The stars glittered in the dark, moonless sky, casting a soft glow that accompanied the passing clouds.
It was an ordinary evening in the small kingdom of Credia. The ground and rooftops were completely covered in snow. There were lamps at the windows of every home in the town, and the wind was blowing just as cold as usual.
In the castle's throne room, which was lit by fire torches positioned in the corners, Sage lowered her head to escape her father's intense gaze.
Her father was seated on his throne, wearing a disappointed expression, and she was standing in front of him along with Katherine and Darren.
Sage was the only child of King Julius, the ruler of Credia and the only mage in her family, other than her late mother Tamara, who was a wind mage.
Credia was a small kingdom, but because of its mages, who could protect it from supernatural creatures like dragons and other threats, it flourished. However, she was often at odds with the dragons.
"I am not shocked by your carelessness." King Julius gestured to Sage and Darren. "But Katherine, I did not expect this from you."
"It was an emergency, your Majesty." Katherine lowered her head.
"Hmm." Julius narrowed his eyes on his daughter. "I am surprised you survived, dear Sage. I was told that you all fell into the lake."
Sage swallowed hard. His gaze was blasting her, she could feel it.
"It is a miracle, Father," She lifted her head to meet his gaze. The lines of worry on his brow incited weariness that she had grown accustomed to. "I am perfectly fine, father. I have dealt with far more dangerous situations than that."
"Not in the water, Sage." Katherine gave her a questioning glance. "It is odd that you survived."
Sage twiddled her fingers tensely, pursing her lips. "I told you not to worry."
"May I be excused, sire?" Asked Darren, bowing to Julius, in an incredibly urgent tone.
King Julius simply nodded.
"I will return." Darren informed his companions, following his quick departure.
Sage waved at him but felt her body stiffen when she felt Katherine's glare. She then decided to change the subject so Katherine would forget what had happened.
"When we were away, did anything happen? It seems like you wish to share something with me." Sage mumbled, fixing her eyes on her father. She was no stranger to trouble, especially when Credia was the object of intimidation.
Her father was always worried about her well being, but there was something unusual about the way he was reacting.
"I would like to speak with my daughter alone, dear Katherine."
Katherine nodded, "Yes, your majesty." and left the throne room.
"Father, is something wrong?" As Julius stroked his beard, Sage looked up at him questioningly.
"A letter was delivered by a dragon when you left the castle."
Sage's eyes grew wide. "Dragon? Here in Credia?"
"It was unexpected since the dragon simply flew over the castle and dropped the letter. But I am perplexed because the servant, who discovered another letter at the doorstep just before you and your friends arrived, claimed that it had been sent by an unknown party." Removing two letters from his pocket, Julius walked down the short flight of stairs towards Sage.
One was crowned with the dragons' royal crest, while the other was crowned with a snowflake.
"A snowflake for a crest? This is the first time... father?" Muttering, Sage reluctantly picked up the letter with the dragon's crest.
She recognised the dragon crest because the dragons frequently sent letters threatening to seize Credia.
"If it poses another threat, I will burn it." She unfolded the letter, gritting her teeth.
Her father had obviously read the letters.
"Greetings, Fire Mage. The purpose of this letter is to give you instructions on how to rescue your people from our grasp. The source of the eternal winter that has been plaguing this poor world for three centuries is well known. That source is a living thing, the last ice dragon, and it is the winter that has killed so many of your kind and of mine.
Only you can bring an end to the winter and initiate the natural cycle of seasons by eliminating the ice dragon."
Sage's gaze hardened.
Given that you are the only fire mage in existence who has been defending your people, you could argue that it is fate.
If you kill him, our threats will end.
You will need to get close to him. You will need to marry him in order to kill him.
From Lord Esteban."
"Marry? Get married?" Accompanied by a look of complete shock, Sage turned to face her father, who sighed heavily and took the letter from her.
"Do not tell me that you support this father." Her vision blurred with tears, but she could still make out her father's tentative nod.
"There is no other option here but to save our people."
"I can keep us safe! Mages, I..."
"Mages or not, you can die! You have the average human lifespan!" Julius spat.
Sage felt her body quiver. "You want me to wed the ice dragon? The being who brought about the eternal winter that killed my mother because she was unable to handle it? You want me to wed the ice dragon who is well reputed as a monster?"
"Yes, you will marry him, but only for the purpose of killing him. This is something you must comprehend." Julius spoke, hoping Sage would calm down and accept.
"But marriage is not something to play around wi.. with!" Sage yelled, her voice faltering as she fought back tears.
She would marry to kill him? She would become a widow at an early age. She never imagined that, in her nineteen years of living, she would marry for the sole purpose of killing her spouse!
In the end, she was doing this for her people. To protect them. It was her duty.
"How can I find him?" She sniffed, wiping away her tears.
"This is it." Julius smiles with pride, passing her the letter featuring the crest of a snowflake.
Gathering it carefully, Sage unfolded it.
'I have found you intriguing, Fire mage. Do consider yourself my prey as well as my future wife.
Prepare yourself. We are getting married tomorrow. And you are welcome to inform everyone in your kingdom of the news."
"Wha.. what!" Sage's pupils dilated.
Swiftly, her expression shifted from shock to rage. And the letter in her grasp caught fire, leaving nothing behind—not even ashes.