The old man kneeled, his breath fogging in the biting air as he examined the traces in the snow.

  Footprints led north—larger ones, likely belonging to a young man, followed by smaller, lighter ones.

  “Yeah, that’s definitely them.”

  He looked toward where the trail disappeared into the dense, snow-laden trees.

  “Why would they head north? It’s dangerous, especially this season…” His eyes narrowed, the leather of his gloves creaking as his fist tightened. A troubling thought crossed his mind. “Don’t tell me.”

  There were no signs of a scuffle, no drag marks—just two sets of prints moving with purpose. The only reason they were going north could be...

  After a pause, he crushed a handful of dry snow. “Damn it. Because of the grown-ups’ problems, the kids are putting themselves in danger.”

  He rose slowly, his joints protesting the cold.

  “Hang in there, kid. I’m coming.”

  ***

  ?“Aelira is missing?” Vivianne arched a brow. Her arms were crossed so tightly her knuckles were white as she listened to Aisha.

  Wilkram, standing nearby, muttered, “So that’s what all the noise was about.”

  “And? What were you doing?” Vivianne’s voice was quiet—dangerously quiet, sharp enough to cut through the air.

  “My Lady?” Aisha tilted her head, confused by the question.

  “I said, WHAT WERE YOU DOING?!”

  Vivianne’s hand struck Aisha across the face. The sharp crack echoed in the tense room.

  “Urgh!” Aisha crumpled to the ground, the air forced from her lungs.

  “You only had one mission! One! And you—you failed it miserably!” Vivianne kicked her side, punctuating the word.

  “Guh.”

  Aisha wriggled on the stone floor, hugging her stomach, a metallic taste filling her mouth.

  Vivianne, her face a mask of cold fury, kicked her again... and again... and again.

  “I-I’m sorry... I’m sorry...” Aisha’s apologies weakened, dissolving into pained sobs.

  “Vivianne, enough! You’re going to kill her!”

  Wilkram rushed forward, trying to grab her arm.

  “?!”

  Vivianne shoved him aside with surprising force, making him stumble and fall.

  She looked down at Aisha—curled in a ball, vomiting blood onto the polished floor. Her expression softened for a fleeting, imperceptible moment before tightening again. “Tch. Useless. Pray that she’s found before it’s too late.”

  She grabbed Aisha by the hair and yanked her head up, forcing eye contact.

  “Otherwise, you won’t live to see the next morning.”

  Wilkram slowly stood, helping Aisha to her feet, the girl trembling violently.

  Vivianne turned away, her voice cold as ice. “Now, move aside.” She continued, “Wilkram, tell the knights to form a search party. Now.”

  “O-okay.”

  Aisha bowed silently, choking back a sob, and the two left together.

  Once the room was empty, she sat down, tapping her foot rapidly on the ground. Soon, she opened a drawer and pulled out a small, velvet-lined box. Inside lay a single necklace. A silver locket.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Her hand trembled as she brushed a thumb over the cold metal, a flash of a smiling face—a memory she quickly smothered—crossing her mind.

  ?Lysric ran through the forest, the sound of snow crunching beneath his boots echoing in the suffocating quiet.

  “Damn it! Did she already die?” No matter how hard he listened, all he could hear was his own ragged breathing and the thud of his heart.

  For a moment, something stirred in the air—a pressure that prickled his skin. Mana. Familiar, yet terrifying.

  He froze, scattering snow. “Is this… her mana?” His brow furrowed. “No, this isn’t the time.” Forcing himself to move, he ran on, pushing through low-hanging branches.

  After a while, he reached the place where he had left her. The shattered tree from earlier was still there, a monument to the chaos.

  She should be close… so why is it so quiet?

  He was breaking out in a cold sweat. Was it too late?

  He moved farther ahead—and froze.

  Aelira stood beside the bear’s corpse, staring silently.

  Her blood-soaked clothes were torn, revealing bruises and cuts beneath.

  Confused, he called out, “Oi… D-did you do it... a-are you okay? What happened here?”

  Her eyes, flat and dead like polished stones, fixed on him.

  “S-say something!”

  Then she took a step forward.

  One. Two. Three.

  Each step made his chest tighten with an unfamiliar unease, forcing him to retreat without realizing it. When she drew near enough, he raised his hands defensively but couldn’t move away.

  “You wanted me to die here, didn’t you?” she said slowly, her voice a low, hoarse rasp.

  He snapped back to his senses, trying to speak, but no words came.

  “It’s true, then… You talk about being a hero, yet you do something like this.” Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palms.

  “Why?”

  “Why? You’re really asking that? It’s because you’re ruining everything—just by being here!”

  “How am I ruining everything? I did nothing wrong!”

  “Everything you do is wrong! Everything! Even the fact that you’re still alive is wrong!”

  Her eyes widened for a moment, the deadness replaced by a flicker of pain, before her expression sank into shadow.

  Seeing that flicker, he tried to extend his hand, his voice softening. “Aelira, I—”

  She brushed his hand aside. “Do you remember the duel we promised?”

  Lysric blinked. “Y-yes.”

  Pointing at the bear, she said, “That bear died because of us. If this keeps going, others will be dragged into it. Let’s end it.” Her silver eyes gleamed with an unwavering, cold resolve.

  “Huh? You’re really doing this? Don’t think anything will change just because you took down that thing.”

  “I don’t care. I’ll defeat you—fair and square.”

  Her words ignited something deep inside him—a hot, familiar fury. Heat flushed his neck. “You really know how to make me angry, don’t you? Fine! I'll bury you with my own hands.”

  As they glared at each other, the tension crackling like a storm ready to break, Zaek stepped forward from the trees.

  “Aelira!”

  Both heads turned toward him.

  He closed the distance slowly, his gaze heavy with disapproval. Noticing the blood matted in her hair, he softened his expression slightly. Did she hit her head? It could be worse…

  “Kid, where were you all this time? You made this old man worried sick.”

  Aelira bowed her head. “Sensei! I—I didn’t—”

  He rushed toward her and gave her a light thump on the head with his knuckle.

  Startled, she covered the spot. “Sensei?”

  “Idiot! Do you have any idea how much you made me worry?”

  Sighing, he faced Lysric.

  What caught his attention was that Lysric was clean, his clothes unstained, with no visible wounds compared to Aelira’s battered state.

  He added in a heavy tone, “That goes for you too, young man.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry? A mere sorry wouldn’t have fixed anything if something had happened to you both.”

  “We just—”

  His gaze was enough to silence him. He walked to the bear and gently closed its eyes. “Save your excuses for later. For now, follow me—we’re heading back.”

  His tone left no room for argument.

  “O-okay.”

  “Understood.”

  The two followed him through the forest.

  Aelira’s eyelids grew heavy, her steps faltering until she nearly collapsed. Zaek caught her before she hit the ground.

  “Tch. She probably didn’t realize how tired she was because of the adrenaline. Can't be helped.”

  He carefully lifted her onto his back.

  ***

  Clink... Clink...

  ?A lone soldier moved through the forest, the sound of his own heavy armor grating on his nerves. The biting cold seeped through the gaps in his steel plates.

  ?Tch. This is pointless... Are they even alive out here?

  ?CRUNCH.

  ?A sound! Not his own.

  He spun, the snow kicking up around his boots.

  ?“Who’s there!?”

  ?His sword was out of its sheath in a flash, the shing of steel cutting the silence. He leveled the blade at the darkness, his heart hammering against his ribs. An enemy? Or just a beast?

  ?“Take it easy!” a deep voice boomed from the shadows.

  ?The soldier flinched. He squinted, lowering his sword just a fraction as a large figure emerged, stepping into a patch of dim moonlight. A girl was slung unconscious over the man's back.

  ?The soldier’s eyes went wide. “M-Master Zaek?!”

  ?“That’s right,” Zaek said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “It's me. Go. Tell the others I’ve found them.”

  ?“S-Sir! Yes, sir! Immediately!”

  ?The soldier clumsily sheathed his sword, gave a hurried, deep bow, and crashed back through the trees, disappearing.

  ?Zaek watched him go for only a moment, then turned his gaze to the boy trailing silently behind him.

  Lysric just stared at the ground, his expression completely hidden.

  ?“Let’s go.”

  ?Lysric nodded once, following him into the night.

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