As Arfrotian clung to Glacialix’s back, she flew swiftly toward the Rodentia Megaverse, still unaware that she remained in her human form. His arms were wrapped around her soft, silky pale-white neck, and the cold winds of the icy omniverse brushed against them. Yet, Glacialix’s mind was far too preoccupied to register how intimately close their current position was—her only concern was reaching Rodentia as fast as possible.

  Arfrotian, however, had something else on his mind. Breaking the silence, he spoke calmly, yet with a calculated curiosity.

  “So, Glacialix, do you remember the divine consciousness of this icy omniverse?”

  Glacialix, still carrying him in her human form, responded with a thoughtful tone, her wings slicing through the frozen winds as she flew.

  “Hmm... well, she was quite stunning, beautiful, kind, and a brilliant woman. Honestly, she was one of those people who truly deserved to be regarded as the Queen of our Icy Omniverse. But…”

  Her voice trailed off, realizing that Arfrotian had suddenly brought up a topic that hadn’t been mentioned in eons. Furrowing her brows, she glanced slightly back at him.

  “Master, why the sudden interest in her?”

  Arfrotian’s voice carried an edge of certainty. “Is her name… Eterna?”

  Hearing this, Glacialix’s entire body tensed in the air, her eyes widening in shock. For a brief moment, she nearly faltered in her flight before quickly regaining balance.

  “M-Master! But how do you know her name? She’s been missing for eons… no one in this omniverse remembers her except for those who were alive during her reign…”

  Arfrotian immediately caught onto the crucial detail. “Missing, you say? When exactly?”

  Glacialix hesitated for a moment before answering.

  “Master… It was long before I was given the duty to guard the Eternal Frostheart. Even before that, Eterna was a powerful ruler, loved by her people. She was strong and deeply devoted to the omniverse. But one day, she simply disappeared without a trace. No warnings, no signs… she was just gone.”

  Her voice grew softer as the memories resurfaced.

  “After her disappearance, the elders of the icy temple called for me. They entrusted me with guarding the Eternal Frostheart, claiming that whoever wielded it would become the first true ruler of our Omniverse. After all, our realm lacked a sovereign compared to the neighboring omniverses… and they needed a ruler to bring balance.”

  Arfrotian remained silent, listening intently as Glacialix continued.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “I was chosen to protect it, to dedicate my very existence to it, as well the wilder and ruler of our Omniverse. Even though it wasn’t my choice, I agreed. It was for the sake of our people… and for Eterna. Before she vanished, she left a final message for me. She told me that if anything happened to her, I was to take care of the people in her stead…”

  Glacialix’s voice wavered as tears welled up in her eyes.

  “But who would’ve thought… that I would fail so terribly? I couldn’t even keep such a simple promise to her… and Master, you…”

  Her breathing grew shaky, her entire body trembling as the weight of her failures crushed her.

  “Master, you didn’t even hesitate to risk your life for a such a simple promise you made to me… You protected me, and the remains of this already barren icy omniverse, even when it should have been my responsibility to protect Eterna’s legacy…”

  Tears slipped down her cheeks as the icy winds carried them away.

  Arfrotian, still holding onto her, did something unexpected.

  Adjusting his grip, he pressed his body closer to hers, wrapping one arm tightly around her shoulder while using his other hand to gently caress her head. His fingers ran softly through her silky hair as he whispered into her ear.

  “Again, Glacialix… didn’t I tell you before? It was never your fault truly; you just couldn’t have know at that time, such a thing could have happened. You were never in the wrong there.”

  His voice was calm, yet firm, carrying a warmth that melted through the icy grief in her heart.

  “You—a noble Ice Phoenix—spent eons in isolation, after such a disaster had taken place, guarding a divine spear with nothing but silence as your companion after that, in repent of your so called sins you made. That alone was already fulfilling the promise you made to Eterna. You have given everything to your people, to this omniverse… You have nothing to blame yourself for.”

  His voice softened further as he leaned in slightly closer.

  “Now, don’t cry. You are my Ice Queen… and tears don’t suit your beautiful eyes, do they?”

  Glacialix’s heart skipped a beat.

  She could feel the heat rushing to her face, her tears slowing as a deep red blush overtook her pale complexion. Her grip on the cold winds of the omniverse trembled slightly as she whispered back.

  “Master… you always say such sweet things to me…”

  Arfrotian chuckled lightly, his breath warm against her ear.

  “Hmm? Do I? Well, you deserve to hear them.”

  Still blushing, Glacialix tried to focus her thoughts as she recalled the conversation. Arfrotian had asked about Eterna… but why?

  “Master… you keep asking about her… but do you know something about Eterna? Did you… see her?”

  Her golden eyes searched for an answer, but Arfrotian only sighed. His expression turned slightly hardened.

  He had to find Eterna’s real body. He had made a promise to her—one that he intended to keep.

  Instead of answering immediately, he asked another question.

  “Glacialix, do you know where she might have gone? Any location she might have mentioned before disappearing?”

  Glacialix pondered for a moment, her mind searching through centuries of memories.

  But in the end, she sighed. “Sorry, Master… I don’t know where she went. No one does.”

  Arfrotian’s expression darkened slightly. The puzzle was still incomplete.

  Glacialix, however, was still lost in confusion.

  “Master… you still haven’t told me. How do you know about the divine consciousness of our omniverse? Eterna… I never told you about her before now.”

  Arfrotian sighed once more.

  It was time.

  He had kept it to himself long enough.

  “Looks like it’s high time I tell you everything.”

  Glacialix’s eyes widened as anticipation filled her heart. She could feel the weight of something grand, something hidden, something that would change everything.

  And as they flew toward Rodentia, the truth was about to be revealed.