Once upon a time,

In a place where the sun seldom graced the earth, and warmth felt like a distant memory, our story begins.

Frosthaven—a desolate mountain town hidden deep in the heart of Northern Europe—was a realm ruled by winter's iron fist. Snow wrapped the streets in its white embrace from November to March, frost clawed at windows like an uninvited ghost, and the mountains stood guard with jagged peaks that seemed to pierce the heavens. Frosthaven was no idyllic retreat; it was cold, merciless, and unyielding. Survival here was a test of will, and those who passed bore hearts hardened by the frost.

Yet, even in its icy silence, Frosthaven whispered of untamed magic: the storms that painted its skies in turmoil, the snow that sang secrets to the wind, and the quiet yearning of its people for the day the ice would melt away.

The snow had been falling for weeks, blanketing the town in a deceptive purity. Beneath that serene white surface lay truths colder than the biting winds.

At the edge of town stood Glacierwood High, perched atop a lonely hill that overlooked the valley below. The school, with its gothic towers and frost-glazed windows, seemed a fortress stolen from another time. Its gray stone walls bore witness to countless unspoken dreams, fears, and betrayals. Inside, dimly lit halls echoed the murmurs of students, their voices heavy with ambitions and secrets. This was not merely a school; it was a stage—one where friendships shattered, alliances formed, and futures were rewritten.

It Is November, and the world is cloaked in silence. The second-year students of Glacierwood High return, unaware that the chill in the air carries more than winter's bite. It carries change.

Among them, two paths would cross—Autumn Vale and August Delacroix—and with that meeting, a story as fierce and unforgiving as Frosthaven's winter would unfold.

Autumn was the fading glow of fall, forever caught in the grip of an unyielding frost.

August was the fleeting promise of summer, always arriving a moment too late.

Autumn stood by her locker, her body leaning against the cold metal. Headphones in her ears drowned out the world as first-year students passed by, whispering in awe. Her beauty was magnetic, her presence commanding, but her disinterest was sharper than the November winds. The beginnings of a storm brewed in her heart, though no one could see it yet. This was the beginning, the last calm before her reign began to crumble.

Beside her stood Isabella Carver, her golden hair cascading like sunlight breaking through clouds. Everyone called her Izzy. Next to her was Chloe Walker, a brunette whose sleek, dark hair framed an expressive, ever-curious face. Chloe, always bubbly, spoke with enthusiasm, "Today, we're welcoming a new student! Actually, she's my best friend."

Izzy raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Your best friend? No way. She's my best friend too!"

Chloe stepped back in mock shock. "Do we have two new students?"

Autumn sighed, slamming her locker shut with a sharp clang. Her voice cut through the air like ice. "What a filthy school." Her eyes scanned them with disdain before she walked away, her footsteps echoing.

Chloe's cheerful expression melted into anger. "What's wrong with her now?"

Izzy shrugged, her tone tinged with gossip. "I heard she and August were… close in middle school."

Chloe's eyes widened. "August?"

Izzy smirked. "Well, let's just say sparks are bound to fly in this frozen wasteland." She sauntered off, leaving Chloe to fume in silence.

"August is my best friend. Mine," Chloe muttered under her breath, her fists clenching.

You might be wondering: who is Autumn Vale?

Autumn is the girl everyone envies and admires in equal measure. Beautiful, intelligent, and confident, she reigns as the queen of Glacierwood High—a title earned through charisma and dominance. Every girl wanted to be her; every boy wanted her attention. Yet, Autumn let no one too close. She kept the world at arm's length, her aura untouchable, her trust guarded.

She ruled her small kingdom with calculated indifference, but even queens can't stop the seasons from changing. The perfect world Autumn had crafted was about to crumble, and she would do everything to keep her throne.

Inside Glacierwood High, the atmosphere was colder than the snowstorm outside. Autumn sat by the window, her gaze distant. She had once believed this world was hers, but the cracks were forming. Beautiful things never last—just like autumn leaves.

Whispers filled the classroom. A new girl was arriving, someone who had never felt the icy grip of Frosthaven. A girl who was different—unique.

And then, August Delacroix walked in.

Her smile lit the room, warm and disarming, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. The students buzzed with excitement, drawn to her like moths to a flame. But for Autumn, August was no light. She was a threat—one that could shatter the delicate balance of her world.

August's arrival was met with an explosion of attention. Students crowded her desk, eager to meet the girl who seemed to carry summer's glow in her presence. But Autumn's gaze flickered to a seat not far from her own—where Adams Green, her boyfriend, sat.

Adams was staring at August with a smile that made Autumn's stomach twist.

The noise in the classroom faded as August approached. She reached out, her hand brushing against Autumn's. The contact was electric, unwanted.

"I saw you leaving," August said softly, her voice warm and inviting. "Don't sit alone. Come join us."

Autumn's icy glare could've frozen fire. "Us? Who do you think you are?"

Autumn hated people like Augustus, people who acted like they weren't and tried to be angels, and to Augustus in the past, she was just a shadow living in the shadow of Autumn, who had always had it all - and Augustus was just an unnoticeable specter, to Autumn wherever she and August were, she would be the best, and Augustus knew that truth too.

August was always so innocent and kind, it was hard to understand what was going on in her mind, Autumn who lived a year quietly without comparisons, now needed to welcome someone who would try to make up for the past

Before August could respond, another voice cut in. Marceline Durand, one of Autumn's closest friends, rolled her eyes. "What is that girl even saying?"

Adams frowned. "Marceline, don't say things like that."

Marceline shot him a look of pure disdain. "I still don't get why my queen is dating a loser like you."

Marceline was one of the most opposed to the relationship between these two. She always thought that Adams was insignificant and did not deserve someone like Autumn.

August's smile faltered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Did I… do something wrong?"

Autumn pulled her hand away with sharp precision, her voice colder than ever. "Don't touch me."

The room fell silent as Autumn walked away. Behind her, whispers began. People swarmed around August, their words venomous toward Autumn. They spoke of her like a storm—a force to be reckoned with, but one they secretly hoped to see defeated.

Izzy put her hands on August's shoulders, "Don't be sad, she's always been like this."

Chloe, who felt the need to prove herself as a worthy person as well, pushed Izzy's hand away and hugged Augustus, "Don't cry, it's okay, don't get close to that evil girl again."

Izzy looked at her hands that Chloe pushed away, then laughed sarcastically, "Didn't you say that you and Autumn were friends? Now she's evil?"

August pulled herself away from Chloe, "Thanks guys but please don't say that about Autumn, she didn't mean it."

Everyone was talking to themselves about how innocent August was, Marceline said sarcastically, "In Frosthaven, no one stays innocent for long."

And thus, the frost between Autumn and August began to spread.

Because in Frosthaven, relationships are like ice: fragile, treacherous, and capable of shattering with the slightest misstep.