Continent of Arcadia, forested area

Two full years had passed since the day Irene Frostvine had dragged Julian into the wild lands of Arcadia. In this remote part of the forest, the cold raged with an almost supernatural intensity. The ground was covered with a thick blanket of immaculate snow, while heavy snowflakes fell from the gray sky, swirling in the icy air currents. In the middle of this wintry landscape of desolation stood Julian. The young man was shirtless, his skin exposed defenselessly to the bites of the frost, his eyes closed. His muscles were sculpted with athletic precision and a muscular build. Despite not wearing a top, the cold did not affect him, since he was the cause of this change in weather. A thin layer of frost was beginning to form on his broad shoulders, testifying to the prolonged immobility he imposed on himself.

"I think you’ve done enough for today," said a voice behind him.

The voice was soft, melodious, but carried a natural authority. Julian did not flinch. He immediately recognized his mother’s tone.

"I know. But I wanted to stay a little longer," replied Julian as he opened his eyes to face Irene.

As he turned, he saw his mother’s silhouette stand out against the white background of the forest. Irene radiated that aura of provocative maturity that characterized her so well. She wore a travel dress whose dark fabric highlighted the pallor of her skin and the brightness of her clear eyes. Her generous chest and wide hips were accentuated by the fitted cut of her garment. She walked towards him, her boots sinking slightly into the fresh snow with a dull crunch.

"Now that we are finished, I think it is time for you to go home."

Julian frowned, understanding his mother’s words. A heavy silence settled between them, disturbed only by the whistling of the wind in the high branches of the trees. He felt a knot form in his chest as he observed the unusually grave expression of the one who had guided him during these last two years of intensive training.

"You don’t intend to come back with me?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of apprehension.

"..." Irene did not answer immediately, feeling rather guilty. She looked away, observing the snowflakes crashing on the ground. She was thinking about what she had to do.

"I... I must return to the other world if I want to remove the curse," she explained in a slightly lower voice. "And..."

"What is it?" questioned Julian, taking a step towards her.

Irene turned her head to the side, looking embarrassed, before answering. Her fingers nervously played with a lock of her hair.

"... There is Kaiser. I think that by returning to my father, I will be able to bring him back to life."

Julian remained silent for a moment, processing the information. He knew what Kaiser represented to her, that lover and savior she had never been able to forget.

"Ahhh... So that’s it."

"But don’t worry," Irene hastened to say as she touched Julian’s face. Her hand was warm against the young man’s icy skin. "Two years, I will be back in two years," reassured Irene. "If I don’t come back in that time, know that I will never come back. Don’t wait for me, Julian," she said, her face filled with sadness, as she caressed his face. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

She knew that her time in the world of mortals was limited unless she drank from the Fountain of Youth located in the essence of Yggdrasil. The risk was immense, because returning to her father meant facing the king of spirits she had betrayed.

"I will wait for you as long as it takes, mother. And if that is not enough, I will come and get you myself," replied Julian with confidence.

This declaration, imbued with a new strength, surprised Irene. She saw in her son’s eyes a determination she had not suspected. Julian was no longer the child she had known. A tender smile formed on her full lips.

"I will become strong enough so that no one can harm the people I love," continued Julian, his fists clenching slightly.

He has become so determined... so protective, thought Irene with a pride mixed with melancholy.

"You have become a big boy, my Julian," complimented Irene as a warm smile stretched her lips. "Alright, I will wait for you, my boy," agreed Irene as she took Julian in her arms.

The embrace lasted a few minutes. Julian held her against him, feeling his mother’s familiar scent, a delicate blend of wild flowers and sea breeze. Finally, Irene pulled back gently, her hands sliding over her son’s muscular arms. She rose slightly on tiptoe and placed a tender kiss on his forehead. Without adding another word, she turned around and began to walk away, her silhouette gradually disappearing behind the curtain of snow that fell relentlessly.

---

**Kingdom of Yggdrasil**

In the deep night of the land of the elves, the wind blew with a deceptive softness, carrying a freshness that seemed to emanate from the earth itself. The forest of Yggdrasil, a millennial sanctuary, was plunged into a sacred silence, broken only by the rustling of silver leaves. Suddenly, the air began to vibrate, and a silhouette materialized near the colossal trunk of the World Tree. It was Irene.

She remained there for a moment, motionless, looking at the starry sky. An immense feeling of sadness overwhelmed her as she thought about what she was leaving behind, about Julian who was returning alone to Frostvine. She let out a long sigh, a cloud of steam escaping from her lips, then placed her hand on the rough and vibrant bark of the tree. She immediately felt the connection with the other world, the world of spirits nestled at the very heart of Yggdrasil.

Immediately, a dazzling light struck the place where she stood. The brightness was so intense that it seemed to erase the night for a fraction of a second. Then, silence returned, even deeper. Irene had disappeared, returning to the other world.