I was born in the frozen tundra in the furthest north that humans have ever been. I lived in a small village called Polyv. Life was hard and we were living each day like it was the last. I never expected to go very far in life but fate had another plan for me. My dad was the sole reason we were still living as my mom could not get out of bed anymore. She contracted a mysterious illness that even the most knowledgeable herborist of the village could not treat, many villagers were whispering that I was a cursed child because of all that happened after my birth. I had three sisters and three brothers, by the time I turned five, the wild beasts and climate had claimed the lives of my sisters and my older brother. When I turned ten, my two other brothers wanted to explore the world, their equipment was found a few kilometers away from the next village and only frozen blood was left. Being the only child left, I was taking care of my mom. One night, my father didn't come back home. We were told he was caught in an avalanche while hunting in the mountains. I saw my mom slowly decline into insanity, her hair had turned white as snow before many of the older villagers, most of the day she was staring at the ceiling mumbling words I could not comprehend. Sometimes she would look at me and I could see a glimpse of the woman she was. Most nights she was waking me up with her screams, her condition came with constant nightmares. On the day of my thirteenth birthday she passed away. I kept living alone before the villagers decided to cast me out of the village. They sent me into exile and no other village wanted me. They all had heard of the cursed child that carried the most cold winds with her. I was starting to believe them, I was just hoping to die in the snow but I kept walking, and walking and walking until I reached south.

  For the first time in a while I had entered a territory where there was no snow, no giant ice bears, no frost spirits. It was warm, I could see the top of the trees, I was surviving out of berries and mushrooms. I had made a shelter for myself and for a few weeks I stayed out in this forest. One day I went to get water at the nearest river and met a man that was doing the same. His name was Elias, he was living in this forest with his son Torik who at the time was just two years older than me, his wife had passed years ago. They gave me clothes, gave me a roof over my head, they educated me since I did not speak the common tongue and the basics of using different plants so I wrote most of the recipes in another notebook. I always loved writing, the years I spent at home taking care of my mom forced me to occupy myself while waiting for my father.

  One day I went to hunt with Torik and we were attacked by a pack of wolves, I really thought I was living my last moments but when one lunged at me and I put my hands out to protect myself, a spear of flames appeared and pierce it. Scared by the fire, the rest of the pack scattered. As soon as we came back home we explained what had happened to Elias. This is how I learned I was able to do magic. I tried learning my own limits by myself, I had heard stories about the different applications of magic. So over the years many things grew, my knowledge, my powers, my respect for nature and the thing I expected the least: my feelings for Torik. When I turned eighteen we confessed our feelings to each other, a year later we got married, and another year after that our daughter was born.

  Just found this old diary again. It has been a few years since the last time I wrote in here, taking care of Isabella is occupying most of my time. She is only four years old but is already sensitive to the magical arts so I'm making her learn everything I know. Since the last time I wrote we kept on moving south and settled in the forest of Milivelle.

  I have been having nightmares recently, all I can remember is that I'm getting colder and colder. I've been trying to look for clues about it, asking in villages outside of the forest but I got nothing. The only place I can think of for information was Polyv, I left Isabella with her father and departed.

  It has been a few days since I arrived, the people remember me as the cursed child and are still avoiding me. Apparently a woman came around the village and claimed to be a seer, she lived at one of the edges of the village and I decided to visit her. When I entered her home she said she had been expecting me, she already knew I was constantly assaulted by nightmares. Her words were " Your lineage seems cursed by an ancient evil spell, your family curse will be lifted when the child of fire will be born and when warmth will return to the hearth. ". This is all she gave me, after that she remained silent and did not answer any more of my questions. I started packing my belongings to go back to my family when one of the elders approached me. Her words made my blood freeze. "For your sake and for the sake of anyone around you, please die. Die before your curse spreads, your mom and her mom before her died the same way. If you have a heart, kill yourself and take any of your offsprings in the afterlife with you. Don't ever come back to this village. " In her voice there was no hatred, just terror. Full of hopelessness I made my way back to my home.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I finally found this diary again, it has been two years since I last wrote. I decided to try to compile what I can remember from my nightmares from now on. I am now twenty six but my previously auburn hair has started to whiten, just like my mother before me... I have tried looking for a cure, I asked every priest I could reach, every healer. I don't want to say any of this to Torik but I'm gonna take Isabella and run away. I don't want him getting hurt by our curse.

  Nightmare notes: I remember a forest, I can't see but I feel cold. I can hear voices in the distance.

  Torik is gone ... he left us without saying a word. It's probably better this way. I'm gonna keep teaching the arts of magic to Bella.

  Nightmare notes: I can hear a sort of heart beat sound, it's resonating in my head even when I'm awake.

  I don't want to sleep anymore, every night the same nightmare. Every night I wake up to my daughter's horrified look at her mother's decline. Is that what I looked like mom?

  Nightmare notes : Child, frozen, flames, scream, anger, fists.

  I don't know how many years have passed since I last wrote, everyday is mixing in a sort of fog. It is already taking everything I have to focus on this paper. Ever since I was born I felt like I did not belong anywhere. I'm sorry Isabella, I can't do it anymore. I hope you find a cure for yourself. My name is Magnolia Tsorf and this is how I died. Goodbye Isabella, I will always love you.

  Richard Turned the page and the diary ended here. " She was so young when her mom passed. And she had to take care of her until the end where she took her own life. She feels guilty for not being able to save her mom .. ". He closed the book and stood there wondering what to do with all this newly acquired information. " Ok, it's no use pondering on the curse thing, I still need to figure out where she went... ". His readings had lasted till dawn, he went downstairs to get something to eat and kept on thinking. He suddenly had a spark of genius pop into his head " Oh by the creator, I know where she is! ". Richard ran back upstairs and started packing his bags for his upcoming trip, when he arrived downstairs he found Konnor waiting for him.

  " What are you doing Koko? "

  " I'm coming with you. "

  " Absolutely NOT! "

  " Come on Rich' I want to help! I'm bored here! "

  " I don't know what danger lies where I'm going and I don't want you getting hurt. No means no boy. "

  Richard started walking towards the exit but Konnor planted himself in front of it and crossed his arms.

  " I cannot feel pain and my skin is impenetrable! I can't get hurt, I swear I'll be like your shadow ok? And I really want to help you find Isabella. "

  Richard sighed heavily.

  " Ok but you listen to me ok? It's not a field trip, it's not vacation, it's an important mission, you understand? "

  " Yes Sir! "

  " Go get you things. "

  Richard went outside and started charging his equipment on his horse, meanwhile Konnor was back inside his room and Izi was still sound asleep. He started packing some of his equipment, it was the perfect occasion to bring back the clothes he had on when he escaped the nightingales. He was now wearing a long leather jacket, fingerless gloves and boots with metal soles. He heard the sheets move behind him and saw Izi slowly waking up, he yawned and looked at Konnor.

  " What are you doing? "

  " I'm going somewhere with Richard. "

  " Where? For how long? "

  " I didn't ask, I just know I wanted to go, it's been so long! "

  " Ok .. "

  " What ? "

  " Nothing."

  " Come on Izi, why are you upset? "

  Izi got up and walked up to his friend, pushing him in anger.

  " You just want to be away from me! "

  " What?! No not at all Izi! "

  " You haven't said anything about ... about what you did the other night... "

  " Oh .. "

  Konnor started walking towards the exit.

  " We .. can talk about it when I come back alright? Richard is waiting for me, I'm very sorry. "

  Izi kept his back turned to him, Konnor simply closed the door and went downstairs. When he reached Richard he heard footsteps coming from behind, he barely had any time to see Izi that he received a slap across the face. The slap was quickly followed by a warm embrace, Izi then whispered into his ear.

  " You dense idiot better not get hurt. "

  " I won't. "

  " Also now it's my turn. "

  " Turn to wh- "

  Konnor got interrupted by Izi giving him a quick kiss on the lips. Before he could say anything, Izi was already walking back into the tavern. For some reason, the both of them could not stop smiling.

  Konnor and Richard walked to the edge of the city.

  " Richard, where are we going? "

  " We are testing a theory, I discovered how Isabella's mom died. And when I thought about when, that's where it clicked. A few years ago around this time period, her mom ended her own life. "

  " That doesn't tell me where we are going? "

  Richard looked into the distance and mounted on his horse, he then helped the young man get on.

  " Have you ever heard of the forest of Milivelle? "