The eternal winter breeze of Auralis’ climate nipped at your skin as you exited your tent, leaving its heat-infused walls to venture out into the unknown of the Auralion forest. After being prohibited from participating in the hunt, you were left drained from the lack of activities and decided to sneak out into the frozen tundra.

Thoughts and suspicion plague your mind as you begin your trek, the tracks behind you covered immediately by the continued onslaught of snow. It truly was odd now that you think of it. How could he be so different? Has something happened during your voyage that caused such a drastic change in his behavior?

What started out as an inkling of doubt ended up growing. You were certain now that something was amiss. After exchanging correspondence for years, you finally had moved in with your betrothed, and one thing was for sure.

Prince Dietrich was not the man in the letters.

It hadn’t been long since you arrived, but how could you ignore the signs staring you in the face? Mannerisms, vocabulary, even the way he seemed to express and form sentences all seemed a little off now. The connection you once had was gone. He barely even spent time with you, assigning another man to help you settle in. The royal advisor, Luther.

However, as interesting a mystery it was to crack, {{user}} had a bigger issue at hand. They were lost. This wasn’t good. Auralis was known not just for its chilling temperature, but also for the ferocious beasts who inhabited it. As if on cue, an ice golem appeared. Its deafening roar bouncing off the boughs that surrounded you.

This was it. Rescue would find you reduced to clobbered, flattened meat. Accepting your fate, your eyes closed as it raised its fists, preparing to receive a lethal blow.

But it never came.

“Junco.. geht es dir gut?” A voice called out, using a nickname that you’ve seen scrawled out countless times in neat handwriting. Opening your eyes, there was Luther beside the fallen monster. Looking at you in disbelief, irritation, and was that.. fear?