"I will find a way to unleash that power and use it to my advantage. And when I do, nothing and no one will be able to stop me from completing my revenge."
•••••
In a clearing in the forest, the snow fell silently, covering the landscape with a thick, white blanket.. The first rays of the sun filtered through the branches of the trees, also covered in snow.. A young man, alone, held a sheathed sword as he looked at a majestic tree that, like everything around it, was covered in snow.
"Winter Steps. First Step: Snow Mist" The boy ran with inhuman speed, disappearing in the blink of an eye, merging with the mist that enveloped him. Before the echo of his absence could fade, he reappeared behind a large tree, his figure barely perceptible among the flakes that continued to fall.
The tree trunk suddenly split in two with a dry crack, revealing a precise cut. The blade of his sword was already sheathed, as if it had never left the tree..
""Well, that's enough firewood," he muttered, looking at his work with quiet satisfaction. The boy walked over to the fallen pieces, feeling in the cold wood the promise of warmth in the harsh winter..
Cain was leaving the forest dragging a sled loaded with pieces of firewood on a snow-covered meadow that stretched in all directions like a white and serene ocean.. The snow, soft and fluffy, forms an immaculate blanket that covers every blade of grass, hiding the natural relief of the terrain. The trees lining the meadow are covered in a glistening layer of frost, their branches bending under the weight of the ice.
•••
Cain, his breath visible in the chill air, raised his axe once more, letting the blade sink into the frost-covered trunk. The pieces of wood snapped with a dry crack, white snow splashing around them.
The sun, low in the sky, bathed the landscape in a soft golden glow, creating long, deep shadows between the covered trees.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by a scream that pierced the cold air.
"Cain!" The voice of his mother, Sara, came from the house, an echo that faded into the vastness of the snowy meadow.
Cain dropped his axe onto a log and turned toward the source of the call. The cold air bit at his skin, but the urgency in his mother's voice urged him to move. He trudged through the snow, feeling the crunch under his boots with each step.
"Oh, Mom, what's wrong?" he asked as he reached the entrance, his breathing still labored from work.
In the distance, a movement on the horizon caught his attention. A carriage was moving slowly along the road that cut through the meadow, leaving a dark line in its wake.
Cain frowned; it had been a long time since he had seen a carriage like this. It was black, with red decorations that contrasted vividly with the pristine white of the snow. The sight of the carriage, with its imposing figure, awakened a memory in Cain.
The carriage stopped in front of the cottage, breaking the silence with a metallic screech. The door opened, and a man stepped out with an almost ghostly elegance. Her golden hair shone like gold in the winter sunlight, and her blue eyes had a cold, piercing gleam. He wore a white shirt that stood out even more against his red coat, edged in white, and his dark trousers were lost in the black boots that crunched on the snow.
Almost at the same time, a boy about the same age as Cain stepped out of the carriage. He had golden hair, just like the man, but his eyes were a deep red like fire hidden under ashes. His clothes were simpler, but his distinguished bearing suggested a noble origin. like fire hidden under ashes. His clothes were simpler, but his distinguished bearing suggested a noble origin.
Sara, with a mixture of excitement and nervousness, took Cain's hand and led him towards the Count and his son, Leo. Cain felt the cold gazes on him as they walked forward..
"So that's Leo," Cain thought as he watched the boy from a distance..
"Nothing has changed..." The smile that formed on his lips was brief, but his thoughts were spinning like the blizzard that was beginning to rise, bringing with it memories of times I'd rather not relive.
Sara and Cain formally introduced themselves to the Count and his son, trying to maintain their composure in the cold environment.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, sir. Allow me to introduce my son: Cain Raven," Sara said, her voice shaking slightly, either from the cold or the tension of the moment.
The Count, who had remained silent, nodded slightly upon hearing the young man's name. Cain, feeling a surge of mixed emotions, stepped forward.
—Nice to meet you, my name is Cain Raven. It is a pleasure to see you again, my lord —Cain introduced himself, his voice firm but full of disgust and hatred, feelings he could barely hide as he looked at the man and boy in front of him.
The Count kept his gaze impassive, but his voice resonated with authority when he spoke..
"This is my son, Leo Von Saimon. Be polite and introduce yourself, Leo," Patrick said, looking at his son with a mix of expectation and obligation..
Leo, with an air of formality that did not quite match his youth, stepped forward and bowed slightly.
"Pleased to meet you, my lady," Leo said, bowing to Sara. "My name is Leo Von Saimon, son of Count Patrick Von Saimon."
Sara, surprised by the formality with which the young man expressed himself, felt her heart flutter as she remembered her former love. Meanwhile, Cain kept a safe distance, crossing his arms over his chest, his gaze full of distrust..
"Oh, Cain, huh? I heard you're my half-brother, aren't you?" Leo asked suddenly, with a smile that Cain thought was almost mocking.
"What?" The question left Cain baffled, and his eyes darted to Sara for some clue as to how he should respond.
Sara nodded slightly, trying to tell him the truth.
"Yes, I just found out a few days ago that I'm your brother," Cain replied, narrowing his eyes, his voice as cold as the snow beneath his feet.
"Oh..." Leo murmured, seemingly indifferent to Cain's attitude, but his eyes sparkled with a spark of interest..
De repente, Leo esbozó una sonrisa que Caín encontró inquietante.
—I have an offer for you, dear brother. How about we have a duel? —Leo asked cheekily, as if it were an innocent game.
"A duel? For what reason?" Cain asked, increasingly suspicious of Leo's intentions.
—It's nothing serious. I just want to see who is better, after all, you are my little brother, right? —Leo said, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes..
"You are mistaken," Cain replied sharply. "As far as I know, Count Patrick Von Saimon's heir son was born in early spring, was he not?"
"Yes, and?" Leo replied, intrigued.
"I was born in winter, of the same year, the year 487 Imperial," Cain said, keeping his gaze fixed on Leo.
—So you're older, huh... Don't tell me you want to be the new Count —Leo said, his tone sarcastic.
"No," Cain replied, shaking his head slightly.
"Well, I think we've gotten off topic, haven't we?" Leo quickly changed the subject. "What do you say about a duel?"
"Back to square one," thought Cain, looking at Leo with disdain. Although the young man's appearance might have seemed normal, there was something in his attitude and the intensity of his gaze that revealed a dark side.
""Hmph... how disgusting," Cain thought, but finally nodded.
"Okay," he replied coldly.
"Hahaha, I'm going to enjoy it," Leo laughed, a spark
of anticipation in his voice.
END OF CHAPTER 10