Chapter 4
It was only after a staff member from the Volunteer Affairs Office negotiated with Frostvale Sanctuary that Pearl was finally freed from the cell.
When Pearl was brought out, she could barely stand. Hunger and exhaustion crashed over her, and by the time she made it back to the dormitory, she blacked out.
When she came to again, Pearl stared at the calendar hanging on the wall. Just three days left—three days until she could finally get on that train and leave this place behind.
The Volunteer Affairs Office staffer made a point to visit her in person, offering both advice and a stern warning.
"Ms. Whitman, our mission here is to unite the people of Frostvale, to aid them... If this happens again, we cannot guarantee we'll be able to save you. Ms. Meadows visited you while you were unconscious and provided you with precious penicillin.
"We hope you will no longer hold hostility toward her. You'll be leaving soon. It's best to clear up any lingering ties between you and Gabriel."
Pearl didn't say a word—she just nodded quietly, accepting the lesson.
"Gabriel and I are done," Pearl murmured to herself, her voice barely more than a whisper.
The dorm room door burst open, and Gabriel appeared in the doorway.
His face was as unreadable as ever, but there was a flicker of guilt in his eyes.
The others just gave a quick nod and made themselves scarce, leaving the two of them alone.
"I didn't know the elders locked you up in that cell. I thought you'd be able to find your way home," Gabriel said quietly, a hint of guilt in his voice.
Pearl shifted her arm, her joints still aching and stiff, but her gaze didn't linger on him like it used to.
"Whatever. It's not the first time I've gotten hurt because of you," she replied, her voice tinged with weary resignation.
Gabriel fell silent for a moment. He pulled a knife from his waist, removed the wolf's tooth pendant hanging from it, and placed it on Pearl's pillow.
"This was from the first snow wolf I hunted when I came of age.
"It's tasted blood, and it's guarded the faith. When I'm not here... let it keep you safe for me."
Pearl stared blankly into Gabriel's eyes. Once, such a gesture would have moved her utterly, made her devotion unshakable.
But now, she took in her battered body, covered in bruises and scars.
"Safe?" Pearl couldn't help but let out a bitter, hollow laugh.
But before she could get another word out, someone outside shouted, "Guardian! Alice fainted again!"
Gabriel jolted, and as he hurried out, he accidentally knocked over the pot and glasses on the table—the crash of shattering glass filled the room.
Pearl watched his desperate, fleeing figure, clutching the wolf's tooth in her hand.
She whispered softly, "Whether we can settle our debts... or not, in three days, we'll say goodbye forever..."
*****
That night, Pearl packed her clothes and personal belongings slowly, preparing for her departure in three days.
Her trunk was filled with items that reminded her of Gabriel: a matching colorful braided cord, a yellowed photograph, a badly worn silver knot bracelet—its chain still carried the scent of yak butter, pine, and the sharp cold wind of the snowlands. It was a family heirloom he'd worn since childhood, passed down from his father.
There was also a handwoven linen cord knot—she remembered the night he'd vowed to bind his soul to hers, to never part.
Every single thing was meant to keep her safe, yet she was the one left covered in scars.
She took out all those keepsakes and handed them out to the volunteers she lived with, right outside her door.
They had long been fascinated by Frostvale's culture and were delighted by Gabriel's personal belongings, thanking her repeatedly.
In the early hours of the morning, a sudden sound shattered the silence—something tapping against the window. It was Gabriel.
His eyes immediately fell on the empty trunk, and only a few used leather cords were scattered on the floor.
"What did you do with the things I gave you?"
His brows knitted in irritation as he turned to glare at Pearl, who sat on the bed.
Pearl didn't look up, her voice calm and distant.
"I can't take any of it with me. The others wanted it, so I just let them have it," she said, sounding indifferent.
Gabriel stared at Pearl's profile. He'd known for a while that something was up with her, but he just didn't know what to say. That one line—"take it with me"—left him totally stumped, not even sure where to begin.
He started pacing, checking every nook and cranny of the tiny room, getting more and more annoyed with each step.
Finally, he asked, a hint of frustration in his voice, "Where is my... Sigil of the Covenant?"
The Sigil of the Covenant was the symbol of authority at Frostvale Sanctuary—adorned with a Double-headed Eagle Cross on the front and an inscribed Holy Oath on the back.
Pearl blinked, realization dawning on her—this was the gift Alice had given Gabriel when she came of age, the very thing that marked his claim to leadership at Frostvale Sanctuary.
She'd seen it, even brushed her fingers over it once, but she'd never taken it for herself.
Pearl shook her head and got to her feet. "I didn't take it," she replied, her tone cool and unwavering.
"Alice said it was still here in your room when she came to check on you!" Gabriel said, suspicion clear in his voice.
Gabriel was dead sure Pearl had taken it—maybe she wanted payback, maybe she was just messing with him. He couldn't figure out her reason, but somehow, he just knew it had to be her.
But at this point, Gabriel was freaking out. After nearly three hours of searching and still coming up empty-handed, even he—usually cool as ice—was about to crack. In his desperation, he grabbed a pearl necklace off the dressing table and waved it around, threatening her with it.
"Give my Sigil of the Covenant to me!" Gabriel barked, his voice rough with frustration.
Pearl stared at Gabriel, totally stunned. Her voice shook, and her eyes were hot with unshed tears.
"Give it back! That necklace is mine!
"You know well—it's the only thing I have from my mom!" she shouted, her voice cracking.