The sun's first rays filtered through the trees, accompanied by the soft chirping of birds greeting the morning. Aurora awoke with a drowsy yawn, rubbing her eyes as she adjusted to the light streaming into her room. She stretched, feeling the gentle morning breeze against her skin as she stepped onto her balcony. The events of yesterday replayed in her mind—Snowy's cold demeanor and his unsettling presence. He was unlike anyone she had met before, and the memory lingered in her thoughts.
However, Aurora's contemplation was abruptly interrupted by the distant sound of clashing metal. The noise of battle, unmistakable and fierce, echoed through the grounds. Driven by curiosity, Aurora leaned over the balcony railing, scanning the training grounds below.
Her eyes quickly locked onto Snowy, surrounded by several trainees and instructors, sparring with bare hands against a fully armed opponent. The onlookers watched in awe as Snowy effortlessly dodged every strike, moving with a fluidity that seemed almost inhuman. His opponent lunged with a sword, but Snowy sidestepped, his movements precise and calculated. With one swift motion, Snowy disarmed his opponent, sending the sword clattering to the ground. The fight was over before it even began.
Snowy stared down at his defeated opponent for a brief moment, but his gaze shifted when he sensed someone watching him. His eyes met Aurora's, who quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at being caught staring. Snowy's expression remained indifferent; no hint of amusement or annoyance crossed his face. He simply turned away, uninterested, and made his way back to his room, barely acknowledging the greetings from trainers and councilors along the way. A nod was all he gave in return.
As Snowy entered his room, his phone buzzed incessantly. Notifications flooded the screen—calls, texts, all from Emily, Kael, and Draken. There were over five hundred missed calls and messages. Snowy sighed, realizing how much he had ignored them. He knew they were worried, especially after the recent events. After a brief moment of hesitation, he picked up his phone and typed a quick reply to Emily.
Snowy: "Sorry for not responding sooner. I'm at the Hound Clan."
The response was almost immediate.
Emily: "Why didn't you come to my place? You're always welcome here, you know."
Snowy: "You're out of the city, and the Hound Clan has better resources for training. It's just easier here."
Emily: "My family's resources are good enough too, you know! Are you okay? You could've told us something instead of disappearing like that."
Snowy: "I'm fine. I need a place to train in peace. The Shadow Dragon already knows where I am, and I don't want to risk dragging you, Kael, or Draken into this mess."
Emily read his message, her expression softening slightly as she considered his words. She felt a warmth spreading in her chest—Snowy cared, even if he didn't always show it.
Emily: "You have no idea how much I've tried to contact you. And what are you even doing in the city when you know the Shadow Dragon is around?"
Snowy: "It's not here. I just needed some time. Sorry if I made you worry. It's not like I forgot about you guys or didn't care."
On the other end of the line, Emily's face flushed. "(He worries… about me? No, he means all of us, of course.)"
Snowy: "Hello? You still there?"
Emily: "Yeah, sorry. Just got lost in thought."
Snowy: "Alright then, I have to go now. Take care."
Emily: "Don't get into trouble, okay? 👋"
Snowy set his phone down, only to feel a light tug on his shirt. Ignis, his loyal dragon companion, was there, looking up at him with pleading eyes. She pointed to her mouth, indicating her hunger. Snowy chuckled softly, flicking her forehead. "You little glutton, you're going to eat the clan out of all their food at this rate. But fine, fish as usual?"
Ignis's eyes lit up with joy, and she bounced around in her small dragon form, excited at the prospect of her favorite meal. Snowy headed to the kitchen, cooking her fish exactly the way she liked it. It was a familiar, comforting task, and for a moment, it allowed him to push away the heavy thoughts that had weighed on him since the attack.
Hours later, Aurora walked through the Hound Clan grounds, her initial plan of simply lending financial support now evolving into something more. Watching Snowy and the others had sparked a sense of purpose in her; she wanted to do more than just provide resources. She wanted to help them grow stronger. She called over Kenshi, one of her elite guards, who immediately bowed in respect.
Aurora gestured to the clan members, some of whom were training half-heartedly. "Kenshi, I need you to train these people. They're lacking discipline and skill. Strengthen them."
Snowy, observing from a distance, couldn't help but feel something was off. Aurora's sudden shift in behavior—from financial benefactor to active trainer—wasn't typical, But he just shrugged it off.
Aurora's eyes met Snowy's again, but this time she held his gaze, only looking away when she felt his suspicious gaze. Clearing her throat, she approached him, trying to seem casual. "Oh, warrior, how was your rest?"
Snowy, still skeptical, responded with silence, walking away to another part of the training ground. Aurora watched him leave, feeling embarrassed. She turned her attention back to Kenshi, issuing further instructions on how to train the clan in archery, swordsmanship, and unarmed combat.
Snowy stood at the sidelines, his mind drifting. The sound of grunts and yells filled the air as Kenshi pushed the trainees to their limits. His training was rigorous, often involving harsh physical drills and punishment for failure. Kenshi would strike trainees with a thick wooden stick if they failed to meet his standards, leaving painful welts that would last for days. Snowy found the methods crude and unnecessarily harsh, especially for those who were clearly not suited for such intense regimens.
Kenshi, noticing Snowy's disapproving stare, decided to make a point. He hurled his training stick towards Snowy, a silent challenge. Snowy caught it effortlessly between two fingers, barely glancing up. Kenshi's expression turned from smug to surprised.
"Who are you, exactly?" Kenshi asked, sizing Snowy up.
Snowy remained calm. "The name's Snowy."
Kenshi scoffed, as though the name didn't match the figure before him. "Snowy? What kind of name is that for a warrior?"
Snowy sighed, growing tired of the banter. "What do you want?"
Kenshi stepped forward, his demeanor imposing. "Everyone here trains, no exceptions."
Snowy looked around at the trainees,Aurora and the councilors, then back at Kenshi. "Everyone?"
Kenshi nodded firmly. "Everyone except the advisors, councilors, and Miss Aurora herself."
Snowy considered his options briefly. "I'm not interested."
Kenshi's face darkened. "This isn't optional. You'll train, or you'll answer to me."
Aurora quickly intervened, sensing the brewing confrontation. "Let's not create unnecessary problems, Mr. Snowy."
Snowy shrugged. "What's the problem? I already train harder than what this guy's offering."
Kenshi's pride was clearly wounded. "Your training is child's play compared to the real thing."
Aurora placed a hand on Kenshi's shoulder to calm him. "Enough. Mr. Snowy, I have a proposal. If you can defeat Kenshi in a duel, you're exempt from the training. Otherwise, you'll follow the rules like everyone else."
Snowy's smirk was all the response she needed. Aurora's heart sank a little, knowing she might have just unleashed something she couldn't control. But she wanted to see Snowy's true strength, to gauge just how formidable he really was.
Moments later, Snowy and Kenshi faced off in the dueling grounds. The crowd gathered, eager to witness the match. Kenshi's confidence was bolstered by his reputation, and the cheers of the other guards only added to his resolve. But as the fight began, it was clear who had the upper hand.
Snowy moved like a shadow, his speed far outpacing Kenshi's strength. Blow after blow, Snowy dodged and countered, exploiting every opening with calculated precision. Kenshi's strikes were powerful but clumsy in comparison, and Snowy's reflexes allowed him to evade even the fastest attacks. The duel was a blur of motion, and in a matter of minutes, Kenshi was on the ground, bruised and battered, struggling to stand.
The onlookers were stunned into silence. Kenshi, their top guard, had been defeated effortlessly. He was quickly carried off to the infirmary, his ego as bruised as his body. Aurora watched, a mix of awe and admiration washing over her. She had expected a fight, but not this outcome.
Snowy dusted off his hands, turning away as though nothing significant had happened. Aurora couldn't help but smile slightly,both impressed and wary. "Snowy… you have surpassed my expectations".