Part 1: Growing Up Cursed

Some years passed, Deidamia grew into a beautiful girl. She was the apple of her parent's eye. Whatever she wanted, she had. It seemed she lacked nothing.

However, no matter how much her parents tried to make up for it, Deidamia has a frozen heart and it showed.

While other girls her age were making friends, having fun and crushes on boys. Deidamia's frozen heart hinders her from having any emotions. She never knew joy, sadness, anger or love.

Deidamia was wooden and cold as Ice. Despite her parents' best efforts, her nickname, the Ice Princess stuck.

Nevertheless, despite her frozen heart, Deidamia seemed okay.

By three months she could crawl, 5 months she could walk and within a year, she could already cast spells.

Deidamia was a prodigy. The wonder child of Amon, Emperor of the Universe and Keres, the Goddess of Magic.

She spent most of her time buried in spell books, making potions with her mother and learning swordplay with her father.

On a cold winter day, Deidamia was sitting by the fire in her room. Until all sudden, a fierce wind blew through her room and extinguished the fire. Deidamia tried to light it again with her magic but to no avail.

That's strange, Deidamia thought. Her magic always worked. Maybe I need a stronger spell, she pondered.

She teleported to the Grand Library in the topmost tower of the Dark Castle.

Aleemah, the Castle librarian and Goddess of Knowledge looked up from the book she was reading, to see Deidamia impatiently ringing the bell.

Aleemah chuckled and asked, "What can I do for my darling niece?"

"Hello auntie Aleemah, I need the strongest spell for casting fire."

"Don't you already know how to do that?"

"Yes, of course, but I tried to earlier but it didn't work. It seemed the magic I used wasn't enough."

"Hmm, how strange. Well, you'll be needed the advanced spellbook on fire then. It's in the restricted section. You know where it is?"

"Yes, auntie. Thank you"

"You're welcome, dear. Happy reading."

Deidamia made her way to the library basement that houses the restricted section. Deidamia was the only child allowed special access to the restricted section by her mother Keres and her sister Aleemah.

Deidamia was wise beyond her age and very responsible and thus her parents and aunt felt assured to teach her advanced magic.

Deidamia quickly found the fire spellbook. She used her magic to flip through the book till she found the page she was looking for.

'relego ad frigus (to banish cold) is an extremely powerful spell used to make fire. When mastered it can burn through any cold surface. The most famous example of this was when Keres, Goddess of Magic used it to defeated Nieves, Goddess of Ice and Snow during their epic four-day duel.'

"Nieves," Deidamia repeated softly. Why was that name so familiar?

As Deidamia was about to close the book, a drop of blood fell onto the spot where Nieves's name was written.

Deidamia got a paper cut earlier when she flipped the page to continue reading. She never noticed because Deidamia could not feel pain.

The spellbook absorbed her blood, and additional words started to appear on the page.

'The Goddess of Ice and Snow is now in self-imposed exile after freezing the heart of Keres's daughter, Deidamia.'

For the first time in her 18 years of existence, Deidamia was shocked.

She suddenly felt a headache, memories of that night a long time ago remerge. She remembered a beautiful icy face watching her in her crib. The figure moved her hand and started to sing a chant till a snowflake touch her chest.

Deidamia shut the book open and teleported out of the library.

Deidamia stood on the top of the mountain facing a giant Snow Palace. Her brown hair blew in the wind. Gradually, she descended with each step filled with determination and vigour.

What was about to happen will send shock and awe around the world.