Snow Witch'S Journey
Ice Woman

I don't know what the woman was thinking, staring at the cold sea of stars. He was so calm when the waves reached his bare toes, that I could not bear the coldness of the Frozen Sea.

I lifted my hat slightly to see her beautiful-looking face in the wind of sadness. I don't want to admit that I can feel her feelings. Too complicated for me who can be said to be a baby in this vast world. So did the smile on his face that so complicated his heart, whether happy or disappointed.

What she wanted to do made me think so late in the ocean. Like happy dreams that disappear when the waves hit him and smash him into pieces.

I said it over and over again. “Are you sure?”

But, he answered her so gently and quietly, “Iya.” Maybe I'm more accurate I said.

I even doubt if Aeron can convince him, no, I doubt even more if he says something. I didn't force her to say anything to that woman, but at least I needed her help.

I turned back the moment before I met him. Before I heard her sad story and made me look at her like a cold ice woman.

That night, I was walking on the edge of a cliff, chattering with Aeron about what it was like to die frozen. Even though Aeron was with me, I still felt alone because he rarely spoke. Aeron argues that it feels like sleeping with snow covered. Of course I can't trust him completely, he's a compass. I could feel the cold I meant.

For me who was once trapped in a chunk of ice, freezing to death was the most soothing and painless way to die. The wound will be covered if given ice cubes. I mean, all sin and guilt will feel like angel caresses when they freeze to death, or I'm the one who's wrong.

While discussing this ridiculous matter, I saw clearly a white color at the end of my eyes. Standing in front of the sea was like wanting to challenge him. I could see a woman in a thin white dress looking out at the far end of the sea. On the edge of the cliff where I was standing, the wind carried the scent of the woman to me, the sweet scent of the valley lilies commonly used by brides at weddings.

I wonder, is this time really a snow ghost or just an ordinary woman with an ordinary destiny anyway? Ever since I went down the cliff that was not too high and steep, Aeron started not to talk a bit more. He hid in my bag like a sea hermit.

“Excuse me..” I broke the silence between the woman and the ocean waves.

I knew we were just strangers who had just met and had no reason to answer each other, but the woman greeted me with her gentle smile. It was pure of all the smiles that adorned that night. But, the tears that wet her cheeks said another.

Ilsas. He introduced his name to me. There was quite a distance between us sitting on the beach. I don't want to make him feel uncomfortable if I get too close to him.

“Sorry I'm bothering you. I accidentally passed by and saw you. I thought you were a snow ghost or something,” I opened the conversation to look friendly.

Who wouldn't be curious when a woman in a white dress stood on the beach at night? Aeron warned me to continue on, but I thought it would never hurt to get to know the woman and know her story.

“Tak what. If anyone greets me, shouldn't I reply?” The woman's voice was so melodious even when not humming. If he formed an orchestra with the sea as his violin and the night crab as his piano player, the sea god would always come to hear him.

“If you may know, what are you doing here?”

“Prepared my destiny.”

It reminds me of when my mom was staring at the end of the ocean. Mom has an interest in the End of the World, because that's her dream. But, I don't know if this woman next to me has the same dream or her gaze is just a longing for the moon's back.

When I asked her about her fate and she answered, that's when I realized I shouldn't have asked.

“I want to freeze to death in the ocean.”

“Why-”

“Sst!” hiss Aeron that awakened me from the curiosity that took over. I don't have to worry about Aeron's voice being heard by the woman, we were quite a distance away plus the waves that rippled through the night.

I'd better not interfere in his affairs any further. “Sorry, I can't help, but good luck.”

The cold hands of the tibs suddenly pulled at me who wanted to get up immediately. “I don't think there's any harm in me telling you this, foreign girl. Besides, soon I won't be able to tell anyone.” The woman let go of his grasp. “So, will you accompany me while I tell you my story?”

I have been subdued. His gaze was the same as that of mother, as gentle as the ocean. The sea that carries all the purity of a woman's heart. When I looked back at him, I didn't realize I was dragged by the current and bottom into the middle of the ocean. I nodded and sat next to him, not heeding Aeron's whisper.