Rumble! The small room, constructed from stone blocks, trembled violently, shrouded in darkness and fear. No life can endure there.. However, within this space, a one frightened child and one youth clung to each other tightly. A glimmer of life reflected in their eyes.

The youth, his blue eyes shimmering, reassured the child, saying, “Do not worry, sister. I will protect you.” He held her tightly and said, “Don’t worry, brother is here.”

Suddenly, a loud explosion could be heard in the distance, sending shockwaves through the cramped, dark room. Dust swirled in the air, mingling with their shallow breaths and the vibrating steel poles that prevented them from escaping outside.

The youth gently caressed his sister’s back. The roughness of their prisoner’s uniforms made it more difficult for the warmth of their bodies to be felt. “This time, I will protect you. Definitely.”

The little one clung to his shirt, seeking more comfort.

The sound of the explosion grew nearer and nearer, causing the walls to shake violently. Wang, Wang, the iron poles that trapped them inside resonated with the shockwaves.

“Be strong, Rain… We will definitely survive this winter,” the youth said softly.

Crash! With a loud bang, the opposite jail cell burst open from the opposite side, sending bricks hurtling towards them.

Swiftly, the youth with blue eyes turned his body, shielding the child from the debris.

Puk! Puk! Puk! Blood slowly streamed down from his head and body, yet he remained silent, suppressing any signs of pain. With a smile on his face, he gazed down at the little one cradled in his arms. “Brother Solace is here. No one can kill you any longer.”

The sound of numerous creatures rushing towards them filled the air with a sound thud, thud, thud.

Solace turned his head to see the newcomers. They were all humans, wearing different types of clothing. Some in white holy robes, some peasants, some jailors, but most of them were prisoners. Terrifyingly, they were all headless, yet their bodies stared fixedly at the two in front.

Solace spoke softly, “You all need to find your own paths in life. My sister’s tragedy does not belong to you.” His eyes shimmered with a deep blue hue, and a faint light emanated from his hand. “Begone!”

The headless figures, devoid of ears or even heads to hear his words, charged towards Solace and Rain. Fortunately, the sturdy iron pole surrounding them held strong, shielding them from harm.

“Foolish beings,” Solace muttered, furrowing his brows as his blue eyes glowed. He clenched his fist tightly, causing the light to transform into a dark shade, his eyes mirroring the change. However, a young child swiftly clung to his arm, shaking her head vigorously.

Solace’s eyes widened, freezing his actions. Slowly, he shifted his gaze towards the tiny hands that held him, trembling with force.

Meanwhile, the iron pole began to crack under the increasing pressure exerted by the headless figures pushing against it.

Cleng! Cleng! Cleng!

The little child shook her head, murmuring unintelligibly, “nn… wyoo… phizz…”

Cleng! Cleng! Cleng!

Solace regained control of his emotions and focused on her. The light returned to its original white color. “Don’t worry, I will resolve this swiftly and minimize their suffering,” he assured her, gently caressing his sister’s head. “Is that alright, Rain?”

“Um, yes, Solace,” Rain replied.

Solace smiled and continued stroking Rain’s head lovingly.

—§—

“Rain…” Soft voice calling sweetly.

Rian slowly opened his eyes, and a beautiful blue fairy looked at his face. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders and brushed against his face. It was soft, and the orange light reflected on her hair, making it even more warm and inviting. “Ah, Aria.”

Aria smiled as she rubbed his head, which was resting on her lap. “Yes, it’s me. Did you sleep well?”

“Well, a little, but I still feel a bit dizzy,” Rain said.

“Um, did you have a nightmare? Did something hurt you?” Aria asked.

“Not that kind of dream. Just an old story…Why do you ask? Did I say anything in my sleep?” Rain said.

Aria shook her head, her hair gently brushing against his face. “No, you slept peacefully. Your breathing was steady, but your hands held onto me tightly.”

Rain looked at his hand, which was gripping Aria’s tightly. “Ah, sorry.” He slowly let go of her hand.

But Aria gently held onto his hand, not wanting to leave it alone. “There’s no need to apologize for something like this. Okay?”

Rain smiled and said, “Thank you, Aria.”

Aria smiled back.

They stayed like that for a moment, and then Rain sat up, taking in the scene of the same hall in the refugee building. But there was no one else there, just the two of them. “Where are the others? How long have I been asleep?”

“They all went out to greet and congratulate Ella and Mr. Rave. And the kids are playing outside as usual. But this time, a little girl named Lauren has an interesting story again,” Aria said.

“Let me guess, is it about a saint and a follower who fall in love?” Rain said and touched his heart, feeling comforted by the soft fabric.

Aria giggled. “Interesting guess, but it’s not like that. She wrote about a little child with a fairy mother.” She gathered mana and summoned a water ball in her hand.

Rain looked at Aria with half-closed eyelids. “Again? Huh, why do they all mistake me for your child?”

Aria touched his face, wiping away dust and tear stains. “I don’t know either. Is it because you’re as tall as a child?”

“Nah, I actually grew three centimeters taller since last year,” Rain said as he moved his sleeve to wipe his face.

Aria held his hand and took out her handkerchief to touch his face instead. “Wow, how did you measure that? I remember you always being this height the last time and the time before that.”

Rain grabbed his shirt and looked at it. “I measured it with a shirt that gets smaller every year… By the way, Aria, did you change my clothes?” Now his shirt was back to his usual black dress.

Aria smiled.

Rain lifted his head and looked at her. “Right?”

Aria shook her head. “No, Mr. Rave changed it.”

“Phew, thank god…” Rain closed his eyes and touched his heart.

“And all the kids helped too,” Aria added.

“Oh, the kids helped too…Hahhhhhhh, what are you talking about?” Rain said and hugged his shirt tightly.

Aria brushed the dust from his hair, then she embraced him and tying his hair into a braid. “Yes, the kids also helped. They stopped arguing with each other because they realized you were a male.”

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Rain’s eyes widened, moved hands want to help. “No, no, no. I wasn’t aware of that. Aren’t they afraid of my scars and prison tattoos?”

Aria held his hands and continued tying. “They’re not worried. Mr. Rave also helped by telling them the story. He said that you fought a big boss on a snowy field, fought monsters with just your bare hands and little help with a small branch to protect the princess, and got put in jail for fighting against high society members for the rights of the people. But your karma has been paid off, so now you’re free. All the kids love the story so much, their eyes even sparkle like stars,” Aria explained.

“Wow, that’s…good,” Rain nodded, appreciating Rave’s story.

“See, everything is alright.” Pat, pat. Aria flicked both of his shoulders twice. A tidy braid was seen in his hair.

“Um… That looks alright,” the orange sun slowly changed to a red color on his face. He glanced at the window and asked, “What time is it? How long did I sleep?”

“You slept for about five hours, and it’s two hours before sunset, the last sunset.” Aria replied. She stood up and stretched her legs, standing on her tip of toes.

Rain did the same and added, “At least I can see the night-break.”

“We should go to the North Tower Area. I think everyone is already there,” Aria suggested, walking towards the door. The cool air brushed against her as small snowflakes fell.

“Um, that good.”

Snowflakes touched her hand. “It’s a little chilly outside. You should wear winter clothes and gloves,” Aria said.

“Please give me a black one,” he requested.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but we’re out of black ones. We only have white and pink left,” Aria said.

“Then…white, please.”

Flop, flop. “Is it warm?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

—§—

Everyone stood on the tower wall, including the knights and townspeople. They all watched as the sun touched the peak of the mountain.

Golden Saint and Red Follower were also present, blending in with the people on the wall. She still wore her royal priestess robe, as did Rave, who wore the same attire for the ceremony.

“Is he alright, Ravie?” Ella asked, touching the flower in her hair.

“Yes, Lady Ella. He will be alright. Miss Aria and I helped him change his clothes, although it was quite difficult. His hands kept getting in the way, but we managed to change his clothes. Miss Aria also reassured us, saying that he’s just in a drunken state and will wake up soon,” Rave said.

Ella shook her head. “That stupid raccoon always causes trouble. He acts like a cool guy, but with just one drink, he ends up lying down like a drunken raccoon. He ruined the ceremony and stained my dress with his black wine…” She looked at her sleeve, which had a black stain, but a warm smile still graced her lips.

Suddenly, the sweet fragrance of flowers wafted towards her nose.

“What are you taking behind my back, Empress Ella.?”

Ella quickly turned her head and saw Rain squinted at her. A cluster of lovely white flowers is in his hand.

“R-Raccoon, you should announce your presence before approaching. It’s difficult to detect you,” Ella said, hand grabbed her skirt and tugged it hem to her back “That rude you coming be hide the lady.”

“R-Raccoon, you should announce your presence before approaching,” Ella said as she grabbed her skirt and pulled the hem of the skirt to her back. “It’s difficult to detect you and it was rude of you to come up behind the lady like that.”

“Nah, I’ve been standing here for a while. How could you not notice me?” Rain replied, handing her a flower.

Ella looked at him, her expression filled with confusion. “What kind of flower is this?”

“Of course, it’s a snow flower. Pure white and native to this land. Why do you ask?” Rain explained.

“I didn’t ask for the name. I want to know why you’re giving it to me,” Ella questioned.

Rain tilted his head. “Eh? Don’t you like snow flowers?”

“Yes, I do. But why are you giving it to me?” Ella pointed at him, then at herself.

Rain mirrored her actions. “Ella, I am giving you this flower.”

Ella’s brow furrowed, and she clenched her fist tightly. The blood vessels on her neck pulsated. “Are you teasing—”

Before she could finish her sentence, someone knocked Rain’s head. “Don’t tease her like that,” Aria said.

“Ouch. That hurt,” Rain complained, rubbing his head.

Ignoring him, Aria turned to Ella and said, “Please don’t be angry with him. Alcohol still effect on him. It’s just a gift, a part of a ceremony. There’s no curse or spell attached to it.” Aria then showed her hair, adorned with a blue flower.

“Ah, I see,” she sighed, relaxing her shoulders. Then looked at his dumbfounded expression as she slowly turned her body, allowing her braided hair to cascade over her shoulder. “Humph, it is truly an honor for you to touch my hair and adorn it with flowers, Raccoon. Remember this.”

“Yes, yes, Lady Ella, this is a super honor to my life and my ancestor.” he moved closer to her and gingerly touched her hair. Then, he divided it into three layers and began braiding.

“Just call me Ella… Rain,” Ella said softly.

A small smile graced his face as he skillfully tied Ella’s hair with the flower, deftly braiding it into the shape of a blossom. As he worked, he whispered, “This white flower should complement your pink hair, so don’t worry, okay?” Before long, the white flower adorned Ella’s golden hair, creating an exquisite priestess vibe.

Ella looked at Aria.

Aria smiled and remarked, “It looks beautiful on you.”

Ella turned her head towards Rain.

The last ray of the setting sun cut through the mountain, casting a warm, orange glow upon their bodies. The soft, gentle light painted a beautiful shade on him, causing the reflection to dance upon her. As they stood there, a feeling of warmth in the bond of their friendship connect.

She grabbed the tip of her skirt and inclined. “Thank you, Rain.”

Rain smiled in return and replied, “Thank you, Ella.”

Gang! Gang! Gang! Gang! The bell rang, filling the air with its sound. “End of Warning, the sun is setting,” shouted the knights on the watchtower. They raised their flags high and swung them vigorously.

Everyone gazed up at the mountaintop. The sun had already touched its peak, and the moon was drawing nearer. As the moon made contact with the sun, a phenomenon occurred. A black dot emerged at the point of contact, gradually expanding like a web until it covered the entire sun and moon.

“The light is fading,” Ella said.

“The last rays are fading, and her heart is breaking,” Rain said, his hands trembling.

Aria approached and gently touched his hand. “It’s okay… I’m here with you.”

“Um…” he replied, feeling warmth envelop him.

Children, mothers, fathers, families, and everyone present held hands and watched in awe as this extraordinary event unfolded.

The darkness enveloped everything as the Black consumed the sun and moon. All light disappeared, leaving nothing visible except for the beating hearts of the people.

Crack, crack, crack. Atop the fortress, the enormous white ring began to move. Wang! Slowly, the light started to glow, creating white dots in the blackness.

The knights on the tower placed their hands over their hearts, causing the light crystal on their left chests to shine. The diamond-shaped symbols on their chests emitted a bright white light.

Also on the top of the tower. One by one, the lights connected, reaching the top of the fortress and finally linking to the white ring.

Whoosh, waaaang! A beam of light shot up, connecting with the sky. The light illuminated everything, bringing life and smiles back to the people. They raised their fists high and shouted, “White Rey Fort!”

Wang! The light at the top of the beam transformed into a halo ring, shining so brightly that even the smallest stones and pebbles on the ground could be seen clearly.

The people continued to cheer, jumping and hugging one another. Some even brought drinks and started to celebrate.

Ella looked at Rain and asked, “What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”

Rain shrugged his shoulders and replied, “Nah, not that beautiful. Mine is better.” However, his under eyes seemed to be red.

Ella smiled and said, “Oh, your design relies solely on magic diagrams and the maiden, whereas mine incorporates mechanical structures and a telescope made of glass. It reduces the process and only requires ten minor mages to operate.”

“Huh, mine can be used freely in any situation, and it’s brighter. The brighter the light, the better,” Rain said, leaned his face closer.

“Hahaha, are you blind, Raccoon? This is only ten percent power. We have to conserve energy for the entire winter. If we were to open it to one hundred percent, you would be blinded forever,” Ella explained.

“Wow, what a waste of resources using so many sun-stones for just this level. If you saw my castle, you’d see that just one stone can illuminate the entire area. Ella, you know, mass can generate power and energy.”

“Hahhh, what are you talking about?”

“I’m telling the truth. You have to rearrange the diagram for more efficiency…”

Rave looked at Aria and asked, “Miss Aria, do you know what they’re talking about?”

Aria smiled and replied, “They’re just scholars showing off their knowledge. Please, let’s leave them be.” Aria stepped back a bit.

Rave nodded and also stepped away from Gorilla and Raccoon, who were now waving their hands up and down, drawing imaginary pictures in the air.

People around them looked at them as if they were mad. Some mothers even covered their children’s eyes.

—§—

A guy with a sacred rope sprinted down the corridor. A dull thud echoed as I stepped on the white stone. He held a paper tightly in his hand, perhaps tighter than anything else in his life. With a forceful push, he flung the door open.

Bang! The door swung open violently, catching everyone’s attention in the control room, including the old saint.

“What happened?” Saint Rexton asked.

“Sir! The central has sent us a message,” the messenger said.

“What happened, child? Stay calm, your light is fading,” Saint Rexton said.

The light crystal on the messenger’s chest was changing randomly, but he didn’t pay much attention to it. He quickly continued, “They responded back. They also haven’t received any messages from the End Land fortress and the west side of the continent. The Iron will Saint Osmar hasn’t responded either, so they’re sending scouts there…”

Saint Rexton raised one hand in front of him while the other reached for his sword. “Child, stay calm… your light is fading.”

The light on the messenger’s chest turned black. He trembled as he showed a paper with numerous text scripts on it, his hand shaking violently.

But nobody wanted to go near him. Even Saint Rexton remained motionless.

The Messenger’s eyes widened in shock when he saw that nobody had come to retrieve the message. He bit his lip and walked over to the table, pressing the paper onto it.

Wink, Guru, Guru, Guru, the stone cubes on the table shifted and formed a black fortress half covered in snow. It was strange, with no signs of life - no guards, no people, no flags. Only a lone white wolf stood there, beside the ruined fortress that had a circular big hole drilled into it.

“Child, what is this?” Rexton asked.

“Sir, the End land Fort has already fallen. There is no sign of life or any living beings,” the Messenger replied, his chest light now completely black.

Everyone in the hall looked at the same picture. The panel lights flickered in their eyes.

Rexton murmured, “Winter”.