Skadar's POV
I hadn’t found the culprit last week, not even with my father’s help. This time, I’d go alone. The royal guards were split between patrolling the palace and attending the diplomatic meeting—meaning no one would notice me slipping away. A faint yellow glow enveloped me as I teleported with my horse to the charred remnants of Snowdoom Forest. An efficient ability, especially when you wanted to avoid unnecessary conversations or forced familiarity.
The ceremony still lingered in my mind. Aerol’s coronation had been everything one might expect from a royal spectacle—grand, suffocating, and full of prying eyes.
“Oh, Skadar! He’s so handsome,” a girl had whispered, her voice tinged with awe.
“How are you today?” another dared to ask, her gaze lingering too long.
“Don’t talk to him like that. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Skadar,” her companion interjected, bowing with exaggerated grace.
Their fawning grated on my nerves, a clamor I couldn’t shake even now.
I rode my horse deeper into the ruins of Snowdoom Forest. The air here felt heavier, laden with ash and regret. It was as if a fire-breathing dragon had raged through, awakened by some foolish human—except dragons were the stuff of fantasies. No, we had something worse: an evil wolf king with far too real and sinister designs on our kingdom.
The charred expanse gave way to the outskirts of the village. It was a quiet, impoverished part of the Glacia Kingdom, governed by a minor lord and lady. Their rule offered little comfort to the peasants scraping by in wooden homes that had once relied on the forest’s bounty. Now, with Snowdoom’s trees dwindling, even that meager resource was prohibited. Mud caked the narrow paths, and I was grateful for the hiking boots I’d chosen today.
As I approached a pavilion, the sound of heated voices drew my attention. Beneath the wooden structure, men gambled with ice bills, their faces tense and furtive. Among them stood a man in a navy-blue uniform. My breath hitched. General Dicester’s royal guard? Gambling?
“Hand over the ice bills right now,” the guard demanded, his voice cutting through the noise.
“But I need this to support my family!” a man protested, desperation evident in his tone.
“It’s past due already. A few months ago, you even offered to cut off one of your fingers to extend your debt,” the guard countered coldly.
Before I could intervene, a light touch on my shoulder made me stiffen.
“What are you doing here, Skadar?” Princess Dorsey’s lilac hair caught the corner of my vision as she leaned in to whisper.
I turned sharply to face her. “And what are you doing here, Princess?”
She crossed her arms, a knowing glint in her pale blue eyes. “My royal guard is collecting debts for my father’s... less-than-ethical lending business,” she admitted with practiced nonchalance. “Now, your turn.”
“I’m tracking the person who killed your father,” I replied curtly.
She raised a brow, skepticism painting her features. “By yourself? We can’t afford to lose a powerful noble, Skadar.”
I smirked. “I won’t lose. Not to a sorcerer. They’ll be dead before they even realize I’m their enemy.”
The sound of galloping hooves interrupted us, echoing ominously through the village. Dorsey and I moved instinctively to the shadows as a group of riders approached.
When they came into view, my pulse quickened. King Aerol and my father dismounted, their faces grim, as if the weight of the skies had collapsed upon them.
“What happened, Father?” I asked, my voice low but steady.
“The Sunstar Kingdom has declared war,” he replied, his furrowed brow deepening. “They ambushed and killed several of our royal guards.”
“War?” Dorsey’s voice broke the silence, sharp with disbelief.
“Return to the palace immediately for your safety,” Aerol commanded, his tone unyielding. He turned to General Sterling. “Guard this village with your forces. Prepare for an attack.”
“Yes, Ice King,” the general replied, his expression hardening.
And just like that, the fragile peace that had cloaked the kingdom began to fracture.
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***
Arie’s POV
The royal library, nestled on the palace’s fifth floor, was a sanctuary of quiet. Warm light from glowing lamps bathed the room, casting soft shadows across rows of towering shelves. The air was tinged with the faint, comforting scent of parchment and ink.
As I stepped inside, a familiar figure caught my eye—a boy with periwinkle hair, standing neatly before a bookshelf. He adjusted his glasses, his expression brightening when he noticed me.
“Good afternoon, Arie,” Claudius greeted, his tone cheerful yet composed.
“Good afternoon to you too,” I replied, smiling. “I came to find that new book about bears.”
“Oh, the one I’ve been reading?” he asked, his curiosity evident.
I nodded, and he gestured for me to follow. We made our way to a nearby shelf where the book resided.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” I said as he scanned the shelves. “Why did you choose to take the bedroom on this floor?”
He smirked, a touch of mischief in his expression. “So I could access the library easily.”
“But you could just teleport, couldn’t you?”
Claudius adjusted his glasses again, as if pondering the question. “True, but... I’m too lazy to teleport.”
A soft chuckle escaped him, and I couldn’t help but laugh along. “At least you’re not too lazy to read.”
“Fair point,” he conceded, grinning as he retrieved the book with a flick of telekinesis.
The book floated toward me, its title catching the light: Bear Evolution.
“Thanks,” I said, taking it eagerly. “I’ve been curious about how polar bears evolved.”
“Wouldn’t it be amazing to meet a village of polar bears?” Claudius mused, his tone wistful.
I smiled at the thought. “That would be the greatest day of my life.”
With the book in hand, I made my way to a secluded table in the corner, settling comfortably into a chair. The pages unfolded a fascinating story of adaptation and survival, each word pulling me deeper into the Arctic wilderness.
But the tranquility shattered abruptly.
The library door slammed open with a resounding thud, echoing through the silent space.
“Arie.” My brother’s commanding voice filled the room.
Startled, I looked up, closing the book. His expression was grim, tension radiating from him as he approached.
“Do not leave the palace until further notice,” he said firmly.
“Why? What happened?” I asked, rising from my seat.
“The Sunstar Kingdom has declared war on us,” he revealed, his tone heavy with the weight of the words.
The air in the library seemed to still.
“Is this for real?” Claudius’s voice wavered as his widened eyes darted between us.
“It is,” my brother confirmed. “They’ve already killed several of our royal guards.”
Claudius staggered back slightly, his hands trembling. “That’s... that’s terrible. I need to check on my mother.”
“She’s in the conference room,” my brother informed him, his voice softening slightly. “You may go there.”
“Thank you for telling me,” Claudius said before vanishing with a quiet flash of smoke, his teleportation swift and seamless.
As the librarian disappeared, my brother turned his focus back to me. His ethereal, glacier-like eyes bore into mine with unspoken worry.
“I don’t want any intruders to capture you again,” he said, his voice low, almost pleading. “Stay safe, Arie. Promise me.”
I stepped closer, placing a hand gently on his arm. “Rest assured, I’ll take care of myself. But don’t hesitate to tell me if you need help. I won’t let you bear this burden alone.”
***
The cold conference room felt suffocating despite the icy atmosphere. We sat around the expansive glass table—me, my brother, the nobles, and their family heads—engaged in a tense discussion. The weight of the Sunstar Kingdom's declaration hung heavy in the air, a shadow none of us could ignore.
"King Jamaico announced that they'll attack us with their full army in three days if we don’t surrender the contested land," General Sterling stated gravely, his voice steady but tinged with urgency.
“Let’s just give them the land, then,” Lady Collfumes suggested, her tone sharp and dismissive.
“We can’t,” Aerol said firmly, his icy blue gaze cutting through the room. “That land is crucial to our survival. If we lose it, we lose our farms—and with them, our ability to feed our people.”
“I agree with the Ice King,” Lord Aalto added, his words directed pointedly at Lady Collfumes. “It’s easy for you to suggest surrender when your estate lies safely within the ice borders.”
“Oh, so you’d prefer to let us all be ambushed instead?” she shot back, her voice rising.
“And who’s the so-called Dream Seer who failed to foresee anything negative happening?” Lord Aalto countered with a smirk.
“Enough,” Aerol commanded, his tone cutting through the escalating tension.
The room fell silent, but the unease lingered, a thick, oppressive force. Across the table, Skadar raised an eyebrow at me as if to ask if I was all right. I nodded, trying to suppress the anxiety bubbling in my chest.
After a long pause, Aerol spoke again, his voice measured but resolute. “I may lack my father’s years of experience, but I will not tolerate disrespect among us. We must remain united.”
He straightened in his seat, commanding the attention of the room. “I have a strategy in mind.”
“What is it, Ice King?” General Sterling asked, leaning forward intently.
Aerol paused, ensuring all eyes were on him. “We will host a palace party.”
A collective wave of confusion swept through the room. Even Dorsey, who had been scribbling notes, looked up in disbelief.
“What kind of nonsense is that?” she asked, her brow furrowing.
“It may sound absurd,” Aerol admitted, his tone unwavering, “but by hosting a party, we can gather everyone safely inside the palace during their attack.”
“Are you certain this will work, Ice King?” General Sterling pressed.
“Yes.” Aerol’s gaze was steady, his confidence unshaken. “We’ll project an air of calm and unity, luring them into underestimating us. They won’t expect us to be prepared.”
Murmurs rippled through the room. Some nobles whispered nervously, while others exchanged skeptical glances.
Lord Aalto leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. “It’s a bold plan, but what if they catch us off guard?”
Aerol’s gaze shifted to the general before scanning the rest of us. “Our army and the fruit masters will handle the invaders. We’ll ensure the palace remains secure.”
Relief washed over me at his confidence. The palace was home to countless fruit masters—wielders of unique elemental powers granted by consuming magical fruit. Most of them specialized in ice, and even I had recently acquired a fruit cube. However, as a beginner, I was still a Class 1, the lowest level.
My eyes darted to Skadar and Aerol—both rare double-elemental users and formidable warriors. They were Class 4, nearly unmatched in power. The two had been rivals in strength since childhood.
“Of course,” Aerol added, his tone pointed, “Class 1 minors will be excluded from the battle.”
I frowned, his words cutting deep. I didn’t want to be sidelined, treated as fragile. What was the point of gaining powers if I couldn’t use them to protect myself or others?
Lord Aalto broke the silence. “I suggest fortifying the palace’s defenses in advance, regardless of the party.”
Another family head interjected, his voice grave. “And let us not forget—the person behind the previous general’s death remains unidentified.”
The weight of his words pressed on me as every gaze turned my way. Suspicion hung in the air like a storm cloud, their eyes dissecting me as if I were a threat.
“We should consider the Ice Princess’s trial,” a man with sleek black hair said, his expression calm but his tone sharp.
My brother’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “My sister has done nothing wrong. A trial would be an utter waste of time.” His words were firm, but I could feel his protective anger simmering beneath the surface.
The room fell into a strained silence, though the doubt lingered.
Finally, Aice approached Aerol, handing him a small pouch. “Ice King, you must see this.”
Aerol took the pouch and opened it, pulling out a piece of gray fur. His expression didn’t waver, but his voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Wolf fur. Explain its relevance.”
“I found it in the royal guards’ laundry,” Aice said evenly.
Lord Aalto reached for the fur, examining it with a grim look. “This could belong to one of the Wolfmen that attacked last week, son.”
The tension hung thick, but Aerol’s tone left no room for argument. “This matter is closed for now. We focus on securing our palace.”
The dismissal was clear, but the unease in the room refused to dissipate.
The black-haired man turned his sharp gaze to Aerol. “If you really care about securing the palace, we can’t delay the Ice Princess’ trial any longer.”
Aerol’s gaze hardened, his brows furrowing. I knew he would fight to protect me, but I didn’t want him to shield me forever. I had to prove my innocence—not for him, but for myself.