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Sitting atop the Gordon house's roof, I gazed at the moon, my staff resting across my knees. The cold bit the air, but I barely felt it. It wasn't the icy wind that troubled me, nor even the oppressive presence of Pitch Black weighing on my mind. It was the uncertainty. For the first time since arriving in this world, I realized how utterly alone I was.
"Hey…" I whispered, my eyes fixed on the pale orb hanging in the sky. "I guess you can hear me, right? You've always guided me, in some way… So tell me, what am I supposed to do?"
Silence answered me. I let out a joyless laugh and lowered my head. "Just as I thought… I'm alone."
But as those words left my lips, something shifted. A silvery light, soft and ethereal, began to glow around me. I jerked my head up. A thin beam of moonlight descended, landing with infinite delicacy on my outstretched hand.
A golden glint appeared on the moon's surface. A tiny particle of light drifted down slowly, floating through the air like an inverted shooting star.
I blinked, uncertain. Then, under my stunned gaze, the speck brightened, and in an icy breath, it transformed into a golden snowflake—perfect, delicate, and pulsing with a warm, reassuring energy.
"What…?"
A strange warmth surged through my fingers, intertwining with my own winter magic. I felt a new power awaken within me, a potential I'd never explored.
I reached toward the fresh snow on the roof and let instinct guide my hands. Small clumps of snow slowly assembled under my touch, forming a rudimentary snowman. It wasn't tall, barely reaching my palm, but it had a defined shape.
I remembered the sensation of receiving the golden flake. Maybe…
Taking a breath, I conjured another golden snowflake between my fingers, shaping it carefully before pressing it into the snowman's core. Energy rippled through the creation with a luminous shiver, and suddenly, its icy arms trembled.
It moved.
My eyes widened as the little creature shook its round head and lifted a clumsy arm. A childlike grin spread across my face.
"You're alive…"
It stared at me, and though it had no mouth, I could almost sense the simple joy radiating from it.
"This is incredible…" I whispered, crouching to observe it closely.
The tiny snowman wobbled slightly before raising a hand toward me. Instinctively, I extended my finger, and it tapped it gently, as if confirming its own existence.
But I wanted to see how far this new power could stretch.
I leapt down from the roof, landing in the snow-covered garden. I needed something bigger, stronger. Gathering snow around me, I shaped a hulking figure—a crude but massive form with a broad torso, thick arms, and the stature of a primal giant. It wasn't art, but a functional construct.
This time, creating the golden snowflake demanded more effort. I channeled my own energy into it, feeling the magic thrum in my palm. When ready, I pressed it into the snow giant's chest.
A pulse of power surged through the golem.
Its arms shuddered before it slowly lifted its head. Its massive legs sank into the snow as it took a forward step, anchoring itself in reality.
I stepped back, eyes locked on the creature. It was stable, solid, but I felt the weight of its existence draining my power. Unlike the small snowman, maintaining this one required constant focus.
I couldn't stop there. This new ability could be a weapon against Pitch, a way to fight without being utterly alone. I spent the night testing the magic. I shaped another small snowman, then a third. Then, I aimed higher.
With intense focus, I formed an ice statue in my own image—translucent, smooth, a flawless replica. But when it opened its eyes, there was no light, no life. It collapsed almost instantly, unable to stand without a guiding spirit.
I gritted my teeth. "Too ambitious."
As I studied my creations, an odd sensation prickled my spine. A faint whisper, an unfamiliar presence. Then, without warning, a dead leaf drifted down and landed softly on my shoulder. A single orange-brown leaf, trembling in the night breeze.
The moment it touched my jacket, a murmur rose—soft, almost imperceptible. **"You are not alone."**
I froze, eyes wide. "What? Who…?"
Before I could react, the leaf fluttered away, caught by a sudden gust. But this was no ordinary wind.
All at once, dozens, then hundreds of dead leaves swirled around me, twirling in an entrancing dance. They spun in chaotic harmony, guided by an invisible force. The gust encircled me, brushing my face, grazing my clothes, wrapping me in a gentle yet meaningful embrace.
Then, in one fluid motion, the leaves soared skyward, forming an upward current that climbed higher, higher… until they reached the Moon.
I watched their ascent, breathless. It was as if they were returning to their source, as if a silent message had been delivered.
A smile tugged at my lips. "So… that's your answer?"
A new warmth bloomed inside me—rekindled confidence. I wasn't alone. Something, or someone, was still watching over me.
Rising slowly, I stared at the Moon one last time before climbing down from the roof. The battle against Pitch Black wasn't over… but I had a new ace up my sleeve.
And above all, I had hope.