”

“DEMON.”

“BLOODY DEMON.”

“DIE, YOU DEMONIC CHILD.”

“YOU DESTROY MY FUTURE, BECAUSE OF YOU.”

Then pain surged in his head as the boy struggled to rid of the haunting voices from his head. He fell onto the floor covering his ears, and crying in pain, yet no servants nor shields ever came to help him.

For they too had "fear" towards the Eikon of the infernal flames. 

Then among the voices of the female, One voice was different from the rest. It was eerily yet emotionless.

“You cannot escape your sin, Son of the infernal beast of Mythos”