"She was a healer—a sanctuary for many. I had looked up to her since I was a mere child, and when she passed, she left me this necklace. It was more than jewelry; it was a silent decree that I was next. I threw myself into the service of the village, doing all I could. Then, the demons struck. To say I was 'terrified' is a pale understatement, but as the daughter of the chief, I had no room for cowardice. I fortified our defenses and mended the broken. In the end, I became the one who rescued others, though my brother nearly paid for my choices with his life. But when I looked at you... I saw my hope. I saw the hero I dreamed of becoming."

  ?The Ice Lord looked at the child, seeing eyes that mirrored his own—eyes he knew all too well. That same dream, that same fire. Despite the paralyzing fear she had felt, she had still stepped forward.

  ?"You have the spirit of a hero," the Ice Lord said, his voice like cracking glaciers. "But not yet. You must be patient. You are still so young."

  "Didn't you say I have what it takes?" she pressed.

  "Yes. But the word 'hero' is a heavy burden. It is a life of constant testing."

  ?"What do you mean?"

  "I mean the burden of salvation and the trial of sacrifice. A hero may lay down their life so that others might breathe. We do not save to be remembered; we save so that the future may exist. That is a truth you cannot grasp yet."

  "If that is the price," she said, her chin lifting, "I am ready."

  "You are certain?"

  "Yes."

  ?Without warning, the Ice Lord seized the girl’s hand and snapped it. A guttural scream tore from her throat as she collapsed, clutching her arm in agony. "My hand! It's broken!"

  Then, the frost shimmered. The illusion of ice dissolved, and the reality returned. It had been nothing more than a mirage cast by his power.

  ?"Child, this is what it means to be a hero. Listen to your own scream. Remember the pain you felt, even if it wasn't real. We endure that every single day. It is the toll we pay to stand where we do. You are far too young for this weight. Forget this dream. Be a healer, like your mother—it is a kinder life."

  ?As the realization of the illusion hit her, the girl broke into tears and fled toward her home, running from the bitter, cold truth.

  ?"That was a cruel way to tell her," Volak remarked, emerging from the shadows. "If I didn't know better, I’d have thought you truly broke her. I almost attacked you myself."

  "My apologies," the Ice Lord replied curtly.

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  "No need. It worked. But proverbs don't matter when I see those eyes. I recognized them from an old friend."

  "A friend? May I know his name?"

  "Ryoga."

  ?Volak shuddered. "You mean the most dangerous hero in existence is your friend?"

  "Yes. We were more than friends; we were brothers. He had those same eyes. I can count every sacrifice he made for this kingdom, yet I still don't know why he turned to the demons of Roz. I didn't want that girl to see the world as it truly is. She is still a child."

  ?Deep within the cave, a demon descended into the pit in search of the legendary beast. He froze, paralyzed by the sheer scale of the creature.

  "What is this? The beasts of the Old Covenant are monstrous," he whispered. "A single sample of this flesh could feed the tribe for thousands of frons. No—I must focus. Once I place the Control Stone, this titan belongs to us."

  ?He pressed the stone against the beast, but the gem withered and crumbled into dust.

  "What? It destroyed the stone? Is its power that immense?"

  He looked at the sleeping behemoth. "You won't wake, will you? The Old Covenant has put you to rest. A comfortable life—sleeping for centuries while I remain a second-ranked soldier."

  ?He sighed, regaining his composure. "No matter. I will succeed. I will find Dimas even if I have to face you myself. You’re lucky you're asleep, or you’d be dead. Plan B: if I cannot control it, I will use a bait to keep it occupied while I finish the mission. And luckily, one of the Seven Knights is right here to play the part."

  ?The Ice Lord woke in his hut to the acrid smell of smoke. On his bed sat a plate of charred, unrecognizable food. Rose stood over him.

  "Ice Lord, I prepared this specifically for you."

  "I can tell," he remarked dryly. "Didn't your father cook anything? Shouldn't you be eating with him?"

  "No. You will eat my food, and then you can talk to him."

  ?The Ice Lord sighed and took a bite, forcing it down while she watched expectantly. "Now... tell me, what do you think of my cooking?"

  He looked at her, a silent prayer for forgiveness for the lie he was about to tell. "Now, about yesterday... the path of a hero. Is your request still the same, even after what you felt?"

  "Yes," Rose said firmly. "Because of that feeling, I realized you were right. So, I have been training to endure the pain."

  ?"Training? How?"

  "I endured that pain with an even greater pain."

  "And what is that?"

  "That's a secret," she whispered. "Do you want to join my team?"

  "No."

  "Why are you so mean? Even my clumsy brother was sent to check the village with Iris. They’re riding Sora, the spectral eagle."

  ?The Ice Lord laughed. "Sora? You think Sora is sweet?"

  "Of course! As long as you don't touch his feathers."

  "Trust me," he said, "Sora seeks only his own amusement. If he can't find it, he invents it. Your brother is likely hanging from Sora's talons right now, fighting for his life because the eagle won't actually grip him—he’ll make him hold on for sport. As for Iris? Sora likes girls, so she’ll be fine. That is Sora’s dark side."

  ?"My foolish brother," Rose muttered. "Anyway, why are you sleeping? Why aren't you on patrol?"

  "I am the commander."

  "That’s not an excuse—that’s exactly what he said."

  ?Back at the demon’s camp:

  "Sir, the stone... it shattered."

  "Shattered? The stone that contains infinite power was destroyed?"

  "Yes. We underestimated the beasts of the Old Covenant."

  "Then what is the plan?"

  "We attack," the subordinate suggested. "But sir, that violates the contract."

  "Don't worry," the demon leader grinned. "We won't be the ones facing it. The Ice Lord is here—the strongest of the Seven Knights. He will deal with the beast, and while they tear each other apart, we will finish our mission. Prepare the soldiers. I have a surprise waiting."