The Tale of the Ice Princess

The Halcyon Days - Chapter I

~ Aria Heldor , 6 years of age ~ 

" Finally done with all the written lessons! "  I cried with joy .

From today onwards , I would be free . Free to do whatever I pleased as I had just completed all the preparation required of me to enter The Academy. 

The Academy was a school for nobles . Starting from age 10 , young nobles would be enrolled there to learn the ways of the world , till they turned age 15 , which is when they would prepare to debut into society at age 16 . The Academy is said to be a place where nobles created connections , found future partners , socialize and stuff . 

As I relished in my newfound freedom , I started pondering on what I should fill my lesson time with . 

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- a few months later- 

Today , like most other days , was uneventful for the most part , or rather , boring . 

In an effort to stave off the boredom , I decided to take a stroll through the carefully manicured garden . Today was sunny , with no clouds in sight , the perfect day for an outdoor stroll . 

The garden was beautiful , with the many species of flowers forming a spectrum as far as the eye could see. It was truly a wonderful sight to behold . 

I ought to express my appreciation to the gardener the next i see him

I was lost in thought , when suddenly , i felt something abnormal . 

I feel so hot . 

I felt hot . Extremely hot . As if my blood was boiling , like something was trying to escape me . 

I dropped onto the ground withering in pain , attempting to scream for the servants to come save me , but no noise came out . It was as if my vocal cords just stopped working . 

I was paralyzed in fear . 

I could die today . What if i die today ?

Thoughts , one by one , each one no better than the last , ran through my head . I felt as if my life flashed before my eyes . 

Then it went all black. I saw myself , lonely , bored , sad . Each emotion plastered on my face sent a pang of sadness through me , filling me with waves of regret.

You truly are a pitiful creature .  I heard from a voice seemingly faraway.

Come into my arms , dear child. For here you would be safe and content 

That snapped me awake from my stupor. 

No. No i am not done living yet . I still have so much more to do . So much more to explore . So much more to experience .

I felt the black void crumble , and the searing pain took over . 

Mother , Father , if this kills me , know that i have always loved you . 

I gathered up all my willpower , willing the heat in my body to leave . I directed the heat towards my fingers , forcing it to exit my body . 

I peeled open my eyes,  expecting  bright daylight to assault my eyes , however , the sight that greeted me was odd , or rather,  abnormal . 

It was snowing . 

I knew from my studies that it should not be snowing in the middle of summer , but yet it was. 

The sight perplexed me .

 Everywhere i looked was pure white. The once colorful sea of flowers was covered in snow .  

I was stunned , rooted into place by the events that was unfolding . 

First almost dying and now this . 

I thought darkly . 

I stayed there , unmoving . Glad . Confused . Grateful . Scared . 

A plethora of emotions . Happy to be alive , yet scared of the event unfolding . 

Then , my world went black again .