Cold Strike 2

Chapter 6 - 21: Advice

The Aftermath of the Palace being Frozen

It's been about a minute since the Palace was been frozen. Alden checked on the Nobles to see if any of them were alright and if there were any scratches, Winter is unpredictable when it comes to this. He was relieved to find out that they were fine. He went and told a few guards that survived to make sure they get to their families.

Furian Police Knights had arrived in the aftermath to help make sure the Nobles were safe, and some had arrived as a rescue them to help those still trapped inside of the Palace. Some were Paramedics, dressed in suits to help keep their body temperature hot.

As this is happening, Scorch stood there with Sapphira. He was looking at the now frozen Palace. The festival about him becoming an Elite was good, But it ended with Winter.

Scorch: "This was a disaster..."

Sapphira: "And it's my fault..."

Scorch: "Your fault?"

Sapphira: "If I hadn't let her trick me, The Ventilation System wouldn't have been destroyed..."

Ever since she became Furia's Intelligent Spy, She had never been tricked like that before. For it to happen now, it put an emotional effect on her. Especially since she promised Summer that she'll make sure her palace never falls.

Scorch: "Hey, Relax. It's fine...things like that happens, It's not something to get all emotional about. We failed, So what? We'll do better next time. Besides, It's not the first time Winter attack this Palace. Only difference is that she didn't freeze it."

Sapphira: "Stop..."

She said sternly, turning her head away.

Sapphira: "...I don't wanna hear it. Not from you, or anyone else..."

Scorch: "...You think this is your fault...Sapphira, It's more of my fault than it is yours. If I had listened to you and just knock Winter out, The Ventilation System wouldn't have been destroyed. There would've still been a chance to stop the Ice Spreading."

Sapphira: "It doesn't matter! The fact is, I let her trick me and I've never been trick before. I couldn't even keep my promise to Summer when I told her that I'll make sure her Palace never falls in ruin. But look at the palace! It's ruined. All thanks to that psycho..."

Scorch: "Then you should be angry at her. Not yourself. Winter can be unpredictable, You'll never know what to expect from her. But we still have a chance."

Commander Storm: "He's right."

Storm came over to the two after checking to make sure the Nobles were safe, and checking the casualties.

Commander Storm: "The Cryterian Princess has caught us by surprise, But our plans have not changed. We will get the gemstone and use it to our success. You along with our Elite will make sure that our quest will go smoothly."

That's when Sapphira turn her head, looking back at the Noble Family. The Mother and Father hugging their Daughter as she was in tears. The parents were thankful that their child was safe and didn't fall victim to Winter's Attack.

Sapphira: "...I'll do more than that...I'll make it up to Summer by completing this quest...And I won't be tricked again...That psycho will break..."

She got off the ground and turned the opposite way to leave the two.

Scorch: "Sapphira--"

Commander Storm: "Leave her. She needs to be alone right now..."

Alden: "I agree, I hadn't seen her like this before...Best not to speak with her until she's calm..."

Alden came over to their side as he says this to them.

Alden: "...We'll leave things from here. All that matters right now is getting the gemstone."

Hearing the gemstone didn't seem that important to him at first, Until he remembered Winter saying: "I can't wait to do stuff like this...When I get The Orbital Lapis~"

This alone made him connect the dots in his head about the gemstone and what Storm said, What Winter had said previously, and what Alden said just now. Then, He quickly realized that the gemstone is the Orbital Lapis, and that Winter wasn't just doing this to get back at Furia for what Scorch did, all of this was meant to slow them down.

Scorch: "She knows about the Orbital Lapis."

Alden: "Huh?"

Scorch: "She's knows about the Orbital Lapis and she's going after it, We need to get a move on now."

Alden: "Hold on...How could she know about it? More importantly how did you know about it?"

Scorch: "Does it really matter?"

Alden: "Yes it does, You weren't supposed to know about it."

Scorch: "Well now I--Wait, why not?"

Alden: "Your mission is to simply join the journey in retrieving the gemstone and aiding us for the invasion, It did not say we have to tell you anything about the gemstone. Besides, You'd probably question about it."

Scorch: "Probably? I'd definitely question about it! And I'm gonna do it right now!"

Alden: "Did you not hear it in the Speech?"

Scorch: "All I heard was that it gives soldiers powers. What kind of powers?"

Alden: "You sure you wanna know?"

Scorch: "I'm positive! I'm apart of this now, So I have the right to know! I didn't become an Elite so I can be left out in a loop...And do a quick version!"

The Furian Advisor knew he won't talk his way out of this. He gives out a sigh and tells him what it is.

Alden: "The Orbital Lapis is a Gemstone that gives significant power to anyone who wields it. The person who has it will have their abilities greatly enhanced and not just their abilities, it's all of above. Making it the most powerful gemstone in the world."

Scorch: "In other words, If Winter manages to get her hands on it, We're pretty much screwed. We need to get moving now!"

Alden: "Wait! Slow down...You haven't answered my other question. How did Winter know about the Orbital Lapis?"

Scorch: "I dunno! She probably heard it in the Speech, I mean how else did she manage to get in the Palace undetected?"

Commander Storm: "Incorrect."

Storm chimed in on the conversation by stating what Scorch said was wrong.

Commander Storm: "Alden did not mention Orbital Lapis in the Speech, He only said Gemstone. Winter must've heard about it during me and Alden's Conversation. Logically it would make sense, Since none of us would ever tell her about it."

Alden: "Hmm...Dunno how she manage, But that doesn't really matter now." [Inner monologuing: "I hope she didn't hear me call her a Purple Villain..."]

Commander Storm: "We'll update security so this never happens again. After our journey."

Scorch: "Sure...Now my question for you, Alden."

Alden: "Ask away..."

Scorch: "Why go after the Orbital Lapis? I mean I get why we're doing this but...for an invasion? Why would Summer want to invade Cryteria?"

Alden: "Not something you should ask me, You should ask her that. Look, she's coming over here right now."

Indeed she does, Summer also came over to have a word with the group about what's gonna happen next and the order she'll give out to them.