Flight of Frost and Aurora

Chapter 10

The well leading to Lord Zestial's domain could easily be overlooked. It didn't resemble a well at all; it was merely a hole in the ground, concealed by a heavy stone door and a layer of dirt, encircled by a ring of mushrooms. Alastor brushed aside the dirt, lifted the door, and descended into the depths below. This well was far deeper than the one that led to Mother Rosamund and Mother Carmilla's realm—deeper and darker, where light struggled to penetrate.

Upon reaching the bottom, Alastor stood before a grand gate. He pushed it open and stepped into the land of the dead—a realm that exists between heaven and hell, where souls with unfinished business roam until they find peace and can move on. As he walked, he passed numerous spirits and ghosts, wondering if his parents, Vagatha's parents, or even Rosamund and Carmilla themselves had once haunted this place.

Soon, a palace loomed out of the shadows. He climbed the steps of black stone, and a doorway of ebony swung open before him. Entering the hall, he saw a throne at the far end, where the personification of death itself—Lord Zestial—sat.

"So you've come," Zestial said, his voice echoing in the vast chamber. "I knew Mother Rosamund would change her mind, but not so soon. I thought it would take at least five years."

"Actually, she doesn't know I'm here."

"Oh, I see."

"Pardon the intrusion, my Lord, but I need—"

"Yes, yes, yes, I know why you're here. You want your mortality back so you can win the heart and hand of a maiden. I can grant that request, but I warn you, there's no turning back. Once you become mortal again, Mother Rosamund, and Mother Carmilla will be powerless to help you. You'll be on your own out there."

"I understand."

"Once you become human, your body will age rapidly, and it will hurt. The aging will slow once your physical form matches your chronological age, but it won't stop. You'll continue to grow old naturally, and eventually, you'll die. Do you understand that?"

"Yes."

"Do you also grasp that your body will become more vulnerable? You can die not only from age but also from disease, accidents, and even murder. You will lose the powers you had as a sprite; the only magic you'll possess is what you've learned, and even then, it's not much."

"Yes, I understand."

"One more thing—some advice. In the world of human beings, a maiden cannot choose a man unless her father consents to the marriage. To earn a father's consent, you must be able to provide for his daughter. That means you need to learn a trade, build a house, and for this particular bride, you must have a dowry."

"A dowry? What's that?"

"Typically, it is money or property that a bride's family provides for her bridegroom to secure the marriage. However, this maiden's father is a wealthy judge who believes his daughter deserves the best. Therefore, he insists that her bridegroom provide the dowry."

"Alright. Learn to work, build a house, and provide a dowry. How hard can that be?"

"Harder than you think. Some men have died trying to prove themselves worthy of a bride. Are you certain you still want this?"

"More than I've ever wanted anything else in my life."

"Very well."

Zestial opened an ornate wooden case filled with countless glass vials of silvery liquid. He reached inside and selected one.

"Part of me always suspected that one day you and Vagatha might wish to be mortal again. Immortality can become quite tedious. So, on the first night you and Vagatha slept in Rosamund and Carmilla's house, I took a strand of hair from each of you. Those hairs are the only remnants of your mortal forms and the key ingredients to the potion of mortality. Here's yours."