Chapter 2: Palace of fog/ Lizzie

"Mist is spreading

Cover palace with white

Listening, listening

The song of all kinds

What is outside?

Surrounding white fog

What is outside?

Being here or not

Princess, my little dear

Sleep well before night

Fog is there and here

The day will quickly arrive

Where is the blue sky?

Where is the moonlight?

When will in our life

Not be torn to sides? 

Along with lullaby 

Prairie and the sunshine

Close eyes and sleep tight

Little princess of mine."

The song hummed in the midst of the mansion, which was surrounded by the year-round frost, and crept down every interstice of the dusty corridor,reaching the arid courtyard at the entrance.

In the only room with light, the owner of the voice, Lizzie, was gently covering the baby girl she loved most in the world. Another long night arrived again, and ninety-nine years had elapsed since she and the little girl were imprisoned here.

"I still don't get it, Lizzie." The tiny girl was curdled up in a cozy blanket, her innocent eyes filled with bright golden light from the oil lamp. "What is the dissimilarity  between sunlight and moonlight?"

The maid softly stroked the little girl's long white hair, with a genuine smile. "Those are the lights that illuminate the world, Mavellin. Golden sunshine is woven by the goddess of the Sun, which is bestowed upon the whole world in the morning. Moonlight is woven by the Moon goddess, and she will disseminate it after the Sun goddess retires for the night.”

"But..." said the narrator, "We don't have those here..." Mavellin pouted and frowned in displeasure."Is it because I'm not good that the two goddesses don't bring the sun's strand and the moon's strand here...?" 

“Oh Mavellin…”. Lizzie kissed her forehead

"You are the most amazing youngster I have ever met." Indeed, the two goddesses can see that too; it's just because the fog is too dense that they are still in an endeavor".

"If they can't get the threads  here," said the narrator. Mavellin said, her large eyes closed. "I hope they'll give up because I don't want them to jeopardize their health."

Lizzie burst out laughing. This child is incredibly intelligent and well-behaved. She had lived here for nearly a century and had never uttered a complaint or expressed dissatisfaction with a single word. Mavellin knew how to make herself happy, even if her surroundings were constantly a gloomy gray. Thereby, Lizzie realized that she needed to focus on loving her more in order to compensate for the negativities she had to cope with every day

Five hundred years of service in the Mist Castle, Lizzie soon realized this magical mountain range was not what she had previously thought. When she was still a human, she was so religious that she ignored all prohibitions and set out to find the true entrance to the Velsi Mountains. Her enthusiasm was rewarded by the gods, and the door she had longed for appeared before her eyes after going through an extremely arduous journey, hanging herlife countless times before death scythe.

This mountain range is home to all the powerful gods worshiped by all mankind. The entire large area was covered with the mist of the god that Lizzie was serving. From the time when heaven and earth had not yet formed, a book called The Origins appeared. It used its magic to mold the two beings, Rherus and Rhodri. As soon as they opened their eyes, the book had absorbed almost all of its essence. In this way, they built land and life, creating the first humans. Then, gradually the Book of Origins began to create seven gods to help the two almighty beings, later the seven majestic gods. Over time, that powerful book created more gods, until the seventy-second god stopped completely. After that milestone, all subsequent divine descendants were created by the first gods.

The Seven Gods Emperor gradually brought together some of the sixty-five gods created after them, and these were called the King Gods. With the exception of Rherus and Rhodri, the first seventy-two gods descended to earth one after another, each choosing a person they thought was the most suitable to represent the voice in the domains they protected and ruled.

For example, the King of Mist is the chief guardian deity of the Frosto kingdom of the Traus empire, and the members of the Gegn family reflect his voice in the mortal world. The God of Mist was also one of the twelve kings chosen to rule the nations alongside the God Emperor of Wisdom and Secrets. Frosto region might be considered a vassal of Traus.

It was thought that all had followed a certain order, the territories were clearly demarcated and, according to the books of the ancients, all the gods were very respectful of each other and did not fight, but it's harsh, but it's not like the good words in the book mentioned. Lizzie saw the different struggles of the gods. Even someone with a strong position, like the God of Mist, had his own plans to always keep the throne. He married many wives, most of which were the daughters of the first gods, mainly to increase his allies, but in his eyes, there was absolutely no love. 

Like dew, the cold is harsh on the heart. The cruelty is indescribable.

Lizzie used to work as a personal maid for one of the castle's royal concubines. That concubine was originally self-assured, partly because the monarch was continually loving and pampering her, and partly because she was the daughter of the deity of Music, the second god created after Paimanilli. Until she gave birth to a princess who was above all intelligent and vigilant. That little princess had a keen understanding of things from an early age, frequently demonstrating that she was only on her mother's side. From the moment the concubine was freshly married to the God of Mist until the mother and daughter were poisoned to death and disintegrated into sand dust, Lizzie was present to witness the tragic tragedy of the mother and daughter. The Emperor God of Music, in particular, couldn't do anything to the king when his daughter and granddaughter died in an absolutely unavoidable accident. 

But Lizzie knew that, behind the tragic death that the king showed the world, perhaps behind it was a terrible secret. He's always been wary of losing his status, but now he has an outstanding genius daughter who only listens to her mother and is too close to mother’s family. This touched the king's dead spot. Perhaps he regarded it as a potentially harmful germ, motivating him to devise a plan to eliminate it right away.

Since that time, Lizzie has not personally served any other concubines.

Because of that event, her faith in the God of Mist had decreased considerably. And the familiar feeling of doubt rose again when she saw his anguish at the execution of the goddess Melissa.

Lizzie has plenty of time to think about it because she's all alone in this cold wilderness. The more she thought about it, the more suspicious she became, leading her to decide to love and care for the child the king had abandoned, despite the fact that the child was innocent. Or, contrary to what the king claimed, that infant might not have been the germ of disaster.

Therefore, she decided to call the baby Mavellin, after the little princess who had passed away. Of course, this was a secret that Melina didn't know. Lizzie would most likely be executed if Melina found out she was going to name an abandoned child after a deceased princess, and Mavellin must be forced to live here alone for the rest of her life.

Lizzie recalls how her life was flipped completely upside down when she first moved here. She couldn't get acclimated to the bone-chilling cold air, could see fog everywhere, and couldn't distinguish between day and night because the sky was entirely shrouded. Over time, the artifacts in the palace became covered in a thick coating of dust, making them unusable. For the first three months, Mavellin was usually hungry and cried until she was exhausted and fell asleep on her own. Due to limited exposure to sunshine, Lizzie and Malvellin's skin progressively lost its rose tone, and today both mother and daughter have a pale complexion that resembles that of sick people.

But, in the end, a tiny amount of luck remained.

Lizzie discreetly rose from her chair, kissed the sleeping Mavellin on the forehead, took the kerosene lamp, and quietly exited the room.

She was dressed in a chestnut brown coat, walked gently out of the castle, and lit the road. Her lone figure was covered in the dense fog by the golden light. "Ninety-six, ninety-seven," says the narrator. With extreme concentration, she whispered a count of her steps. The maid didn't come to a complete stop until she had taken one hundred and one steps.

"Expand..." Lizzie exhaled deeply and raised her right palm in front of her face, spreading it out. "Forming, condensing, covering, damp, cold, foggy... Gather here... O Origin, accompany me in the might of magic, show me the road."

Six green drops of water emerged in a hexagon in mid-air, eventually forming an orderly pattern. Lizzie exclaimed as she tried to twist her hands clockwise by squeezing her fists together. She had said this mantra countless times, but each time she had to bear excruciating suffering from the depths of her soul. As she struggled to open the entry, the magical fog's invisible lock chain rang silently inside her, threatening her life. This bonding literally crushed her heart, but she became accustomed to it quickly.

"Lizzie..." It wasn't until she heard the whispering voice of the outsider that she really calmed down and dropped her hand. The pain lingered, and it wouldn't end until she closed the gate.

 "Maria, are you okay?" Lizzie cautiously glanced around.

 "As always, no one is following me. I am so talented that I can escape in an instant." Maria was carrying a bunch of things, and when she spoke, she quickly gave them to her. "Is that child okay?" The tired, pale-faced maid smiled at her only ally. Over the years, Maria has been the one to quietly help her, making life a little less difficult for her and Mavellin. 

In the past, she and Maria used to play communication games with each other using sign language. This is the language that Maria learned while on earth and taught her only. They like to use it when they want to talk in public but can't open their mouth. It helps them to be less bored, and even quite amused when they see confused eyes looking at them.

Unexpectedly, sign language proves to be a useful language for Lizzie in a crucial situation.

Maria secretly talked with Lizzie the day the housekeeper Melina chose to leave her with Mavellin. While the tall woman was distracted, Maria immediately informed Lizzie that she would definitely return to assist her.

It was a faint ray of hope, but it was the only thing Lizzie had at the time. Despite her heartache and longing, she had tried to follow the road, casting spells like Melina had done. Lizzie can see day and night now that the route has been opened, making it easier for her to keep track of time.

Maria's assistance, on the other hand, was not easy to come by. She didn't appear in front of Lizzie until a week later to offer her the bare essentials. She was being closely watched at the moment, most likely because the king was concerned that she would spew out forbidden words. It took three months for her to be temporarily released, and the items she brought with her offered her a little more.

"Rather than feeling good about myself, I now respect you more." Maria exclaimed as she crouched and hid her hands inside her cloak. "How can you remember the spell that unlocks the door if you've only heard it once?" I would have succumbed to it if I had been imprisoned in there. I'm aware that Melina is stingy with her prisoners; she doesn't provide much food, let alone basic necessities. You wouldn't last long in there if you didn't have exceptional assistance."

Lizzie coughed a few times and clutched her chest as she felt the sharp pain in her heart. The moon had gradually moved to the top of the sky at this point, casting a soft light on where the two of them were standing. Maria was taken aback when she saw this. "Okay, I'm done talking to you. It was almost time for Melina to check her surroundings as the moon reached its apex. She still hasn't let go of me. "

"Let's hurry." Lizzie narrowed her eyes and smiled softly. Lizzie was always amused by Maria's haste. "Thank you."

"No problem. Come back quickly or you'll get hurt again. " That Maria took a slow look around, then grabbed her skirt and dashed away, disappearing in an instant behind the hazy fog.

Lizzie didn't pause, quickly grabbing the pile of items and closing the magic gate. The sharp pain subsided and then vanished as soon as the green hexagon transformed into a strip of light that entered her heart.

Returning to the isolated palace, the first thing she did was go to her bedroom, put the lamp back on the table. She knew that Mavellin was afraid of the gloomy half-light and half-dark atmosphere here. If she wakes up without the lights on, she will cry a lot. That hurt her a hundred times more than the pain caused by magic.

Sitting on the floor, Lizzie began to check the furniture that Maria had just provided. Some more clothes for her, and of course Mavellin as well. Since Mavellin clothes were children's clothes, Maria sewed them herself even though she was terrible at sewing.

Maria did not hate this child; on the contrary, she loved her very much.

Once the clothes were neatly folded, Lizzie continued to check. Four pitchers of clean water and food were placed in a rattan basket, enough for a few days, and some toys that the children of the concubines no longer touched were also stolen by Maria and left for Mavellin. There are also a number of books of all kinds for Lizzie to read and use as teaching materials for her.

And finally, at the bottom of the basket, is a milky white mandarin clock.

Lizzie carefully lifted it up to examine it. Overall, this is quite a valuable thing. Why did Maria get it? Is she brave enough to steal things from concubines?

The maid hurriedly rummaged through the basket, and, as expected, she discovered a note left behind by Maria.

"I understand your concerns. This clock is mine; it's the only thing I brought with me when I crossed the Velsi Mountains from the mortal world. After considering it all day, I decided to give it to you so you could easily follow the time while in that gloomy place; after all, doing a servant job doesn't require bringing a clock. Consider it a thank you gift from me for taking care of Mavellin."

Maria, the maid... Lizzie's inner thoughts are clearly understood by her.

Lizzie helplessly smiled, folded the paper, and set it aside. She removed the clock cover to find that it had been adjusted and was still working properly.

"Thank you very much, Maria." The maid murmured as she ran her fingers around the priceless gift. At the very least, she wouldn't have to sit and count time by memory from now on, allowing her to spend more time with Mavellin.

Now... it's time to rest.

Lizzie walked over to the adorable little girl, kissed her on the center of her forehead, and fell asleep peacefully.

*****

"Lizzie... Lizzie..."

A familiar low, small voice rang in her ear, waking her up. She turned around, her pale blue eyes drawn to the source of the noise. Mavellin was in the process of waking up. The little girl sat on the mattress, rubbing her eyes and yawning incessantly.

"What exactly is going on?" Lizzie inquired softly.

"I heard a knocking in the yard..." Mavellin replied half-asleep, her whole body now slightly trembling. "Pause for a moment every three beats, then tap again. When that person arrives, that person arrives..."

Lizzie awoke immediately when she heard that. She threw off the blanket and sat up, darting to the window and peering out at the desolate yard.

The figure of a tall woman appearing in her field of vision made her heart skip a beat. Melina has arrived. Last night, because she slept quite late, she forgot the time. The housekeeper hated waiting the most, so she had to hurry.

Lizzie hurriedly pulled her light brown hair up, and hurriedly put on her maid outfit. The cumbersome dress made her so impatient that she almost got angry. While she was struggling, Mavellin was curled up on the mattress, clutching her favorite old red teddy bear, looking at Lizzie with fearful eyes.

“Did that person come to take me with her again, Lizzie?” The little girl curled her legs, her innocent eyes filled with tears.

"No, she won't..." Lizzie ran over to kiss the little girl's eyes, taking the answer seriously. "Stay in your room until I give you the signal, ok?"

Mavellin nodded her head and covered herself with a blanket because she was afraid of turning pale. Fortunately, she is always respectful.

Lizzie took a deep breath to perk herself up, slammed the door open, and dashed down the yard. She frantically curtsied to say hello as soon as she saw Melina. “Madam… Please accept my apologies for keeping you waiting."

Melina remained silent with Lizzie’s appearance. She walked slowly around her, carefully observing her.

"You seem to be living a good life these days, huh?" Her low, hoarse voice from behind Lizze startled her just a little.

"Your thought make me fine, madam," Lizzie said reverently. "I always told myself that I had to be in the best shape possible so that I could send you reports about her every day..."

"Hmm, a very clever mouth." Melina leaned forward with her cane, facing her. "Now it's time for you to do your part."

"Yes, madam..." Lizzie began her work in a steady tone. "The little girl is still in good health. There is no indication of any unusual abilities. In terms of eating habits, she ate the recommended amount of food, just like the other kids. We haven't seen anything out of the ordinary in the palace so far. My memories are still completely normal, and I am conscious whenever I come into contact with her."

Lizzie surreptitiously observed Melina's gaze after she had completed her task. Her thin lips pursed, seemingly displeased, as if she was filled with a lot of thoughts. Lizzie's heart trembled slightly as she saw this. Melina came alone today, with no one accompanying her, which meant Mavellin would be able to get through the day alone. But what exactly is that attitude? Lizzie was not amused by the fact that she still did not appear to be out of the ordinary when dealing with Mavellin.

Lizzie just hopes Melina doesn't do anything else as a result of her displeasure…

If Melina had been accompanied by two close maids, she would have been forced to hand Mavellin over to her that day. That housekeeper and her entourage would go with her into any room in the palace, and Lizzie would be made to wait in the courtyard. I don't know what they did to Mavellin, but I do know that when Melina left, she was extremely scared, tears covered her face, her clothes were torn, her hands were still imprinted with rope marks, and she did not speak a word with Lizzie all day.

"The scary person says I can't tell anyone else about what happened between me and her." With a trembling expression, the girl said so. "If I reveal the secret, the mist will kill both the person who heard it and me. Lizzie is the only one I care about, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

Lizzie's mind was imprinted with that sentence, so she didn't press Mavellin to tell her anything else, just hugged her when it was all over.

The king clearly desired something from the little girl, allowing her to live and torment her over and over again.

Mavellin had been subjected to Melina's secret torture five thousand one hundred and fifty times in total over the ninety-nine years.

"Continue to observe," Melina said, her face cold. "You should also know that the king is very tolerant." He's always worried that something bad will happen if you leave you next to that other race. When you get close to that girl, pay close attention to your memories and actions. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, please wait for me to report it right away, okay? Just come here today, and we'll be back tomorrow."

She didn't know whether she should be worried or not. Lizzie gradually lost trust as a result of Melina's words. She's a king's minion who intends to do something to Mavellin, so it's best to ignore her kind words.

"I got it, madam." Lizzie bowed her head, obediently following orders. The housekeeper only waited for that before turning around and exiting the palace courtyard. The echoing sound of the staff faded away, eventually disappearing in the thick fog.

Lizzie breathed a sigh of relief, having overcome the day's most difficult challenge.

The maid raised her head to look out the bedroom window. Little Mavellin was standing timidly in a corner, quietly watching. Lizzie didn't want her to be afraid any longer, so she raised her hand and smiled as she waved.

Mavellin noticed this and waved back excitedly. A moment later, the little girl rushed out of the window frame, and a moment later, she pushed open the palace's door. Lizzie noticed that the teddy bear she was holding was torn in two or three places while she was still in her pajamas. Mavellin's white hair is also quite long, but she has never agreed to let Lizzie cut it because she believes that if she had hair like this, she would be as beautiful as a goddess.

"Has the frightening woman vanished?" Mavellin looked timidly in the direction of the trail, his voice innocent and a little terrified.

" Yeah, she’s gone! " Lizzi patted the baby's head gently. "The sister who made this teddy bear for you just sent in some seeds. Do you want to plant trees with me today?"

"Oh! Get a tree! Is it like burying a tiny seed in the ground and pouring water on it and expecting something to grow out of it, as it says in a book? " She squealed with joy.

"That's right. Mavellin is a genius. Today I'll show you what a tree really looks like." Lizzie burst out laughing.

Mavellin happily twirled around the yard, then dashed inside to get ready for the upcoming tree planting.

When the maidservant saw that lovely scene, the smile on her lips faded and she turned her head to look in the direction of the path.

Lizzie recognizes herself as a speck of dust, but the force that is plotting something with this poor child out there is too powerful.

But she still wanted to give Mavellin her all.

She will try to protect Mavellin with her life. One day those little feet run through the green meadow full of sunshine, and those innocent eyes are filled with beautiful stars in the sky…

_____________________________

Note: (C): The poem a.k.a the song in this chapter belongs to Nghich Tuyet. Its English translation belongs to mariNE.