He looked around and saw that the sound was coming from the frozen riverbank; it sounded like a child crying sadly.

It should be him—a friend who has known Alphonse for even longer.

Alphonse's rage today would frighten anyone present, let alone a fourteen or fifteen-year-old child.

Oliver stood on the riverbank, his back to the approaching figure, gazing at the opposite bank against the howling wind. Finchley patted him on the shoulder.

Oliver turned his head and looked up at the older brother who was two heads taller than him.

His face was pale with a rosy tinge, his glistening eyes were filled with tears, and he was sobbing. This sight stirred Finchley's pity for him.

"..." Finchlina, being a mere warrior, really didn't know how to comfort a child, nor could he rashly tell him the truth about Alphonse. He could only stammer as he explained, "The captain has his reasons. He doesn't usually lose his temper like this. You should understand him."

Oliver nodded tremblingly and hugged him affectionately.

"Alright, wipe your face and come back with me. We need to get ready to assemble."

Then, Finchley felt a jolt run through him, a strange sensation washing over him—just as Oliver's chest pressed close to his…

Oliver realized his blunder and quickly pushed him away, his face flushed with embarrassment.

“You…” Finchley exclaimed in surprise, “You’re actually a girl?”

-

Night fell suddenly, and the surroundings were shrouded in the gloom of snow. Priscilla walked sadly back towards the north-south dividing line.

She had no idea where she was going, how long she had been walking, or how far she was from the military camp.

Before she knew it, she realized that it had stopped snowing, probably because she had followed the route back.

The closer she got to the Ukiles line, the warmer the temperature became, returning to a familiar level, which made her throw down her sweater halfway before continuing.

She stepped into the forest, her steps aimless, but she remained vigilant.

Throughout the journey, her mind was filled with Alphonse and all the hardships and battles she had experienced in the past, as well as the carefree and enjoyable life she had with him in the palace.

She suddenly missed her deceased father, and through her blurred vision, she saw his kind face appearing and disappearing in the darkness.

Her father taught her knowledge, how to protect herself, and instructed her to pursue people and things called "power".

The daughter did not object to these martial artists' pursuit, because her father, as the ruler of a country, was the epitome of strength.

She firmly believed that only a strong person, as powerful as her father, could give her the same level of tenderness and love as her father, and only such a person was qualified to give these things.

"Alphonse, you can't possibly understand my thoughts... Only a powerful warrior can give me enough peace of mind... You wouldn't understand..."

Priscilla sobbed, wiping away her tears and muttering to herself. Even if she shouted, no one would hear her, but she couldn't cry.

"You cry over every little thing, just like those weak women who depend on others!" That's what her father would scold her if he were alive.

It seemed that an attraction lay ahead, strongly enticing Priscilla. This was not related to the demonic aura, but rather a pure allure that only nature could exude, which stood out even more in this nearly withered, sparse jungle.

Curious, she wanted to go in and find out. If she could discover something interesting, it would probably dispel her gloomy mood.

She was drawn by this natural allure and soon arrived at the heart of the jungle.

From here, you can clearly see the bright moon hanging high in the night sky.

However, what makes it even more beautiful is not the unreachable moon, but the lake that is right next to us.

The chance discovery of the dreamlike wonderland filled Priscilla with immense joy.

I never imagined that such a beautiful lake could be found amidst the heavy surroundings of withered and broken trees.

The surroundings were quiet, and under the hazy moonlight, the lake surface shimmered with fairytale-like sparkling waves, like a flowing stream of shimmering gems.

Perhaps the light reflected on the lake is the moon's "true form." As the observer imagines, although the moon is untouchable, a master once mentioned that the moon in the sky is made up of countless bright gems. Otherwise, how could it have the ability to shine?

The moon must be a huge, magical, sparkling gem, right?

The lake water must be very clear and shallow. By the moonlight, you can glimpse the true face of the bottom through the gaps in the shimmering waves—no sand, no stones, no aquatic plants, it is truly clear.

Priscilla gazed at the breathtaking lake, lost in thought and filled with longing. All her negative emotions and thoughts vanished instantly, and her heart became at peace.

Suddenly, a bold idea popped into Priscilla's mind—she wanted to soak herself in the moonlight and the lake water.

It was a dark night, and no one was around to disturb us.

As for the weather—it's magical here, situated on the dividing line between north and south, neither too hot nor too cold, and the withered branches and dead trees seem to have the effect of insulating against the cold air from the north.

She only felt a comfortable coolness.

The idea of ​​being close to water constantly tempted Priscilla.

Beautiful moonlight, beautiful lake, beautiful woman...aren't they a perfect match? Priscilla took off her veil, removed all her ornaments and placed them on the shore, then walked into the water step by step.

Her toes touched the water, and she couldn't help but shiver. Startled by the beautiful visitor, the lake rippled with waves of welcome. The "jewels" in the lake stirred as a result.

Priscilla was half-submerged in the lake, feeling a bone-chilling cold as her lower body touched the water, but she quickly adjusted. It seemed the lake's depth was just right.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!