The man behind the counter took the coin, "You aren't from here, right? I never saw your face."
Cecilia lowered her voice, "My husband and I were looking for my sister. Her name is Mikaela Montgomery. We separated after the conflict from local and bandits, ten years ago.
All the clues I gather pointed that my sister was still living here. That's why I sneak up from that terrible forest to find her."
Max try his best to not laugh. How come a fifteen years old girl say something like that? Besides, her improvise act never failed to entertain him.
"That's dangerous route. You were lucky to not meet with wild animal or robbed by bandits! Anyway, you look younger, Madam. I thought you were still a teenager." The man said.
"Well, I heard it a lot. But, did you know where is my sister? Mikaela Montgomery. Twenty-five. She must be looked like me."
The man shook his head. "Never saw any woman around your age. But, I think you should prepare for the worse." Suddenly, he lowered his head and whispering, "White Wolf's bandit like young woman. You two should be careful."
Cecilia traded her gaze to Max before she asked even know who they were, "Who are they?"
"A very dangerous troupe. I suggest you to forget your sister and back to where you came from. This place is unsafe. We want to get out from here, but we can't."
"Why? You can go with our carriage." Cecilia said in firm voice. Even tough, she didn't have one.
"Thanks, Madam. But, honestly, I lost hope. All I can do was cooking plain food. I don't have money, too, for living on the other place. What I can do was waiting for my death, since God punished people who killing their selves. I can live miserably in this world. But, I'm certain that I can't bear the burning hell."
Cecilia stunned when she felt that he was slapped her with those words. "It's remarkable for you to have some faith in this situation."
"Rather than faith, I was a coward who has no courage to kill myself. Enough for me, please just go home and moved on. You will never found your sister."
She nodded because she was sure that her fictional sister can't be found." I know. But, I can't stop until got the truth. We will be back again. See you."
The man sighed, "Go to the town library. It's on the corner of this street. The oldest building in this town. Perhaps your sister's file was there. Bur, don't blame me if something bad happened."
Cecilia smiling before she left the restaurant. Max, who followed her from behind, whistle, "Your acting as good as you did with Jenkins."
"Thanks. I was nervous."
"We got a clue anyway."
Cecilia threw her gaze to her surrounding, "I should order some warm cloth and blanket for everyone here. Did you notice it? Everybody wore that old and thin cloth!"
He sighed, "Perhaps we should teach them how to knit. They sure have spare time. "
"But, Max. The fire was weird. I mean the fire on the square. It's stay still, even tough no one added fuel or wood. I think even the snow dropped or the wind breeze, it won't change the shape." Cecilia said when she focused on the fire in that town square.
"You know that's impossible. Perhaps, they do some trick to keep it lit. What's more important is, let's go to the library. It's freezing here."
Max pulled her arms to the oldest building in the town. Since the conflict, there is only one town left and everything else turned become ashes.
Cecilia feel some astonishment when she enters the library. The book's shelves were old and rusty, but the books are still in the good condition. As if, someone really took care of it.
"Can I help you?" An old woman greeted them with a faint smile. "I never see you around."
"The man in the restaurant told me to go here. I want to find my sister." Cecilia said with a sad smile. Her acting getting better and Max try his best to not smile.
"Why did you risk yourself to find someone who might die?" She said when opened a thick and old book. "What's her name?"
"Mikaela Montgomery. Anyway, what is happening? Everything seem worse than I read from the paper. I mean, my husband and I are sneaking from the forest because the bandits was guarding the entrance. They look so intimidating and experienced."
The old woman sighed and fixed her glasses in position. "If I were you, I will forget her. All the people want to escape from this frozen prison. Yet, you volunteering to this no good place."
"Is it only because of the bandits?" Max asked when he saw an old clipping of newspaper about the conflict in ten years ago.
"They are not just ordinary bandits, Young Man. They got a blessing from the protector of this island. That's why they can do anything they want here."
"The protectors... of the frozen land is waiting for you." Cecilia murmured the words from Bai Lin's prophecy.
"Not to mention, they can summon the white wolf to attack the people. Their leader is a dangerous man, too. I heard he can kill people with bare hand." The old woman shook her head and closed the book. Her face look tired and desperated. "I can't find your sister's name. I'm sorry. Please go away as fast as you can before the sunset. The forest in the nighttime isn't friendly, My Dear."
"Wait! But, did you know if the emperor will try his best to free you from them! Please hang in there until the time is come." Cecilia said to encourage that grim old woman.
She shook her head and sighed before said, "My dear, you don't understand with this situation. The man who got those blessing, can't die in this land. That means, as long as he is living in that place, they will be immortal."