✔𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐈𝐈: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈

Chapter 39: Ignaera

Fog.

That was all they can see in front of them.

"I thought Ignaera should be right here?" Aiden asked in confusion, his head gesturing to the disturbing fog that blocked them from traveling further. Cyra flew back onto her master's shoulder in annoyance to the fog that stopped their little voyage. Elsa leaned against Aiden's back to get a clearer view of what the water spirit and her husband are looking at.

"Wait." Was all the Nokk can say.

The group waited for a little more, and hence, silence is born. Their ears listened to the random sounds the deep depths of the water makes, as the water spirit's hooves tap against his own habitat patiently, his glowing gaze steering to the lessening fog. A sly smile formed in the water spirit's muzzle, nodding his head in approval.

Aiden, Elsa and Cyra's eyes widened in sync, as the fog began to clear away, parting like doors. The three of them squinted as sudden light welcomed their vision, slowly cascading from the mysterious place  they are about to see.

Then, Ignaera came into full sight, basked in its beautiful glory.

(The picture below doesn't belong to me, credits to the one who owns it. I just want Ignaera to look exactly like this:)

"Woah!" The three murmured in astonishment, their eyes not knowing where to stay. Ignaera looked so.... Breathtaking. Their lower city had matching colored buildings and homes, the rest of the kingdom mostly built on a very high mountain.

The kingdom had developed sturdy bridges to extend their space and more of its tall towers, skycrapers, townsquares, villages and many more.

Its highest tower stood proudly on the  highest level of the kingdom's ground,  made out of cement and stone. It is a  very ancient tower, with its once beige color being already faded to the current dull gray; but nevertheless it's still a sight to marvel at.

And that tall tower is known as the Tower of Tomes.

"It opened itself to you all quite quickly," The Nokk exclaimed, "You three, are worthy. All of you, welcome, to the hidden city, Ignaera."

"Thank you. It's... An honor to witness it before our very eyes. It's a sight to behold," Elsa smiled, "One of many which will forever remain in my mind."

"I will take you to one of its village, the one nearest to the Tower of Tomes. No need to worry about walking further."
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"I can never express my gratitude to you enough, Nokk. However can I repay you for bringing us here?"

"You don't have to, Elsa. You and Aiden will have plenty to face, lots and lots more. Don't let the city's beauty fool you. It may not match what comes next once you step foot into it." The water spirit mysteriously warned firmly, locking eyes with his fellow fifth spirit.

Elsa tried her best to ignore the dark touch to his reply, smiling and nodding at him in response. "We'll be careful, Nokk. Thank you again."

The water steed's face softened, a smile beginning to form in its muzzle, "You're welcome. Please, summon me if you need me. It's a pleasure helping out a friend."

Once again, the snow queen nodded. The water spirit then melted into the flesh of the seas, retreating to its habitat. With that, Elsa turned around to approach her husband and his phoenix waiting patiently on the other side of the deck.

Aiden smiled, pushing her closer to him with an arm, "Hey." He grinned, kissing the side of her lips. Elsa smiled against his lips, tracing the muscles of his neck gently with her finger, "We'll make up for lost time once we return home, okay? Let's focus on some other things first."

"I can't survive a minute without kissing those lips," he groaned, "I might as well collapse and die while we walk."

"You're being dramatic, lover." Elsa teased, "How bad do you want my kisses, hm?" She flirtatiously asked, leaning closer until she's no longer but an inch before his soft pink lips. Aiden smirked, inching his face away from her own. Elsa gave out a yelp of protest, earning a laugh from the fire king, "You said let's focus on these other things, well, my lovely wife, shall we?"

Elsa chuckled, linking arms with him and continued their trip.

Cyra flew above them, making sure her distance with them is appropriate and not too far. Danger can jump out of anywhere, so it's better to be aware of their surroundings than get a knife pointed to their throats.

The village the Nokk had made them enter is completely strange. Besides it's a pleasant one, no citizen walked on the streets, and every house's door is closed and every window shut; a few eyes peering over a slice in fear. "A-are they afraid of us?" Elsa whimpered slightly, since she feared that their entrance might be too sudden and some people might think they are trespassers.

Aiden shook his head as his eyes drifted around the area, "No. I don't think so," he sighed, "It must be something else."

"Indeed it is something else."

"GAH!" Aiden jumped in fright, startled to find a short, cloaked man with a hump on his back appear behind them out of nowhere. The hump back man held a supporting cane, his lone tooth being exposed as he spoke once again, "You fellers better be aware of the terror that's been happenin' around here."

Elsa took a baby step closer, questioning as she leaned behind her king, "Terror?"

"Yes, yes, terror. I'm surprised that the king haven't made a single move against it yet," he randomly laughed as if it's good news, "Or was it because he's a coward himself to face the one who holds the artifact, just like his little wimps?"

Aiden's eyes widened, "A-artifact?"

"Ah, the nasty garnet that hung around the lad's neck," The man rasped, "It's the talk of the village... if anyone's talking, per say."

"Has anyone in here been.. feeling weak, lately?" Elsa asks suspiciously.

"Yer right about that!" The man cackled, "Every youngin's been losing their flames ever since that cloaked guy stepped foot into town."

"Losing their flames?!" Aiden yelled worriedly.

The Nokk's precaution speech echoed once again in the fire king's mind,
"It's an amulet. It looks like a regular jewel, alike of a garnet that has an attached silver chain so the user can wear it around their neck. Its magic is contagious, since its main goal is to tempt, hypnotize or fool people, and absorb nearby power."

Aiden and Elsa exchanged worried looks, Cyra butting in between the two, firmly saying, "Do you two know what's important? We gotta get to that tower," She motioned her beak to the Tower of Tomes, "And search more precautionary measures about this cloaked guy mister random babbles about. Remember what the Nokk said? Not everything's going to turn out pretty."

Elsa nodded, "I agree with Cyra here. And we will surely learn more information," she intertwined their hands, whispering, "Let's do this."

Aiden nods with a grin, squeezing her hand, "Let's go."