The next several days were a whirlwind of adjustments for Havyn, Andreas, and Reach. Havyn found herself navigating the presence of another person in their space, now filled with the subtle shifts of someone else in the room. It wasn’t unwelcomed, just strange. Reach, for his part, spent most of his time in front of the steel door, flipping through the pile of books Andreas had brought him or talking with the boy, his low voice a constant hum in the background.

One day, Havyn and Andreas were in the corner of the room, bathing together. Reach sat on the ground with his back to them, his face turned toward the wall. He stared at the pages of a book, though the words hardly registered as he listened to the soft splashes behind him.

"I hope you plan on taking a bath soon," Havyn teased lightly. "Wouldn't want your pleasant aroma filling the room."

Reach let out a chuckle, turning a page without looking up. "Uh-huh," he muttered. He stretched out on the floor, bubbling his lips in boredom. "I’ll let you know when I’m feeling up to impressing anyone."

Andreas giggled from the tub, splashing water as he played with the soap. "You’re funny," he said, watching as Reach lazily waved a hand in response.

"Don’t encourage him," Havyn laughed, scrubbing Andreas’ hair.

***

“Alright, Andreas, let's do fifty laps around the room, then some squats,” Havyn instructed encouragingly.

“Ay, Ay, Ms. Momma!” Andreas shouted enthusiastically, already starting his laps around the room.

Havyn glanced over at Reach, who was still slouched on the ground, one arm propping up his head, his expression half-asleep. “Reach, you come join too. I don’t think I’ve seen you get up once in days,” she said, leaving no room for argument. “If you suddenly stop moving, your body’s going to weaken.”

Reach let out a small groan, burying his face deeper in his arms as if to drown out the noise of Andreas’ footsteps. But the steady rhythm of their feet soon became too persistent to ignore. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, Reach pushed himself up, grumbling as he did. “Alright, alright, let’s get this over with.”

He fell in line, matching Havyn’s pace as Andreas zipped around them. Their eyes met briefly. Havyn smiled warmly at Reach, her gaze soft with gratitude. Reach was taken aback as a small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. Though he quickly glanced away.

After they finished their workout, a tray with three plates of food slid through the small compartment by the door along with several sets of clothes. The clatter made Andreas pause mid-squat, his face lighting up with excitement.

"Yay, food's here!" Andreas cheered as he bounced up.

"Go wash your hands first," Havyn instructed.

Andreas ran off to the corner sink while Reach sat down, pulling the tray towards him and examining the food on his plate. “Freshly baked sourdough, eggs, an orange, and cheese. Every day they give us a well-balanced meal. It's strange... like they want us to stay healthy," he muttered, cautiously eyeing the bread and poking it.

Havyn chuckled lightly as she and Andreas joined him at the tray. “I’ve eaten better here than I ever did on the streets of Cordoba," she joked, her tone light.

"Wait, Cordoba?" Reach asked, curiosity piqued. His brow raised in mild surprise.

Havyn nodded, smiling. “I grew up there."

"I did too," Reach replied, intrigued.

“I wanna see Cordoba!” Andreas said, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he sat down beside his mother.

Havyn ruffled his hair affectionately. "You will, sweetie. Now eat up before your food gets cold.”

As Andreas dug in, Havyn noticed Reach still poking at his bread, his brow furrowed with suspicion. She glanced over at him from the corner of her eye. “Don’t play with your food, Reach. Yours will get cold too,” she said, light but firm.

"Ay, ay, Ms. Momma,” Reach said, though making no expression.

Havyn’s cheeks flushed slightly, and Andreas let out a giggle, bits of bread still in his mouth. "I'll take your bread if you don't want it, Mr. Reach," Andreas gurgled, his cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, a half-eaten roll crammed inside.

Reach sighed, shaking his head in resignation, and finally bit into the bread. His eyes widened in surprise as the warm, soft texture melted in his mouth. "Fu—"

“No, we don’t use that language around here.” Havyn cut him off with a raised eye- brow.

"Aw man, this is so good," Reach muttered, his voice muffled through another bite.

Andreas leaned in towards his mother, “Momma, what was he gonna say?” he whispered.

“That doesn’t concern you, my love,” she replied gently, giving Reach a pointed look before smiling at her son.

Reach shot her a sheepish grin, mouthing an apology as he stuffed another bite of bread into his mouth. Havyn just shook her head, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

***

Andreas sat cross-legged on the floor, staring intently at the lantern hanging on the wall. The flickering flame within danced and swayed, casting shifting shadows across his face. His eyes seemed to reflect the light, glowing faintly as if lost in thought.

“Hey, kid,” Reach said, his gruff voice breaking the silence as he walked over to Andreas.

Andreas blinked, startled, his gaze snapping up to Reach. “Huh? Oh– What’s going on Mr. Reach?”

"Let’s get straight to business," Reach began, his tone gruff but tinged with playfulness to make it light. "It’s come to my attention that you’re sh—uh—really bad at using magic."

"Mhm," Andreas nodded, his face suddenly set with an exaggerated look of seriousness and focus.

"And it’s also come to my attention that you’re an ice-based user," Reach continued.

“Mhm," Andreas confirmed.

"And," Reach added with a dramatic sigh, "you almost die every time you try to use magic."

"Mhm," Andreas said, nodding once more.

"Well, today, that’s going to change," Reach said, leaning forward with a grin. "Since I’ve been sapped of magic and I really, really want to get the hell out of here, you’re going to be training under me. Starting today."

Andreas' mouth dropped open. “Wow-wow-wow… wow.” he exclaimed.

Reach pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a small sigh. "Yeah, sure. Don’t sound too excited."

"So, uh, what kind of magic do you have, Mr. Reach?" Andreas asked, leaning in, his curiosity bubbling over.

"Well, I did have ignition-based magic," Reach said, scratching the back of his head. "In other words, I make things explode. Which would be really useful right about now."

Andreas’ eyes grew even wider. "Woah! I wanna make things explode!" he said, brimming with excitement.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Yeah, well, too bad, kid," Reach said with a smirk. "You’re stuck with whatever you’re born with. In your case, ice. Anyway, let's get started."

“Ay-ay, Mr. Reach!” Andreas nodded eagerly, his face lighting up with determination as he puffed out his chest. Havyn watched from the bed, her arms crossed, smiling tenderly at the scene.

Reach smirked, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to think of the best way to explain something as complex as magic.

"Alright, kid," Reach began, standing straight. "We’ll start with the basics. I might not have studied magic in some fancy school, but I know enough about how it works." He tapped his chest where his lacryma was embedded. "First thing you gotta understand—your magic? It’s not just you. It’s like an entirely separate being, something that happens to live inside you."

Andreas’ brow furrowed as he listened carefully, his eyes wide trying to process everything. "It’s... not me?"

"Exactly," Reach nodded. "Think of it like this—your lacryma, the magic inside you, it won’t offer you power just because you want it to. You gotta give it a reason. Your magic—it's survival, instinct. It exists to protect, to fight… to kill. It’s a part of who you are, but it’s not fully you. It’s something deeper. It’s all about will, kid."

"But I don't wanna hurt anybody," Andreas mumbled, looking at the floor as he fidgeted his feet.

Reach looked surprised by the honesty of the statement, catching Havyn's eye. They shared a soft, understanding smile.

"I know you don’t, kid," Reach said gently. "And you won’t have to. We’re doing this to find a way out of here, to protect you and your mom. I’m not training you to kill—I’m training you to be strong enough so that you won’t have to." He ruffled Andreas’ hair.

Andreas nodded, his fear giving way to certainty. "Ay ay!" he responded with a little more confidence.

Havyn’s heart swelled as she watched, her eyes brimming with both pride and relief. She offered Reach a warm smile, the gratitude clear in her expression.

"So," Reach continued, "ask yourself, Andreas: What is your desire? What’s your intention? What do you want most in this moment? Once you know the answer, give your magic another try. No rush—take your time."

Reach moved to the side of the room, standing near Havyn, giving Andreas space to focus. Havyn’s eyes followed her son, silently encouraging him.

Andreas stood still in the middle of the room, facing the wall, eyes slowly closing.

His stomach growled.

"Don’t tell me you’re thinking about bread right now," Reach sighed, rubbing his temple.

Andreas let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry… It was the first thing that popped in my head."

He caught his mother’s gaze, her smile tender, full of love and encouragement. Andreas inhaled deeply, steeling himself. His expression grew determined as he closed his eyes again.

What is it that he really wants?

A memory surged through him—his dream of standing on the summit with his mother, gazing over the vast valley. Her cries… and the weight of her sadness.

A single tear escaped Andreas’ closed eyes, slipping down his cheek.

Havyn’s breath caught as she saw the tear, her hands clenching in her lap. Reach glanced over at her, then back at Andreas, keeping silent, not wanting to interfere.

Conviction settled deep in his chest. He knew what he wanted. His will decided that long ago.

His mind cleared as his intention solidified. He let go of all stray thoughts, allowing his magic to flow in alignment with his desire. The mana began to hum inside him, coursing through his veins. His lacryma glowed beneath his shirt, casting a soft light. He raised his arm, palm outward, the magic surging into his hand.

Reach instinctively stepped forward, placing a protective arm in front of Havyn. His eyes widened as he watched Andreas, disbelief flickering across his face. Havyn leaned forward, her gaze fixed on her son, a mixture of awe and anxiety tightening her chest.

Andreas' eyes shot open. The glow in his palm brightened, pulsating with energy. "I want… to give momma the world," he whispered, releasing the mana.

The room filled with an intense light, blinding Havyn and Reach momentarily. They shielded their eyes with their arms, bracing for whatever was to come. As the glow faded, they lowered their arms, blinking against the afterglow.

What they saw left them speechless.

Hanging in the air before Andreas was a delicate, shimmering snowflake. It floated, suspended by magic, intricately detailed and glistening like fine crystal. The temperature in the room dropped slightly, and tiny flecks of frost dusted the floor beneath it.

"...A snowflake," Reach muttered, clearly unamused but content with the result.

Andreas, panting heavily from the effort, turned his head toward Reach and Havyn. "I—I did it," he whispered, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.

Almost immediately, his strength gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor, unconscious.

"Andreas!" Havyn cried out, rushing to his side. She knelt beside him, gently cradling his head in her lap. After a few tense moments, she let out a sigh of relief, her fingers brushing through his hair. "He’s alright... my poor boy," she murmured, her heart aching with pride and worry.

Reach stood nearby, his hand resting on his chin, his gaze fixed on the now-fading snowflake. "Well... that’s a start," he said, sighing with resignation. "We’ll pick it up later."

Havyn glanced up at Reach, locking eyes with him. Her smile, soft and sincere. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice brimming with emotion.

Caught off guard, Reach’s eyes widened, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. He coughed, averting his gaze. "Oh—yeah, don’t mention it," he muttered, trying to keep his cool. "But don’t thank me just yet. We’ve still got a long way to go."

***

And with that, the next several months became crucial for Andreas—a time of intense training and growth. Every day was a routine of discipline, magic practice, and physical training. He began to grow more comfortable with the power that once frightened him. Slowly but surely, the flickering sparks of magic became more reliable, the snowflakes more deliberate, and the frost more steady.

Each morning began with Havyn leading a series of exercises. She would stand with Andreas, guiding him through stretches and laps around the room. Reach, often slouched against the wall, groaning in protest when she insisted he join in, but eventually, he’d rise and fall into step, jogging lazily behind them.

Havyn would tease, her smile playful. "I swear, you’re worse than Andreas some- times."

Reach would give her a mock glare, though a smile tugged. "You’re lucky I don’t charge for this." Andreas would giggle at the banter, he loved these moments. Reach wasn’t just another person in their space anymore—he was part of it.

Later in their days were spent in a much calmer way, reading stories or listening to Reach recount tales of his time as an adventurer. Andreas’ eyes would light up as Reach described the different kingdoms, the towering mountains, vast oceans, and distinct scen- eries.

In between those moments, there was time for quiet reflection. Havyn and Reach would sit together while Andreas recovered from his magic. Subtle glances were exchanged—Havyn’s gentle, appreciative smiles, and Reach’s growing respect for her resilience. There was warmth.

One day, Andreas had spent several hours successfully summoning a small, thin sheet of ice. “Woah–this is new!” Andreas shouted before falling unconscious, Havyn catching him before hitting the ground, then laying him on the bed.

She then sat next to Reach. He had been reading, his back resting against the wall, one leg stretched out and the other bent lazily. She gently nudged him with her foot.

"How’s the book?" she asked, her tone light.

"Same as yesterday," Reach muttered with a smirk, not looking up. "You know, reading the same books on repeat loses its appeal after a while."

She chuckled gently. "It’s not so bad, you understand the material more and more."

Reach finally glanced up, catching her playful gaze. "Yeah, guess you’re right," he admitted, closing the book with a sigh.

***

"Remember what I told you, Andreas," Reach said, his voice firm yet hopeful. "You can’t force it to do what you want. It’s an extension—breathe with it. Let it flow."

Andreas nodded, his brow furrowed in focus. The air around him began to cool, a visible breath escaping his lips as the room chilled. He took a deep breath, extending his hand. In an instant, an icicle shot forward from his palm with a sharp crack, striking the wall and shattering into pieces.

"Aw yeah!" Andreas jumped into the air, his face lit with triumph. "But... how do I make it not shatter? I swear it stuck to the wall last time," he asked, panting slightly.

Reach nodded, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You’re getting there, kid," he said, encouragingly. "But here’s the thing—you can’t focus on just the impact. Your magic will respond to the intensity of your will. Do you want the icicle to break? Pierce? Freeze? Your intention controls the outcome."

Andreas wiped the sweat from his brow, nodding. His heart still raced from the excitement of his small victory. Turning toward his mother, his face lit up with pride. "Momma! Did you see that?!"

Havyn, lying down with her head resting on a thin pillow, smiled delicately, her face weary but filled with pride. "I saw, my love. Just keep it down a bit... I need some rest," she murmured as she closed her eyes.

Andreas beamed, still riding the high of his success. "I think I’m gonna join y—" But before he could finish, his legs gave out beneath him, and with a soft thud, he collapsed onto the floor, his body completely spent from the spell.

Reach, arms crossed, a mix of amusement and concern. His eyes drifted toward Havyn, who was already slipping into sleep. He let out a quiet sigh, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he leaned back against the wall.

***

"Mr. Reach, look!" Andreas called out, bubbling with excitement.

"Hm?" Reach glanced over, his usual gruff expression softening.

With a proud grin, Andreas flicked his wrist, sending a small flurry of snowflakes drifting into the air. They shimmered in the dim light, twirling like tiny stars. "Ta-da! Pretty cool, right?" Andreas beamed, though the effort had clearly taken a toll. He staggered slightly, nausea creeping in, and the snowflakes faltered, falling to the floor in a delicate mess.

"Aw man," Andreas sighed, though not discouraged.

Reach watched the snowflakes land, a small, amused chuckle escaping him. "Not bad, kid. You’ve got something there."

Just as Andreas was about to respond, a sharp gasp cut through the room.

"Reach," Havyn’s breathless voice broke through the air, laced with urgency. She winced, her hand instinctively clutching her belly as a sharp pain coursed through her. "I think it’s happening."

Both Reach and Andreas turned toward her, their eyes widening in alarm. Havyn’s face was pale, her face tight with pain.

"Momma, what’s wrong?"