As soon as they emerged from the portal, Seraph and Elena did not arrive at a magical palace or a green forest, but rather fell into a world where white sheets were spread everywhere. This was the "Frozen Valley"—the part of Nag-Lok where exiled wizards were sent and where the temperature even froze magical energy.
Seraph fell onto the snow, his body already riddled with wounds, but his first thought was Elena. He looked longingly at Elena, who was lying motionless and motionless on the snow. Her delicate 17-year-old body was turning blue and her breathing was so shallow that it was almost imperceptible.
"Elena! Open your eyes, Elena!" Seraph called to her, his voice muffled in the icy winds.
Seraph, with trembling hands, held Elena to his chest to give her some warmth. The 'Light of the Dragon' sword was buried in the snow near Elena, its blue light now dim. Elena's youth had become the greatest threat to her at that time; her human heart could not bear the weight of this magical sword and the poisonous smoke of the valley of the underworld.
On the other side, a black shadow emerged from the rubble of the destroyed mansion. Although Zarun was injured, he was not dead. The defeat at the hands of Elena had given new fire to the revenge within him.
"You cannot escape me, Seraph!" he roared angrily. "No one has ever returned alive from the world you took that girl to."
The golden serpent sitting on the throne of the Seraph had seen with her binoculars where the Seraph had fallen. She ordered her soldiers with a devilish smile: "Wake up the guards of the Frozen Valley! The Seraph is injured and Elena is dying; this is the best time to eliminate them." The Seraph managed to take Elena into a nearby cave. He formed a protective circle of his own blood at the mouth of the cave, but he knew that his own strength was running out. Elena's hand was now as cold as ice.
Tears welled up in the Seraph's eyes and fell down Elena's cheeks. "I wish I had never brought you into this magical world, I wish you had remained the same ordinary Elena who talked to flowers."
Suddenly, a voice came from the depths of the cave. "Crying does not change fate, prince!"
The Seraph turned in shock and tried to raise his sword, but his arms fought back. An old man emerged from the darkness, his lower body like a snake's but his hair white and his face human. This was "Baba Kohsar," who had been exiled here for centuries.
"Who are you?" the Seraph asked, panting.
"I am the one who was once your grandfather's minister," the old man said, looking at Elena. "The blood of the Dragon Queen has awakened within this girl, but she is still very young. If she does not receive the 'Water of Life of the Dragon' (the water that gives life to serpents) in the next two hours, she will never awaken."
Seraph looked at the old man. "Where will you find that water?"
"It is in the possession of an ice serpent on the top of the highest mountain in this valley," the old man warned. "You cannot go there in this condition."
Seraph gathered his courage and stood up with the support of the 'Light of the Dragon'. "I will go. Elena risked her human life for me, now it is my turn."
Elena grabbed Seraph's arm in a semi-conscious state. "Seraph... don't go..." Her voice was so low that only Seraph could hear.
Seraph kissed her hand. "I will return Elena, I will fight the entire universe to take your life for you."
Seraph left the cave where a terrifying blizzard awaited him. Meanwhile, in the palace, the golden serpent had learned that Seraph was about to set out in search of the 'Water of Life'. He sent his most dangerous predator, the Black Eagle, to block the path of the Seraph.
Elena was alone in the cave, her soul wandering in a strange space where she could see the shadows of her past and future. She saw in a dream the golden serpent calling to her: "Come, Elena, come to me, your salvation is only in death."
As soon as Seraph stepped out of the cave, the freezing winds began to rip at his wounds. At every step, ice walls blocked his path, but all he could think about was Elena's yellow face, struggling between life and death.
"I can't give up…" Seraph gritted his teeth and told himself. He used the 'Light of the Dragon' like a staff to help him climb the slope.
Suddenly, a terrifying scream rang out from the sky, shattering the icy silence. Seraph looked up, and a huge Black Eagle was swooping down from the clouds. Its wingspan was more than ten feet and its talons shone like steel daggers.
It was a hunter sent by the Golden Serpent, with a thirst for human blood in its eyes. The eagle dived and bloodied Seraph's shoulder with its talons. The seraph fell to the ice, but he immediately turned around and raised his sword.
"Tell your queen that the seraph is not dead yet!" the seraph shouted angrily. He released a blue magic wave from his sword, but the eagle was too fast. He used the pressure of the air to blow ice into the seraph's eyes to blind him.
Meanwhile, inside the cave, Baba Kohsar was sitting next to Elena, reciting some magical spells. Golden smoke was coming out of Elena's body, which was a sign that her soul was trying to leave her body.
Elena was in a strange dream. She saw that she was in a beautiful garden, where golden flowers were blooming everywhere, but under these flowers were poisonous black snakes. There, she saw a woman whose face was exactly like Elena's, but her eyes were ancient and sad.
"Who are you?" Elena asked.
"I am your past, Elena," the woman replied. "You were chosen at the age of 17 because your heart was the purest. But Seraph would destroy himself while saving you. Do you want him to die for you?"
Elena's heart sank. "No... Seraph must not be harmed."
The woman held out a black bowl towards Elena. "Drink this, your soul will be freed and the Seraph's life will be saved." Elena grabbed the cup with trembling hands. She was still young, she did not know that this was a magical illusion of the golden serpent that was inciting her to suicide.
Seraph with great difficulty, wounded one of the black eagle's wings with his sword, causing it to scream and disappear into the clouds. Seraph had now reached the top of the mountain, where there was a blue sparkling pool. It was the 'water of life of the dragon'.
But in front of the pool sat a terrifying Frost Serpent coiled. Its body was like transparent glass and blue poison could be seen running through it.
"Prince! You cannot take the water from here," the Frost Serpent's voice was like falling snow. "The price of this water is your sight (eyelight). Are you willing to go blind for Elena?"
Seraph paused for a moment. If he went blind, he would never see Elena again. For him, this world would be dark forever. But then he remembered Elena's smile, which was his universe.
"If Elena's eyes remain bright, I don't care about my own eyesight," the seraph said firmly. "I agree!" The snow serpent lowered its beak and allowed the seraph to draw water from the pond. As the seraph filled a small jug with water, he felt darkness creeping before his eyes. His magic was showing him the way to save Elena's life, but it was robbing him of the splendour of the world.
The seraph ran blindly back to the cave, falling into the snow. He had very little time.
In the cave, Elena was about to put the poisoned cup to her lips when the cave's mouth suddenly shook. The seraph's voice echoed: "Elena! Stop!"
The seraph stumbled inside, his eyes now white and without any light. He reached Elena, bumping into the walls, and knocked the poisoned cup out of her hand.
"Drink this, Elena..." The seraph, with trembling hands, put the water of life into Elena's mouth.
As Elena drank the water, a strong golden light came out of her body, dispelling all the coolness of the cave. Her eyes opened, her breathing recovered, but when she looked in front of her, she screamed.
"Seraphim! Your eyes? Why can't you see me?" Elena held the seraph's face, crying.
Seraph smiled and kissed Elena's hand. "I will see you with my soul now, Elena. You are alive, that is enough for me."
Baba Kohsar was shocked to see this scene. "Love has defeated magic..."
But peace had not yet come. Outside the cave, an army of thousands of black serpents had arrived, led by Zarun. "Seraph is now blind! Finish him off!" Zarun's voice echoed in the icy winds. A storm of dust and snow raged inside the cave. Seraph was buried under a heavy rock, but his hands were still covering Elena. Blood was dripping from his back, but his soul was only praying for Elena's well-being.
"Elena... are you okay?" Seraph asked, panting. His white, lightless eyes could not find any direction in the darkness, but his heart recognised Elena's every cry.
Elena, who was still a fragile girl of 16, struggled to get out from under Seraph. When she saw Seraph in this state, the innocence inside her turned into a terrifying rage. Her small hands were trembling, but the 'Light of the Dragon' sword held in those hands was now shining brighter than ever.
"Seraph! Nothing will happen to you," Elena said in a tearful but determined tone. He lifted the heavy sword with both hands, regardless of his age. Golden rays were emanating from his body and hitting the ceiling of the cave.
Zaron's fear and Elena's challenge
Standing at the edge of the cave, Zaron, who considered himself the greatest magician of the Nag Lok, was now astonished. He saw a 16-year-old girl, whose body was not yet capable of withstanding the heat of magic, standing before him like a rock.
"Elena! Get out of my way," Zaron roared, although his voice no longer had the same self-confidence as before. "Your body will burst from the power of this sword. You are still a child!"
Elena took a step forward. Her dishevelled hair was waving in the wind and her eyes were now completely golden. "I may be a child, Zaron, but my love is centuries old. You have taken the eyes of a seraph, now I will take away your pride!"
Elena waved her sword in the air. With a loud roar, a dragon of golden light shot out from the sword and hit Zarun directly. Zarun created a shield of his black magic, but Elena's attack was so powerful that Zarun's shield shattered like glass and he fell into a distant pile of snow. Baba Kohsar, who was lying injured in the corner of the cave, shouted: "Elena! Stop! Don't use all your strength at once, your heart won't be able to bear this burden!"
But Elena was not in a state to listen to anyone at that moment. All she could see was Seraph's wounds that had been eaten for her sake. As she was using magic, blood began to flow from her nose and ears. At the age of 16, such a huge flow of magical energy was breaking her human body from the inside.
Seraph felt that Elena's condition was deteriorating. He gathered all his physical strength and pushed the rock aside and stood up. "Elena! Stop it! I don't want your strength, I want your life!"
Seraph stumbled forward and hugged Elena from behind. As soon as Seraph's touch touched Elena, her body temperature began to drop and the magical light dimmed. Elena collapsed breathlessly onto Seraph's shoulder. Before Seraph and Elena could even begin to notice, the entire sky over the frozen valley turned golden. A giant golden serpent descended, tearing through the clouds. It was Seraph's enemy who had taken away her entire world.
She came in her human form—a beautiful but heartless woman, holding a poisonous staff in her hand. She looked down at Zarun lying on the ground with contempt and then turned to Seraph.
"My son Zarun failed," the golden serpent said with a venomous smile. "But Prince Seraph! You are now blind and your 16-year-old lover is on the verge of death. Who will save you from me now?"
Seraph held Elena with one hand and raised his sword with the other. There was not the slightest fear on his face. "You have taken away my sight, not my courage."
The golden serpent waved his staff. "Tonight, no trace of anyone will remain in this valley."
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