The air changed instantly.
Frost rolled off the blade in soft spirals, weaving across the floor like silk threads of mist. The temperature dropped in a heartbeat, my breath turning white.
A faint hum filled the air low, melodic, and alive. Blue light rippled down the glass blade, brightening until it looked like a fragment of winter sky trapped in crystal.
I could feel the mana moving steady, focused, perfect. Not even a hint of resistance. It flowed through me, through her, as if we shared the same pulse.
A moment later, the frost on the ground coalesced into a single perfect snowflake, spinning lazily before dissolving into air.
I exhaled slowly. "That's… incredible."
Did Sacha do good? she asked, voice bubbling with pride.
I smiled. "Yeah. You did great."
Heehee… Papa's proud of Sacha!
"Of course I am," I said, lowering the blade carefully. The glow faded, leaving faint trails of frost around my feet. "But let's keep the ice to a minimum indoors, alright?"
