Story of Season: Winter

Chapter 11's

The coldness that pierced the skin as Delphy opened his eyes. He doesn't know where he is at the moment. The last thing Delphy remembers is that when his entourage began to disappear from his sight, just after that there was nothing that Delphy could remember. Until now he woke up in a horse-drawn carriage that was walking in a city covered with snow.

Delphy did not know how long he had been unconscious until he was in a city that had entered winter when in the Whittaker Kingdom that was famous for its longer winters was still entering the season fall with weather that feels like the end of summer.

Had crossed Delphy's mind he was already on another continent, which means he was unconscious for months. But that feels impossible. The horse-drawn carriage on the Delphy passes through a snowflake-shaped monument. There, I saw some people praying. The people of this city look happy. Many small children were running around, adults were chatting, the residents were greeting each other.

The man sitting in front of Delphy said nothing even as he watched Delphy look out the window. As if waiting for Delphy to say a word to her.

"Where is this?" Delphy asked looking at the man with white graded black hair who was sitting in front of him at this moment. Quite unique indeed, how the male hair can be like that. But Delphy regained self-awareness, he was the one who had the strangest appearance.

"You'll know later."

"I feel like I haven't been conscious for too long." Delphy looked back out the window, he felt the city was interesting. "I don't know who you are, what you want from me, but there's nothing I have right now."

The man did not answer. Eventually they entered a temple.

"Come down." The man came down followed by Delphy. The horse carriages they rode away just like that.

There was not a word from the man as they walked inside the empty temple, there was no one here but Delphy and the man in front of him. The empty temple looked well preserved, evident by none of the visible dust.

They entered a room, in the middle of the room there was a fountain with a small size. Besides, no one decorated the room.

"How was your trip, Frost?" A woman who looked to be in her early thirty years came from behind the door opposite to the direction Delphy came from. "Welcome Delphy, you must be tired after a long journey." The woman turned to look at Delphy with a warm smile.

Just a faint smile that Delphy gave in return, he did not know what else to say. His eyes were busy watching the woman closely. A pretty face even though her face looks pale, her body is quite tall for a woman, the wavy black hair is beautifully smeared and the dress is dark blue and a little white accent makes the woman look charming.

"I'm sorry to surprise you, introduce me to Ailee." The woman approached Delphy while extending her hand that Delphy had received. "Would you rest first, a long trip must make you tired.

Ailee then gives Frost the code to take Delphy to the rest area, leaving Ailee alone in the room.

"Frost, so that's your name." Finally Delphy returned to talk after struggling to understand the situation, but he was always able to understand the situation quickly at any time, which is why he could become captain of a special team.

Frost didn't answer anything. Room with snowflake ornaments hanging in the middle of the sky room became a place for Delphy to rest.

"Never try to do anything reckless, I'll be back for dinner." Frost just left Delphy.

Now Delphy lay his body on a soft mattress while staring at the ornaments of snowflakes hanging. he did not know where he was. It felt like he railed against Frost with various questions, but it seemed useless, Frost looks unfriendly.

"They don't look dangerous either." Delphy Mumbles

Delphy got up, decided to look around the room. Room with simple feel but feels luxurious. His attenuation fell on a bookcase in the corner of the room.

A little reading a book may take away his momentary satiety. The book with the light blue cover caught his attention.

"The Winter Memory."

In the first chapter, it is about a boy who hates winter. That made Delphy interested. For those of you who love winter, of course, you wonder if there is a reason someone hates winter. Even though winter is cool, not to mention being able to play snow, such as making snowmen and throwing snowballs at each other.

***

Delphy closed his book when the door to his room was knocked, after which Delphy answered a knock, the door opened, revealing Frost in a different outfit than before.

After putting his book back where it came from, Delphy followed Frost. They arrived at the dining room. There is a dining table with a large size that there are various types of food. Ailee was already sitting gracefully there, allowing Delphy to sit down.

Ailee smiled at Delphy, "I know you have a lot of questions, ask later when you finish eating, yes, you must be hungry."

Delphy only nodded slowly in response, after which they ate in silence. Every now and then Delphy steals a glance at Ailee, the woman looks graceful, at once Delphy feels stunned.

Until only dessert left, Ailee opened the conversation, "First, save your questions first, let me explain your reasons here first." Sipping a little wine, Ailee continued, "Maybe you will be a little surprised. Listen well yes."

Again Delphy only nodded briefly in response.

"Every season has a keeper, they are referred to as season keepers. They make sure every season goes as it should, without the distraction of darkness."

"Darkness?"

Ailee nodded, "About a thousand years ago, the season in the world was a mess, the winter was too long but when spring came, none of the crops worked. World food crisis. Sometimes summers are also very long making many people fall sick."

"After that, the world was full of darkness, there was no season whatsoever, everything felt crowded and empty. There are no colorful flowers, only black flowers. Nature is filled with black and ash. There is no smile."

"Then, the god sent down the guard of the season. Spring, summer, autumn and winter. They fight against the darkness and keep the balance of nature. Without them the seasons of the world or the darkness would still fall apart."

Delphy took the last mouthful of his pudding, "I've never heard of it."

"Of course, their existence becomes a secret, they blend in with others. And you're one of them."

The pudding that had just entered Delphy's mouth was swallowed with great difficulty. This time he was completely out of words. Delphy didn't know what to answer, he didn't understand.

"Right now, you are in the Epoche Continent. The continent where the season guards were born. Right now you are in the land of winter, where the whole year is full of winter. "

"It seems like there's been a misunderstanding. I was born in Whittaker Country, Northern Continent."

"I know. That is because you are the drop of the winter god himself who was born to guard the Continent of your birth. Each continent had four drops of the god of the seasons. Whereas those who were born in this Continent as the guardians of the seasons were those who would help every drop of the god of the season in doing their duty."

"No way, I was just born a damned princess, I'm not a god, my job is to guard my country." Delphy shook his head violently.

Ailee shook her head softly, "No Delphy, all this time your family probably thought you were a cursed princess because of your appearance, even though your white hair and ash-eye were actually the form of a winter god."

Delphy bowed, trying to digest every word Ailee said.

"I know, it might be very confusing for you. Slowly you'll find out, because that's what you're here for."

"Is Frost one of the winter guards?"

Ailee nodded. "Frost is the winter guard who will help you." Ailee sighed for a moment, "It shouldn't be like this meeting you had with Frost, it's just that something unexpected happened."

"You kidnapped me when I had to look after my sister."

"A little misunderstanding has occurred, the person we sent to pick you up is gone somewhere. There had been no news of him since he had stepped on the Whittaker Kingdom. That's why I sent Frost directly, but he found you in the middle of the robbers." Ailee continued, "You better rest tonight, we continue tomorrow morning, there are still many things I want to say.

Ailee went ahead of the dinner table. Frost who still looks unfriendly makes Delphy decide to return to his room.