Skymint's POV

  The trees beneath were my only scenery, and the birds were my only company. The sky was way too bright for my eyes. I don't naturally like solitude. I just don't want to ever step off this mountain, avoiding the looming responsibilities. Let's not forget that I'm wanted everywhere by those greedy bounty hunters.

  As much as possible, I would love to move to another continent, but my stubborn conscience keeps me from doing so. How would the battle of my fellow Polarmen go without me? I can't let them suffer while I'm having fun somewhere out there. That would be selfish.

  But what am I doing right now? It's mere ignorance too, Skymint.

  I'm protecting myself from getting more hurt. That's what I counter to my guilt ever since the two days that had passed.

  Hmph, you just don't want to be back to your owner, bear-boy.

  I'm not bear-boy. I'm a warrior. I'm nobody's pet. When did I even become a pet in the first place?

  Ever since you saved the Ice Princess?

  I chewed on my rubbery beef steak. Gyawch! An annoying tidbit got stuck in my teeth. This is why I should remove my brain while eating.

  I stood up and took my belongings: my pouch and my sanity.

  "Wish you'll be able to clean my teeth." I unleashed my fruit cube and stated: "Summon Wintermelon!"

  My lovely melon came to life above the floating cube, pulsing with a light-blue aura. I grabbed it and took a bite.

  Please, don't disappear, don't disappear.

  And ta-da, it's gone. Icy power flowed through my veins like a current, unyielding and enchanting. Ugh, stored inside again, removing my only friend here.

  I sniffed the air, and something seemed different today. A mixture of human sweat, pastries, confetti. It must be an event going down there.

  I leaped off the mountain and summoned ice platforms. Just like what I'd done in Sunstar Coliseum, but this time I was developing a fractured bridge as I delved deeper into the sky.

  I really wished I had my bucket hat to protect my eyes from the blinding rays of the sun. As I came closer to the floating palace held by massive clouds, I saw white-winged guards with golden helmets levitating around the plateau.

  My boots landed on the ivory tiles, and in front of me stood the elegant palace of the Finnian Kingdom, its every scale glistening in the sunlight. There were fountains side by side, and flamboyant statues each made of a different gemstone.

  A lad with very faint yellow curls, his steel helmet tucked down behind his head, who was guarding on the floor approached me, his large eyes bright and full of wonder.

  "Are you invited to the party?" He spoke in a gentle voice.

  "No, I'm... turning myself in to the Light King."

  "That's odd. I do not know how to handle that." He turned behind him. "Light Captain!"

  "He said he wants to turn himself in to the Light King."

  The massive guy chuckled. "A lot of people want to come here to have some fun, and you want to be imprisoned? Xanthus, where did you get this lunatic?"

  "He climbed the clouds using his ice power, Captain."

  "Now's not a good time to disturb the king. What crime have you done, Polarman? Stealing eggs, anchovies, tunas?"

  "Umm..."

  "Wait, he looks familiar," Xanthus said.

  "Who is he resembling? I haven't gone down there for ages, ever since I was designated here."

  "It's Skymint Polarion. The one that King Felipe was looking for."

  The captain raised an eyebrow at me and cracked his knuckles. "How much is he worth again?"

  "A hundred thousand," the lad answered.

  The Light Captain sprayed some water on my face, and I felt lighter.

  "Up to the fortified castle."

  Four golden-helmeted guards brought me to the castle made of stone, far behind the palace, and as we were flying, I saw more castles unfold beneath, those homes of the Finnian nobles and aristocrats.

  They led me onto a narrow corridor with spiraling stairs, with only the faint light of the oil lamps hanging on the ceiling. It was eerily quiet, compared to the festiveness outside.

  "Hey you, white-furred freak!" A familiar deep voice yelled. It was Skadar Facienda, inside a dim cell. "Finally got what you deserve, huh."

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  Well, look who's talking. I wished he were the problem. Things would have been simpler. But Ellie's wickedness is gnawing in my mind, and Skadar is only scum compared to her.

  "Why is he here?" I asked a guard.

  "Those bastards won't say a word to you, you idiot. Ah yes, they're the perfect replica of angels," his voice echoed through the walls.

  The massive men with their neutral expressions pulled me and continued up the twist of stairs.

  "That's unfair! Why bring him to the upper floor but not me? I'd like some privacy!" I still heard his voice from below.

  Metal rattled below, and no matter how loud it got, these men with their golden helmets didn't care.

  We entered a gaping hole above, and we were in a completely new territory. Porcelain walls and bright lights. Here were closed cells, each bearing a number sign.

  But a girl was poised in the middle, her hands clasped behind her back, looking with curiosity at each block.

  "He's my captive. Now, get out of here."

  The guards left and shut the trapdoor closed.

  "I knew you were Skymint ever since I saw the fluffy ears." She smiled warmly. "It's nice to meet you for the second time."

  I froze, unable to reach for words. The atmosphere here just feels so wrong.

  "What's behind those cells?" I asked.

  "Classified criminals. They're the most horrible beings that our kingdom has captured. You wouldn't want to see them. Well, as to why I'm here... I don't like parties. They're just being repeated over and over again. Nothing's new, and I can't handle their superficiality. I'd rather lock myself here than be in constant danger of getting pulled by the visitors to join them. But it doesn't devalue my love for socializing with humans, as reality is often exciting because of its unpredictability compared to a performed social ritual."

  "Fidemi. I was gonna turn myself in to the Light King. When will he interrogate me?"

  "I can't possibly do that," she cried. "That would be breaking my purpose, my oath to Frazilo."

  "What?" I asked out of confusion.

  "He tasked me to protect you." She stated, eyes straight on me. "I support the Polarmen, Skymint. That's why I'm handling you instead of the king. You're lucky that he's busy today, or else you would have committed a very bad decision! I've been following you all along through the newspapers. The Skymint I knew wouldn't want to be imprisoned ever again!"

  Her words ignited within me a feeling I haven't felt for a long time. I've been given hope. Still, I wasn't smiling. It just reminds me of Arie, and today I still think she's the only one who truly understood me.

  "What has been going on lately?" she asked. "You can trust me, although it's completely fine if you don't tell me the reason either." Her hands moved languidly. "As your supporter, I can give you anything you need for your battle tomorrow."

  "I want my loved ones back."

  "I'm sorry for your loss," her voice went low. "May they fill your heart with strength. We should get out of here. You seem uncomfortable."

  She held out her hands to me.

  I took a step close to her and held her hands with my fur. The two of us were surrounded by light for a moment, and we were now standing in a living room with a glass sliding door. Outside was a balcony with an open view.

  "Do you feel at ease now?" Fidemi asked.

  "Kind of. May I get some fresh air?" I asked.

  "Sure, it's the empty backyard out there anyways." She slid the door for me, and I stood at the edge of the elevated balcony, peeking at the clouds and the golden smoke of the sky scattered like a coffee aroma.

  What do I do now? I didn't plan for this to happen. I already gave up on myself days ago. Would it be rude to ask a Light Princess for a curse cleanser? Think of it, Skymint. It's not a weapon used for battle. Not giving a reason would mean endangering the secret of Arie's curse.

  I shouldn't be worrying about her anymore, but about the fate of this world. But still, a part of me wanted to protect her. I never meant to hurt her. It's Ellie that I have to get rid of.

  Better risk doing something than nothing at all.

  I released my final breath and turned back to enter the room.

  "Light Princess, Fidemi."

  "Yes?" She stood up from the couch, tea in one hand.

  "I know this is too much to ask for, but just in case, do you have a curse cleanser? It might help me with getting rid of... werewolves tomorrow."

  "Oh, finally. I knew you wanted something. That's not even a big deal, really. Come, follow me."

  I followed the princess, and we quietly passed through corridors. A butler was walking toward us, pulling a trolley that held a tray of food.

  "Get out of here," Fidemi commanded softly. "Find another route."

  I saw the butler's eyes look with worry for a glimpse, and he hurriedly went down the stairs on the side despite messing up the food that was hidden.

  The walls were carved with the Mighty Light and Dark Lord's battle, in a chronological sequence of events. While looking at those carvings, I thought of Arie and Ellie's duality. The light representing the girl I loved, and the dark showing her mirror that I resented.

  A door came ahead of us, large and marvelous. Fidemi pushed it open, and it was empty. There was nobody on guard currently. Most likely they were guarding the party too.

  Only the chandelier on top that bore candles and the golden throne on the elevated floor that required multiple stairs to reach were present. At the top was stained glass with Megaverse's illustration: powerful shoulders, teal-green in color, wearing a foreign helmet, and a slender tail.

  "The king of all living beings, beyond our sight. To be honest, I have mixed opinions about him."

  I raised my eyebrows. "Why?"

  "Forget not, he must be looking at us in sadistic amusement of our suffering. Bad events happened in history, and no divine being intervened. And I hate it. That's just my theory though."

  "I wasn't expecting that."

  "Yes, it's ironic because I'm the Light Princess, although I have a deeper reason for that."

  She continued to walk over to the throne, and behind it, with curtains closed, she pulled the sheets open. A wheel was attached to the wall.

  "Anyways, here it is." She held the wheel and slowly opened it.

  "Let me do that." I pulled the wheel and it opened.

  "I think you should stay here. Lots of enchanted liquids that you might accidentally bump into."

  "Just be careful. If anybody comes, hide."

  "Alright, I'll wait."

  She entered the vault and left it slightly open.

  "AHHHHHHH!" She dropped in a high-pitched scream.

  "What happened?!" I asked.

  She hurried toward me and handed me the flask, then pushed me to the edge of the nearest window. "Somebody had sneaked in. Get out of here immediately!"

  I jumped off the window and summoned ice, but for Megaverse's sake I fell down from the skies. My outer magic wasn't working.

  "Come on, come on, come on." I took out my fruit cube, but it wasn't enough to summon my Magical Fruit in time. I hugged the curse cleanser to my chest tightly. I can't let this hard-earned solution be gone. I hoped my passive ability was still active.

  I closed my eyes.

  I wished this were a dream.

  On how I came from a fisherman into a martyr Polarman.

  Snowgale. My sister.

  I was stubborn. I never upheld her advice.

  Perhaps I'm just like my father, who was supposed to be heroic but failed.

  I opened my eyes and found myself engulfed in soft, cottony matter.

  I was saved by one of the cloud stairs. I didn't know where this was located. Would have saved my time and energy from using my ice to climb up to the palace.

  Suddenly, something sticky had dropped on my forehead. It's smelly, and I wiped it off. Bro.

  Birds are getting on my nerves.