“Ice magic…” Angelina mumbled while looking at her hand.
She didn’t know any spells to create ice. While Ryuho used flame magic, Kyril and Feilong’s magic was derived from lightning.
“Do you not have a friend who can manipulate ice magic, Princess?” the Bai Ze asked.
Angelina and Ryuho’s heads both shot up. “Hisame!” she cried.
“But Hisame’s a Prince of Anda—an enemy nation!” Ryuho shouted. “He won’t be allowed to go with us! Would it be impossible to cross the lake on a boat?”
“Monstrous fish reside in the lake,” the Bai Ze responded. “They will attack any humans who attempt to cross by boat.”
Ryuho quivered. He already hated boats to begin with.
“I will write you a letter,” the Bai Ze said.
As he spoke, a white sea bird alighted in front of him. The Bai Ze picked up a brush in his mouth and wrote a short message on the bird’s back. Afterward, the sea bird lay down on the shore and transformed into a letter. A moment later, a white rabbit hopped up to them while carrying a porcelain, seashell-shaped receptacle. When the rabbit sat next to the letter, the seashell cracked open, revealing an ink pad inside. Thus, the Bai Ze used his hoof to press a red seal onto the letter next to his name.
“Take this along with a map,” he instructed, pushing the letter and an old map forward with his nose.
“Thank you so much!” Angelina cried, accepting them both reverently.
“A harsh journey awaits you,” the Bai Ze said. “And not everything you see in the ruined castle will be pleasant. Think for yourself and decide for yourself, Princess Angelina. Forge a path that you believe to be virtuous.”
“I will!” Angelina replied enthusiastically.
“Then let us be on our way. You may ride on my back.”
The Bai Ze presented his back to the children, urging them to climb aboard. Without delay, Angelina and Ryuho both mounted the mythical creature. Then, the Bai Ze kicked off from the beach. The white shore let forth a squeal, and the star-shaped sand danced in the air. Suddenly, a briar path similar to their previous journey surrounded them. Angelina and Ryuho traveled down a path of rainbow-colored roses while riding on the Bai Ze’s back. As the Phoenix and Garuda’s songs echoed in the distance, the Bai Ze’s airy mane fluttered in the wind, caressing Angelina’s face. Her fingers wiggled as she suppressed the urge to ruffle his mane. She couldn’t do something so rude to a mythical creature.
After exiting the dense briar road, they arrived atop the lake before the Celestial Axe Tower.
“Wow!” Angelina cried.
“What just happened?” Ryuho asked.
As both children expressed their surprise, a group of courtiers who recognized them cheered.
“Princess Angelina has returned with the Bai Ze!”
“I thought he was a mythical creature!”
“This is the greatest miracle since the founder descended from Heaven!”
The Bai Ze sauntered towards the tower, paying the crowd no heed. Having heard the commotion, Kyril raced down from the tower with Yuen. When the Bai Ze saw Kyril, he bent his knees, which allowed Angelina and Ryuho to clamber off his back.
“Big Brudder!” Angelina called out, springing into his arms.
“Lina!” Kyril cried, nuzzling his cheek against hers as he embraced her. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
The Bai Ze chuckled, for the prince acted as if he hadn’t even seen a mythical creature.
“Crown Prince Kyril—North Star of the coming generation,” the Bai Ze said.
Upon hearing this voice, Kyril regained his composure, bowing with hands locked together in front of his chest.
“Princess Angelina has received my wisdom,” the Bai Ze continued. “Please consult with her.”
“You have my utmost thanks for bringing my little sister home safely,” Kyril replied while bowing his head deeply. “I shall accept your wisdom with sincere gratitude, Lord Bai Ze.”
“You are a good child,” the Bai Ze answered with a pronounced nod. “See that your heart never wavers.”
“Mishter Bai Ze!” Angelina called out, walking in front of the creature. She asked timidly, “May I pray for your safe journey home?”
The Bai Ze nodded again and lowered his head. Angelina squeezed her arms around his neck and ruffled his fluffy mane. As the Tianshi’s Protective Seal on her right palm began to sparkle, the Bai Ze’s mane gleamed with an even more divine light.
“Thank you so much, Mishter Bai Ze,” Angelina said. “May you have a safe journey home.”
Relief washed over the Bai Ze as the tiny girl embraced him. She had the power to soothe those around her.
“Safe travels to you as well, Angelina,” the Bai Ze replied. When he glanced at Ryuho, the displeasure on the boy’s face caused him to chuckle. “I have parting words for you, too, young prince.”
“Oh yeah?” Ryuho asked.
“Take care of Angelina.”
Ryuho pursed his lips. “Of course I will!”
“Now then, the time has come for me to return home.”
That said, the Bai Ze kicked off from the ground. At that moment, he disappeared without a trace. Only the letter and old map in Ryuho’s hands remained. Deathly silence fell over the area, but one heartbeat later, the crowd erupted into cheers.
“The mythical Bai Ze appeared before Crown Prince Kyril! What better omen could there be?!”
“According to legend, the Bai Ze only appears before virtuous rulers. Only one emperor throughout our nation’s history has ever received his words.”
“And I thought the Bai Ze was just a myth…”
Ignoring the crowd, Yuen came to stand in front of Angelina. “I’m glad you’ve returned home safely, Princess Angelina.”
“Yep!” Angelina responded. “It’s all thanks to Ryuho!”
“So, what did the Bai Ze tell you?”
Ryuho thrust the letter and old map in front of Yuen, who gasped upon seeing them. “…In any case, you two need to rest in the North Star Sanctuary for the time being,” Yuen said. “We can have a more thorough conversation later.”
“But we need to save Fodder as soon as possible!” Angelina cried out, falling into a panic. “I have to go now!”
Kyril scooped up Angelina in his arms. He understood her impatience, but at the same time, the two children were exhausted. Angelina’s clothes had started fraying in places, and star-shaped sand matted her light pink hair. Ryuho showed traces of having been wounded by something as well. Kyril could imagine how brutal their journey had been without even asking.
“Resting takes priority,” Kyril said. “Afterwards, we can take our time to work out our next course of action.”
“But!” Angelina tried to argue. Despite understanding Kyril’s words, she still felt pressed for time.
“There’s no need to panic, Lina. If we fret and make a mistake, there might be no way of taking it back.”
“Yeah, but…”
“For now, none of the dissidents will make their moves within the empire, seeing as the Bai Ze acknowledged me. You can rest easy.” When Kyril patted Angelina on the head, she pressed her forehead against his chest. “Well then, let’s go.”
“Kyril, that’s not fair!” Ryuho protested while hopping up and down. “I want to carry Lina!”
“You’re tired from protecting Lina this whole time, aren’t you?” Kyril asked. “You should try to get some rest for now.”
“That’s right, Master Ryuho,” Yuen agreed, picking up the boy.
Ryuho gritted his teeth. He was tired, and having someone big and strong like Yuen pick him up felt pleasant. Nevertheless, letting Kyril steal Angelina from him wasn’t the least bit amusing. As Ryuho continued to seethe with discontent, Yuen patted him on the back. Though Ryuho had been tense and exhausted until just a moment ago, Yuen’s large, warm hand lulled him to sleep. Angelina also breathed a long, relieved sigh from inside Kyril’s arms. Once she dozed off, Kyril and Yuen smiled at each other.