Aelira slumped in the bushes, looking utterly defeated. "You said you knew where it was," she muttered, her voice flat. "You said it would be easy to spot..."

  ?"Just shut up already, okay?" Lysric snapped back, defensively. "How am I supposed to pinpoint the exact location of a wild bear?"

  ?"Even after we tricked the guards to get out here," Aelira retorted, staring at him with lifeless, accusing eyes. The image of Josef feigning a heart attack so they could slip away flashed through her mind.

  ?Visibly disturbed by her gaze, Lysric gripped his binoculars tighter. "There was nothing else we could do. Stop whining about it," he grumbled. Aelira turned her attention forward. They remained hidden, watching the bait—a large piece of salmon—placed conspicuously on a rock in the open clearing ahead.

  ?"Are we sure that thing can even attract a bear?" she questioned dubiously. "We've been waiting here for hours."

  ?"What, you don't trust me?" Lysric scoffed. "That's Ursus Salmon! It's the most expensive bait money can buy, and it's Isengrim's absolute favorite." He lowered his binoculars, pointing towards the imposing forest. "By the way, our furry friend is called Isengrim. They're massive and bulky, but don't let that fool you—their claws are sharp enough to slice through trees."

  ?"Oh," Aelira murmured, genuinely surprised by his knowledgeable tone. She stopped fidgeting and simply stared. I didn't know he could talk like this....

  ?Her sensei’s words echoed again: "You're the one who should talk to him." Talk to him? But what should I possibly say? After observing him in silence for another moment, she finally ventured, "Lysric."

  ?"Hmm?" he responded absently, still scanning the surroundings.

  ?"I know you want to prove yourself," she began hesitantly. "I want that too. So I think I understand how you feel, but—"

  ?"You understand my feelings? You?" He abruptly dropped the binoculars and spun to face her, his posture immediately hostile. The air around him grew heavy, almost threatening. "Do you have any idea what it feels like to lose your mother? Do you know what it's like to constantly be told you're not good enough because someone else is supposedly better?"

  ?"I—I don't know what it's like to lose a mother," Aelira admitted quietly, "but I do know what it's like to always be expected to do better!"

  ?"Ghrr!" Lysric shot to his feet, enraged. "IF YOU DIDN'T CONSTANTLY OUTSHINE ME, MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T EXPECT SO MUCH!"

  ?Startled, Aelira scrambled out of the bushes after him. "What? Do you think Mother would actually—"

  ?Before she could finish, a low, guttural growl echoed from the trees behind them. They both froze, focusing intently on the source of the sound, and swallowed hard in unison.

  ?***

  ?Zaek rubbed his lower back, groaning slightly. "I thought that conversation would never end…" he complained, leaning against a corridor wall. The memory replayed in his mind—sitting awkwardly between Lucien and Cassian, trying to mediate while Cassian offered smooth, placating words. "Felt more like bloody hell. I was supposed to be questioning him, not offering moral support." He grumbled for another moment, then conceded, "But… I suppose it wasn’t entirely unproductive." Lucien’s faint, grateful smile briefly flashed in his memory. "Damn it, Sylas… what did you do to that man to break him like this?" he muttered sadly.

  ?Lost in thought, he suddenly stiffened. Wait… something’s wrong. Normally, even from this distance, he could hear the faint swish of Aelira’s practice swings, or at least sense the familiar thrum of her mana. Now, there was only silence.

  ?He quickly scanned his surroundings. Where is Aelira? No, calm down. This is probably just… what was that term again? Overly worried parenting syndrome. Yes, that must be it. Despite reassuring himself, he found his pace quickening towards her usual training spot.

  ?When he reached the clearing, it was empty. She should be in the library then, or maybe her room. He hurried towards the library, but again—no sign of her. "Tch. Where did she disappear to?" he muttered, growing genuinely concerned. "Did she just skip training entirely? Maybe she went back to sleep before dinner?" He checked every plausible location, but she was nowhere to be found. "Damn it… where did she go?"

  ?That’s when he noticed a figure approaching—someone faintly familiar. Who is that woman? I think I know her.... As he squinted, she drew closer.

  ?"Master Zaek," the maid greeted him, "do you perhaps know where Lady Aelira is?"

  ?"No, I'm looking for her right now myself," Zaek replied. "And you are…?"

  ?She pointed to herself, looking slightly surprised he didn't recognize her. "It’s me—Aisha. Lady Aelira’s nanny."

  ?"Ah, right, her nanny," Zaek recalled. "Do you have any idea where she might be?"

  ?"I… I don’t know, sir. I’ve looked everywhere myself," Aisha replied, her usual composure intact.

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  ?"Alright, you can help me search. Follow me," Zaek instructed.

  ?"Okay," she agreed readily.

  ?"Lady Aelira! If you’re playing hide-and-seek, this is hardly the time!" Aisha shouted, her voice echoing slightly in the vast corridors.

  ?"Can’t you yell any louder? Even I can barely hear you from here," Zaek grumbled.

  ?"Master Zaek, I highly doubt Lady Aelira is playing hide-and-seek with us," Aisha stated calmly. "Besides, she’s not quite that young anymore…"

  ?Zaek raised an eyebrow. Is she implying eleven is too old for hide-and-seek? I definitely enjoyed hiding at that age… "Fine. Just shout her name, then," he conceded.

  ?"Very well… LADY AELIRA!" Aisha called out again, her voice clearer this time.

  ?After searching the main areas of the mansion for a while longer, Zaek sighed in frustration. "Damn… this isn't working at all." Where could she possibly have gone? As he pondered, Zaek noticed another man watching them from a distance.

  ?"Oi—Aisha, wasn't it?"

  ?"Yes? What is it, Master Zaek?"

  ?"Who’s that man over there?"

  ?"That man?" She followed his gaze. "Oh, that’s Mr. Josef, Lord Lysric's caretaker."

  ?"I see." Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Zaek started walking towards Josef, with Aisha following closely. "Yo, Josef! Have you seen Aelira anywhere? We can’t seem to find her."

  ?Josef visibly tensed, scratching his head and avoiding eye contact. "L-Lady A-Aelira?" he stammered nervously. "I-I… I don’t know where she could possibly be… ahaha…"

  ?"Oh? Is that so?" Zaek replied, his voice deceptively casual as he closed the distance between them. "Are you absolutely sure you don’t know?"

  ?Josef instinctively took a step back, raising his hands defensively. "I-I really don’t know…"

  ?"Josef… has anyone ever told you that you’re a terrible liar?" Aisha stated flatly, her expression unchanging.

  ?Gulp. "Y-Yes… I’ve heard that quite often, actually," Josef admitted miserably.

  ?"Oh? Is that so?" Zaek’s smile widened, becoming slightly menacing as he stepped even closer. "But of course, you wouldn’t lie to us, now would you?"

  ?"I-It’s… it’s…" Josef glanced desperately between Zaek's intimidating presence and Aisha's stoic stare, then broke completely. "Lady Aelira and Lord Lysric told me to pretend I was having a heart attack so they could sneak out of the mansion!" he blurted out in one rushed breath.

  ?"What?! Outside?" Zaek exclaimed, shocked. "Why on earth would she go out there?"

  ?"I don’t know anything else! I swear!" Josef pleaded. "I’m so sorry—I shouldn’t have agreed to it…"

  ?Zaek’s mind flashed back to the unsettling, cold gaze he’d seen in Lysric’s eyes earlier. "We need to move. Now," he said grimly. "I have a very bad feeling about this."

  ?***

  ?The bear’s growl vibrated through the snow-laden air as its massive paw lashed out towards Aelira.

  ?“Aelira!” Lysric’s voice cracked with alarm as he lunged, shoving her forcefully aside just as the blow landed. His own blade met the beast’s razor-sharp claws in a shower of sparks.

  ?“Urgh!” Aelira hit the ground hard, the impact jarring her as icy snow bit into her palms. She scrambled back to her feet just as Lysric staggered backward, thrown off balance by the sheer, brute force of Isengrim’s strike. The two children stood side-by-side, chests heaving, as the monstrous bear loomed over them.

  ?With a deafening roar that shook the trees, Isengrim reared up to its full, terrifying height. Its thick white fur bristled against the gray sky, starkly contrasting with its powerful black legs planted firmly in the snow. It stood easily three times Aelira’s height, ripples of muscle rolling beneath its hide. When its claws slammed back down onto the frozen ground, the earth seemed to tremble beneath their feet.

  ?So this is Isengrim… It’s even bigger than the books described.

  ?Sweat beaded on Lysric’s brow as he shot a nervous glance at Aelira. Why isn’t she scared? Why isn’t she saying anything?

  ?Aelira’s silver eyes remained locked on the beast, assessing it rapidly. Huge… loud… but possibly slow. She took a deep, steadying breath. “It’s coming!” she warned.

  ?“Ha, I can see that! Be ready!” Lysric yelled back.

  ?Snow exploded under Isengrim’s charge as it lunged—aiming straight for Aelira.

  ?“What—?!” Lysric gasped, surprised by its target. Aelira reacted instantly, diving sideways and rolling across the snow. Lysric attempted to flank the beast, darting behind it with his blade ready, but Isengrim’s powerful hind leg shot back like a piston, catching him off guard and forcing him to stumble back.

  ?The bear’s massive forepaw swiped at Aelira. She managed to raise her sword just in time to block, but the sheer force of the blow sent her staggering several steps backward, her boots digging deep trenches in the snow. Without pausing, the beast immediately pressed its attack, lunging at her again.

  ?“Lysric!” Aelira cried out, needing support.

  ?Right… Isengrim always targets the weaker one first. I forgot… Lysric remembered suddenly.

  ?“I’m coming!” he growled, preparing to charge in—then he hesitated. A cold thought slithered into his mind. Wait… isn’t this exactly what I wanted? This… this is perfect.

  ?“Lysric?!” Aelira yelled again, desperation creeping into her voice. Through the towering form of the bear, she saw him turn and vanish into the swirling snow.

  ?Lysric… Her grip tightened on her sword. I don’t have time to think about him now.

  ?She sidestepped hard to her left just as Isengrim charged. Moving too fast to change direction, the bear plowed straight through a thick pine tree, splintering it in half with terrifying ease. That’s my chance to—.

  ?The hiss of displaced snow behind her sent ice through her veins—the bear was already there. What?! How?! She spun around, her heart leaping into her throat, stumbling backward as its claws raked through the air precisely where her head had been moments before.

  ?The beast reared again, its claws momentarily blotting out the grey sky. Aelira lunged forward, rolling beneath the devastating downward strike as it smashed into the earth, sending up a blinding storm of snow and ice.

  ?“Ahem—Cough—!” she choked, completely blinded by the whiteout. The bear’s hot breath and dark muzzle emerged through the haze—and acting purely on instinct, she drove her boot hard into its sensitive nose. The impact elicited a pained snarl, making it recoil just enough for her to use the momentum to flip back onto her feet.

  ?It’s much faster than it looks….

  ?Isengrim shook its massive head violently, pawing at its injured face. Aelira’s eyes widened. The nose… could that be its weakness?

  ?“Maybe I can actually win this—.”

  ?The bear’s enraged roar cut her thought short as snow exploded beneath its paws—it charged again. Too fast!

  ?She managed to parry the first lightning-fast swipe, but the second blow connected solidly with her sword, tearing it from her grasp and sending it spinning away into a snowdrift. Holding her breath, she desperately dodged the next attack, then the next—until the backswing of its massive paw caught her squarely in the ribs.

  ?“Gah!”

  ?The world spun violently. Her back slammed hard against the unyielding trunk of another tree, and she slid down into the snow, stunned. Warm, sticky blood trickled down her forehead into her eyes, blurring her vision.

  ?…

  ?Her eyelids felt impossibly heavy.