Frosted Ranger: Time's Illusion

Chapter 20: A Last Goodbye

Melina's resting body lies on the stone table of a back room to Twig's infirmary. Tears streaming out of her closed eyes. Elisia, Kywin, Tarona and Twigs watch in confusion and fear as to why Melina won't wake up.

"She's gonna make it." Elisia says and grabs onto one of Melina's metal hands to hold onto. "Wake up, Frosty." Elisia says with a little fear to her words. Everyone just continued to watch.

After a few moments, Melina's eyes widen, red in color from the crying, her breathing a little louder as she gaps for air and her eyes wonder from face to face of those around her.

Everyone sighing in relief to seeing her awaken, Elisia reaching down and hugging Melina tight. Melina pats Elisia's back. She looks to Kywin.

"Where's his body?" She asks. The tears had stopped coming, but the sadness still lingers on.

Kywin shakes his head in disappointment for his failure to save Dayton. "Buried out in the Cemetery with the others. His mother, Lara. She hasn't left the tomb since he's been lowered in."

Elisia pulls up from the hug and helps Melina to her feet. "Frosty, you've been asleep for two days. His body had to be buried... sorry you missed it.

Melina wipes her eyes with the cold metal of her new hands. "Give me a moment, guys. I need one proper goodbye with him. Then the hunt begins again."

With that, Melina heads outside to Dayton's grave where he finds his mother, Lara sitting down by the grave with her eyepatch removed. The covered eye that is now shown reveals to be a blinded milky grey eye with burn scars around the socket.

"Had to see it with both my eyes." Lara says without looking to Melina. "My only child. Gone."

"He meant a lot to me too." Melina kneels in front of the grave and places a hand on the tomb stone. Taking in the moment of him being gone. Already have shed her tears over this, but this weight began to take form on her heart. This cold feeling, some form of anger and sadness mixing and overlapping each other.

"You have to kill your mother know. Get vengeance like she would have." Lara sighs and stands up. Looking out the snowy mountains in the distance. "I always resented you cause I believed your parents got my father killed."

"What?" Melina stands up quickly and turns to Lara with her hands in tightened fists. "You spent years prying us apart because of my parents! Because of your hatred for them, not me?" Melina closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, holding back her anger.

"It was unfair, but I see now, the Seipora's do get their loved ones killed." Lara walks passed Melina and Melina holds back the urge to throw a punch or cast a spell if she could. Fighting a Frostguard leader would not be ideal. Not now.

Melina turns back to the grave and kneels back down in front of it. "Do you remember the day we met, Dayton?" Melina smiles and then leans up against the tomb. "I paid you no attention at first. I was so focused on the mission... Now i'd do anything to just go back to that day. Relive our whole relationship. Change how it ends..." she swallows her breath and holds onto her necklace of Kyladir.

"I'd have said yes, Dayton. All you had to do was say the words." Melina gets up and leaves the tomb behind, back in doors to gather her things.

She packs her bags and the whole time she feels the weight on her heart, the cold angry feeling inside of her. Having to look at Dayton's gear while she gets ready to leave again.

The silver armor and wide assortments of swords against the wall. "It's bugging you more than you think." Elisia stands in the doorway with her arms crossed and sad eyes. "I've had those same eyes too."

"I've been with Dayton for over three years. We've slept together for two of those and shared many near death experiences and trauma together." Melina throws the bag onto her back. "It's hard to just say goodbye."

"I get that." Elisia steps into the room. "Unlike you, you have people to talk with. I was alone when my father died. I had to bury him myself. I had to grieve and drink alone...put the bag down."

"No. I'm going to kill my mother. She wont stop me this time." Melina adjusts her belt and sword, the bag to fit comfortably.

"This is your anger speaking, Frosty."

"Stop!" Melina yells out at Elisia. "Stop calling me Frosty. I had to do two things inside my head to even be here right now. I am going to kill my mother. Or i'll happily did trying and reunite with my father and Dayton."

Melina goes to leave the room and Elisia steps in her way. "I'll miss you, Melina."

"You hardly know me!" Melina Misty Steps to the outside of the room, but as the mist shrouds Melina it then fades and reveals that Melina has moved nowhere. Still being blocked by Elisia. She looks at Elisia with anger flooding into her eyes. "I will fight you. Now move."

They stare at each other and Melina stands there hoping that Elisia will just stand aside. Elisia caves and steps aside as Melina wants and she proceeds to leave the room.

"Why do you insist on dying? You think the afterlife is any better?"

Melina stops walking at the exit. "At least my loved ones are there." She walks out and down the hall and Elisia stays in the room hoping for Melina to turn around. A minute goes by, two, five and Elisia places her hands on the hilts of her swords. "The things we do for love." She says to herself and she walks out of the room.