Later that night…..
Isfrid was in his room, still practicing what he learned in the library. His knowledge about the katana greatly enhanced his learning speed with the weapon.
The only thing he needed to strengthen his foundation was experience. Which he knew he couldn't get here.
Even if he found a martial arts manual, he knew it wouldn't be optimal to learn it before gaining experience using the basics.
He's reached the Iron aura grade and has an adept mana core. What he doesn't know is that he's progressed far more than kids his age.
While other 7-year-olds are struggling with even comprehending concepts, Isfrid is actively progressing down the path of both a mage and a knight.
After finishing what he felt was an adequate amount of training. Isfrid looked at the clock. And noticed that Eliza was late bringing his dinner.
It wasn't unusual for her to be a little late; however, it was an hour past the normal time. Considering the events that had happened earlier in the day, he began to worry.
'Could that bastard have done something to her? Should I check on her?'
However, his rational thinking took over, 'If I go out and see anybody….. I'll just make things worse.'
He decided to just wait for her, but the worry in his heart didn't stop.
After waiting a little longer, he grew restless and wanted to try something. He'd read about mages and aura users being able to extend their aura or mana out to sense their surroundings.
He sat down, closed his eyes, and tried to extend his aura outward. He felt an immediate effect; he could sense everything in his room as if his eyes were open.
As he tried to extend his aura even further, he felt everything a few rooms surrounding him on every side; however, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't see any further.
That's when he had an idea, 'rather than just pushing my aura outward, I should try extending a thin stream exactly where I want to see.'
With that in mind, he began condensing his aura into a line. It took an enormous amount of precision and focus.
He began inching his aura closer to the maids' quarters. It was a long and tedious task; however, right now, Isfrid didn't care.
Once his aura reached the maids' quarters, he began moving his aura towards Eliza's room, but that's when it happened.
His aura dissipated in an instant, and he felt a sharp pain in his heart. It was like his aura was devoured by something much stronger.
He opened his eyes, grabbing at his chest, panting like crazy while being drenched in sweat. Every cell in his body was screaming danger, but he also felt his entire body shutting down.
He tried as hard as he could to stay conscious; however, it was useless. Shortly after, his eyes shut.
…
Isfrid's eyes fluttered open; his mind and body were calm now. His thoughts began to turn.
'Who interfered? Who's even strong enough to completely overpower my aura in such a way
…. Father.
But why would he….'
Thump thump.
Isfrid's eyes shot open wide as the realization hit him. His heart began drumming in his chest as he burst out of the room.
He ran directly towards Eliza's room, unconsciously enhancing his body with aura to move as fast as possible.
When he opened the door, he was hit with a foul stench. The stench of a man. His eyes landed on Eliza lying on the bed, her cheeks wet with tears, her body littered with bruises.
Seeing the blood on the sheets and the disgusting smell in the air, he knew what had happened.
"Isfrid!" she said with a shaky voice.
He was filled with a consuming rage that was about to completely devour him, until he heard Eliza choke on air.
He rushed to her, enveloping her in a hug.
"Eliza…
I'm so sorry," he said while separating.
She looked at Isfrid with a concerned look on her face. Eliza reached out to Isfrid's face and spoke, "Don't cry, Isfrid, it's not your fault."
Isfrid's eyebrows rose as he slowly touched his cheek. And sure enough, he could feel the tears streaming down his face.
He tried to wipe them away; however, they wouldn't stop.
Eliza caressed his cheek with her hand and spoke, "I love you, Isfrid. You can't blame yourself. Listen closely. There's a trunk under my bed, and you'll need this."
She pulled a necklace off her neck, revealing a key at the end of it.
"Take what's in the trunk, and I want you to go North. Here they treat you like trash, but there you'll be like royalty."
Isfrid was trying to process her words.
'Why does it sound like she won't be coming with me?'
And that's when he noticed, by her bedside, there was a dagger.
Eliza, noticing his gaze, spoke, "Remember when I told you that Northerners are prideful?
I may not have spent all my life there, but please let me die with my honor intact".
Isfrid's heart was racing as he played back her words in his mind. He wanted to refuse, tell her she can get past this. Tell her he needed her. That he didn't want to be alone.
But the guilt kept him from speaking. 'It's my fault… I should have protected her.' His thoughts moved towards everything she's done for him, and how he never repaid her.
Isfrid's eyebrows rose slightly when a thought crossed his mind
'This is the first time she's ever asked me for anything.'
But even with all that, he still spoke, "I don't want you to leave."
Eliza heard his words and was surprised by the emotion in his voice. She didn't want to leave him either; however, she was barely holding herself together right now for him.
"I'll always be with you, Isfrid, watching over you, protecting you. But it's time I join my family."
Isfrid's heart told him to keep arguing. To make her stay, but he knew it would only be selfish to speak any more than he had.
He tried to fortify his heart, wiped his tears, and spoke.
"Ok"
Eliza let out a sigh of relief, hearing his words. "But you have to get out of this house, Isfrid. Take what's in the trunk and go North. Find a man named Jeor Mormont.
Tell him I sent you and he'll take care of you….
And Isfrid, promise me you won't throw away your life for revenge. I want you to live a long life."
She added, thinking about the killing intent he let out when he first entered the room.
Isfrid was reluctant to agree, but wanted to give her peace of mind in her final moments.
"I promise," Eliza let out a tired smile at his response.
"Now take what's in the trunk and leave. You should be able to get out if you go now," she said as she began to reach for the dagger beside her bed.
However, Isfrid gently grabbed her hand.
"No…. I'll do it," he said in a solemn tone.
"Isfrid, a boy your age shouldn't see such things," she said in a worried tone.
"Please…. I don't want you to die alone, Eliza," he said softly.
Isfrid put his hands gently over her heart and spoke as warmly as he could.
"I will love you as long as I breathe, Eli… no, Mother."
At his words, Eliza let out the brightest smile he'd ever seen. A smile that spoke more than any words could have.
He tried to mirror her smile, in the hopes of bringing her as much comfort as hers brought him.
In that moment, he froze her heart. But he didn't stop there; he froze her pain receptors next, hoping it would be a painless death.
He then froze her completely, encasing her in a coffin of ice. Upon finishing, he still saw the serene smile on her face and knew the ice would never melt.
She would forever be encased in ice.
Smiling for eternity.
But that's not all that froze. Isfrid's tears froze on his face, then shattered into nothingness.
His face was back to its usual emotionless state, but his eyes were darker, deeper, like an abyss.
Subconsciously, a thick layer of ice was wrapped around Isfrid's heart, ice that would never melt.