Frosted Ranger: Time's Illusion

Chapter 15: Life's Negotiation

From the events following the Zone of the Truth judgement trial, Melina took a few days to herself in at Yggdrasil Stronghold. Sleeping in her own bed for the first time in months. But she often stayed awake wondering what was actually cursing her in the beginning.

She would also spend a good part of the few nights sitting against a wall where Dayton's armor rests. She would lift the necklace of Mandite onto her arms to just feel a minor connection with Dayton. Only if he could show up like Carsin does.

Elisia spent time learning medicine and healing tricks with Dr. Twigs, the Gnome Doctor. Elisia caught on quickly, but she often got strange looks from patients regarding her fragment eye.

Dr. Twigs visited Melina in her room one of the days and mentioned a spell that could regenerate her hands as if they were never lost. Melina debated the spell for a second before thinking about Elisia and what she lost and can't get back.

With that, Dr. Twigs left to find out more about the metallic limb binding. A process Carsin had to go through. Despite having the magic from friends, Carsin never chose to have his arm restored, but his story is something different.

After a few days alone to herself and thoughts, Melina picks herself up and leaves the Mandite necklace with Dayton's stuff.

Melina leaves her room in her normal clothes, no armor and makes her way back to the infirmary and finds Elisia and Dr. Twigs discussing medical stuff.

Twigs sees Melina enter the room and he nods in approval. "About time." Elisia turns and sees Melina for the first time in days. Just seeing Melina made Elisia feel more energetic about studying the healing magic. "Hey, Frosty. Been a while."

Melina nods with tired eyes and sits next to Elisia and looks at the books. "Magical Limbs, can it be done yet?"

"It's a complicated process." Twigs explains. "Whoever made Carsin's arm was very well skilled. Our smiths could make the hands and I could power the magic with Elisia, but binding the metal to your flesh and move in correspondence to your mind.. it's a lot." 

Melina sighs deeply and then yawns. "Are you losing sleep again? Is it the curse?" Twigs raises a small hand glass from his desk and holds it up to observe Melina's eyes close up.

"What? No. It's just weird sleeping in my room. Dayton's armor and belongings are still there... it's not easy." She looks to the ground.

"Losing love never is." Twigs lowers the glass but keeps his suspicions in mind. Elisia stays quiet about the situation.

"I'll the smiths make me hands, you and Elisia keep studying the magic. Maybe find Aiden while you are it."

They nod as Melina leaves the room and makes her way to the smiths and relays her request. Two of the smiths there used to work alongside Melina and happily took her request to forge two hands.

Melina wanders the halls of the Frostguard by herself, dragging her feet through the stonework flooring.

She gets to a staircase and sits on the steps to relax. Taking in all the peace she can get, but her mind constantly wanders off into scenarios of killing her mother, burying Dayton, watching Elisia die as well.

She shakes her head in attempt to clear her mind from those thoughts. "Struggles happen to us all." The Negotiator himself, Marcon, steps down the stairs and sits next to Melina. "I didn't dance my way to being The Negotiator."

"I get that, Marcon." Melina looks away from him. "It's almost Xrenna and I had plans with Dayton, but he won't be here."

"So love is your current struggle? I know someone who looks at you quite fondly. But I also know who your heart desires."

Melina keeps her eyes off Marcon. "I'm not my mother. I won't go insane."

Marcon looks at Melina with concern. Just now realizing the full extent of Melina's current mindset. "You are not your mother. She was angry before your father's death. You have shown great restraint."

"I just don't care anymore. I may just let my mother kill me if I have to be honest." Melina looks to Marcon finally and their shared eye connection, Marcon nods as he understands what Melina is going through.

"My sister went through this as well. Sadly she has left us and has been gone a few years now. She lost her love to the frostbitten disease. She killed herself the same way weeks later. I couldn't get her to heal or to accept what fate hands us. Some of us love too much than we should. Some of us don't love at all, but then some of us love so much that a similar fate seems like the perfect ending for a new beginning."

Marcon adjusts his seating and reaches under his armor and pulls out his necklace of the Storm Titan, Cain. Melina listens silently. "We all have our faith in something or someone. Like many of us here we worship a deity, a higher being. My sister put her faith in those she loved. Naturally when her biggest source of faith dies out, she felt as if she lost herself. Melina, I miss my sister. Many people here have missed you already. Don't leave us just yet, Frosted Ranger. Have faith that things get better."

Melina smiles briefly, but it fades. Marcon smiles back knowing he made some ground. "There she is. The girl with the mission to be like her father. Lead scout, was it?"

"Not anymore. I've dedicated too much of my life trying to be like him. It's time I did things differently. A little more of my own way."

Thundering down the steps with a little more than a spring in his small steps, Twigs flies down with haste to the bottom stairs. "Elisia and I cracked it! Metallic Limb Binding will work."

Marcon stands up and helps up Melina as well. He looks her dead in the eyes. "Remember, Melina, we'd miss you if you didn't come back. Don't let her win. And keep in mind you'll always have a home here. It was something your mother forgot."

"I'll try, Marcon. Who looks at me fondly by the way? Or were you just trying to make me feel better."

Marcon shakes his head no. "Not for me to tell, but secluding yourself to one person is never the best choice. That is why friends like us exist." They give each other a quick hug before Melina leaves with Twigs down the hallway. "How'd you get upstairs?" She asks him. "I didn't go up that far."

"I got too excited." Twigs rolls up his robe sleeves. "The whole thing is fascinating."

Melina yawns again deeply and Twigs stops her in her tracks. Melina looks down at Twigs with confusion.

"Melina, listen to me. The curse has to be back."