Twenty years later.

The thirteenth world of the World Tree.

In the midst of a sea of white, the wide ice-blue avenue stands out. In the middle of the road galloped an ice-blue ghost warhorse, with two leather bags fastened by belts behind the saddle, and several small bags and a water bottle hanging on the side of the saddle.

Taller than a Pegasus, the rider is very petite and wears a large black-and-gray hooded cloak.

The snow had slowly become lighter, and a faint but exceptionally warm ray of sunlight shone on the riders. In this country of snow and ice all year round, the sun is very difficult to see.

Gradually, the lush edelweiss trees and silver pines on both sides of the road gradually thinned out, and a fork in the road came into view of the riders. The mount under him gradually stopped, flapping its wings slightly: "Lusha, look at the map." I remember this was the last fork in the road before reaching Eternal Winter, right?"

On horseback, the maiden, named Lusha, pulled out a parchment map from her bosom and kept gesturing it with her slender fingers: there were a few forks in the road on the map, and it was difficult to find it for a while.

Lucina ...... couldn't find the fork in the road, and the girl seemed to be in a quandary: there was no fork in the road in front of her to the south of Neverwinter on the map.

Looking up, the only thing left was the wreckage of a broken road sign—it must have been broken by some snowstorm.

Looking at the blue snow stones that constantly turn snowflakes into heat and spread all over the road, Lutha recalls the rumors she had heard that only the kingdom of the Frozen Lands would pave the roads with such stones.

"Got cheated by the guy who sold the map? I said there was definitely something wrong with that guy, Lusha, you just don't believe me. Lucina flapped her wings.

A cheerful cry came from under the cloak, and the girl reached into the cloak and gently stroked the dumplings in her crossbody bag.

"Go right, right?" Lucina shook off the snow from her head and spoke to Lusa in her mind.

"Well, it's all the same anyway. Lusha folded the map, hesitated for a moment, and tossed it to the side of the road. It is customary for the Aiya travelers to discard the wrong map on the side of the road, and it is said that this behavior can lead the traveler who has gone astray.

Gripping the reins again, Lucina sped Lusa to the right of the ice-blue road.

Outside the gates of Winterfell, outside the immigration gate.

A young girl rolled off her horse, shook off the snow from her cloak, and knocked on the door of the house.

Knocking lightly on the door, Lutha pressed the hood again.

"Wait a minute!" shouted the words, and the visa officer approached the door and unlocked it. Sitting back in his place, he hurriedly prepared for work: no stranger had come for too long, and his business had been extremely negligent.

"It's a traveler, right? Recently, heavy snow has blocked the road to the West Mountain, and I haven't seen a stranger in two months...... Come, fill in this, the length of stay is measured in weeks. After a few seconds of considering the opening statement, the visa officer quickly flipped through the stacked forms, tore off one of them and handed it to the girl. Hurriedly putting away the papers, he handed her another pen.

Such a young child goes out on his own...... The visa officer looked out the window at the ice-blue Pegasus: she really didn't seem to have any companions.

"Give. The traveler quickly filled out the form and handed it back to the visa officer.

"Oh, I'll see...... Lusha, stay for two weeks, female. Race...... Aya?"

The visa officer looked at the girl in astonishment, but didn't ask anything more.

"Uh...... This pass gives you a two-week legal stay in the city. Remember to reissue it after it is discarded or expired, otherwise it will be counted as an illegal entry stay. The visa officer quickly wrote something on a card and stamped it.

"I would venture to ask...... Miss Lusa. The visa officer put on his pen and decided to make up an excuse to get her to take off her hood: "As you probably know, my country will not harm Aya. And that ...... I've always had a high interest in Aya - no, I'd say it's been a long time since I've seen Aiya. So, so ......" the visa officer was a little incoherent.

The silent girl just nodded and gently removed her hood.

Long white hair, just like Namedia. It's been more than ten years since Iya has seen Aya on a pilgrimage for the Lifebinder...... The visa officer gasped for breath with some excitement until he realized that he had been staring at Lusha impolitely for too long.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Pretending to be embarrassed, he hung his head, and he secretly glanced at the girl again, the gaze in his pupils distorted for a moment. In that distorted vision, the curse mark hidden under the curtain of Lusa's head glowed dark-purple.

"It's okay, goodbye. With a brief reply, Lusha picked up her visa and turned to walk to the door.

"Ah, that...... I have one more thing to ask. The visa officer hurriedly stopped Lusha.

Lusha stopped and turned her head.

"You're from Aloa in the Seventeenth World, aren't you?" Thinking about how to arouse the girl's curiosity, the man asked pretending to be unintentional, "More than ten years ago, an Aiya girl named Namediaa came here from Aloa. ”

"Yes......" Lusha asked puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. The visa officer was silent for a moment and raised his voice: "It's just...... I hope you'll be careful when you stay in the Permafrost. ”

"Why?" Lutha looked confused, "You just said that Neverwinter is safe. ”

"That's right. Pretending to be a little embarrassed, he patted his head, and the visa officer continued: "Miss, have you heard of the Death Bonder?"

"I haven't heard of it. Lutha said hesitantly.

"That's right. Realizing the validity of what he had just said, the man added, "That'...... What about Amrea's Locks? It's what people call the Curse of Loneliness. Are you here for the rumors about it?"

"Huh?" the girl was a little flustered: "Do you know such rumors? Tell me more......

"Uh...... Not so, sorry. Seeing that his words did work, the visa officer decided to end the topic as soon as possible: "Miss, no matter what rumors you hear, I advise you to leave here as soon as possible." This is not where you should be. ”

Seeing that the girl wanted to say something more, he invited her out of the room with an extremely panicked expression, and closed the door tightly.

Another chess piece...... He snorted indifferently, sat back on his stool, and looked out the window: many lifebinders had failed, and she would be no exception.

This thing, after all, will be swallowed by black ice.

"I saw it all, through the window. Lucina said as she walked towards the city gates.

I don't know when the snow has slowly stopped.

"Oh. Lusha straightened slightly.

"He's a guy who's interested in you, how are you talking?"

"It's fine. Lusha replied briefly: "When I first chatted with him, I felt a little relaxed...... But then, he became very strange. As if scared of me. ”

"That's really a weirdo, why are you afraid of Lusa?" Lucina's tone was extremely helpless: "It's been a long time since I've seen you talk to someone for so long - what is your impression of him?"

"Hmm...... No malice. ”

"That's it......" In her mind, my sister's tone was a little awkward.

Lusa, who hid her expression under her hood, was silent for a moment and asked, "Sister, do you know an Aiya named Namedia?"

"I don't recognize you. Lucina's tone was very surprised: "What's the matter......"

"What about the Mortal Bonder?"

"Well, I know a little bit of a vague legend. Lucina thought for a moment and flapped her wings: "In ancient times, there were seven lifebinders who were chosen by the Gate of Destiny to break the seven shackles that symbolize fate and finally arrived at the Black Tower...... I don't know any more. ”

"That's it. Lusa was extremely distressed: "That man just told me to be careful here...... He seemed to know something, but he didn't want to tell me. ”

"Probably some news to lift the curse of loneliness. Lucina comforted Lusa, "Don't worry about that...... If what the Hoodman told us is true, you'll soon be able to remove the Locks of Amrea. ”

"Hmm. Lutha stood up hopefully, "We might be able to go home soon." ”

"Well...... Without further ado, let's go find a hot spring inn that is unique to the area, I'm going to starve to death - it's a long day in the snow. ”

Whispering in response, Lusha pulled back her hood slightly, looking around.

Entering the city gate, you are greeted by several houses with pointed roofs in black and blue tones, and the roofs are thickly covered with snow. Evergreens and winterwood decorate the white world with pale green. As far as the eye can see, there is the wide square, the leisurely pedestrians, the hot fountain in the center of the square, and the snow-free benches beside the hot springs shrouded in mist.

"Wow...... What a beautiful city. Lucina sighed.

"This should be able to buy Snow Eagle gloves. Lusha muttered quietly.

"Hmm, did you just say something?" the sister didn't seem to hear.

"No, nothing. Sighing in annoyance, Lutha touched the purse around her waist: she was running out of money. If you don't make some money, you won't even be able to afford to live in a hotel.

"This shop looks good, shall we go in and have a look?" Lucina looked excitedly at an inn.

"Sister?" Calling out to her sister in her mind, Lusa felt very uneasy, "Come here, can you really lift the curse?"

"It should be possible...... Probably. After a moment, my sister's worried tone turned into excitement: "Anyway, don't worry about this - I've been walking in the ice and snow for two months, and I have to relax today!"

In a black tower that links the rift of the world, a young girl walks slowly in the dark corridor, the torches on both sides are extinguished one after another, and only the silent darkness is left behind her.

The corridors seemed endless, and the deeper you got, the deeper the shadows swallowed up.

The girl stopped slightly, and turned stiffly at the sound coming from behind her.

The clock struck midnight thirty-five times.

In the darkness that could not be spied on, a distorted shadow beast suddenly burst out. The girl was grabbed and torn off.

With severe pain, the girl suddenly woke up, picked up the oil lamp beside her and got up again. The torches behind him began to be extinguished one after another in turn.

A vague figure in a wheelchair stood up and opened its scarlet pupils.

In the pupils, the stone statue of the Seven Bottles of Life Bound is reflected. Among them, two female stone statues are low and petite, and their figures and faces have already emerged.

Silently approaching one of the statues, the girl caressing the statue's forehead.

A twisted, hoarse voice echoed in his head.

"The Cursed One who was able to break the chains of Amrea has officially embarked on a journey......"

“...... It is called the Silent Journey, and it belongs only to the painful path of the Bound Beings. ”

"This time it must be ......"

"End the cycle in the Black Tower. ”

There are still seventeen years and two hundred and forty days left at the end of the world.