Snow Witch'S Journey
The Man Who Can't Be Moved

After a long journey through a very dense and snowy evergreen forest, I finally arrived at a vast open space. Honestly, it was a tiring and boring trip when all I saw was trees and snow. Not to hate the Frozen Line Edge, just that I wanted something that could satisfy my curious desires.

And that's when I found a vast field of flowers in an unknown area. It was a field with one type of flower that could only grow in a place like this, the northern flower. The flower is white with an ice blue gradation. The snowflakes fell and were supported by the crown, which bloomed wide enough to tip it down. As I flew close above them, the wind from my broom shook them and spread its refreshing fragrant aroma to welcome me.

These flowers looked healthy and fresh as if someone was taking care of them, but I knew it was impossible. No one wants to care for flowers in a cold environment like here, unless they are snow ghosts.

As I was thinking that, I saw a figure in the middle of this blue and white field. No, the figure was not watering the northern flower. The figure just sits quietly in the middle of the flower field as if it does not care about the world around it.

I was curious and flew my broom closer to the figure. It turned out to be a young man wearing thick clothes.

“Halo, sir,” gently greet me. I descended slowly while watching my feet in order not to step on the rare flower.

“Hilda, is that you?” The man turned excitedly the moment he heard my voice, then his face became disappointed very quickly. “Oh, sorry, I thought you were Hilda.” His voice sounded so weak and sad.

Who's Hilda?

“I Niva. I'm a wanderer,” I said. “And this is my compass, Aeron.”

However, the man only responded, “Oh,” with a face that did not show the slightest interest. Wearing a fur coat, the man sat across from a wide cloth and looked back at the blue morning sky.

“Looks like he's not interested in talking,” whispered Aeron.

“Maybe ...” However, I was still curious about this place and why the man was sitting here. I can't bear to ask him directly.

“Sorry, if I may know, what are you doing here?” ask me to continue the conversation.

“Oh, I'm waiting for my girlfriend. Her name is Hilda,” she replied. He still did not look at me. “We promise to meet here, as always.”

“Do you guys own this northern flower field?”

He's laughing a little. “That's impossible, miss. No one wants to care for flowers in a cold environment like here, unless they are—”

“Snow ghost,” connect me.

The man finally looked at me and was surprised. His gaze was fixed, watching me from bottom to top, and then stopped in my eyes. “Nona, north man, yes?”

“Yes, I live in the Witch Cliff. It's a village in the west end of the Frozen Line.”

“I didn't know there was such a place,” murmured.

“I also didn't know there was such a beautiful place here. Each one of these flowers stood upright and perfectly. The trunk grew strongly and the spread of blue color in the crown was quite a lot. When viewed from the amount of growth, it indicates that this place has not been touched by humans.”

“Wow, you know a lot about flowers, yes.” The man's eyes were amazed to look at me.

“That's because of my mother. She loved taking care of different types of flowers and sometimes told me to take care of hers. As a result, I learned a few things about flowers.”

“So, yes. I feel good for you,” he said with a smile. “By the way, my name is Danny.”

I realized when the man introduced his name his face looked brighter and full of vigor than before. He was also more open and started to show me a smile. What is the topic of flowers that trigger it?

“How about you, sir, do you also like flowers and therefore you are in this place?” ask Aeron.

“That's. More precisely, I like flowers because of Hilda.” Then, Danny handed me a photo from his shirt pocket. It was a photo of a short-haired woman with the happiest smile. “He loves flowers more than anyone I've ever known. She memorized all kinds of flowers and their aroma.”

Sounds very familiar. I also know one person with such traits.

“Three years ago, this is where I met him for the first time,” he said while taking the photo from me and looking at it deeply.

While hearing the story, I sat on the base. It wasn't me who felt like sitting next to him, but it was the man who offered it to me by patting the empty pedestal. The part I'm occupying right now should be the woman's place.

“We then get acquainted. He distributed the food he brought and offered me to sit down together at the base. It feels like a nice picnic, doesn't it?” He put his picture in his pocket, then giggled as he looked at me.

I wouldn't say it was a nice picnic, especially with the piercing cold air. However, the man seemed to be happy with it, so I let it go.

“He told me that this northern flower and the nature at the End of the Frozen Line made him calm and peaceful. He came here to relieve the stress of his family being too strict on him and always forcing things. When I heard that story, I was sure that she was from a noble family.

“She also said that she felt very relieved because I heard her story. It was snowing, but he could smile more widely than most Northmen. That was when the feeling of love in my chest grew and bloomed like a flower, and I instantly expressed my feelings back then.”

That's a very fast development. This man took action faster than a blizzard coming at the End of the Frozen Line.

“Of course he accepted me very happily. However, since he cannot stay here for too long, we promise to meet each other back at this place once every six months. He gave me his picture so I could keep remembering it.”

“Six once a month? That was a very long time. Why six months?” ask Aeron.

“She said it had something to do with her family work.”

I was curious about the work of the woman's family.

“After that, we continued to meet for three years until now. Every time we met, we always chatted very long because we met only a little. Most of his chatter is about the flowers, about how this northern flower attracted his attention because it had a function unique to the Northmen. You know, right?” He tried to test me.

“Of course. Northern flowers are used by people to determine when a blizzard is coming. The more the end of his crown dangled down, it meant that a blizzard was getting closer. The movement pattern is caused because the northern flower is able to adapt and grow to absorb cold air, then collect it at the end of its crown. The colder it is, then the end of the body will be heavier and more down until it touches the ground and ends up detached from the trunk,” explained me seriously like an expert.

“Haha, Hilda also answered such a length. You guys really look like.”

For some reason, when the man laughed it felt like my heart was relieved. He was just a stranger to me.

“The only flower that grows in a harsh environment, becomes a hope for people who live in the same land. That is why the North made this flower a symbol of hope. Because of that, Hilda likes northern flowers,” continued the man.

“Hey, not only northern flowers can grow here, you know? Didn't Hilda tell you at all about snowdrops?” I asked, pouting in annoyance.

“Ah, after I remember again, Hilda did mention it once twice. But, since snowdrops do not have their own flower fields, we do not make them the main topic of conversation. Uh, wait a minute, snowdrop flower ..” The man lowered his head and began to think, very late. “Your name is from the snowdrop? Wow, I didn't realize it at all.”

“It's true. As a flower lover, you should at least respect snowdrops as well. It was a tough little flower. It can last all winter and not freeze at all. When the flower blooms perfectly, it is a sign that spring is coming. Therefore, the flower is also worthy of being as a symbol of hope.”

“You're too excited, Niva,” grumbled Aeron, tired.

“Nona correct. That's an amazing flower too.” Danny nodded in agreement.

Because of Mom, I became very sensitive about flowers, especially about my name.

“Ah, by the way, thank you for hearing my story, miss. Hilda was right, it was a relief to be able to tell it to others. Sorry for interrupting your trip. Don't hesitate to continue,” he said. He looked back at the sky as before.

There's something strange. His expression returned cold as before. The bright aura on her face faded like a flower that had withered from not getting any nutrition. His smile was also gone, making him a very different person. When he looked up at the sky, he was actually not really looking up at the sky. Despite that, his eyes still radiated hope.

“When will your lover arrive?” my many.

“I can't be sure. He only said the date, but not the time. He usually comes in the morning, and sometimes late at night. When he came first, he waited for me until I came. Therefore, today I leave once in the morning to wait for him.”

Then, my eyes found the end of my boots touched by the dangling end of the northern flower crown. So dangling it until the city like bent down. Coinciding with that, I felt cold like never before. My skin was shivering and my hair was standing. At that moment, I realized something was up.

Spontaneously, I immediately got up and flicked my cane to the ground. Instantly, a layer of light was created that locked me and Danny together like an egg shell. A moment after, coming from behind the trees like a huge feathered monster carrying bone-freezing cold air, was a blizzard itself. At an abnormal speed, the storm hit the flower fields, heading towards us.

Unfortunately for the blizzard, my protector had resisted him very strenuously. Rumbling sounds and the roar of pissing wind filled the surroundings of the protector as if trying to crush him. But as long as I'm here, the storm won't make it in.

“Please wait a minute. This storm won't be long,” I said.

This sudden blizzard was a normal thing at the End of the Frozen Line. Sometimes, when you walk casually down the path, there is a blizzard without warning and sometimes the storm will suddenly disappear very quickly as if only being greeted by you. Sometimes in a week often appears and sometimes vice versa. Sometimes it only lasts a few minutes and sometimes it lasts for days. Like that, life here. People do everything possible to survive a blizzard, including by keeping northern flowers in their homes to predict when a storm is coming.

Then, I opened my other palm, letting out a moderate flame to warm us both while waiting for the storm to go. I kept my wand perpendicular, keeping the protective magic layer from being damaged.

“After this, you should immediately return to your home. You won't be safe here with this storm,” my advice, but it looks like the man isn't listening. He simply buried his face in his bent knee.

“Master, you better hear this girl. He has a point,” Aeron helped me.

“Sorry, I can't. If I go and Hilda comes here, I'll miss my chance to meet her. Therefore, I will stay here,” he said firmly. His eyes are very serious about it.

“What if your lover does not come at all?” The question came from Aeron.

Danny did not answer. He looked back at the photo of his girlfriend for a moment and said, “He will definitely come. As long as it is, he will come. I believe it.”

“What if your supplies run out and you can't go to town to buy food because you have to wait here?” It was my turn to ask. My heart started to get hot from the persistence of that man.

“Then, I will ask for your help, miss. You're a witch, aren't you? I want you to lock me in ice so I can wait for Hilda whenever I want, without fear of famine or storm.”

“Do not!” Unknowingly, my emotions slipped and snapped at him.

Danny was surprised and looked at me with fear, but soon he ignored me again. He looked back at the photo as if it was just that photo on his mind. He paid no attention to my rising voice or the loud roar of the storm outside.

“Sorry, but you can't do that,” I said after rearranging my composure.

I will not do as he says, especially when I think of myself who used to be in a chunk of ice.

“Listen, can't you wait for him in town? What is the place you met just here?” ask again.

“After I heard his story for the first and last time, I decided not to ask him more about his life. I'm afraid it'll make him even more uncomfortable. Therefore, we never discussed anything other than flowers. Hilda also never asked about my personal life and she did not feel like going to my city or staying in a hotel. This is the only place I can meet him. Nothing else.”

That sucks. Why is that so annoying? What exactly does the woman want? I don't deserve to conclude this, but to me the woman was impressed as if she didn't love Danny in the least. Maybe he just thinks of Danny as his vent, nothing more.

“I know this doesn't make sense, but what else can I do? How can I forget about it and leave it if I still love him so much. He still needs me to listen to all his chatter about flowers. For that, I will stay here if it is necessary, whether it be a day, a month, or a year. If he's looking for me, he'll definitely come here. Where we used to meet.”

“Just because you love her doesn't mean you have to do everything for her. That's too much, especially if you still have limits. Do you realize you've been blinded by love?” I've never felt this sorry for strangers before.

“I don't care. Whatever you say, I'll be waiting for him. I would wait for him until the snow at the End of the Frozen Line disappeared and grow many new flowers. Until then, I'll show the flowers to Hilda. He'll be happy. So, I'm not leaving, lady. I'll never go.”

The blizzard finally subsided, revealing a clear sky that stretched over us. Outside the protector became very calm after the departure of the storm. The storm had indeed left, but the man had not.

I can't stand his persistence. So, I'm leaving.

People like him who feel their love is so great that they are willing to do anything for their loved ones, even though the person does not necessarily love them as well. People's phrases about love are blind, about love can make people do whatever is right, and it can lead to good things or nothing.

Meanwhile, the promise that Danny and Hilda made was actually burdening one of them.

“If the man still does not want to leave, let it go. That was the decision he made, no matter what the consequences. You just think too much about it,” Aeron told me.

However, I still don't understand at all. “Why is that?”

“You who like to read romantic novels, you should know better!” He raised his voice.

“Fiction with real life is different! I can't use the logic of fiction in the real world" I argue. "I have never felt like I loved another man. So, I don't understand."

“It doesn't have to be about you loving other men. It could be something you like too. For example, you like magic a lot. You said you practiced day and night from childhood to master magic. And what consequences do you have? You lose a lot of your playtime, you get hurt while practicing magic, you get sickly often, but do you feel regret? Nah! Wh why? Because you like magic.”

Love should not work that way. Love should understand each other. I thought about why people can be like slaves in front of their love. Being a slave and falling in love should be two different things.

However, I think Aeron has a point. I became infatuated with magic because I loved magic so much that I ignored everything else. I'm actually not much different from those love slaves.

In the end, that's what a human being looks like. The desire to love is what makes humans able to keep moving forward. If I try to take that person's love, I'll make it worse.

As I grasped my compass and thought about that woman named Hilda, I saw the compass needle pointing in a direction. I followed him and I found a carriage that passed through the forest. Inside the carriage, there was a woman who was looking out of the window with the happiest smile.

It seemed, I had indeed been thinking too much and was too immersed in my own vexation.