Bab 48: Frosty
Besides shaving his beard and cutting his hair, father also removed the cloak and some of the armour he wore. He also removed the bandages wrapped around his right arm. Father's right arm didn't look like that of a Human, but that of a Lizard. "What happened to your arm? Why does it look like this? Did you steal it off of some Lizard, or something?", I asked, shocked. "Huh? Oh that, it's actually my own arm… Don't look at me like that, I'm Human. Stuff happened in the past, and my arm looks like this now. I'll tell you another time", he replied. The arm looked like that of a Lizard, but different at the same time. It was deep blue in colour, while clearly defined scales packed together closely. His arm even reflected light, like a well polished metal. Moreover, there were some faint red vein-like lines running across it.
Mother didn't seem perturbed by his arm whatsoever, she acted as if the arm was normal. I couldn't help myself but stare. "Anna, eat your food. It's not nice to stare at your father like that", she said. "I don't get you guys. Isn't this weird? A Human with such an arm... Like, how can this be my father's arm?", I asked, still confused. "Well, it is mine though. I got used to it so much, I don't even see myself having a normal arm anymore, hehe", father replied. I gave up at that stage, getting anything out of them was nearly impossible.
While we ate, I learned another thing about my father. He could eat, and he could eat a lot. He wasn't fat nor skinny, but all the food my mother prepared was gone. He didn't even struggle to eat that much. "I missed your cooking. I must say though, you've gotten much better over these years", father tried to be nice, but mother found a flaw in his words anyway. "Are you implying my cooking was bad in the past?", she asked. Father shook his head defeatedly, before changing the subject, "Frosty will be here soon, let's go outside to meet him. I'm sure Anna will be surprised". "You guys go first, I'll clean this up", mother replied.
We stood outside waiting for Frosty to arrive. I had no clue who Frosty was, but supposedly he was an animal. Since we just stood outside, I stared at my father's arm. "You really are curious, eh?", he asked. "You know, I've seen a few Humans in my life, but none of them had such an arm...", I replied, then grabbed his arm. "Huh? It's cold, and it feels so sleek. Even Leran's or Suly's scales are not that slick and hard", I said to myself. "Suly eh? I wonder how she grew up. Though, who is that Leran? Your friend?", he asked. "I'm not surprised that you know Suly, but there is no way you could know about Leran. He is uncle Lazar's and aunt Alicia's son", I replied. Father exploded with laughter for some reason. "Sorry, sorry. It's just that before leaving North, I told them to get together. I'm happy they did, and they have a son. That's great news".
"Uncle Crow and aunt Lira have a son too", I added but father wasn't that surprised. "That was to be expected really, they were together before I left. I'm happy Crow has his own family now", he replied. "Yea? How about this then? You know uncle Harlin, right? Well, he found someone too", I said. Father was indeed surprised, "Heh, I thought this guy's gonna stay alone for the rest of his life. That's also great news… So much has changed since I left…". He stopped for some reason, and stared into the distance. 'What sort of creature is that Frosty though? I mean, the name suggests something to do with ice, but who knows?', I thought while staring in the distance too.
"ROOAAR", an ear piercing roar reverberated throughout the area. The roar came out of nowhere, making me hide behind my father. "Dad… What was that?", I asked, scared. "That idiot is showing off. Don't be scared Anna, this is Frosty. Look up there", he replied while pointing at the sky. A large lizard-like creature but with wings, flew towards us. "Wha... What is that monster!?", I exclaimed. "ROOAAR", the creature roared once more, before diving towards us. Even though he told me this was Frosty, I was scared either way. "BOOM", the creature slammed into the ground, raising a lot of dust.
"I'm amazed, Nex. You Humans really breed quickly. I assume this is your spawn", the creature spoke. '..This… This thing talks… He talks!', I thought, hiding myself behind father even more. "You know? I thought you were old enough. Seriously, you are just scaring her right now", father said to the creature. No matter what my father said, the creature called Frosty was really scary.
"Calm down, Anna. This guy may be big, but he is just an overgrown lizard. He will never hurt you. Your daddy swears", father said before picking me up. We got closer to the creature, but he still scared me. "I'm the King of Glaciers, the…", father interrupted him, "Overgrown lizard. Will you shut up already?".
"Let me freeze you once more", Frosty growled. "Maybe later, and stop acting so imposing! Anyway, this is my daughter Anna, isn't she beautiful?", father asked while displaying me like his trophy. Frosty lowered his head to take a proper look at me. "There's no doubt she is your daughter", the creature said while lightly breathing out a mist of sparkling ice crystals. "See, he's not that bad. You can pet him if you want", father added. "I'm no pet!", Frosty roared but didn't take his head away. No matter what father said, I wasn't going near that thing.
"Do you really want my daughter to hate you? Look at her", father berated the creature. "Just let me go home, I'll just do whatever", I said quietly, clinging to my father. Frosty suddenly bumped his head into me, then moved around releasing a cold breath. "...Ha… Haha… Hahahaha, stop it!", I exclaimed, unable to resist the tickling. "See, he is not so bad", father said with a smile. 'Perhaps he just looks scary… No need to be afraid, right?', I said to myself while extending my hand. "...Heh? He's also cold, like your arm. His scales are like glass though", I said when my hand touched Frosty's head.
Frosty breathed out another mist with ice crystals twinkling inside. This looked really beautiful, especially since I liked snow from a young age. "...Your name is Frosty, right? I'm Anna... You must be really strong, and you can fly… I wonder how everything looks from above", I said. "Want to have a look?", father asked. "Oi, Nex! What did I tell you about riding me?", Frosty replied, annoyed. "You can stuff it. You owe her that much. If you didn't scare her like this, I wouldn't insist", father argued then jumped onto Frosty's back. "Grrr… Fine, this once!", Frosty replied. "You know, I lost count how many times you already said that. Anyway, come here Anna", father invited me. Frosty lowered one of his wings, allowing me to climb up.
"Don't over…", "Boom!". Frosty launched himself into the air, before father could finish. I closed my eyes when he did that, but then realised father was holding me all the time. "He's trying to show off in front of you. He might act all imposing and whatnot, but he likes you", father said with a smile. We flew high into the air, then Frosty took us around the area. The trees, our house and garden, everything appeared so small. I could see the island my mother and Suly talked about before. The Hatmandor, who were the silent protectors of the North.
"Dad, mom said you are the protector of the North. She also told me that Hatmandor is the silent protector of the North. Do you belong to this Hatmandor?", I asked. Father shook his head, "I don't belong to them, but we know each other. Me and Frosty visited them on our way here. Though I wanted to see your mom, and left early". "If you are the Emperor, then who are they?", I asked another question. "They don't really intervene in the affairs of the North. They simply live their lives in isolation, taking care of their own things", father explained. "Does that mean they can tell you what to do or not?", I asked unsure.
Before father said anything, Frosty replied in a voice full of pride, "Tell us what to do? It's more like they listen to your father. Don't be mistaken little Anna, your father is the most powerful being this continent has on offer. Of course, that excludes me". "Does… Does that mean you are at the Primal Limits stage?", I asked, shocked. "Of course! I come from the ancient race of Ice Dragons. I'm the King of Glaciers, I'm…", father interrupted him again, "An overgrown lizard, yes we know already". "Grrr...Want to take a hike in the air?", Frosty asked angrily. "Stop showing off then. You are Frosty, and Frosty alone. I don't need that King of whatever and whoever", father replied, annoyed.
'They seem to argue a lot but at the same time, they seem to be so close to each other… Kinda makes me wonder if father's arm is related to Frosty?', I thought but then decided to ask about it. "Pretty much. Frosty gave me his power, hence my arm changed to that of a dragon arm. Anyway, I think that's enough for now, right? Frosty is really tired, we shouldn't ask him to work overtime", father said. I nodded and took a few more looks around. The scenery was really different compared to what people could see on the ground.
After we landed, I realised there was a problem. "Frosty is big, so where will he sleep?", I asked. "Oh that? Don't worry about it. He can take care of that himself", father replied. "Can't I just sleep in your arm?", Frosty asked. "For certain reasons I will not state, you are not allowed to do that", father replied seriously. "Fine, I'll agree for now", Frosty replied dejected. This completely confused me, "Sleep in your arm?". "Frosty can merge with my arm whenever he wishes. Not only is it very comfortable for him, he has peace and quiet that he loves so much. Anyway, he can take care of himself, don't worry", father explained.
Frosty released one ice breath after the other, until a sort of ice nest formed in front of him. 'Why am I even surprised? After all, Frosty is an Ice Dragon', I thought but then wondered about Dragons a bit more. "Dad, how did you get a Dragon? Moreover, are there more of them?", I asked. "Hoho, we have a question for you Frosty!", father said with a laugh. Frosty refused to say anything. Instead, he stared at my father for some reason. "Alright, alright. I'll say nothing about that. Frosty is not the only Dragon out there, but he is the most magnificent", father said while winking at me. "Empty words", Frosty replied, though he seemed fine with empty words anyway. "How did I meet him though? That was here in the North. I will tell you one day or another, it's a long story", father added.
Mother came outside to greet Frosty as well. "You grew even bigger. Thank you for taking care of my stupid husband", she said while petting him. "At least one person really appreciates me. Nex, you are lucky to have such a wife", Frosty replied. "She's a treasure, isn't she? Alright, enough of that chit-chat. You need to rest. The journey was long, so don't overdo it. Take your time and sleep, we are back home", father said then took us back to the house.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
DarkRay
DarkRay Frosty's here too.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone