CHAPTER 247: CHAPTER 245 – A MORNING FROZEN, A GENTLE SMILE

The faint hiss of wind and the muffled echoes of last night’s storm still lingered in Sylvia’s ears as her eyelids slowly parted. Her vision blurred, unfocused, as though her mind had not fully returned from the darkness of sleep. She lay there for a few seconds, staring at the canopy ceiling of her black-draped chamber, listening to a silence broken only by the soft sway of a small chain clinking in the corner.

"...morning already?" she murmured, though the dim light seeping through the snow-fogged window made time itself feel frozen.

With lazy movements, Sylvia rose. The cold sheets slipped aside, her gown rustling softly as she sat at the edge of the bed. Her long black hair was tangled, strands clinging to her pale cheek. She rubbed her face once, then stood and shuffled toward the bathroom adjoining her private room.

.....

At the black stone basin, Sylvia stared at her reflection. Those red pupils looked dimmer than usual, faint shadows circling beneath her eyes. She turned the tap, but only the metallic creak of frozen pipes answered. No water. She waited a moment, and tried again. Still nothing.

Her head lowered, her face tightened. "...I forgot. All the pipes are frozen."

Her hand clenched over the basin, then her gaze slid toward the small window. Through the curtains, she glimpsed the outline of a balcony buried under piles of snow. Normally a large drum of rainwater waited there, something she could use. But outside was nothing but darkness, and the roar of another snowstorm.

Sylvia exhaled a long breath. "Damn it... again."

She decided against forcing her way out. Her long gown would only get soaked, and even as a zombie, the storm outside wasn’t something to take lightly. With slow steps, she left the bathroom and walked down the corridor.

.....

The castle’s halls were quiet. Blue flames along the walls flickered faintly, casting long shifting shadows on the black stone. Sylvia’s footsteps rang lightly as she made her way to the kitchen.

When she arrived, the faint scent of dried herbs and burnt wood greeted her. The kitchen wasn’t large, but it was neat: a long table, wooden cupboards stuffed with food supplies, and a black hearth in the corner that still held warmth. A few zombie servants moved slowly yet deftly in silence.

Sylvia paused, then spoke simply, "Water."

One of the servants bowed, then fetched a large jug from the corner. The water inside was unfrozen and kept near the hearth to remain liquid. Sylvia accepted it, poured a little into her palm. The cold touched her skin, making her blink once. She washed her face slowly, letting the chill sweep away what drowsiness remained.

"...better."

She set the jug on the table, then glanced at the servant. "Prepare a light breakfast. And tea."

The servant bowed again, immediately moving. The hearth flared brighter, the sound of wood crackling filled the room.

The tea was ready sooner than Sylvia expected. A small black cup was set before her, steam curling from the golden liquid. She lifted it gently, blew across it, then sipped.

The warmth slid down her throat, refreshing her body. She sat quietly on the long wooden bench, black chains humming faintly behind her back, as if relaxing alongside her.

Breakfast had yet to arrive. The servants were still busy with the stove. Sylvia didn’t mind waiting until the tea was enough for now.

.....

That silence was broken by the sound of quick footsteps in the corridor. A heartbeat later, the kitchen door swung open, and two figures entered: silver-haired Celes, followed closely by Aurellia, her brown-golden hair glowing faintly in the firelight.

"...Sylvia?!" Celes’s voice burst first, full of shock and relief.

Beside her, Aurellia froze in the doorway, eyes wide. "You... already returned?"

Sylvia turned, her red pupils fixing on them. A rare thing curved her lips a faint smile.

"I came home last night." Her voice was flat, but the warmth at the edges softened it.

Celes stepped toward her quickly, eyes glimmering with tangled emotion. "Why didn’t you tell us? We " she stopped, swallowed her words, then drew in a long breath. "We were worried, Sylvia."

Sylvia only shrugged, setting her cup down. "I was too tired. It was easier just to sleep."

Aurellia shut the door behind her and walked closer. Her eyes carried a soft light, a mix of relief and joy. "Even so... I never expected this. We were just talking about you yesterday, and now..." she paused, smiling faintly. "...you’re already here."

Sylvia studied them both. Something stirred faintly in her chest, something she refused to name. She exhaled softly, then spoke quietly, "You both look well. That’s enough."

.....

Celes and Aurellia exchanged a glance. A warmth passed between them, not unnoticed by Sylvia. She remembered clearly what she had seen last night in the study and seeing them together now brought another small smile to her lips.

"That’s good then," Sylvia continued. "I came back just in time, before winter completely locks us inside."

Celes pulled out a chair and sat opposite her. "Are you alright after your journey?"

Sylvia nodded slightly. "The storm was troublesome. But nothing to worry about."

Aurellia sat beside Celes, her hands folded on the table. "In that case... welcome home, Sylvia."

Sylvia’s faint smile widened a fraction. She raised her cup in a small nod. "Thank you."

.....

A short while later, the servants set breakfast on the table: warm black bread, slices of smoked meat, and a steaming pot of vegetable soup. Sylvia looked at it briefly, then began to eat slowly.

Celes watched her with an unreadable expression before finally saying quietly, "You know... we’re truly glad you’re back. This castle feels too empty without you."

Sylvia paused, staring at the bread in her hand. Without looking up, she replied flatly, "I missed this castle too."

That simple sentence warmed the room, though the storm still raged outside.

.....

That morning, amid the endless snowfall, three women sat at a simple kitchen table with hot tea and warm food. There was no strategy, no war reports, only rare, quiet peace.

Sylvia watched the steam rising from her tea, eyes narrowing faintly. For a moment, she allowed herself to enjoy this small moment between storms, before harsh reality returned.

And on her lips, a faint smile remained, fragile but real.

Silence held the room for a while. Only the sound of soup simmering in the hearth and the hiss of cold wind slipping through the cracks in the walls remained. Sylvia nibbled her bread, chewing slowly. Its dense texture and simple flavor were enough to fill the hunger gnawing since last night.

Celes, sitting opposite, looked at her with deep emotion. Relief, but also a flicker of nervousness rare for her. Aurellia at her side glanced now and then, as if weighing whether to speak or to let the peace last.

In the end, Aurellia spoke first.

"How was your journey, Sylvia? Did the dark elves truly agree to listen?"

Sylvia lifted her gaze, her red pupils glowing faintly under the blue firelight. She set her bread down and leaned back in her chair.

"They didn’t just listen. They agreed. Their elder knows the Church will soon strike in force. So now, the dark elves stand with us."

Aurellia sighed with relief, her eyes softening. "That’s very good news... the more who stand with us, the harder it will be for the Church to launch a full invasion."

Celes leaned forward, arms folded on the table. "But it also means... The Church has already accounted for our moves. They won’t sit idle knowing both vampires and dark elves now serve under your banner, Sylvia."

Sylvia gave a small nod, face calm. "They know. They may have already sent more scouts than we realize. That’s why I’ve spread the shadow zombies further. If even one teleportation circle slips through, everything could go badly."

Silence again. Only the soft crack of burning wood in the hearth remained.

.....

Aurellia sipped her tea, then spoke gently, "You always carry this burden alone. But you don’t have to keep doing that. You have us, Sylvia."

The words stilled Sylvia. She looked at Aurellia for several seconds, then shifted her gaze to Celes. All she found there was a steady, tender resolve.

A faint smile touched Sylvia’s lips briefly, quickly gone. "I know. But habits are hard to change."

Celes lowered her head for a moment, exhaling softly. "At least you’ve come back. That alone is enough to make us feel at ease."

Sylvia sipped her tea again, letting its warmth calm her heart. Deep down, she knew their words were sincere. Yet the hollow feeling from last night when she had seen Celes and Aurellia so close still lingered faintly within her.

.....

"How is Anarats?" Sylvia asked, breaking the silence.

Celes glanced at Aurellia before replying, "Velthya is busy with her new kingdom. She’s sent a few short messages, asking us to keep watch over Nocture and make sure no news of the Church arrives to her too late."

"She’s taken the throne, but her real troubles are only beginning," Aurellia added seriously. "The corruption her father left behind created a huge void. Even with full storehouses, the kingdom needs a ruler who can properly direct its resources. Velthya... she seems stronger than before, but I can feel how heavy that burden is."

Sylvia’s fingers tapped lightly on the wooden table. "She’ll manage. Velthya inherited her mother’s resolve, though she seldom realizes it. And now... she has us as allies."

Celes nodded, her eyes shining faintly. "Yes. This time, we are not alone."

.....

At last, breakfast was finished. Sylvia set her plate aside, leaning back slightly, savoring the last curls of steam rising from her tea. But her thoughts did not rest. She looked toward the small window, where the snowstorm had once more swallowed the view.

"This winter will be long," she murmured. "But that’s exactly what will give us time. Time to fortify the castle, to rebuild the army, to prepare before the Church makes their grand move."

Aurellia drummed her fingers lightly on the table. "What’s your plan, Sylvia? What’s the next step?"

Sylvia turned to her, red pupils glowing faintly. A small smile curved her lips.

"The next step... is making sure every ally is truly ready. The vampires are subdued. The dark elves have agreed. Only the other races of darkness remain. They won’t be easy to sway, but before this winter ends, I’ll see them all at my side."

Celes looked at her for a long moment, then smiled softly. "That sounds... like something only you could do."

Sylvia gave a light shrug, then rose. Her gown whispered as it moved, black chains swaying in the air. "Not just me. You two are part of this as well. Don’t ever forget that."