Next Stop, Malindo City

"The Winged Wolf, also known as Pterolycus, is exactly as its name suggests! Daddy, you really can't joke around now. They can use powerful wind attacks to throw you off the mountain!"

"Yes, yes, scholar Fiona! Maybe you can start helping me now?" I yelled as I brandished my dagger at a snarling wolf.

What's with my luck about wolves in this world? Maybe I have a natural affinity to them... but I'm not really a dog person. And there's no way Fiona would want a wolf as a pet... so stop getting in my way, damnit!

I ducked to avoid a swipe of claws, missing narrowly, but Fiona's next words almost made me tumble off the side of the mountain.

"Humph... you teased me before, and now you want my help?"

Fiona! It was just a joke, to lighten up the mood! Don't hold a grudge over that...

"Woah! The dense spiritual essence here is affecting my senses!" I realized as my thrust with the dagger felt stiff and whiffed completely.

The wolf took this as an opportunity to counterattack, pouncing with its fangs bared. Eyck, I could taste that repulsive breath...

"Daddy!"

"I'm all right!" I called out as I dodged and thrust my dagger into its flank. A guzzle of blood spat out. The wolf howled in pain, before flying away.

"Moonshot Flying Daggers!" Fiona shouted, as two wolves surrounded her with her back against the rocks.

"Aim for the wings, Fiona!" I cried out, worry filling my heart. It's so difficult to just move! The pressure from the wind and the spiritual essence is ridiculous! While it is an excellent training condition, if Fiona were to get injured, I'd never forgive myself.

I watched as a flurry of silver shot out against the flying wolves. One yelped in pain, before flapping its wings rapidly and falling down the mountain.

The other wolf growled and swiped her claws relentlessly in a frenzy, angered about the loss of its pack-mate.

Fiona closed her eyes and whispered quietly, as the wolf attempted to bite at her neck, only to narrowly miss.

Why are her eyes closed? Out of fear? Or casting a spell? Damn, the pressure is heavy. I can't get to her in time! The only thing I can do is trust her... and buy some time!

Panting, I garnered my strength and threw my dagger with all my might!

Sphk. The dagger pierced the wolf's shoulder with a spatter of blood, and it whimpered, flexing its shoulder awkwardly.

"Now, Fiona!"

"Frost Needles!"

Thin spikes of ice shot out of Fiona's hand. The wolf shielded itself with its wings, only to let out a miserable howl as the thin spikes of ice penetrated its flesh.

Not too long after, the wolf whimpered and retreated with hobble flying.

Phew. I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness she's all right.

"How are you, Fiona?"

"All right." She replied, her voice a little shaky.

I limped over, trying to console her. "Where d'you learn ice spells, from? You terrified me there..."

"Mommy has a few books on basic Ice Cultivation Techniques."

What's this? Her tone of voice has changed, and the surrounding aura, it's colder than the usually cheerful and happy-go-lucky feel that she brings... Could it possibly be a side effect related to cultivating Ice cultivation techniques? Or are they just some dreadful memories of the past?

This... this will be hard to deal with. Would trying attempts at coaxing her just push her away even further? It feels like a bridge of distance has opened between us... an ice bridge.

I shook my head. No, not doing anything just shows that I don't care for her.

I asked in a mellow voice, "Fiona, would you like to leave the mountain and head to the kingdom?"

She opened her eyes in surprise.

'Good. She's not devoid of emotions, at least.'

"Fiona thought you wanted to climb to the peak and look for some treasures along the way?"

"It looks like you're having rough times. It's all right, there are definitely more places out in the world with treasures."

She brightened up like a light bulb. "If you say so, daddy."

Phew. That 'daddy' just made my day. If she were to continue staying cold and indifferent to me, I don't know how my heart would take it.

"Let daddy carry you, okay? The fight with the wolves must have scared you, huh?"

"Mhmm."

I piggybacked carried her, and we headed down the mountain. It was much easier to do so now. Maybe my body got used to the pressure? No, it's with Fiona here, back to her old self. Even though she's heavy, her physical body sitting there on my shoulders relieves the burdens I carry on my shoulders.

'Just... just don't leave me, Fiona. I don't know what I'd do without you.'

___________

"Please visit us again if you have the chance."

The city lord bowed and bid us farewell as we departed from the city. What's with the formal tone and kind gesture suddenly, from that sly fox...? Could he have realized something? I pondered silently.

"Daddy?"

"Mh! What's wrong?"

"No, nothing. You seemed so out of it today."

"Haha, don't worry. Daddy was just thinking about how to tease you, heh." I said mischievously as I tickled her ribs.

"MHMH! Hew, stop that, hehe, daddy!" Fiona squealed and tried to wriggle out of my grasp.

I only stopped when her face was red from laughing, and her eyes were watering.

She punched me in the chest. "Daddy... daddy is a big meanie."

"Fiona is such a cute kitten," I said, as I tried to pull her into my chest.

"Humph." She pouted as she warded me off.

"Hey, don't be mad. It was just a little joke."

"No. Hugs. For. You."

Disheartened, I could only cave in. "Hmm, then tell me about how we will get to the kingdom."

"Go read the map on your own."

"But.. but your voice is the sweetest, like music to my ears!"

"Your voice is like a toad croaking."

I stifled a tear and could only sigh in defeat. It's not my fault you're a tease magnet, Fiona...

The map rustled as I opened it.

"Hmm... we are here at Windholt City, Kingdom of the West. To get to the Glendora Kingdom, just head eastwards. Eh? In the middle of the path lies a... Forbidden Zone? That means we must take a detour around it..."

Fiona piped up. "The Forbidden Zone is very mysterious and dangerous. No one has come out of it alive. Mommy usually sends prisoners there as torture, but they never return. The same thing happened with the scouting parties of the three other kingdoms."

"What's it like? What about its origins?"

She shook her head. "No one knows, its even more mysterious than the Azure Frost Kingdom."

"Huh. Well, that doesn't concern us, so let's just focus on the next city, Malindo!"