Loss. That foul beast that devours one's very soul, digesting it for years to come. It was consuming Leonie's very essence gradually but efficiently in the years that flew by.

No matter what happened in her life, good or bad, the pain of the loss she had suffered was always present. It was gnawing at the back of her mind trying to escape, to wreak havoc on Leonie's life.

On most days, she could manage the onslaught, direct it into something more productive, but after her conversation with Amitola, she found it challenging to do so.

Finally being able to comprehend the depth of her mother's sacrifice, Leonie was unable to control the combined strength of the two different types of pains. The pain of a little girl who had to spend the rest of her life without her father and that of a woman losing the love of her life, her companion.

The sadness was so great that Leonie felt like her heart was not big enough to contain it. She hoped Rimar was distracted, that he would not sense the storm that was brewing in her soul.

During the years they spent bonded with each other, they had learned to manage the emotions they did not wish to share, but at that moment Leonie was unsure if she was strong enough to keep them from reaching out to Rimar's bigger heart in search of comfort.

An avalanche occurred in her heart, as one smaller pain started sliding down the mountain of pain with unstoppable swiftness.

Realizing how much pain her mother was in, how much she sacrificed for them, was the last drop that made her emotions burst out.

When the sadness began spilling out, there was no way to stop it. All the memories started coming back to her with excruciating clarity. Leonie wanted to scream, begging to be heard, but also not wanting anyone to witness the depth of her pain.

It vexed her that many of the pleasant memories were barely discernible, just echos of what was, while the sad ones lingered with unbearable clarity.

Leonie could not recollect the warmth in her father's voice or the precise way it sounded, yet she could remember things she wanted to forget. Moments she wished she never had to witness.

Her father's pale body, drained of life, was so vivid in her memory that she shook her head, trying to escape it. One of the main reasons was the fact that the empty shell she was remembering was not her father. It was not how she wished to remember him. Yet, it was there in the forefront of her mind, shadowing all the other memories.

Most of the days surrounding her father's death became obscured over the years. She remembered things about meeting Rimar and many other events, but there were holes in her memories, gaps that span from hours to days. They disappeared without a trace.

Those missing pieces only became longer when it came to remembering days before and immediately after his death. Things she did remember appeared to be fading away as well. They lacked clarity they once possessed.

Even small things such as not being able to remember how to prepare her father's favorite dish were excruciatingly painful. With each passing year, she was losing another piece of her father.

Memories were all she had left. Why did they have to disappear as well?

Nonetheless, she spent each day hoping to see her father again, to speak to him, to hear the sound of his voice, and commit it to memory. Yet, he never came though he had promised to try.

Leonie knew the reason behind his absence was probably reasonable. It was plausible that he was not allowed to do so, but she did not care. She wanted him to break all the rules, for her, for his family.

All she wanted was to see him once more, to know that he was watching over her, that he did not fade away into oblivion. She needed to make sure that he did not abandon her.

Though she was no longer a little girl, she needed her father. Since she was born, he was the one who gave her strength. She needed that strength if she was to follow the path that the Fates had led her to. 

She needed the courage to face the unknown dark forces that were looming over her future. However, she also needed to accept that her mother deserved to move on with her life.

Though Leonie tried to be sensitive to what her mother needed, she did not wish to see her mother share that special bond of love and partnership with a man who was not Leonie's father, and yet she knew she had to.

After all, her mother was too young to spend the rest of her life alone. She needed someone by her side, especially if something were to happen to Leonie, and Leonie knew that was a possibility they all had to face sooner or later.

Whether it be the Mage or someone else, it was inevitable that a man would come and conquer her heart. Amitola deserved that. After everything she had been through, all the sacrifices she made, Leonie thought she deserved someone to take care of her for a change.

All Leonie could do, for the time being, was chase away the dark forces with the power of her will, something she had gotten accustomed to doing over the last four years, and tell Toras about the approaching threat. The same danger that she had tried to deny was coming since spring had begun.

Once she reached Rimar and Toras, she almost had her emotions under control. Toras did not notice anything amiss. However, Rimar gave her a questioning look. She just shook her head slightly, and he understood they would discuss whatever was troubling her later.

It still surprised Leonie how easy it was for them to silently communicate with each other, how in tune they were with each other. Especially having in mind that they bonded with each other only a few years back, that Rimar was only four years old. Yet, it felt like they had been each other's support for much longer, the ties that united them felt as real as those of family and Leonie had a feeling as if she had spent her whole life by Rimar's side which was both wondrous and scary at the same time.

"Ready to go?" Toras asked.

"Yes, let's go," Leonie said.

The moment they entered the cave, Leonie decided to say everything that she had been holding back and hope for the best. Even at that moment, she was unsure why she had not shared the relevant information with the Mage before.

"It's happening. This winter," she said.

"I see," Toras said.

"You don't seem surprised," Leonie said.

"I've been feeling this strange chill lately. It is especially noticeable when I come in contact with the villagers. There is something off about them, and I fear it might have something to do with the upcoming storm. You just confirmed my doubts." Toras said.

"So, what are we going to do about it?" Leonie asked.

"Whatever we can, but I am afraid that most of the hard work will fall upon you. I'll help as much as I can, but I have a feeling that the special power, the special bond, you two share, will be necessary to defeat evil. First, I need you to tell me what exactly do you know. I need to understand as much as possible to be able to prepare you." Toras said.

"That's a long story," Leonie said.

"Well, we have until winter for you to explain. I am sure that is more than enough time for you to tell me what you saw in your dreams," Toras said.

Leonie was unable to comprehend his strange sense of humor, and the only reason she understood that he was joking was a low chuckle that escaped Rimar. No matter how closely connected they were, at times, Leonie could see how different she and Rimar could be. She was too young to be able to understand such dark humor and Rimar was too ancient not to appreciate it.

"I guess we do. Alright then, let me start from the beginning..." Leonie said, ignoring the bad attempt at a joke.