As snowflakes gently descended, Hexia, dressed in an indigo velvet winter dress, walked down the sloping path. Ahead of her, the expanse of a white, icy lake gradually came into focus through the falling snow.
In Yuanting Academy's Fragrant Leaf Lake, the surface had already frozen over, dotted with sporadic students gliding across on ice skates. There were, however, many who could only watch from a distance.
Having stopped in her tracks, Hexia shook the snow from her hood and then removed it, standing in front of the lake. She then opened the wooden crate she had been carrying, and three little ducks, fluffing up their feathers, waddled out.
The trio of ducks had now grown white plumage, and shortly after making their entrance, the Indigo Snake followed suit, positioning itself protectively by the side of the ducks.
Despite the cold weather, the ducks were not afraid. They shook their webbed feet and stepped onto the ice, sliding towards the center of the lake.
