The hum of the train beneath Avince's feet felt familiar, almost soothing, as he leaned against the frost-kissed window. Outside, the world had transformed into a vast expanse of white, snow blanketing the land in every direction. Jagged mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks disappearing into steel-gray clouds that promised more snow to come.

It had been another long journey to get here—a plane ride spanning hundreds of kilometers, followed by several hours on this train that climbed steadily toward the First District. The remoteness of the clan’s territory only emphasized how far it was from the bustling heart of the Fourth District they called home. He absently traced a finger along the window's edge, a small flame dancing across his fingertip as he read through his book.

"Still reading that fire book?" Amyra's voice cut through his music. She plopped down in the seat across from him, her dark hair dusted with snowflakes from her brief venture to the dining car. A paper bag clutched in her hands released the enticing aroma of fresh pastries. "You're really serious about reading, aren't you?"

Avince pulled his scarf tighter around his neck, more out of habit than actual cold. The red fabric—one of many equipment they bought from Ignis—had become his favorite accessory in this journey. "Well, it's better than thinking about this weird summoning from the matriarch," he said, rolling his eyes. "Like, seriously, who calls someone back after six years just out of the blue?"

"Maybe she finally realized how awesome you are?" Amyra teased, reaching across to close his book. Her fingers left small patches of frost on the leather cover—an unconscious display of her own affinity. "Come on, aren't you even a little curious?"

"I mean, yeah, but it's Christmas break," he groaned, though his eyes betrayed a hint of interest. He absently ran his warm hand over the frost patterns she'd left behind, watching them melt away. "Everyone else is probably in their home and resting, while we’re here travelling nearly a thousand kilometers . But hey, at least tell me about your dragon. You named her Frost, right? Is she still acting all cute?"

Amyra brightened immediately, pulling out a pastry and breaking it in half to share. "Oh my god, you have to see her progress. It sucks we can't summon her on the train. The matriarch says she's one of the strongest ice dragons they've seen in decades. When she first hatched, she froze half the room solid." She laughed at the memory, her breath forming small ice crystals in the air. "The elders were freaking out, but the matriarch just said it was a sign of good things to come. Here, look—"

She pulled out her phone, scrolling through photos of a sleek, silver-blue dragon with crystalline scales that seemed to capture and reflect light like freshly fallen snow. In one video, Frost was practicing ice formation, creating intricate sculptures with her breath before shattering them with a flick of her tail.

"Show-off," Avince said with a smirk.

The memory of the family discussion a few days ago surfaced:

"Seriously, why?" he'd asked, sprawled dramatically across their living room couch, phone in hand. "What does she even want with me? You all go there plenty without me."

Ashna had sighed, though there was amusement in her expression. "Avince, the matriarch rarely makes requests like this. She specifically asked to meet you."

"It doesn't sound optional," he muttered, scrolling through his social media feed.

"It's not," Erwin added, crossing his arms. "But think of it as an opportunity, not a burden. The matriarch wouldn't call you for no reason, especially not after all this time."

Avince frowned, "But why now? Why during Christmas? There’s this new spell I’ve been meaning to try and—"

His mother's hand rested gently on his shoulder, her touch cool but comforting. "I know it's sudden, but your father and I have responsibilities to the clan. Besides..." She gave him a knowing look. "Do you really want to stay home alone while we're away?"

Avince had groaned, knowing she had a point. The last time he'd spent a holiday by himself, he'd nearly burned down the kitchen trying to recreate his father's fire-roasted festival dishes. His social media would be dead anyway, with everyone away for the holidays.

"Fine," he relented, his tone exaggerated. "But only because I don’t wanna be left alone on Christmas.”

Now, as the train sped toward their destination, Avince tried to distract himself by flipping through Fundamentals of Fire Magic, the book he had persuaded his father to buy during their trip to Ignis. The price had been ridiculous—100 Thousand Alliance Credit—but Avince had been so enamored with the book that he'd practically begged for it. His father had eventually relented, though not without some playful grumbling about being manipulated by his son's "puppy dog eyes."

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Avince's reading was interrupted as the sliding door to their compartment opened. Erwin entered first, balancing a tray of snacks and drinks, with Ashna following close behind.

"Thought you might be hungry," Erwin said, placing the tray on the table between them. He gestured to a bundle of pastries. "Fresh from the dining car. They're famous for these."

"Thanks," Avince said, reaching for one. "I need something sweet after that bland breakfast."

As they settled in, the conversation naturally flowed.

"So," Erwin began, leaning back in his seat, "how's Frost coming along? Any signs of growth since I last saw her?"

Amyra brightened at the mention of her familiar. "She's been doing amazing. Her attacks are stronger, and she's starting to react to commands faster. The training regimen we worked out is really paying off."

"Good," Erwin said with a proud smile. "It seems that our theory about your ability is true, her growth is more than we expected."

Ashna, sipping her tea, tilted her head with a curious look and turned to her son. "What about your magic studies, Avince? I’ve just heard that you got an instant pass in Professor Solandis' class"

"Oh yeah," Avince said, perking up. "Crafted a Rank 3 Channeling Rune. It was challenging but I’ve already been crafting runes at that level even before without a problem.

Ashna's eyes lit up with pride. "A Rank 3 already? That's impressive, Avince."

They continued chatting, the topics shifting naturally from their time in Ignis to memories of past adventures. Laughter filled the compartment when Erwin shared a story of a mishap involving an overenthusiastic automaton in one of the city's workshops.

By the time they boarded the cable car to the clan's territory, the sun was at its peak, but the heat couldn’t seem to penetrate this place. Avince found himself pressing his hand against the frosted window, curiosity finally overtaking his annoyance as the snow-covered expanse came into view. Glittering ice formations scattered across the landscape, sparkling like diamonds under the golden afternoon light.

"They've expanded the eastern quarter again," Ashna told Avince, following his gaze. Intricate ice sculptures marked new boundaries, their surfaces etched with protective runes that glowed softly in the fading light. "The training grounds especially. The younger generation needed more space for their practice training."

"The combat arena's completely different now," Amyra added enthusiastically, pointing to a massive structure that seemed to be made entirely of enchanted ice. "They renovated it last year—you'd have known if you'd visited. Mom helped with some of the ice formations for the new obstacle course. They've even added special sections for non-ice users now."

"Okay, that actually looks pretty cool," Avince admitted, his interest piqued. He noticed several young people practicing below, their elements creating a fascinating display of power—ice, yes, but also wind, earth, and even a fire user. "Since when did they start letting other elements train here?"

When the lift reached its destination, Avince couldn't help but notice how much had changed. The guards' uniforms now bore additional insignias that he didn't recognize—flowing patterns that seemed to represent different elemental affiliations.

"Lady Ashna," one of them said, bowing deeply. "Welcome home." The guard's eyes flickered briefly to his sister, recognition and curiosity evident in their gaze.

The village had grown considerably. Elegant buildings of ice and stone rose in intricate formations, their surfaces now adorned with more sophisticated mana-infused runes that pulsed with a gentle, rhythmic glow. The streets were busier than he remembered, bustling with both familiar and unfamiliar faces. Ice creatures of various kinds—birds, leopards, and even a few wyverns—moved through the village with ease, perched on specially designed platforms or gliding gracefully between the buildings.

Their designated house was different from the one they previously stayed in, closer to the center of the village. The warm, cozy atmosphere inside was a welcome contrast to the cold outside. The walls were decorated with a mix of traditional ice clan tapestries and newer artworks that celebrated various elements—another change that caught his attention.

"I call dibs on the room with the nice window view!" Amyra announced, already racing up the stairs with her bags. A trail of snowflakes followed in her wake.

"Some things never change," Ashna said fondly, watching her daughter go. Then, she looked at her son and asked, "What do you think of all the changes?"

"It's... different," he admitted, pulling out his phone to snap a few pictures. "But different might not be bad. Still doesn't explain why the matriarch suddenly wants to see me though."

His mother squeezed his shoulder gently, her cool touch familiar. "Well, you'll find out soon enough, won't you?"

Later that afternoon, as Avince watched young clan members practice in the combat arena—some with ice, others with different elements—his curiosity about the matriarch's summons grew. The whole place seemed more open, more diverse than he remembered. Maybe this visit wouldn't be as boring as he'd feared.

A familiar screech drew his attention skyward, and he watched as Frost descended from one of the lower perches. The ice dragon had indeed grown impressive, her scales catching the light like aurora borealis. She landed beside them with surprising grace for her small size, immediately bumping her head against Amyra in greeting before turning curious eyes to Avince.

"Stop looking so suspicious," Amyra said, appearing beside him with two steaming cups of hot chocolate while Frost settled behind them like a protective wall. "The matriarch probably just wants to see how strong you've gotten."

"Maybe," he agreed, accepting the cup with a nod. His free hand reached out toward Frost, and to his surprise, the dragon didn't shy away from his touch. "Though I hope whatever this is about is actually worth missing my training. But hey, if they're letting other elements train here now..." He let a small flame dance across his fingers, a grin spreading across his face. "Maybe I'll get to show off a bit."

"No promises," she said with a matching grin, bumping her shoulder against his arm. "But from what I've heard, there are some pretty talented people here now. Could be fun to spar with a few of them while we're here."