Viktor stood at the edge of the clearing, his breath forming misty clouds in the early morning chill. The once-icy kingdom had slowly thawed under the combined warmth of Julie's influence and his own grudging efforts. He'd spent countless nights reflecting on his past actions and the pain he'd inflicted on Julie and Dominic. Redemption was an arduous path, but one he was determined to walk.
Julie had begun to soften, but trust was a different matter. Their interactions were still tinged with caution and guarded words. Dominic, however, had already started to view Viktor with a mixture of curiosity and tentative respect. The boy had inherited not only his mother's healing abilities but also an innate sense of justice that made him skeptical of Viktor's sudden change of heart.
