Chapter 1052 Daughter Waiting in the Snow

Ariel was sitting at the edge of the enormous layer of Black Ice that covered part of Asgard’s ocean. A thick blanket protected her shoulders from the wind, while her long red hair moved gently behind her. Her human legs were stretched out over the ice, and a small wheelchair remained a few steps behind, accompanied by two guards who had received explicit orders not to let her exert herself.

Frieren had not been particularly pleased when Ariel asked to visit the coast, but had eventually allowed a short outing, as long as the princess did not try to walk on her own or use magic.

Ariel had agreed.

At least with most of the conditions.

"Frank! I’m here!" Ariel called while cupping her hands around her mouth and looking toward the dark water that began a few meters ahead.

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then an enormous shadow moved beneath the surface.

Ariel immediately smiled.

"I knew you were still waiting!" Ariel commented while leaning forward slightly to get a better look.

The water began to stir. First an enormous tentacle appeared, followed by another, until the gigantic head of a squid slowly emerged from the ocean.

Frank.

The animal was so large that his presence made the two guards instinctively step back. His enormous eyes found Ariel, and a deep sound escaped his body as he approached the frozen edge.

The princess smiled even wider.

"Hello, my big guy!" Ariel greeted while stretching her arms toward him.

Frank responded by raising a tentacle.

The tip of the limb carefully approached, stopping in front of the princess. Ariel held a small part of it between her hands and pressed her face against its wet surface.

"I missed you too." Ariel murmured while closing her eyes for a few seconds.

Frank remained still, allowing the affection.

To anyone else, that creature would have been a sea monster capable of destroying entire ships. To Ariel, however, Frank had always been her most loyal companion.

She had known him since she was little.

And throughout all those years, he had never abandoned her.

"You stayed here this whole time, didn’t you?" Ariel asked while slowly stroking the tentacle.

Frank produced a low sound and moved another limb over the water.

Ariel understood the gesture.

"I know. I’m sorry I made you worry." Ariel replied while her smile faded slightly.

She looked toward the ocean.

The surface was calm, but that tranquility could not erase the memory of what had happened.

"Frank... what was that?" Ariel asked while looking back at the enormous animal.

The squid remained still for a few moments.

Then he moved two tentacles, one pointing toward the depths and the other contracting sharply.

Ariel frowned.

"It came from below? From the deepest regions?" Ariel asked while trying to interpret the movements.

Frank responded with a short disturbance in the water.

The princess lowered her eyes.

Her memories of that day were still fragmented, but in front of her companion, several images began to return.

A few days before the calamity, Ariel was swimming calmly around the outskirts of Atlantis.

The underwater city glowed in the distance, surrounded by enormous coral formations, ornate towers and structures built from materials that reflected the light filtered through the water. Marine creatures moved through the streets and gardens, while the inhabitants traveled freely between the buildings.

Ariel had gone out to explore a region near the borders of the royal territory.

Frank accompanied her, as always.

"You don’t need to stay so close, you know?" Ariel commented while swimming beside one of the squid’s enormous tentacles.

Frank responded by moving even closer.

The princess let out a laugh.

"All right, all right! I know you promised Mom you’d take care of me." Ariel replied while stroking her companion’s skin.

That was one of the reasons Frank rarely left her alone.

Although Ariel was already capable of defending herself, her mother still considered the ocean far too dangerous for her daughter to explore without company.

And Frank took that responsibility extremely seriously.

That day, however, something seemed different.

The schools of fish were restless.

Some creatures that normally inhabited deeper regions had begun to rise, crossing the reefs in disorganized groups.

Ariel slowed down.

"Frank, are you noticing it too?" Ariel asked while watching several fish rush past her.

The squid moved his tentacles.

The princess looked downward.

The ocean currents were changing.

That was not particularly unusual in the ocean, but there was something irregular about that movement. The water seemed to advance in one direction and, a few seconds later, retreat for no apparent reason.

Ariel extended her hand.

"How strange..." Ariel murmured while feeling an unusual pressure pass over her fingers.

Frank immediately moved closer.

One of his tentacles gently wrapped around the princess’s waist.

"Hey, calm down! Nothing happened." Ariel reassured her companion while stroking the limb holding her.

Then she felt something.

A pulse.

It was weak at first, almost imperceptible, but it seemed to travel across the entire ocean.

Ariel brought one hand to her chest.

"Did you feel that?" Ariel asked while looking at Frank.

The animal did not answer.

Instead, he began to retreat.

The princess frowned.

"Frank?" Ariel called while noticing that he was moving away from the reefs.

Then the pulse returned.

This time, much stronger.

The water around them seemed to compress.

The corals began to vibrate, and small stones broke free from the ocean floor.

Frank reacted immediately.

His tentacles wrapped around Ariel, protecting her as an extremely violent current tore through the region.

"FRANK!" Ariel shouted while trying to understand what was happening.

The squid began swimming toward the surface.

But the pressure increased.

An invisible force passed through the water, striking everything in its path.

Ariel felt her body being ripped from her companion’s protection.

For an instant, she saw only water, fragments of coral and a bluish glow appearing far below them.

Then came the impact.

Her back struck a rock formation, and her head slammed against the coral.

The pain was immediate.

Ariel tried to move her tail, but her muscles did not respond.

The last thing she saw was Frank desperately rushing toward her.

Then she lost consciousness.

Ariel slowly opened her eyes.

She was still sitting on the Black Ice, with Frank’s enormous tentacle resting between her hands.

"So that’s what happened..." Ariel murmured while observing her companion.

Frank moved his body in the water, producing a deep sound.

The princess stroked his skin again.

"You found me after I was hit, didn’t you?" Ariel asked while looking into his enormous eyes.

Frank responded by gently wrapping one of his tentacles around the frozen edge.

Ariel smiled sadly.

"You must have been desperate." Ariel commented while imagining the animal searching for help while she was unconscious.

Frank raised another tentacle and gently touched the blanket over her shoulders.

The princess understood the gesture.

"I’m better now. The doctor here is quite competent, even if she’s a little scary when she gets angry." Ariel explained while letting out a small laugh.

Frank produced a low sound.

"No, you can’t eat her." Ariel immediately replied while shaking her head.

One of the guards behind her froze.

The other discreetly looked at his companion.

Ariel noticed and started laughing.

"I’m joking! Frank doesn’t eat people." Ariel clarified while stroking the tentacle.

She paused briefly.

"Usually." Ariel added quietly, making the two guards exchange another look.

Before she could continue teasing the men, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"I see you managed to convince Frieren to let you out." Strax commented while calmly walking across the Black Ice, his hands in his pockets.

Ariel turned her head.

"It was quite a difficult negotiation." Ariel replied while smiling at him.

Strax observed the wheelchair, the blanket and the two guards.

"I can imagine. Did she threaten to tie you to the bed?" Strax asked while approaching.

"A few times." Ariel confirmed while making a small grimace.

Frank moved a tentacle toward Strax.

The dragon raised his hand.

"Hello, big guy. Thanks for not breaking any more ice while I was away." Strax greeted while briefly touching the tip of the tentacle.

Frank responded with a small disturbance in the water.

Ariel observed the interaction with a smile.

"He likes you." Ariel commented while returning to stroking her companion.

"Good. I’d rather have a squid that size like me." Strax replied while looking at the animal’s enormous head.

Then he returned his attention to Ariel.

"So, princess, are you ready to return to your kingdom?" Strax asked while crouching beside her.

Ariel slowly shook her head.

"Not yet. My body is still too weak, and my mana channels haven’t fully recovered." Ariel explained while looking at her own hands.

She let out a small sigh.

"Atlantis is very far from here. Even with Frank carrying me, I wouldn’t be able to endure such a long journey in my current condition." Ariel added while looking toward the ocean.

Strax nodded.

"Then there’s no need to rush." Strax replied while standing.

Ariel raised her eyes.

"No?" Ariel asked while seeming a little surprised.

"You can stay in Asgard for as long as you want. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll talk about how you’re going to return home." Strax explained while adjusting the blanket the wind had shifted off one of her shoulders.

Ariel smiled.

"You’re quite generous with someone you just met." Ariel commented while observing his face.

Strax shrugged.

"You’re a patient, not a prisoner. Besides, Frank would probably tear apart half the coast if I tried to throw you out." Strax replied while discreetly pointing toward the squid.

Ariel started laughing.

Frank moved his tentacles as if agreeing.

"If you need anything, look for Monica. She handles Asgard’s administration and can provide practically anything you might need." Strax continued while looking toward the guards.

Ariel nodded.

"I’ll try not to bother her too much." Ariel promised while tucking her hair behind her ear.

"You can bother her a little. She’s already used to me." Strax replied while letting out a small laugh.

Ariel noticed that he seemed about to leave.

"Are you going back to the city?" Ariel asked while tilting her head.

"Not exactly. I’m going to visit my daughter." Strax replied while looking toward the northern horizon.

Ariel widened her eyes.

"You have a daughter?!" Ariel asked while immediately straightening.

Strax smiled.

"I do." Strax confirmed while putting his hands in his pockets.

Ariel stared at him.

"You didn’t tell me!" Ariel complained while seeming genuinely surprised.

"You didn’t exactly start our first conversation by telling me you were Poseidon’s daughter either." Strax reminded her while raising an eyebrow.

Ariel opened her mouth.

Then started laughing.

"All right, you’re right." Ariel admitted while shaking her head.

She became thoughtful for a few seconds.

"How old is she?" Ariel asked with curiosity.

"Around ten. Her name is Vex." Strax replied while a more affectionate smile appeared on his face.

Ariel immediately noticed the change.

"You really love her." Ariel commented while observing his expression.

"More than I can explain." Strax replied without hesitation.

The princess smiled.

"Is she your biological daughter?" Ariel asked while tilting her head slightly.

Strax shook his head.

"She’s adopted. But that doesn’t change anything. She’s my daughter." Strax replied while keeping his voice calm.

Ariel slowly nodded.

"I understand." Ariel commented while her smile became more affectionate.

She looked north.

"And where is she?" Ariel asked while following the direction of his gaze.

"In the Snowy Kingdom, to the north. She’s with her mother, Mercedes." Strax explained while beginning to consider the journey.

Ariel let out a small laugh.

"So you’re going to visit your little princess." Ariel commented while observing his smile.

"I am. It’s been far too long since the last time we saw each other." Strax replied while his expression showed slight regret.

He had spent weeks dealing with training, administrative problems, divine threats and, more recently, an oceanic calamity.

In the middle of all that, he had ended up postponing a visit he should have made much earlier.

"Then go already." Ariel encouraged while pointing north.

Strax raised an eyebrow.

"Are you kicking me out?" Strax asked while smiling.

"I’m telling you not to keep your daughter waiting." Ariel replied while crossing her arms.

Strax let out a small laugh.

"Fair." Strax agreed while stepping back a few paces.

Before leaving, he looked at Frank again.

"Take care of her, big guy. And don’t break my ice barrier." Strax asked while pointing toward the enormous frozen expanse.

Frank moved a tentacle.

Ariel smiled.

"He said he’ll try." Ariel translated while stroking her companion.

Strax sighed.

"That doesn’t reassure me." Strax replied while preparing to leave.

Ariel started laughing again.

Shortly afterward, Strax disappeared, leaving the princess with Frank and the guards.

Ariel looked back toward the ocean.

"A daughter, huh..." Ariel murmured while smiling faintly.

She stroked the tip of Frank’s tentacle.

"I hope he doesn’t take too long to come back. He seems like a good father." Ariel commented while watching the water move gently around her companion.

Far north of Asgard, the Snowy Kingdom remained covered beneath a thick layer of snow.

White mountains surrounded the region, while enormous stone and ice structures rose among frozen forests. The cold wind moved through the streets, carrying small snowflakes that glittered beneath the sunlight.

Inside the training courtyard of one of the kingdom’s great residences, a small dragoness was focused on an extremely important task.

Vex stood before several wooden targets, her hands extended and her eyes fixed on a small sphere of ice floating between her fingers.

Mercedes watched her daughter from a few steps behind.

"Slowly, darling. Don’t try to put all your mana into it at once." Mercedes instructed while carefully observing the magical flow around the girl.

Vex nodded.

"Like this, Mommy?" Vex asked while reducing the amount of energy she released.

The sphere of ice began to stretch.

Small points appeared across its surface, slowly forming a structure resembling a star.

Mercedes smiled.

"Exactly. Now maintain the shape and try to make it spin." Mercedes explained while crossing her arms, satisfied with her daughter’s progress.

Vex pressed her lips together in concentration.

The small star began to spin.

Slowly at first.

Then a little faster.

"I did it!" Vex celebrated while her eyes shone with happiness.

Mercedes smiled proudly.

"Very good, my little one! Your control has improved a lot." Mercedes praised while approaching and stroking her daughter’s hair.

Vex smiled even wider.

"Can I try making three?" Vex asked while looking toward the wooden targets.

Mercedes considered it for a few seconds.

"You can, but there’s no need to rush. I want you to be able to control each one separately." Mercedes replied while stepping back to give her space.

Vex nodded with determination.

She took a deep breath.

A second star appeared beside the first.

Then a third.

The three began slowly rotating around her hands, emitting faint bluish reflections.

Mercedes watched everything carefully.

The girl was improving quickly.

Her talent for ice magic was obvious, but what impressed Mercedes most was her ability to learn. Vex paid attention to explanations, repeated the exercises and rarely gave up when something went wrong.

Her mother could not hide her pride.

"Now choose a target." Mercedes instructed while pointing toward the wooden structures.

Vex raised one hand.

The three stars shot forward.

The first struck the center of the target.

The second hit slightly above it.

The third grazed the side before breaking apart against the ice wall behind it.

Vex made a small grimace.

"I missed the last one." Vex complained while lowering her arms.

Mercedes approached.

"You hit two out of three, darling. That’s excellent for someone who just learned to control multiple projectiles." Mercedes replied while crouching in front of her daughter.

Vex looked at her.

"Do you think Daddy will like it when I show him?" Vex asked while her eyes immediately regained their brightness.

Mercedes’s smile faltered for an instant.

Ah.

There came that question again.

She gently caressed her daughter’s face.

"I’m sure he’ll love it." Mercedes replied while trying to keep her voice calm.

Vex smiled.

"Then when is Daddy coming?" Vex asked while holding her mother’s hands.

Mercedes froze.

On the outside, she maintained an affectionate smile.

On the inside, however, her patience with a certain dragon was beginning to reach its limit.

That fucking dragon...

Mercedes breathed slowly.

Strax had promised to build a railway connecting the Snowy Kingdom to Asgard.

A railway.

It was not exactly a simple task, she knew that. There were mountains, enormous distances, security issues and all the infrastructure necessary to build a permanent connection between the two territories.

But the problem was that he had promised.

And, until that moment, the damned railway still did not exist.

How the hell can that bastard freeze part of an entire ocean, face gods and solve every kind of absurd problem, but can’t build a railway?! Mercedes thought while feeling a small twitch in her eyelid.

Vex continued looking at her.

The girl was not worried about politics, gods or infrastructure.

She simply wanted to see her father.

She wanted to show him the magic she had learned, tell him about her days and receive the praise she loved so much.

Mercedes knew that expression.

Vex was growing.

And although she was an understanding child, she was beginning to notice Strax’s absence more and more.

That irritated Mercedes far more than any delay in construction.

She could handle the responsibilities of the kingdom, the training and every problem that appeared.

But she did not like seeing her daughter looking for her father every time something important happened.

"He should come soon, my love." Mercedes replied while stroking the girl’s hair and offering her sweetest smile.

Vex tilted her head.

"Really soon?" Vex asked while gently squeezing her mother’s fingers.

Mercedes felt her eyelid twitch again.

If he doesn’t come soon, I’ll personally go to Asgard and drag him here by the wings.

"Yes, darling. I’m sure your daddy is trying to find a little time to visit you." Mercedes replied while maintaining her smile.

Vex kept watching her mother.

Then her eyes narrowed slightly.

The girl already knew that expression.

The smile was pretty.

The voice was calm.

But something very suspicious was happening.

Mercedes’s eyelid kept twitching.

Vex looked at her mother’s eye.

Then at her smile.

Then back at her eye.

Mommy is nervous with Daddy... Vex concluded while remaining silent.

Mercedes noticed her stare.

"What is it, darling?" Mercedes asked while tilting her head.

Vex quickly shook her own.

"Nothing, Mommy!" Vex replied while putting on an innocent smile.

Mercedes stroked her head once more.

"Then shall we continue? I want to see if you can form those three stars again." Mercedes suggested while standing.

Vex nodded.

But before returning to training, she held her mother’s hand.

"Mommy, when Daddy comes, you’re not going to fight with him, are you?" Vex asked while looking at Mercedes with a worried expression.

Mercedes froze.

The question caught her completely off guard.

She looked at her daughter.

Then let out a small laugh.

"Why would I fight with your daddy, my love?" Mercedes asked while crouching again.

Vex discreetly pointed toward her face.

"Because your eye starts twitching whenever I ask about him." Vex explained while touching her own eyelid to demonstrate.

Mercedes fell silent.

For a few seconds, she did not know what to say.

Then she sighed and hugged her daughter.

"Ah, my little one..." Mercedes murmured while stroking her back.

Vex returned the hug.

"I just wanted to show him my magic." Vex confessed while hiding her face against her mother’s shoulder.

Mercedes closed her eyes.

The irritation she felt toward Strax did not disappear.

In fact, it increased slightly.

But her voice remained gentle.

"And you will show him, darling. I’m sure he’ll be very proud." Mercedes replied while kissing her daughter’s forehead.

Vex smiled.

"Then I’m going to learn an even prettier spell before he gets here!" Vex declared while pulling away from the hug, excited again.

Mercedes smiled genuinely.

"That’s my girl." Mercedes praised while standing and returning to her position as instructor.

Vex ran to the center of the courtyard and raised her hands.

Small crystals began appearing around her fingers.

Mercedes watched her daughter proudly, but her thoughts continued returning to Strax.

You’d better show up soon, you irresponsible dragon.

She crossed her arms.

And after you hug your daughter, the two of us are going to have a very serious conversation about that railway.

Vex discreetly looked over her shoulder.

Mercedes’s eyelid had started twitching again.

The girl let out a small sigh.

Yeah... Mommy really is very angry with Daddy.

Then she returned her focus to the ice stars.

After all, when Strax finally appeared, Vex wanted to have a surprise prepared for him.