As the dawn came, Staas and Gytha began collecting the herbs according to the list written on her note. They're supposed to be on a race against the hungry rabbits, but somehow those creatures went missing after just a couple of minutes.

"Hmm… do rabbits have a low appetite? Or their lungs are just… tiny?"

Even for Gytha who've been on the hunt for herbs for years, this occurrence is somewhat bizarre.

"By the way Gytha, you never told me the use of the ones we're collecting…"

Now that there's no rush in their endeavor, Staas can calmly initiate a chatter with the girl.

"Oh, is that so? Hehe, my deepest apology, Staas." She answered in a mocking sarcastic manner. Although the boy didn't seem to be bothered by it.

"Last night, before I came to you with this request, a stag was found wounded near the village trees (wall) by the dryads." She began dictating the answer he sought. "An infection occurs in one of his limbs, that's why we need the dawn herbs to create a salve and cure his wounds." And gave him a caring smile.

"Eh? I thought stags are some kind of a territorial creature? Why would one be here?" Staas commented with a confused face.

"Dunno. Though… it's not rare for those male deer to wander around our village." Her hands continued for her quest in herb seeking.

"I see…"

Staas never really question the knowledge he gains from Gytha or any of the village nymphs. Even with their beautiful and youthful appearance, lots of them have lived for hundreds of years.

Though for Gytha's case, Staas never really asked her about it. She's the closest friend he ever got, he doesn't want to ruin the times he spent with her by knowing she's some kind of ancient being who is a lot older than he is.

Although he himself didn't know anything about his own age.

"Hm?"

Staas found a part of Gytha's long white dress covered the top of the herb he's supposed to pick. The sight of it sparked a question in his head.

"You know Gytha, it's actually been on my mind for a long time, but… you're a nymph, right?" He asked out of curiosity.

"Rightfully so!" A prideful smile painted on her lips, with both hands fisted onto her waist. "Didn't I answer this question dozens of times already?"

"You did, you did... then why are you wearing a dress?" Innocently Staas throw her the next question.

"Want me to take it off?" With no hesitation, Gytha quickly grabbed the bottom of her dress, ready to free herself from the piece of fabric wrapping her body.

"No need, I'm just… curious." He replied with an even expression.

"Really?" She looked quite disappointed and immediately released her dress. "I don't get you, Staas… in this forest lines up the world's most beautiful ladies for you to take, we’re all NYMPHS for All-father’s sake! Yet you don't show any sign of interest to any of us, why?"

Staas let out a long sigh hearing her tantrum. "Even I seeks the answer, Gytha."

"Is it the skin color? But mine are as light and creamy as yours! Does that not impress you?" She sounds annoyed, this topic has been a huge gossip among the nymphs for the last two years.

"I mean… I can appreciate your beauty, all of you even. It's just… I don't feel it... I CAN'T feel it." Staas showed a bit of sadness on his face.

"Hmm, Seems like it's time for you to travel out of the forest. Who knows what or who you'll encounter. Maybe you'll find someone who can trigger your deepest passion... or obsession." A suggestion came with a warm, bitter smile.

"What about you? Why aren't you looking for a male in your life?" Staas asked.

"I'm a nymph, Staas, I'm bound to something. I can't just explore the world looking for the apple of my eye." Her face turns mad when saying that, but not for a reason Staas thought it was. "Now, let's get back to our herbs, it won't take long for the dawn herbs to retract itself."

"Ah! Then let's proceed with haste."

After having a bit sidetracked by an interesting conversation, they both now continued their quest in collecting ingredients for the healing salve.

However, something unexpected happened not long after. Staas felt something light and cold been touching the tip of his head. And ever so curious the boy reached for the unknown, grabbing it to his sight.

"Hm? Isn't the Fatherwood Forest knows no winter?"

On the pinch of his fingers is a small leaf, a frozen small leaf.

Suddenly, the wind blew harshly from his back. It was freezing, enough to send a mad shiver with a single touch. This unpleasant feeling bothered Staas' mind, and he quickly shifted his gaze toward the forest, the lower region of this dawn herbs-filled hill, the opposite way of the cliff on his south.

There he saw a dark silhouette, slowly approaching him with tiny steps. As the shadow comes nearer, the figure also becomes clearer.

It was a woman, dressed in cold white. Her hair is long and silver, while her eyes stared sharply at him, with the shade as blue as the noon sky.

"Hello...?" The boy nervously called.

He does not fear her, but her presence and surrounding felt highly ominous.

"Hm? Who are you calling, Staas?"

The boy's voice made Gytha grow curious. She turned her gaze to see with whom he was talking.

"!!!" As soon as she sees the uninvited guest, her eyes widen, while her pupil shrinks out of existence. Fear coated her entire body, drowning her in the ocean of dread.

"Yield." The woman said with a firm voice.

She raised her hand to the level of her shoulder, and the air immediately froze by the gleaming light radiating from her palm. She then slowly clenched her fist, and cyan wisps began to gather, surrounding her with a cold yet dazzling aura.

Staas felt intrigued by the sight of her magic while Gytha saw a nightmare right before her eyes. She realized just how bad the situation is right now.

"Staas! Jump!" The girl promptly grabbed the boy's hand, pulled him right into the deep cliff in front of them.

As soon as they leave the dawn hill, a huge explosion occurred. But instead of fire, it was ice that spread all over the air.

Staas stared at it while he fell along with his friend right before his hand. He didn't quite understand what just happened to them, but he knew Gytha made the right decision.

Right when they were about to reach the ground, Staas hasten his speed and gracefully landed on his two feet as if height was never his problem. He also calmly caught Gytha with both his hands on her thigh and back shoulder, then later put her safely standing on her feet.

"Thank you…" The girl was bathed in sweat, although she knows well about Staas outstanding physical prowess, which was why she dared to jump in the first place.

Therefore the problem didn't end there. An eerie voice started howling above them, on the place where they escaped from an unknown dazzling woman.

The sky turned bright, brighter than even the whitest white. The cold wind gathered and formed a sphere, bigger than 2 stories house.

A huge shockwave crawled through the air, lashing its entire surrounding. Like a speeding arrow, the sphere launched itself, filled with power, and directly shot toward the village of nymphs.

*Boom!*

A huge icy dome painted the scenery, one which beauty struck horror to anyone who saw it.

"Staas!?" A concerned voice flew out of Gytha's mouth, as Staas suddenly went rushing to the village of nymphs. The boy ran like the wind itself, he's too fast for Gytha to even eat his dust. But still, she won't just stand there and not follow.

With a lot in mind, Staas keeps moving forward. The closer he gets the more crowded the air felt. Not just by the cold, but also the screams of dryads inside the village.

When he arrived the gate was already breached. All that was left is pieces of frozen giant tree roots, which are supposed to be the ones guarding the village against unwanted outsiders.

Without hesitation, the boy continued his pace, running towards the center of the explosion. And inside, he saw dozens of frozen Dryads, trapped inside an ice block, restraining them as a cold prison.

Surrounding them are a bunch of soldiers, shaded in cold white metal, dressed in full plated armor. Their blades and spears illuminate a cyan light, which is none other than an ice enchantment.

"Are they… human?"

Staas has only been awake for two years, not to mention, living a completely peaceful life. The idea of war never came to his head. Right now his mind is in a state of confusion, as he can't process any scenario that happened around him.

The boy just stood there, mouth open, eyes widened, frozen, even without a single piece of ice touching him.

However, one thing he didn't notice about himself, is that his body emits a very powerful aura, one which sends fear towards anyone that saw him.

The nymph never showed a single sign about it. They’re used to it and didn't want to bother Staas with this knowledge. But in the eyes of an outsider, he looks like a terrifying monster, a huge threat to their being.

And at that moment, one of the knights saw him. He felt the overwhelming presence given by Staas who stands not far from where he was. Shivers ran wild through his body, and the voice of his mind started screaming, conquering him like an order.

"Get rid of him! Ensure the safety of your comrades! Struck that monster down!"

Now with dread filling his heart, the knight desperately charged towards him. And his sword raised high, ready to cut down the danger that comes without.