As night fell, Auren sat quietly on a thick tree branch just above the cottage, arms resting on his knees. The moon hung low, silver and solemn, casting pale light across the snow-dusted ground. The breeze was gentle, brushing against his cheek like a memory. Alone in the silence, he closed his eyes and began to sing, his voice soft, almost like a breath:
"Snow drifts down with a silent grace,
Hiding footprints, hiding face.
It never asks, it never stays,
Just like the ones who walked away."
His voice faded with the wind, and for a moment, it felt as if the snow itself paused to listen.
Auren's voice faded into the stillness, but the breeze carried it gently toward the cottage. Inside, Eirlys had just finished laying another blanket over her mother. She paused, her breath catching as the soft melody reached her ears.
Curious, she stepped quietly outside, her nightrobe brushing against her ankles as she looked around. Her eyes rose to the tree near the house—and there, silhouetted by moonlight, sat Auren, half-shadowed by branches, his back to the trunk.
"…That was beautiful," she said softly.
Auren blinked and looked down, clearly caught off guard. "Didn't realize I had an audience," he replied with a faint smirk.
Eirlys hugged herself gently. "Was that… about someone?"
He shook his head once, then nodded. "Not just one person. Maybe snow makes us all remember things we don't want to say out loud."
She lowered her gaze. "I like it. Even if it felt a little sad."
Auren smiled faintly. "Snow always feels a little sad, doesn't it?"
There was a long silence before Eirlys whispered, "Will you sing again tomorrow?"
"Only if the wind asks nicely," he teased.
She smiled, then stepped back inside, her cheeks faintly flushed. Auren looked back up at the moon, the quiet returning—comforting, but now with warmth tucked somewhere inside it.
That night, as moonlight spilled across the wooden floor, Eirlys drifted into sleep, her breathing soft and even.
In her dream, she stood barefoot on a snowy field under a starlit sky. The wind was gentle, wrapping around her like a lullaby. Snowflakes danced upward instead of falling, glowing faintly like tiny spirits. Then she saw him—Auren, standing at the edge of a frozen lake, his cloak fluttering in the wind, looking not at her, but at the stars.
She walked toward him, the snow warm beneath her feet.
He didn't speak, only reached out his hand.
As their fingers touched, the snow around them bloomed with tiny blue flowers, glowing softly. The air shimmered with warmth.
"You're not afraid of the cold anymore?" she asked, her voice echoing like a melody.
Auren turned to her with a rare softness in his gaze. "Not if you're standing beside me."
Then the dream swirled like mist, the warmth slipping away…
Eirlys woke slowly, eyes fluttering open. Her hand was still resting on her chest, over her heart, where it felt strangely warm.
She stared at the ceiling with a quiet smile.
"…Idiot," she whispered to herself, pulling the blanket tighter.
The morning sun spilled gently into the room, painting golden streaks across the wooden floor. Birds chirped outside, and the scent of pine drifted through the window. Eirlys stirred beneath the covers, stretching slowly, still half-lost in the warmth of her dream.
Then—
"Morning," came Auren's voice from the corner, calm and casual as ever. He was seated by the window, sharpening a small dagger, eyes flicking to her briefly.
Eirlys jolted up slightly, cheeks tinged pink. "You—How long have you been sitting there?"
"Long enough to see you smile like an idiot in your sleep," he said, barely hiding the smirk in his voice.
She grabbed a pillow and tossed it at him, groaning. "Ugh, I hate you."
He caught it easily and leaned back, eyes half-lidded with amusement. "If I had a coin for every time you said that..."
"Then you could afford manners," she shot back, smoothing her hair and refusing to meet his eyes.
He chuckled, standing slowly and moving toward the door. "We've got a long day. Breakfast's on the table. Try not to burn it this time."
Eirlys narrowed her eyes as he left, but then… a tiny smile crept across her lips.
"…You were in my dream, you jerk," she mumbled under her breath, brushing a snowflake off her sleeve that had somehow drifted in through the open window.
Auren stood still in the heart of the forest, the quiet rustling of the trees around him. He needed to pass the academy entrance, and to do so, he had to create a spell that showed his mastery over magic. His fingers twitched, and the air thickened with raw power.
He closed his eyes for a moment, centering his mind. Then, he began the chant under his breath.
"First… Ignis."
He stretched his hand forward, and a flickering flame appeared in the air, dancing on his palm. It twisted and crackled with heat, a small sphere of intense fire. The warmth seeped into the air, almost too much for comfort, but Auren held it steady.
"Ignis," he repeated, "the fire of life and destruction. Now…"
He raised his other hand, directing the flow of mana.
"Ventus."
A gust of wind howled from nowhere, swirling around the flame and making it more intense, sharper, its edges now glowing brighter. The fire's form shifted, becoming more concentrated, as if it were being honed into something more dangerous. The wind was not just a breeze; it was a force, sharpening the flame, making it more unpredictable.
Then, with a final breath, he added the last element.
"Fulmen."
The air snapped, crackled, and a bolt of lightning shot from the ground to the sphere. It crackled like thunder, sparking in every direction, wrapping around the flame and the wind. Auren felt the raw energy surge through him, the three elements coming together in perfect harmony.
The orb floated above his hand, spinning with fiery heat, a biting wind, and electric power. He stared at it, the storm within his palm, ready to strike.
"Now… to test it."
He turned, spotting an Ice Bear lumbering through the forest. A creature of raw power, its massive body a wall of muscle and fur. It was a perfect target.
Auren smirked.
"You've been marked."
With that, he launched the spell forward. The sphere shot out like a beast released from its cage, spinning and crackling through the air. The fire burned bright, the wind howled around it, and the lightning arced through the sphere in blinding flashes.
Upon impact, the bear barely had time to react. The explosion was immediate. The fire scorched its fur, the wind sliced deep into its hide, and the lightning sent it into spasms, the electricity coursing through its body. The ground shook as the shockwave spread out, leaving the bear dazed and weak, its massive form collapsing under the combined force.
Auren stood motionless, his gaze focused on the fallen creature. The spell had worked.
"Well," he muttered, walking over to the bear's body, "looks like I'll need to bring proof to the academy… if they accept my application after this."
With a smirk, he walked off, the embers from his spell still sizzling in the cool forest air.