Inside the warm Chief's cabin, away from the freezing cold outside, the Ice Lord, Hyuga, sat around the wooden table with Volak, Rose, and Iris. They were eating in a calm atmosphere after the storm of the battle.
Village Chief Zephyr said with a tone filled with gratitude, bowing slightly, "Ice Lord, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for eliminating the demons and saving our village. And I deeply apologize for the words of everyone in the village and their initial doubts about you."
Hyuga answered calmly as he set his cup down, "It is fine, Chief, for I have already forgiven them. Rather, it is I who should apologize to them for my delay in arriving to save them."
The Chief smiled and said, "It is fine, then we are even, right? I believe so. I say this to you in my capacity as the Village Chief. As for my daughter Rose... I cannot thank you enough, even if I sacrificed my life for you."
Hyuga raised his hand humbly. "Please, there is no need for that. Please stand up and raise your head, for I do not deserve all this praise."
Volak interrupted enthusiastically, "No! You deserve even more than that, sir!"
Iris added in agreement, "Even you deserve praise, Volak. We held our ground."
Hyuga sighed with a faint smile. "Please stop this mutual praise."
Then he turned to Rose, who was sitting silently, and said, "So, Rose, are you okay now?"
Rose did not answer him.
Hyuga said again, "I am talking to you, I am right here."
Rose puffed her cheeks childishly and turned her head the other way, ignoring him completely.
Volak laughed awkwardly and said, "I apologize for my little sister's behavior, sir. She is very angry because you did not include her in the team like you did with me and Iris."
Hyuga said with a calm tone, "I am not opposed to her joining."
Rose opened her mouth in joy, her eyes shining with hope, and she turned to him quickly, but Hyuga finished strictly, "But... when you grow up and reach the age of fifteen."
Suddenly, Rose's face turned pale, and she shouted in objection, "Fifteen?! That is unfair! Why did you appoint Volak then, when he is only thirteen years old?"
Hyuga answered coldly, "Because it is the Captain's decision, and that is enough."
Then he asked her, assessing her, "So, what have you done to become a hero on the team? Or do you have a combat ability to be brought to the battlefield?"
Rose fell silent, and after thinking for a few seconds, she said shyly, "I didn't do anything heroic today... but I have an ability! My ability is healing. You will certainly need the breeze of healing after fierce battles."
Hyuga nodded his head. "You are right, we will need it. So, develop it and train it until then."
Rose frowned. "Are you still refusing?"
Chief Zephyr laughed and patted her head. "Calm down, my daughter, the right time will come. Just wait and be patient."
Rose said stubbornly, "No! I have a smart plan. And that is to eat a lot so I can grow up quickly!"
Iris smiled. "Oh, that is a really good plan, isn't it?"
Volak said as he pushed his plate toward her, "Yes, I agree too! So take my portion."
Iris said, "And mine too."
Hyuga said as he passed his plate, "And mine. Here you go."
Rose said with childish enthusiasm, "Thank you all! I will eat it all!"
But after eating very little, she stopped and left the rest, panting from being too full.
Volak mocked, "She said she would eat it all, she said!"
Rose wiped her mouth and asked curiously, "So, Ice Lord, what is your second mission that you told us about? Do you guys want to know? Since we are on your team, shouldn't we know so we can help you?"
Hyuga said seriously, "You are right. But, your current mission is to guard the village and the neighboring villages. So, Volak and Iris, you will go with Sora to inspect the rest of the villages."
Rose asked excitedly, "Did you say Sora? Is he one of your armored squad members?"
Hyuga smiled. "Yes, he is the team himself. Do you want to see him?"
They said in unison, "Yes!"
"Then let's go outside."
The Eagle's Pride
The Ice Lord, Volak, Iris, and Rose went out to the wide icy square.
The Ice Lord whistled loudly, a sharp whistle that pierced the silence of the mountains. In moments, giant wings and sharp talons descended from the sky, a majestic creature whose feathers looked like blue ice mixed with white.
Volak approached in awe and said, "Is this Sora? He is an amazing, giant eagle! And our first official mission will be riding him? Yes, amazing!"
Iris said as she stepped forward confidently, "Ahem, alright. Since I am the Vice-Captain..."
But before she could finish, Rose ran happily toward the eagle. Sora completely ignored both Volak and Iris, and walked with calm steps toward Rose. He lowered his sharp, massive beak, looked intently into the little girl's eyes, and then nudged her with his beak very gently and affectionately!
The Ice Lord looked at this scene, highly astonished.
Volak grumbled, "He rejected us, and went to Rose?"
The giant eagle lowered his body and placed his wing on the ground in front of Rose like a staircase.
Rose asked innocently, "Do you want me to ride on your back?"
The eagle looked at Rose, and his piercing eyes gave the clear answer: Yes.
Hyuga coughed awkwardly and said, "Ahem... alright. Take Rose with you two as well."
Volak asked worriedly, "But sir... what if demons attack us in the sky?"
Hyuga answered confidently, "Do not worry, for Sora does not just fly, he tears enemies apart. Alright, Rose in the front on his back."
Rose jumped up happily, and as soon as she was settled, Sora shot into the sky like an arrow and flew away... leaving Volak and Iris on the ground amidst everyone's shock!
The Ice Lord sighed and said coldly, "Correction... Sora is flying with her alone. You two have to catch up to him by running. It is an ancient rule that Sora has followed for a long time to test knights."
Iris smiled defiantly. "And I accept this test! Let's go, Volak, I beat you to it!"
Iris dashed off as fast as the wind, and Volak shouted, "What?! No you won't!" and ran after her.
After they were far away, Hyuga stood alone watching them in the sky, and spoke to himself in wonder, "Look at them... then you attack me, Sora, because of me! You paid no mind to any of us, so why her specifically now? Tell me, you are the one who chose me as your master, but that ability of yours annoys me sometimes. For I do not know from your visions a past or a future until after it happens. So why did you look at that little girl? And how did she earn your respect with this insane speed? I really do not understand."
In the Depths of Darkness
Meanwhile, beneath the dark, frozen ocean waters, a distorted magical portal was open. A masked demon emerged from it and swam swiftly toward a strange, deep underwater cave.
The masked demon whispered triumphantly, "I finally found it... the hideout of one of the legendary monsters of the ancient eras! And by awakening it, all our dark desires will be fulfilled. We have waited for this moment for long months, and now the time has come."
He entered the aquatic cave, finding a relatively large hole descending to abyssal depths.
The masked man smiled beneath his mask and said, "Who would have believed that a destructive creature of this massive size... resides in a hole of this size?"
The Tears of a Hero
In the village, the Ice Lord was waiting for the team's return to bring him the news. Moments later, he saw a massive eagle descending from the sky, knowing it was Sora.
When the eagle landed, the children got off, and Volak said while panting, "Everyone is safe. No sign of any battle, sir, we searched all areas. There are no demons."
Hyuga said, "Good. Did you enjoy riding the eagle and chasing him?"
Iris said tiredly, "Yes, very much. It was a breathtaking view from the ground."
Volak complained, "Are you kidding me? Running after him was the best part!"
Rose said as she jumped happily, "Oh! I got so excited! Of course I should be excited, Ice Lord. Sora trusted me and chose me among you, so... shouldn't I be officially on the team now?"
Hyuga looked at her strictly. "Look at this. Why do you want to be a hero? Simply because you admired an eagle and it gave you a ride? As I mentioned earlier, you will not be on the team until you reach the age of fifteen."
Rose cried out with tears, "This is unfair!"
Hyuga leaned down and said with harsh seriousness, "I am saying this because you are still a child, and you cannot make correct decisions on the battlefield."
Rose replied defiantly, "Hah! I am a Chief's daughter! I was raised on leadership!"
Hyuga was harsh in his words to test her. "Really? Then why did you hinder your brother during his deadly fight with the demons? Why didn't you go into the cellar with the other children to take cover, instead of going out and exposing him to death to save you? Is this leadership?"
Rose fell silent, and tears began to pool in her large eyes. She grabbed a small necklace hanging from her neck, and said with a broken voice filled with sincerity:
"That... is because I wanted to offer some help. I wanted to be a reinforcement for them. My mother was a great healer, and she helped many in this village. I admired her since I was young, and when she passed away... she left me this necklace. Meaning that I am the next healer. I started helping the village as much as I could, and when the demons attacked, I was scared... no, the word scared is too little to describe my terror."
A tear fell down her cheek and she continued with a trembling but brave voice, "But, as the daughter of the Village Chief, I had to do something. And the most I could do was reinforce and heal those who fell. So I tried... but I ended up being the one who needed saving, and my brother was almost killed because of me."
She looked into Hyuga's eyes with a sincerity that touched his cold heart: "But... ever since I saw you today, I saw in you my hope to become strong. I saw in you my hope to become a true hero who is not a burden to anyone."