Chapter 23 - Real Identity

CELESTINA VILLARAMA’s POV

I was literally taken aback when I saw the same glowing person that was supposed to only exist inside my head. It was utterly impossible for that guy to exist, so how am I even going to explain and believe what I’m seeing right now?

After several attempts of rubbing my eye to assure myself that I wasn’t hallucinating, I asked, “Are you for real?”

Ice gazed upon me. “It’s been a long time since we last saw each other. I knew from the beginning that we would still be able to encounter one another, but I wasn’t expecting that you would see me in this form… I was kind of anticipating for the day to come wherein you would be able to recognize me the instant that you see me from somewhere though,” Ice said without batting an eye on how I reacted with his change. “Focus is all you need, Celestina. Once you’ve mustered up all your attention to your one and only wolf, I’m sure that the deities out there would lend you a hand and bring her out of your body. There’s no one in this realm other than you who doesn’t possess a wolf anyway.”

Tears began to randomly fill in my eyes when I heard the way that he spoke. His voice was different than usual. It was ringing a bell in my mind, but I can't remember where I heard that voice before. “Who are you?” I asked. My feet moved on its own, heading closer to where Ice was until we were both a few inches away from one another. “You… You’re not Ice, aren’t you?” I added to my first query.

“Considering how Ice brought you all the way here, it must mean that you’re prepared to know about the truth behind this realm,” he said at the same time that he let go of the fountain’s base. “I’m Frost and as you might have already noticed, I’m the one who you’ve communicated with as you slowly moved through the portal. And one more thing…” The man who named himself Frost stepped forth, then reached for my cheeks with both of his hands. At that point, I totally lost myself when tears began to stream down my face. “Your heart and your soul knows who I am… but your mind doesn’t even want to remember all of the days we’ve spent together before as one, huh…”

The way that he caressed my face and the words that he said made me think that Frost used to live in the same world that I lived in as well. “If you knew the Celestina that lived in the other dimension, that only implies that we’ve been close friends before,” I muttered as I was forced to remove his grip on my cheeks. “It would most probably be better for you if you’ll go on and eradicate those pieces of memories that you have left with me.”

Frost didn’t seem to be surprised. “I knew that you would end up saying that. You said the exact same thing right before you left me all by myself in the midst of our separation. I never managed to bid my last farewell with you back then as I no longer survived the catastrophe that our world had to cruelly go through.”

I don’t understand a single thing that’s coming out from his mouth. “Whatever happened there, I don’t care. The only concern that I have right now is getting out of this realm. I never wished to be transported here anyway. Dealing with all of these werewolves and their respective pack are already stressing me out,” I admitted, which sounded more of like a complaint.

“Sarina has no plans to set you free from this realm though.”

My mind went blank for a short period of time. “What do you mean? She has no authority to imprison me for my whole life here just because of the fact that she’s the sole creator of this place and is also the moon goddess as she claims to be!”

Frost shook his head with a shrug of his shoulders. “I don’t set the rules here in this realm, and I also don’t know what Sarina is after. I simply want to serve as your knight through the darkness that you would surely be reckless with.”

Ice used to be so cheesy with his choice of words, I should've known that Frost would be no different compared to him. "I appreciate your generosity, but I don't want anyone else to protect me. I already have Master Kristoffer's protection as my divine punishment, so..." I gave him a timid smile. "Can we just get straight to the reason why I was brought here?" I tried to divert the topic into something else.

"I believe Ice informed you regarding your wolf's presence that needs to be brought out in the public." Frost glided to the opposite side of the cave as he carried a whole pot where some herbs were planted. "Digest one of these and you won't have any other issues with your wolf. If nothing happens, then there must be a curse placed upon you by no other than the moon goddess herself," he said, which kind of sounded convincing.

I stared at the herbs that were sparkled with red particles as its base was plain green in color, wondering if there really was a need for me to eat one of those when I know that I've been cursed weeks ago.

"You wouldn't actually taste anything when you eat the leaf, there's no need to worry about your stomach's sensitive condition," Frost said to inform me about it, as he saw the hesitation in my eyes.

Judging from the fact that he even knew how much of a picky eater I was, Frost was most probably not joking when he told me about our relationship back in the past and before I got myself inside this place.

It would be great if my wolf would really show itself and be trained by myself, so that I don't have to worry if our choice of actions won't match.

"I'll trust you this once, Frost," I replied, then picked up a piece of leaf from its stem.

From the moment that I placed it on my tongue, I felt something sharp but I chose to ignore it when I realized that there really wasn't any taste to it; it wasn't spicy, sweet, and definitely not bitter or sour.

I gave him a thumbs up after I gulped the entire leaf. I stuck out my tongue to prove it to him, but Frost quickly avoided having eye contact with me.

"Don't you dare do that to Master Kristoffer or whoever, not even Ice," he muttered. His face was heating up.

He must be feeling embarrassed right now, how funny.

I covered my mouth immediately, then faked a cough. "What?" I whispered to myself.

"I said, don't act that way with ---"

"N-no... I mean, what's this?" I asked at the same time that I show him my palm that was filled with my blood.