Frozen Oceans

Everything was muted, as things tend to be when covered in snow. The world goes quiet, the colors seem to fade a bit, and when sound and color do intrude, they appear harsher than they really are.

Needless to say, Mana's footsteps sounded like mini avalanches.

Her eyes were focused on the crystal in front of her, watching the numbers and flashes inside it zoom by. The wind knocked her hood into her vision so she pushed off and out of her way. She almost had a lock on it... If she could just-

A bark that seemed to bounce off the snow and sky met her ears and she turned her amber eyes back the way she came. A smile appeared on her face as she spotted Lior, her faithful wolf companion, his white fur matching the snow so well he appeared a ghost. Mana waited until he joined her, laughing and giving him a scratch behind the ear as he pushed against her legs fondly.

"Your mother and father were looking for you," he said, tilting his head to look at her. "I told them I'd go searching for you. Your brother, too, seemed concerned."

"Yeah, I'm sure," she said with a slight face. "I'm preoccupied. I know there's an infused crystal resource around here somewhere, I just have to pinpoint it. My Cryst is being difficult though-" She tapped the blue orb with one fingernail. "-you would think it'd find it right away, since it's made out of the same stuff."

"Aren't you supposed to be meeting with nobles today?" Lior asked, falling into stride next to her as she walked.

"Eh, something like that."

"Supposed to be preparing for your duties as a leader?"

"Mmmhm. Rest of that sounded boring. This is much more interesting."

"Agreed."

Mana turned to beam down at her companion. "Besides," she continued, taking her cloak in hand to help her move faster. "I'm helping find resources for our kingdom. It's only practical."

"Sure. You can explain that to your mother."

*****

I like computers... I really do...

Here's Mana and Lior from my comic (that may come to life soon~). This is her princess 'dress', even if its not technically a dress. Practicality in fashion, at its best (practicality killed by that horribly long cloak just WAITING to be tripped over XD). But yes. That orb is Mana's equivalent to Mercury's computer. Its spiffy~

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