A chilly breeze swept across a winter wonderland.

It carried a fresh, crisp spirit that filled the white expanse with an aura of fragility.

Here, in this frozen paradise, two striking figures could be seen walking side by side in complete silence. An invisible bubble seemingly separating them from the rest of the world. No sights, sounds, or scents lingered as they treaded lightly on the snow-covered ground. It was almost like they didn’t exist.

The peculiar scene was what many would describe as peaceful, though... if not for that one thing.

The strange atmosphere.

“I’m sorry…” (L)

A small, sombre voice broke the silence.

Baihu didn’t respond.

It was hard to state what exactly was making her feel this displeased. After all, the actions of the cub weren’t all that surprising. Baihu couldn’t have expected much given her past behaviours. She was well aware the cub would try to rush things. Casting a small spell to observe the cub, Baihu hadn’t been the least bit shocked to observe her asleep at the door.

At the time, Baihu watched on indifferent. She watched as the kids her cub tricked gathered the items, she watched as they delivered them to the restaurant, and, she even watched as they ran into the forest. None of it had bothered her greatly. The young ones would be caught soon, and she would deal with her cub. That was the only thought to cross. Yet, when she watched as her cub grabbed on to the bear, she got annoyed.

Did that cub think she was invincible? Just because it wasn’t going to knowingly attack didn’t mean she was safe. The bear could’ve easily crushed her by mistake, or she could’ve fallen off and hurt herself. Baihu watched her cub’s reckless behaviour with increasing annoyance. Ultimately, she decided to intervene, which led to her coming across an interesting scene.

The cub used mana.

“I swear… I’ll never do it again.” (L)

An exhausted mumble brought Baihu out of her thoughts.

Looking down at the tiny owner of the voice, Baihu noted her condition.

She was barely awake. A result achieved through their short walk.

‘Good’

All actions have consequences. It was important that her cub learnt that lesson.

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Stopping their walk, Baihu scooped up the young cub and placed her in the swaddle.

“Thank you…” (L)

A soft voice called out as Baihu closed her cloak.

The day has been long.

It wouldn’t hurt to give the cub some time to rest.

They were in no rush.

“Master, why should I waste... spend my time learning this? Can’t you just teach me the floating thing already?” (L)

Looking at the disgruntled expression worn by her cub, Baihu lowered and nuzzled the girl gently.

“You must learn this to do that.” (B)

Generating a spell, a construct of the phenomenon known as mana, was always a difficult and dangerous task for beginners. Even the most basic tier-one spell could reap disaster. It was not uncommon for the young to permanently and severely injure themselves due to carelessness.

The mastery of Manmanic, often called the language of mana, could negate some of the more dangerous elements of mana. Devolved by the Great Serpent, it was a language that simplified the workings of mana enough for mortals to comprehend. While Baihu was able to comprehend the workings of mana beyond the language due to her upbringing, it was an unnecessary danger to have her young cub do the same.

Not yet at least.

“Well… I already know how to read and write.” (L)

Despite explaining the advantages of learning Manmanic, namely ease of comprehension, Baihu’s cub seemed to interpret it as nothing more than a bothersome chore. She was very stubborn about it, enough so to concoct lies.

“Show me.” (B)

Baihu knew well and good that the cub couldn’t read or likely write. A fact supported by her inability to understand the simple list Baihu had given her. The items Baihu added to the list were writing as well as reading materials. Things imperative to help curb those shortcomings.

“O-Okay…” (L)

Seeing her cub gaze down at the writing station set up with hesitation, one word surfaced up in Baihu’s mind.

‘Troublesome’

A worrying pattern was emerging from this young one. Whenever she encountered a problem she couldn’t immediately solve, she would do one of three things. Give up, try and push the problem onto someone else, or a poor combination of both.

It was as though she was incapable of asking for genuine support.

Recalling how her cub handled the situation in the village almost made Baihu frown. Instead of asking someone to read the list, she tricked two other kids to do her work. And that resulted in those kids stealing from some of the villagers. If her cub had gone around the village with that list, none of that would’ve been necessary. The arrangement she had with the village would’ve resulted in all those items being billed to her tab at the restaurant.

“Here I go….” (L)

Three items currently sat on the table. A feather, a small tube of ink in a glass container, and a piece of paper resting on an angled wooden board. The arrangement was simple and efficient.

The young girl sat in Baihu’s lap, stretched out, and grabbed the feather.

“Wrong hand.” (B)

“Huh?” (L)

The feather laid before them originated from the right wing of a bird. Due to the natural curve of the feather, the only appropriate way to hold the feather was with your left hand. Baihu had placed the feather along with the ink left on the wooden board for this reason.

“Right…” (L)

The girl quickly switched hands before leaning out and dabbing the tip of the feather in the ink. She pulled back her hand but not before the feather cleared the curved edges of the glass tub. Consequently, the glass fell over, spilling ink.

“Ah… sorry.” (L)

The girl glanced back.

“Carry on.” (B)

With a light wave of her hand, Baihu willed the ink back into the glass tub.

“…Alright.” (L)

Baihu watched slowly as the young girl placed the feather harshly on the paper. She seemed to debate with herself for a second before stroking up.

The paper tore.

She set the feather down.

“I have a lot to learn, Master.” (L)

“Yes, you do.” (B)