Rio, with legs that seemed to have no strength left, threw himself onto a flat rock by the lake. The lake was like a silent, black mirror, with mist rising from it, curling around the tall trees. His heart pounded wildly, as if a great drum were being struck in his chest, and a ringing sound echoed in his ears, drowning out everything else. Olivia and Elian stood a little farther off, watching him but saying nothing—like two sentinels who knew Rio needed to be alone with himself right now. Olivia's words about the threads and the Chosen swirled in his mind, a bitter truth that made the world feel darker to him.
Olivia had spoken of the world's injustice—of those born with godlike talents who crushed everyone else beneath their feet. But what Olivia and Elian didn't know was that her words weren't just a new story to Rio; they were an echo of his own past. Rio had tasted this feeling before—the weakness, the sense that he could never measure up to those who were inherently stronger. Memories rose like dark shadows in his mind: the space station test, where despite all his effort, he'd been rejected for his physical frailty. Those days, the cold stares of the instructors, the sting of failure—it had pierced his heart like a dagger. And now, in this world too, it was the same—the Chosen, with power that seemed to descend from the heavens, could turn everything upside down, and Rio was helpless to stop it.
These thoughts raged like a storm in his head, tearing his mind apart. His breathing quickened, cold sweat trickled down the back of his neck, and though his eyes were fixed on the lake, he saw nothing. The world, to him, was an unfair place—a terrifying one where you either had to be Chosen or be crushed beneath their feet. This feeling weighed on his shoulders like a heavy burden, and his voice was lost within him, leaving only the ringing and the thumping of his heart.
Moments later, Olivia's shadow appeared beside him. She placed her warm hands on Rio's trembling shoulders and spoke in a voice that seemed to come from the depths of her soul:
"Master Rio, listen. The world may be full of injustice, and maybe it's the Chosen who trample everything underfoot, but magic is still for everyone. As long as there's magic, its wonders will never end."
Rio steadied his breathing, lifted his head, and looked at Olivia. His silver eyes were still filled with fear, but a faint light flickered within them—a small spark of hope peeking through all that darkness. The lake around them seemed to come alive a little, the mist above the water dancing in the breeze, and the forest with its towering trees stood like a giant wall encircling them. Rio was still lost in thought, but Olivia's hands on his shoulders were like an anchor, keeping him from drowning.
For a few brief moments, Rio was immersed in Olivia's words—until a black shadow crept into his mind again. His past, like a monstrous giant, emerged from the darkness once more and swallowed everything. His old failures, those cold and bitter moments, came alive before his eyes. He no longer saw the lake or the forest—only despair, rising like a wall in front of him. He felt Olivia's hands on his shoulders but brushed them off with a sharp motion. His legs moved on their own, carrying him a few steps back toward Olivia and Elian. His eyes burned with anger and fear as he looked at them and said, his voice rising from the depths of his throat:
"You don't get it! I'm already a demon to the dragons around me. And now I have to face things like the Chosen too? If one day a Chosen comes and wants to destroy my family, what am I supposed to do? With your words, they could rip the air from my lungs or crush my bones with a single finger!"
Rio stumbled back a step and muttered, almost to himself:
"Everything's repeating itself… I'm just a useless fool living in delusions of success."
His words dissipated into the air like mist, and a heavy silence wrapped around him. Olivia remained quiet, but Elian fixed Rio with a stare for a moment—a cold, weighty gaze, as if he were dissecting him. Then, calmly, he walked toward the lake. The surrounding forest seemed to hold its breath, the trees standing like silent, black guardians, and the lake's mist swirled in the air, like spirits awaiting a disaster.
In an instant, with a smooth and terrifying motion, Elian drew a long, slender sword from beneath his dark red cloak. The faint forest light glinted off its blade, as if the sword were alive. With a swift, powerful strike—so fast that Rio only saw a blur—the air itself split apart. There was no sound, just a deathly silence that followed. Elian sheathed the sword calmly and hid it beneath his cloak again, like a predator finished with its hunt. Rio stood frozen, his breath locked in his chest, his eyes glued to Elian. Suddenly, the lake before him tore apart with a deafening roar, the water surging into two towering walls on either side, revealing a black chasm in the center that seemed to plunge into the earth's depths. Steam rose from its core, and waves crashed against the shore with a monstrous sound, like the cry of an ancient being awakened from slumber.
Rio's knees buckled, and with a choked sound, he collapsed to the ground. His eyes were wide with terror, his heart hammering in his chest, his mind unable to comprehend the scene—the lake torn apart like paper, and Elian unleashing such power with a single move. Before he could process it, Elian approached him with heavy steps. His black armor glinted faintly, and his red eyes burned like twin flames of rage beneath his helmet. With a swift motion, he grabbed Rio by the collar and lifted him off the ground like a ragdoll. Rio dangled in the air, his legs flailing, his breath caught in his throat. Elian's voice thundered through the forest:
"So what? Yes, maybe some in this world are Chosen, but everything can be killed! Pull yourself together, master Rio! You can't let fear of this injustice destroy you. Out there, people are drowning in misery—do they blame you? No! Do they give up because the world isn't fair? No! They take what they want, no matter the cost!"
Elian's breathing was ragged, his eyes locked on Rio's face, his voice rumbling like thunder:
"If you let fear of something that might not even exist consume you, you'll forever be the ice dragon you're so afraid of!"
Rio hung in Elian's grip, and suddenly tears streamed from his eyes—not from fear, but from a truth that struck him like a slap. He hated himself for not being able to shake that cursed fear of failure. With a trembling voice, he whispered:
"What should I do?"
Elian leaned closer, his red, terrifying eyes piercing into Rio's soul.
"Be who you want to be, no matter the cost!"
Then, with a firm motion, he set Rio back on the ground. Elian was panting, rage coursing through him, and he stepped away, turning his back as if to extinguish the fire within.
Later, the darkness of night cloaked the forest, a blackness that seemed to swallow everything. Rio rode behind Elian, his body weary and heavy, the cold wind rustling his white hair. His silver eyes glinted faintly in the moonlight, filled with exhaustion and an unshakable sorrow. Elian, in his black armor and red cloak, strode forward with long, heavy steps that echoed in the night's silence. Halfway along the path, Elian coughed briefly, as if clearing something from his throat, then spoke with a hint of shame:
"Forgive my insolence, Master Rio. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."
Rio let out a sigh, a breath that seemed to rise from his core, and said:
"I'm sorry too. I was scared like a child." He paused, then added, "But you could've said it a bit more gently!"
Elian shook his head, letting out a short laugh.
"You're right.I got angry very quickly.—didn't even realize what happened." His tone softened, tinged with regret.
Rio looked at him, and then, silently, a laugh burst from deep within—a laugh that shone like a small light in that cold night. Elian joined in slowly, their laughter mingling and fading among the trees. The journey to the palace was long, but that moment eased some of the weight in their hearts.
When they reached the palace, the dark corridors seemed sadder under the faint moonlight. The stone walls were cold, and the long shadows of the pillars stretched across the floor like silent phantoms standing guard. Elian carefully set Rio down, and at that moment, the warm, laughing voice of his father, William, drifted from the great hall, telling a story, alongside the calm tones of His Mom Maria, the soft voice of Nadia, and the chatter of his other sisters, Adrina and Setia. Rio peeked from behind a pillar, staying hidden with Elian beside him. From there, he saw Nadia's smile—a smile like the sun in the night, something he hadn't seen since the day she was born. His heart warmed, but a heavy sorrow settled over it.
If he joined them, Nadia, who always avoided him, would surely leave the hall. He didn't want to take that smile from her face or ruin his family's joy. He lowered his head, closed his eyes, and pretended to be asleep. Elian, understanding, said nothing and carefully guided him through the corridors. Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, casting Elian's shadow long and mournful, his red cloak swaying faintly in the breeze. As they passed the hall, Adrina glanced up and caught sight of Rio but remained silent.
Elian escorted him to his room and, with a slightly hoarse voice, said:
"You know, Master Rio, I admire you. Only a true man can sacrifice his own happiness for others'."
Rio shook his head, sorrow pooling in his eyes. Nadia's smile still lingered before him, but his heart ached with distance. Quietly, he murmured:
"Maybe…"
Elian helped him to his bed, opened the door, and left with a brief glance. The door closed softly behind him.
Rio lay on his bed, the room dark save for the faint moonlight filtering through the window, casting somber shadows of the tall walls. The distant sound of his family's laughter reached him like a faint, fading melody. His eyes stared at the ceiling, grief settling over his chest like a heavy blanket. Time passed, his breathing slowed, but his mind remained restless.
Suddenly, the door creaked open softly. Rio turned his head and saw Adrina standing in the doorway, her short hair glinting in the moonlight. His eyes widened, his heart raced, a small jolt running through him. His sister? His breath caught, unsure what to say, staring at her.
Adrina stepped inside with her usual cold, expressionless face. The dim moonlight illuminated her short hair with a soft glow. Without a word, she approached his bed and sat on a wooden chair beside it. She gently ran her hand through his white hair, as if trying to ease some of his burden with that touch. In a voice laced with dry calm, she said:
"Hey, silver bunny, what's wrong? You okay?"
Rio lifted his head from the pillow, forcing a smile to pretend he was fine, but his silver eyes couldn't hide the sadness within. His breath was heavy, and before he could speak, Adrina sighed and said:
"Don't do that. I know you're upset. Tell me what happened—everything."
Rio glanced at the wall, unsure where to begin. His heart was full, a weight he could no longer bear. With a trembling voice, he said:
"Today… I realized magic isn't what I thought it was. It's not fair. Olivia said there are some Chosen—beings that the threads of creation have granted terrifying powers. They're so strong that no one can stand against them."
Adrina's eyes widened briefly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. She pressed her hands to her forehead, as if holding back a heavy thought, and let out a long sigh:
"Olivia, I don't know what to tell you! She always blows everything out of proportion."
She shook her head and continued:
"Look, silver bunny, the Chosen might be powerful, but there are so few of them that no one even knows who they are or where they are. Besides, they're so strong they don't care about anything—not war, not destruction, nothing. To me, they're just a bunch of depressed, aimless people who have everything and find meaning in nothing."
Rio listened, and some of that overwhelming fear in his heart eased. His eyes were still thoughtful, but he said more calmly:
"So I shouldn't be afraid of them?"
Adrina gave a small smile, stood from the chair, and lay beside Rio on the bed. The bed creaked softly, and the moonlight illuminated her face. With a tone of quiet certainty, she said:
"As long as you have me, you don't need to fear anything. I'll protect you, I promise."
Rio looked at her, a warmth spreading through his chest. He slid closer and hugged her tightly—a deep embrace that seemed to drown all his fears. His arms locked around her, his breathing steadied. That hug was a sanctuary, a safe place where no Chosen could reach him. Before he knew it, his eyes grew heavy, and he drifted into a boundless calm, falling asleep.
The room fell silent, filled only with the soft breathing of Rio and Adrina. Moonlight spilled across the bed, casting their shadows on the wall—two figures leaning on each other in that cold night.