The ESC Royal Fortress thrummed like a living titan, its mana-fueled engines consuming raw mana with the appetite of a titan. Floating high above the earth, this aerial behemoth represented the pinnacle of Eurasian Socialist Commonwealth ambition, a moving fortress in the skies, forged just two years ago after unification. It loomed over all with an air of steady, unshakable control.
Within the polished sanctuary of his private office, Ice King stood by the broad window, one taloned hand resting lightly on the frame. He turned his gaze to Dmitry Vitaliy, the head engineer of this incredible vessel, whose stance betrayed the weight of his position. Clipboard in hand, the man’s brow furrowed in thought even before the conversation began.
“Head Engineer,” Ice King said, his tone calm but carrying some form of expectation; “Are you telling me we’re already at our limit? This ship is supposed to defy expectations, not be bound by them.”
Dmitry cleared his throat, adjusting his grip on the clipboard. “Sire, the modifications you’re asking for… I would need to bring the Fortress to a full stop and dock. There’s no way to safely implement them mid-flight.”
Ice King exhaled softly, smoke curling from the end of his cigarette. He took a slow drag, his crimson eyes half-lidded in thought. “Understood, Dmitry. Do what you can for now, and when we land in Germania, prioritize the upgrades. You’re dismissed.”
Relief flickered across Dmitry’s face as he bowed and exited the room. Ice King watched him leave, lingering in the temporary quietness before summoning his scroll with a simple gesture. The enchanted parchment unrolled itself in midair, glowing faintly as he opened the messaging app with a flick of his finger.
---
The Ice_King:
Hello, is this Estralez?
04947 56 86 36:
Frosty? When did you get a new number?
The Ice_King:
Not important. Have you arrived at the palace?
04947 56 86 36:
Yep.
04947 56 86 36:
One second. Be right back.
The Ice_King:
Estralez? Are you there?
---
The lack of a reply earned only a faint raise of Ice King’s brow. He dismissed the scroll with a lazy wave, letting it vanish into faint motes of mana as he turned toward the door. His destination was already set, and his pace steady as he stepped outside, the town of Susanin sprawling beneath the reinforced interior.
Here, the streets were lined with asphalt, narrow but bustling with quiet activity. The hum of mana lamps overhead bathed the town in a serene glow, illuminating small homes, cafés, and shops that gave the airship its heartbeat. Families of crew members mingled with the workers, their faces familiar to Ice King as he passed by. He nodded now and then in greeting, exchanging brief words with those who stopped him.
At a small restaurant near the center square, a group of witches huddled over steaming cups of hot chocolate, laughter mixing with the low murmur of their conversation.
Ice King paused for a moment to greet them, a fanged smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Ladies, I trust you are all taking a well-earned rest?”
One of them, a dark-haired witch with sharp green eyes, gave him a small grin; “Trying to, sire. Though I imagine it won’t last long.”
He chuckled softly. “Enjoy it while you can. You will need your full focus soon enough.”
Leaving them to their meals, he made his way toward the library, his steps slow yet purposeful. The grand double doors of the library swung open at his touch, revealing rows upon rows of towering shelves, their contents neatly cataloged…or it was supposed to be.
“I do hope that the other clients actually return the books where they got it from. Otherwise, I may have to make an announcement just for this miniscule issue.” Right after this, he then walked to the counter, a time in his hands
Behind the counter, a lanky red-haired witch greeted him with a cheerful nod. “Ah, good to see you again, sire. Another visit to the Magic section I suppose?”
Ice King held out a worn tome in his hand; “Yes, and I’ll be returning this.” His tone was light, almost like having a conversation, as he placed the book on the counter.
The witch accepted it with a small bow; “Of course, I’ll get this sorted.”
Ice King moved toward the shelves, his sharp eyes scanning the spine of the books. It didn’t take long for him to find what he was searching for: Aegis 101. The book sat perched on a high shelf. With a flick of his fingers, a soft tendril of mana pulled it down into his waiting hand.
“Finally,” he muttered under his breath. “It’s always in the worst possible spot. I should send someone to reorganize this section.”
Settling into a private reading alcove near the back, Ice King flipped the book open, his sharp gaze quickly scanning its pages. He set the snack he’d picked up earlier to the side, pausing between bites to jot down notes in a small leather-bound journal.
“This is more detailed than I thought,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper; “I’ve never bothered to go this deep into their hierarchy before… but it seems vital now.”
He scanned through the section on Aegis ranks, his brows lifting ever so slightly as he read aloud;
“‘Aegis hierarchy is determined by both wing count and magical prowess. While rulers traditionally bestow higher ranks, natural evolution of wings is not unheard of. The ranks ascend from Normal to Valkyrie, Aurion, and Aetherial. Despite public denials, credible accounts of Queen Vrystk’s daughter, wielding ten wings, persist.’”
Closing the book with a soft thud, Ice King leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly; “So much for that cover-up. She’s practically advertising it.”
He leaned back, exhaling as a memory of his last skirmish resurfaced; “Wings are their weakness… Would have been nice to know before charging in headfirst.”
Hours passed unnoticed. The once-tidy alcove now bore the marks of his focus : scattered notes, discarded tomes, and empty snack wrappers. His straight posture was replaced by a slight hunch, exhaustion etched into his features.
“I could try…” he muttered to himself, scribbling furiously before pausing; “No, that wouldn’t work against anything above Valkyrie. Waste of mana.” He growled in frustration, tearing out the page and tossing it onto the growing pile of crumpled papers.
He barely registered the sound of approaching footsteps until they stopped at the entrance to his alcove; “Zoran, just leave the vodka on the table. I’ll deal with it later,” he mumbled, attention still fully on his research
A familiar voice cut through his haze, causing him to freeze up; “Icy?”
Ice King froze, slowly turning to see Leila and Bruno standing there, both looking at him with a mixture of concern and exasperation. Bruno was lugging two duffel bags, while Leila’s sharp eyes zeroed in on the dark circles under Ice King’s eyes.
Stolen story; please report.
“I… was researching,” he said awkwardly, his voice trailing off as Leila marched over and cupped his face, forcing him to meet her gaze.
“Icy! Have you even slept?!” she asked in disbelief, turning his head both ways as if inspecting him for cracks.
“I’m fine, Your Majesty,” he said, his voice carrying hints of exhaustion as he gently pulled away, a faint blush coloring his pale cheeks.
Bruno snorted; “Dude, you look like you’ve been through finals week. And this-” he gestured to the chaotic state of the alcove “-looks like my room after a party!”
With a flick of his wrist, Ice King summoned a spell circle, incinerating the discarded notes and wrappers in an instant. Dusting off his coat, he grabbed his journal and straightened; “There. Problem solved.”
Leila and Bruno both stared at him, unimpressed.
“What?” Ice King asked, genuinely perplexed; “I cleaned up, didn’t I?”
====
Susanin, 10 minutes later :
“I still fail to see your reasoning,” Ice King muttered, his voice carrying his exhaustion as he was flanked—no, wedged—between Bruno and Leila. The two of them pressed into him as if he might make a run for it, their determination stifling; “I already told you, I’m fine.” He emphasized the last word, his Icy gaze flicking between the two.
Bruno huffed, disbelief etched into every line of his face. ; “Dude, we’ve known each other for years now, and this?” He gestured dramatically at Ice King’s messy hair and less-than-pristine clothing. “This is not you. You’re practically the definition of prim and proper-right behind Vrystk, of course. She's the grandmaster of ‘Prim and proper’.”
Ice King rolled his eyes, the gesture slow and deliberate, showing his exhaustion; “Fine. I look messy. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
Leila glared at him, eyes expressing anger; “Icy! You’ve got to start prioritizing yourself. What’s the point of all this if you burn out before we even get to the battlefield?”
Before the argument could spiral further, they arrived at the door to his office-a mix of workspace and private refuge. Bruno and Leila exchanged a look before turning expectantly to the lock. Ice King groaned, muttering a spell under his breath before the door clicked open with a faint hum.
“Home sweet home… I suppose,” he said flatly, stepping inside.
The room resembled a winter cabin more than an office. A crackling fireplace dominated one wall, its warmth offset by the cold tones of ice-blue décor. A couch faced the flames, while a compact kitchen nestled to one side. Everything spoke of practicality laced with quiet elegance.
Without a word, Ice King disappeared behind a curtain, the soft rustle of fabric accompanying his transformation. He emerged in casual attire: loose shorts and a sleeveless shirt that bared his frost-blue feathers and slim feathered arms. The shift in his appearance was startling, his usual regal aura muted into something softer, almost approachable.
Crossing the room, he opened a panel in the wall to reveal a hidden king-sized bed. He turned toward his companions, expression unreadable, but the faintest tilt of his head gestured toward the bed in silent invitation.
Leila shrugged, brushing off the tension in the room as she made a dash for the couch; “I’ll take the couch-whoa!” She stumbled as Bruno’s hand shot out, gripping her shoulder firmly.
“Nope,” Bruno said, already making himself comfortable on the couch; “You’re sleeping with Frosty.”
Leila froze mid-step, her face igniting in crimson; “W-what?! Why me? You sleep with him!” she stammered, turning around to meet Bruno.
But Bruno had already closed his eyes, feigning sleep with a loud, exaggerated snore. Leila glared daggers at him, her mouth opening to argue further before she caught sight of Ice King out of the corner of her eye.
Her blush deepened as she took in the sight before her. She’d never seen him out of his usual attire, and it was… jarring. His feathers shimmered like frost under moonlight, soft yet somehow commanding. His wings wrapped around him loosely, an almost protective cocoon, while his lean frame carried an understated strength. It wasn’t the cold, calculating ruler she was used to-it was someone almost… vulnerable.
Cursing Bruno under her breath, Leila retreated behind the curtain to change into her nightgown. When she emerged, she hesitated by the bed, fidgeting with her hands as a thousand doubts appeared in her mind.
Ice King stirred, his crimson eyes flicking open lazily. He shifted his wings, creating a space beside him, and gestured to it with a casual pat; “Sleep. I am not repeating myself.” His tone was firm, brooking no argument.
Leila swallowed hard, her pulse quickening as she climbed into the bed. The warmth of his wings radiated faintly, like sunlight filtered through frost, and she felt her cheeks flush further as she settled beside him.
She cursed Bruno again silently, though her thoughts was elsewhere as her gaze flicked back to Ice King. His face, usually so wary and confident, seemed peaceful in the dim light, the soft rise and fall of his breathing strangely comforting.
Before her thoughts could spiral further into her predicament, exhaustion claimed Leila like a mist, dragging her into a dreamless abyss where even her memories couldn’t reach her.
====
“No… no… No!”
Ice King jolted upright, light blue eyes wide, chest rising and falling like a ship in a storm. Cold sweat glistened on his pale skin, sticking stray strands of blue hair to his temple as he cast his gaze around the dimly lit room. Shadows loomed long and menacing, but none reached for him. Still, the phantoms of his dream were threatening to claw back out, their claws lingering just out of reach.
“It’s just a dream,” he muttered, voice low and hoarse; “Just another stupid nightmare…”
He ran a hand through his hair, breathing out sharply. The bed creaked faintly as he shifted to lie back down. That was until he felt it. The soft exhale of breath on his neck, warm and steady. Ice King froze. Slower than a hostage negotiation and without a single sound, he turned his head.
Leila.
She was tucked close, her dark hair brushing her cheeks, her breathing rhythmic and serene. Her hair spilled like ink across the pillow, and most embarrassingly, her arm was draped over his waist, fingers grazing his chest
A sharp, undignified squawk escaped him before he slapped a hand over his mouth. Heat flared across his cheeks, searing through his usual icy composure. His wings twitched and ruffled, betraying his growing embarrassment.
Carefully and painfully, he began the excruciating process of extricating himself. He moved inch by inch, fighting both the blanket’s cruel grasp and the weight of her arm, which tightened unconsciously whenever he shifted too much.
“This is ridiculous…” he hissed under his breath, his glare directed at the ceiling like it had orchestrated the admittedly ridiculous incident .
Finally, with a quick whistle and a faint shimmer of magic, her tight grip loosened. He slipped free, breathing a sigh of relief before walking silently toward the miniature kitchen. Pulling a bottle of Vodka from his personal stash, he poured himself a glass, but faint murmurs from the next room caught his attention.
Following the sound, he found Bruno perched in the sitting area, his scroll glowing softly in the dark. The young man's voice was low, stained with quiet emotion.
“Ma… I’ll be safe, don’t worry. Yeah, I’m heading for the capital… Ma, I’ve got Leila and The Ice King with me. I’ll be fine… Love you too.”
Bruno ended the call with a sigh, his fingers brushing the edge of the scroll. There was a faint, wistful smile on his face as he stared into the distance.
“Care for a drink, my friend?” Ice King’s voice cut through the quiet like a knife through butter.
This caused Bruno to become startled, nearly dropping his scroll. His gaze snapped to Ice King, who was now seated beside him with two glasses of Vodka in hand; “Do you have to sneak around like that?” he muttered with frustration, shaking his head before taking the offered glass.
The first sip had him recoiling, his face twisted in a grimace; “The hell is this? Jet fuel?”
Ice King smirked, taking a long sip of his own without so much as a blink; “Thay my friend is Vodka.Straight from my personal stash.”
Bruno coughed, setting the glass down like it was some sort of hazardous material; “How do you even drink this stuff?-Wait, don’t answer that. I already know.”
“Tolerance,” Ice King replied simply, blue eyes glinting with faint amusement; “Now, tell me. What troubles you? Your conversation just now seemed… weighted.”
Bruno exhaled heavily, leaning back in his chair; “It’s my parents. I was supposed to visit them this week.You know, before all this mess started. Now, I’ve gotta push it back…again.” His fingers tapped against the armrest, frustration etched into his posture.
Ice King tilted his head, the sharp lines of his face softening; “I take it you’re close with them?”
“Yeah, you could say that.” Bruno’s voice was quieter now, tinged with unsaid emotions; “They’re strict as hell, but they’re good people. When I got caught in the cascade and ended up like this…” He gestured at himself, his claws flexing slightly; “They didn’t flinch. Didn’t treat me any different. Just kept being them, you know? It’s… rare. I’ve heard enough stories to know how lucky I am.”
He ran a hand over his face, sighing deeply; “I only get a few days a month to see them, and even that feels like too much. Leila offered to take on more work so I could go, but she’s already struggling with what she currently has. I can’t just dump everything on her.”
Ice King regarded him for a long moment before speaking; “A burden shared is a burden halved, or so they say.” He leaned back, his voice quieter, almost understanding; “But I understand. Duty often chains us tighter than we’d like.”
Bruno glanced at him, his brow furrowing; “Yeah, well, duty sucks. I just… hope they’re okay for a bit longer. They always act like they don’t mind, but I know they miss me.”
Ice King raised his glass, his crimson eyes meeting Bruno’s. “For their safety, and your strength to carry on.”
Bruno hesitated, then lifted his own glass, clinking it against Ice King’s; “Cheers to that…I guess.”
The two men continued drinking, relaxing their bodies a bit more before Bruno discovered something rather…odd; “You know, I kinda half expected to get drunk after like 3 sips of this…Why are you looking at me like that?”
Ice King was looking at Bruno with an unimpressed expression, lips forming a frown; “First of all, you are taking sips of Vodka slowly. Second, you are a blood magic user. You lot are notoriously hard to poison due to your body purifying your blood every few minutes.”
Bruno blinked his eyes in surprise before shrugging and chugging his entire glass of Vodka; “Eh, whatever.”
Ice King continued drinking his glass of Vodka at a steady pace before his eyes widened slightly at a realization he had; “Wait. Are you telling me that you, the Dunkeles Reich's Royal Guard, never did research about your own sect of magic?”
Hearing Ice King chuckling profusely, Bruno rolled his eyes from annoyance; “Yeah yeah, I know. Not everyone's a bookworm y’know?”
“But you have to admit, going years without researching about your newfound abilities? The least you could have done is read the basics of Blood Magic.” Ice King said, wiping a tear before shaking his head
“Eh, I prefer practical stuff over getting bored in a library…At least I'm not a total wreck about my crush though.” As soon as these words left his mouth, Ice King froze out of nowhere, cheeks blushing; “For the last time,I do not have a crush on Leila.”
Bruno’s face now has a grin so large it seemed like it was stretching from ear to ear; “Ah, but I never even mentioned her now did I? Admit it Icy, you got a crush on her~”
As the blush on Ice King's face brightened ever so slightly, Bruno decided to tease him even further; “Plus, you did invite her into your bed~”
This seemed to be the last straw on the camel's back as the blush on Ice King's face brightened so much, his face now looked like a tomato; “I forgot all about that…” he muttered before standing up and dusting himself off; “Whatever.”
Ice King then walked off behind the barrier he used to change clothes the day before, wearing his usual clothing. He then walked to a nearby wall before letting out a high pitched whistle, revealing a hidden set of stairs.
Before descending the set of stairs, he looked back at the bewildered Bruno; “Would you care to accompany me?”
Bruno blinked, still processing the hidden staircase that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. He glanced at the vodka bottle, then back at Ice King; "You know, you could’ve just said ‘secret lair’ and saved me a lot of questions."
Ice King smirked, his earlier embarrassment swept under an icy exterior; "You think I’d waste my time calling it something so mundane? This is no mere lair. Follow if you’re brave enough."
Bruno snorted, putting the vodka bottle down as he stood; "Oh, brave enough? Alright, Frosty, lead the wway. Just don’t blame me if I find skeletons in the closet.”
Ice King let out a huff of amusement, head held high; “Oh please, I am much…classier than that. If there were corpses down there, I would have kept them fresh just for you.”
====
The staircase led both of them into a sort of maintenance tunnel with the walls lined with wires and pipes while the metallic floor underneath them was both dusty and rusty. Bruno looked around, careful not to touch any of the pipes and avoiding any puddles; “Okay, this gets more Ghetto the deeper we go. Are we even in the same airship?”
Ice King just continued walking, humming a tune of himself and ignoring Bruno. This made Bruno catch up to him and tap him on his shoulders; “Hello, Earth to Frosty…?”
Ice King continued to ignore him, proceeding to walk even faster. Right before Bruno was going to grab him by the shoulders, Ice King suddenly halted, making Bruno collide with him; “The hell did you stop for?! Did you finally find this mysterious thing you were looking for?”
After looking back up, Bruno saw Ice King in some sort of gigantic round room stretching; “Would you care to join me, Bruno?”
“Uhh…Okay?” Bruno said, wearily walking into the room. When he entered, the full scale of the room revealed itself. It looked like it could fit an entire neighborhood but oddly enough, he could see some sort of rune etched onto the walls multiple times.
Taking a closer look at it, his eyebrow raised slightly in confusion; “What type of room needs this many runes?...Wait a second.”
His eyes widened as he heard a gunshot from behind him, causing him to jump to the side right as an ice bullet hit the wall and disintegrated; “You brought me to an arena?!”
Ice King spun the barrel of his revolver while whistling casually, wings spread out wide. He then suddenly dashed right in front of Bruno and launched a punch which Bruno parried hastily, causing Ice King to be launched backwards. He then looked at Bruno with a smirk; “Show me your best, Estralez.”