The early morning sun gently peeked over the snowy peaks surrounding the village of Glacia, casting a soft, pale light that glittered off the ever-present blanket of snow. The village was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of wind sweeping through the trees, shaking loose a few flakes of snow that fell silently to the ground. It was the kind of morning that Lumi Borealis loved most—a perfect day for staying in bed.

Lumi, a beautiful polar bear kin girl with a reputation for her sharp mind, was curled up beneath a thick fur blanket. Her long snow-white hair spread out like a frosty halo around her head, and her ice-blue eyes remained closed, a peaceful expression on her face as she snuggled deeper into her bed, her fluffy ears twitching slightly as she drifted through dreams of endless fields of snow and cozy, warm dens. It was her twelfth birthday today, a significant day for any young creature in the kingdom of Iris, but Lumi wasn't too concerned. She knew she could pass any test thrown at her, but that didn't change the fact that she'd rather stay wrapped up in her blanket, enjoying the warmth and comfort only her bed could provide.

But the peaceful silence of the morning was interrupted by a soft knock on her door, followed by the creak of it slowly opening. Lumi's mother, Kirsi, entered the room, her dark eyes filled with gentle affection as she gazed at her daughter. Kirsi, like Lumi, was a polar bear kin, with soft, snow-white hair tied back in a simple ponytail and fluffy ears that twitched with amusement as she watched Lumi pretend to still be asleep.

"Lumi," Kirsi called softly, walking over to the bed. "It's time to get up, sweetheart. Today's a very special day, remember?"

Lumi groaned softly, pulling the blanket over her head in a feeble attempt to block out the world. "Can't I just stay in bed, Mama? It's so warm here…"

Kirsi chuckled, a sound as light as the falling snow outside. She gently pulled the blanket down, revealing Lumi's pouty face. "I know you'd rather stay in bed, but today is your twelfth birthday. You know what that means, don't you?"

Lumi opened one eye, peering up at her mother with an almost knowing look. "The magic test," she muttered, already aware of what it would entail. "I know what I need to do, but do I really have to go?"

Kirsi smiled and nodded. "Yes, you do. But just think—after the test, we'll go to the bakery for your favorite frostberry tarts. Doesn't that sound nice?"

At the mention of her favorite treat, Lumi's ears perked up slightly, and she slowly sat up in bed, her mind already calculating the quickest way to get through the test so she could indulge. "Frostberry tarts?" she repeated, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Kirsi nodded, smoothing down Lumi's messy hair. "Yes, Lumi. But only if you get up and get ready. We don't want to be late, do we?"

With a reluctant sigh, Lumi finally threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet sinking into the soft fur rug on the floor. She knew there was no avoiding the test, but she was confident in her abilities—after all, her natural talent had always made things easier for her. As she stood, Lumi stretched her arms above her head, her fluffy polar bear ears twitching as she tried to shake off the lingering sleepiness.

"Alright, Mama," Lumi said, her voice a little more awake now. "I'll get ready."

Kirsi smiled and kissed the top of Lumi's head. "That's my girl. I'll be downstairs with your father. Don't take too long, or we'll be late."

As her mother left the room, Lumi shuffled over to the window and pulled back the heavy curtains. The view outside was breathtaking—a serene winter wonderland of snow-covered trees and distant mountains, all bathed in the soft light of the morning sun. Lumi sighed, a small smile playing on her lips. As much as she wanted to stay in bed, she couldn't deny that it was a beautiful day.

She quickly dressed in her favorite winter outfit—a soft, fur-lined cloak and a pair of warm boots. The cloak, a gift from her father, Boreas, shimmered in shades of blue and white, reflecting the icy landscape outside. It was made from his own frost-colored hair in his humanoid form, a unique and precious gift that Lumi treasured.

Lumi's father, Boreas, was a frost dragon, and while Lumi had inherited some of his draconic traits, she mostly resembled her mother. Her snow-white hair, fluffy ears, and calm demeanor were all signs of her polar bear kin heritage. But there was something more to Lumi, something that set her apart from others like her. She had always felt a deep connection to the cold, an affinity for ice and snow that went beyond mere preference—it was almost as if the winter itself was a part of her. And now, on her twelfth birthday, she would finally see just how deep that connection went.

As she finished getting dressed, Lumi glanced at herself in the mirror. Her ice-blue eyes stared back at her, filled with a mix of curiosity and confidence. She wasn't particularly nervous about the magic test—Lumi rarely felt nervous about anything—but she couldn't help but wonder what kind of magic she might possess. Would it be something strong and powerful, or something subtle and precise?

With a shrug, Lumi turned away from the mirror and headed downstairs, where her parents were waiting. Boreas, in his humanoid form, stood by the door, his tall frame nearly blocking the light from outside. His long, frost-colored hair reached past his back, and his slitted ice-blue eyes watched Lumi with a calm, lazy expression that mirrored her own.

"There's my little snowflake," Boreas said, his voice as cool and soothing as a winter breeze. "Ready for your big day?"

Lumi nodded, her expression matching her father's laidback demeanor. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Kirsi chuckled softly and took Lumi's hand. "Let's go, then. We don't want to keep the village elders waiting."

The Borealis family stepped out into the crisp morning air, the snow crunching softly beneath their boots as they made their way to the village square. Lumi felt a sense of calm and confidence wash over her as they walked, her thoughts drifting to the promised frostberry tarts that awaited her at the end of the day.

She may have to face the magic test, but in Lumi's mind, it was just another step on her path—a path she had always known she would walk, with her natural gifts leading the way.