Twilight of the Ice Nymphs

Peter Glahn, a recently released convict, returns to his home in the peculiar land of Mandragora, where daylight never fades. His journey home is marked by a longing for connection and a desire to reintegrate into a life that has moved on in his absence.

While on a ship en route home, Peter shares a fleeting, romantic moment with Juliana Kossel. This encounter hints at a deeper connection that both are eager to explore upon his return.

Upon arriving in Mandragora, Peter visits the family ostrich farm managed by his sister Amelia. Amelia's affection for Dr. Isaac Solti creates tension as she struggles to balance her feelings and her responsibilities towards the farm.

Amelia faces a confrontation from Cain Ball, her laborer, who challenges her commitment to selling the family farm. This conflict reveals the emotional stakes involved as Amelia grapples with her loyalties and desires.

Peter wanders into the forest for a hunting expedition, where he meets a pregnant woman named Zephyr. Although she is married, there is an undeniable attraction that surfaces between the two.

In her desperation to win Peter's affection, Zephyr seeks the favor of a stone statue of the goddess Venus. She offers her wedding ring as a token in a ritual filled with hope and sacrificial love.

Peter and Zephyr share a tender embrace, acknowledging their existing romantic entanglements but momentarily losing themselves in what could have been. This moment highlights the complexity of their emotions amidst their respective loyalties.

As tensions rise, it becomes evident that Dr. Solti has a manipulative hold over Juliana, revealed during a picnic involving Peter, Amelia, and Solti. Peter’s jealousy ignites when he learns of Solti’s hypnosis over Juliana.

Faced with Solti's increasingly harmful influence, Peter attempts to confront him in anger. However, Peter's struggle proves futile against Solti's artificial limb, showcasing the dark undercurrents at play.

Amelia's growing paranoia leads her to believe that Cain is plotting against her. In a metaphorical act of violence, she lashes out, leading to horrific consequences that reveal her deteriorating mental state.

In a shocking revelation, Zephyr confesses to Peter that she inadvertently caused her husband's death. This confession adds layers of guilt and sorrow to her character and further complicates Peter’s feelings.

Frustrated by jealousy, Peter attempts to summon the spirits of the forest to deal with his adversaries. However, the spirits' intervention yields little impact, illustrating Peter's sense of helplessness.

In a desperate move to reclaim her ring, Zephyr confronts the statue of Venus only to face a fatal consequence. The statue collapses on her, marking a tragic turn in the plot as her fate is sealed.

As Cain endures the consequences of Amelia's wrath, he hallucinates visions of the deceased aboard a boat. Overwhelmed by the horrors he faces, his physical and mental state deteriorate rapidly.

In a heart-wrenching moment of loss, Peter is compelled to kill his dog Aesop at Juliana’s request as they prepare to leave Mandragora. This act symbolizes Peter's struggle with attachments and the painful choices he must make.