Saori's Home
Ryker still lay unconscious, breathing shallowly under Celica and Yumi's constant healing efforts.
Jasmine stood near the window, eyes sharp. Her voice cut through the silence.
"We can't just sit here. Something happened in that house in the forest," she said firmly. "Now we're going to find out what it is."
Sol straightened, nodding. "Yeah. We need answers."
"I'm coming," Shin said, grabbing his coat. "We can't ignore this anymore."
King cracked his knuckles. "Let's move."
Jasmine turned back to Celica. "You stay here with Ryker. Don't let your guard down. If anything happens, contact us right away."
"I will," Celica said without looking up, her hands still glowing over Ryker.
Yumi glanced at Jasmine. "Be careful."
"We will," Jasmine said with a nod.
Outside – Moments Later
The group—Jasmine, Sol, Shin, King, Izumi, Hiroshi, Amelia, Aisa, Yumi, Akira , Arisu, and Tasuya—gathered near the gate, ready to return to the mysterious forest house where they had found Ryker earlier.
"This time," Sol said as they began walking, "we'll find out exactly what he was facing… and why."
The wind blew softly, but something about it felt colder now.
The truth… was waiting in the forest.
Inside the Secret Forest House
Dust floated in the air as they stepped inside. The place was old, forgotten—tables layered in dust, shelves cracked, and cobwebs hanging in corners.
Everyone fanned out, searching for clues.
Sol moved deeper into the house and entered a room at the back. His eyes widened.
"Everyone, come here!" Sol called.
Footsteps echoed as the rest hurried in—Jasmine, Aisa, Yumi, Akira, King, Shin, Amelia, Hiroshi, Arisu, Mio, Saki, Izumi, and Tasuya.
They froze when they saw it.
In the center of the room stood two ice-colored statues. One was of a girl who looked exactly like the Ice Goddess, serene and divine. The other statue was a boy, a sword stabbed into his chest, kneeling before her.
"This…" Amelia whispered, "this is…"
"The Ice Goddess," Sol said slowly, "but who's the boy? And why is he stabbed?"
"They're frozen in time," Jasmine murmured. "This is no ordinary sculpture."
"We need more," King said. "Clues, anything."
Aisa brushed dust from a broken shelf and picked something up. "There's a book," she said. "Old… it's half torn."
Everyone gathered around her as she opened it. The pages were aged, the ink faded, and the text written in an ancient language no one recognized.
"I… can't read this," Aisa admitted.
"Neither can I," Shin added, narrowing his eyes.
"This is a clue," Sol said, his tone sharp. "This book—this house—it's connected to the truth behind this island."
"We'll take it with us," Jasmine said. "Someone in the church or the village must know how to read this."
Shin nodded. "We don't have any other option."
Sol glanced once more at the frozen figures. "Whoever that boy is… I think he tried to stop her."
The wind howled outside.
The mystery had only deepened.
Back on the Island – At the Church
Everyone stood inside the silent church. The tall white statue of the Ice Goddess loomed in the center, her eyes closed in eternal peace.
Sol stepped forward and approached Tetsu, the church leader, holding the ancient book.
"Can you read this?" Sol asked.
Tetsu glanced at the book—and the moment his eyes registered it, his face turned pale. Without warning, he threw the book to the ground.
"W-Where did you get this!?" Tetsu shouted, stepping back in fear.
"We found it in the house in the forest," Sol said.
Tetsu's eyes widened even more. "Y-You went into that house? Are you mad?! You shouldn't have gone there!" he cried, then suddenly turned and ran from the church, vanishing behind the altar door.
Everyone looked at each other.
"What the hell just happened?" Shin muttered.
They left the church and tried asking the townspeople. But everywhere they went, doors slammed shut, curtains were pulled, and people turned away in fright and silence.
"They're all afraid," Aisa whispered. "This… is about the Ice Goddess."
"But why won't anyone talk?" Izumi said.
"They know something," Amelia said. "And they're terrified of it."
"We have one last option," Jasmine said quietly. "If we want answers… we need to go to the mansion."
Everyone turned to her. The sky was growing darker.
"Then let's go," Sol said firmly. "We're not leaving until we know the truth."
And with that, the group began walking toward the mansion, where the truth—and the danger—waited.
Inside the Mansion
The grand doors creaked open as the group stepped into the mansion. Dust hung in the air, and the atmosphere was heavy with silence.
They found Renji sitting alone on the old sofa, his hands folded, eyes filled with sorrow.
He looked up as they entered—and his gaze landed on the ancient book in Sol's hands.
His face twisted in horror.
"Y-You… all went to that house?" Renji whispered, his voice trembling.
"We did," Sol said. "And we found this. What is it really?"
Renji stared at the book, then slowly stood up. His shoulders slumped, as if a great weight pressed against him.
"That book… it tells the story of the Ice Goddess," Renji said.
"We already know that much," Shin said, crossing his arms. "Tell us something we don't."
"I want to tell you everything…" Renji said softly, his voice cracking. "But I can't."
King stepped forward, his tone sharp. "People are getting hurt, Renji. Your daughter is missing. Ryker is injured. If you know something, you'd better speak up—now."
Renji closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," he whispered. "This island… everything is under her control. The Ice Goddess isn't just a symbol of worship. She's real. She's alive. And… she's been using all of us."
The room fell silent.
"She possessed my daughter," Renji continued, tears forming in his eyes. "Elena is no longer… my Elena. And now, Ryker tried to stop it. He tried… but he couldn't."
Everyone froze.
"You mean the Goddess is… using a body?" Aisa asked, voice shaking.
Renji nodded.
"And you knew?" Sol said angrily. "You let this happen?!"
"I was trying to protect the island… but I failed," Renji said, collapsing to his knees. "Taro and I… we were trying to break her control, but it's too late. I couldn't even save my daughter."
No one spoke.
The truth had finally begun to surface.
But it was far from over.
In the Forest – Abandoned House
Midnight
The wind howled through the broken windows. The once quiet house now stood drenched in a haunting silence. The moonlight barely pierced the thick fog curling through the trees outside.
Inside... darkness.
Suddenly—two glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows. A figure stood alone in the blackness, unmoving, yet radiating an aura so heavy, it made the air tremble.
His presence was unnatural.
Terrifying.
A cruel smirk formed on his face, unseen in the shadows—only his eyes burned like blood.
A cold whisper broke the silence:
"I'm coming… for revenge."
The shadows thickened, and the light vanished completely.