Elizabeth turned to face him. Her eyes showed only a slight surprise before returning to their usual indifference, except that the usual frost wasn't as prominent. A little white doll floated before her, its dress of snow slowly scattering into the breeze, becoming a frigid wind that spread over the small clearing.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice subdued, letting none of her previous hostility shine through.

  "I could ask you the same thing," Ethan said, walking up to her.

  Somehow, the sight of her had lifted a weight from his heart. While nothing had been resolved, he felt it could wait, at least for tonight. He stood beside her, with the spirit in between, acting as a hurdle against him. Ethan couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the sight of the doll-like spirit protecting its master.

  “What was that?” she asked, a slight hint of frustration appearing.

  “Nothing,” Ethan sighed, gazing upward. “I just felt like gazing at the moon. Isn’t it beautiful?”

  Elizabeth remained silent, her slim eyebrows slightly crumpled together. After a while, she waved her small hand, only for the snow spirit to take place at her side, allowing Ethan to finally take in her full sight.

  Beth was just as beautiful as he remembered, if not even more so. She felt unattainable, like a single flower growing among the frost of a high peak. Ethan could scarcely believe that they were once promised to each other. Yet, strangely, he didn't feel as bitter as he once did.

  “I don’t remember you as a romantic,” Elizabeth finally said, yet her tone betrayed her doubts, which couldn’t help but make Ethan smile.

  “There is much we do not know about each other," Ethan replied, his gaze calm as he lowered it to look at her. "Besides, beautiful things are beautiful. One should learn to appreciate it, don't you think? Only, I learned this all too late..."

  Surprised flashed on Elizabeth’s face, realizing his meaning, yet it soon turned sour, transforming into a frown.

  “What are you trying to accomplish?” she said, her tone grave. “Why now?

  “I just felt I should learn to be more honest with you,” Ethan sighed. “I can’t always act like a child—being all bitter. I realized that I have been letting my frustration out on you. That was unfair of me. I hope you can forgive me.”

  Ethan's voice was calm, yet many repressed emotions lay deep within, threatening to emerge. Still, he wouldn't let her see him this way. He opened the floodgates only slightly, yet that was enough.

  Elizabeth’s eyes shook with surprise, her small mouth couldn’t help but remain slightly open. The silence between the two remained for a while longer, just enough for Elizabeth to regain her composure. When she did, a slight smile appeared on her lips, and her eyes became gentler. Still, her frigid aura remained regardless as this was but who she was, a part of her charm.

  “I didn’t expect this of you,” she finally said. “I imagine admitting as much must have been hard, considering what both of our families have put you through.”

  “You knew?” Ethan replied, eyes growing much wider as his surprise became apparent.

  "Who do you take me for?" Beth scoffed. "Some sheltered young lady unaware of the inner workings of power and status? I knew exactly what they did to you, how they forced you to annul our engagement. Yet, I did nothing. It's only right for you to resent me for it. This is why I didn't say anything."

  “I never resented you!” Ethan blurted out without thinking, slightly losing his calm.

  Elizabeth was taken aback by his outburst, only looking at him silently, waiting to hear the rest. Still, a hint of embarrassment rose into Ethan's heart, tinting his face in a slight shade of red. He hid his head in his palms, unable to sustain her inquisitive gaze. It took him a few moments to regain his calm and also a few deep breaths. After a while, he finally rose, looking her straight into her deep blue eyes.

  “Really?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. “Why don’t I believe you?”

  “Okay... maybe a little bit,” Ethan sighed. “But, I resented myself much more, almost overwhelmingly so. You were meant to be my wife, yet I couldn’t even keep you. I didn’t have the strength. I had to let go before my weakness would crush both you and me. Looking back on it, this was the only rational choice.”

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “You were only a child; we both were," Beth replied, her gaze rising sharply as she looked at the bright moon overhead before sighing. "I guess there is something else I should apologize to you for. I may have understood your reasons, but for a time, I also did resent you. Our union was never about love but merely for the interest of our respective families, and I understood that. However, a small part of me always wished it could be something more. But, when the engagement was annulled, I saw that wish die, and then I knew I would never have it, and I resented you for it... I'm sorry."

  Ethan didn't know what to say, so he merely remained silent, as did she. He hadn't expected to have such a heartfelt conversation with this woman at this juncture, yet somehow, it didn't feel bad. He had lived hiding his feelings for so long that he believed himself unable to open up anymore, yet he was proven wrong. Maybe if he had done so in the first place, he wouldn't have grown so bitter.

  “I know this isn't my business anymore, but what do you plan to do with your current fiancee?" Ethan asked.

  He didn't know why he did it or what answer he expected of her, yet he couldn't help but ask at that moment. Her gaze lay on him, yet he couldn't determine what emotion was laced within. It left him pensive, but also regretting to have brought up the subject at all. He believed he was over what could have been, but he wasn't sure anymore. Maybe a tiny part of him still had some lingering expectations. Yet, at this point, he could only crush it at the bottom of his mind.

  “You might not have heard, but I have been recommended to the Archon's Personal Guard," she said softly, barely louder than the blowing breeze.

  This shocked Ethan. The Archon's Personal Guard was one of the most accomplished units in the Empire, made up of the most elite individuals. While all were contracted mages, only half relied on their spirits for battle, while the other were accomplished warriors, serving as vanguards and bodyguards for the highest authority of the nation.

  Still, the most peculiar thing about them was that they were all women, without any exceptions. In fact, none were even allowed to marry so as to not form any bonds that could be exploited—all except for one.

  "Did my sister recommend you?" Ethan asked with a deep frown. His voice was stern, much more than he would have liked, yet this detail was paramount.

  “She did. I wasn’t sure whether or not to accept, but now I’ve made up my mind.”

  “What of your family?” Ethan blurted out, his thoughts racing. “Will they accept this? Wasn’t this alliance important to them?”

  “The Reinhardt don't need more influence," she shrugged. "In fact, being close to the Archon can only be a good thing. I'm sure your sister knew they would accept when she offered. She is not one to do pointless things... At least not when it comes to anything but you."

  Feeling her mocking gaze, Ethan couldn't help but return a wry smile. Sometimes, he had no idea what his sister was thinking. She could be warm and caring one moment, then cold and calculative the next. Ethan could never determine her real intentions, as if she always sported a mask. Maybe only her husband knew her true nature, yet Ethan doubted it. She was a monster while he was but a puppet dancing to her tune. In fact, all his family were, maybe even their father.

  “What is she trying to achieve?” Ethan muttered.

  Yet, Elizabeth merely smiled back, one of the few times she had ever done so in his presence.

  “You should ask her if you are so concerned," she said as she began to leave. "After all, it is rare for her to visit the Academy.

  “She’s here?!” Ethan exclaimed, flabbergasted. “When did she arrive?”

  Elizabeth turned, gazing back at him, looking slightly lost.

  “I thought you knew," she replied, her eyes slightly narrowing. "Well, she’s only been here for two days. You might have missed her.”

  Elizabeth then disappeared back into the thick woods, heading toward the three large buildings near the edge of the forest: the female dormitory. Following her was the doll made of snow, floating silently behind her, its gaze as cold as ice. It looked back at Ethan, only to watch him panic. A slight smile distorted its flawless features for a brief moment, only to melt soon after, leaving nothing behind but the frost of winter.

  What should I do? There's no doubt she came here because of me. Gilbert must have informed her when I missed work. How long was I out of it?!

  Ethan remained in the middle of the clearing, bathed in moonlight, wracking his brains on how to explain his absence. He couldn't tell her the truth. Besides, who would believe he was stuck in a dream for who knows how long?

  After a while, Ethan finally calmed down, only to find himself alone in the middle of the forest. Once again, he had failed to ask what Elizabeth was doing here at this hour. Yet, after their civil talk after so long, it felt unimportant. After putting his thoughts in order, Ethan returned to the true reason for coming out here.

  This forest is thick with mana. It should be enough for my purpose.

  Ethan sat down on a nearby stone, picking two pebbles into his hands. He joined his palms together, keeping the two pebbles within as he closed his eyes and slowly felt the mana congregate around him.

  He calmed himself, filtering out all distractions until only the sound of his own heartbeat remained, along with the refreshing feeling of mana coursing through his veins. He then pictured the character seared in his memories, feeling every aspect of it, infusing the meaning within.

  Ethan felt a warmth arose from within, something he had never felt before. It felt foreign but strangely familiar, like it was meant to be. It was unsettling, and it broke his concentration. In but a fleeting moment, the character dissipated, and then his eyes snapped open as he gasped for air.

  His thoughts swirled, and he wondered what the feeling was. Then he opened his hands and saw that the two pebbles had begun to fuse. Joy rose in his heart, knowing he had achieved something extraordinary, yet the elation was short-lived.

  He soon noticed the two joined pebbles vibrate on their own, almost as if trying to break themselves apart again. Then, he heard a hiss, shattering the silence over this isolated clearing.

  Minute cracks began to appear on the two small stones, and the shakes grew even more prominent, threatening to shatter.

  His eyes widened, coming to a striking realization before throwing the pebbles as far as he could. They landed on a tree as wide as he was and exploded at the moment of contact, shattering the trunk in two as if a lightning bolt had just struck.

  Ethan turned away, using his robe to shield himself against the blinding light emitted from the detonation, only for splinters of wood to be propelled against the fabric.

  For a few moments, Ethan stood completely stunned, mouth slightly agape as he looked upon the remains of a massive tree felled by a mere two pebbles, only to be interrupted as countless lights began to rise within the Academy, akin to a torch in the dark of night.

  I should probably get out of here, Ethan thought as he glanced one last time at the destruction he had wrought before disappearing into the forest, taking the long way around to return to the Academy.