Whoosh!
The breeze swayed the branches overhead, leaves rustling. Dappled sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting shifting patterns across the forest floor.
A figure moved from behind a thick oak, boots crunching softly on fallen leaves. He stepped into the small clearing, scanning left and right with practiced caution.
Crack!
The moment his foot touched the center of the clearing, ice erupted from the ground like crystalline lightning. It raced up his legs, across his torso, encasing him in a perfect frozen shell before he could even cry out. His eyes were wide with shock behind the ice prison.
"This makes twenty."
A low voice drifted from the treeline.
A girl stepped out from behind a cluster of birches, the sunlight slipping through the leaves and catching in her silver hair. It shimmered faintly, like moonlight tangled in motion.
She wore a black overcoat trimmed with gold along the sleeves and down the back. Beneath it, a crisp white shirt with a high collar sat neatly under a crimson bow, tucked into a pleated skirt marked by twin black stripes near the hem.
A leather belt crossed her waist at an angle, a gold buckle gleaming as it held a small side pouch. Gold-threaded patterns traced her thigh-high stockings, matching the coat's embroidery before disappearing into her short, buckled boots.
On her back, the gold crest of a winged emblem caught the light.
She approached the frozen figure casually. Inside the ice, the boy wore the male version of the same uniform, though his was a blazer instead of the overcoat. His face was locked in an expression of complete surprise.
The girl raised her hand. Ice around the boy's chest pocket melted, allowing her to extract a small token before the water refroze instantly.
She examined the token briefly, then slipped it into her pouch with twenty others.
Just as she turned and was about to get to the next place.
Whistle!
She tilted her head and an arrow whistled past her ear, close enough to ruffle her silver hair.
She spun around and spotted two archers perched on thick oak branches, already nocking their next arrows.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Another barrage came. She dove to the side, rolling behind a fallen log as arrows thudded into bark where she'd been standing.
Damn it.
Crack!
She raised her palm and conjured a wall of crystalline ice, deflecting the next volley with sharp pinging sounds.
But something was wrong.
A shadow fell across her position—
Huh?
She sensed the danger and threw herself backward in a perfect spinning leap, her body twisting through the air like a dancer.
CRASH!
A massive warhammer slammed into the ground where she'd been crouched, sending chunks of earth and ice flying. The impact crater was three feet wide.
"Tsk."
The hammer wielder clicked his tongue and hefted the weapon onto his broad shoulder. He was built like a brick wall, with arms thick as tree trunks. "Why can't you just stay in one place?"
The silver-haired girl landed gracefully and smirked. "Why? Can't handle a little exercise, chubby?"
His face flushed red with rage. "You're dead!"
"Calm down, Lucas."
Another voice cut through his fury. A girl with auburn hair approached through the trees, wearing the same academy uniform as the ice wielder.
"She's just provoking you," the newcomer said calmly.
The silver-haired girl twisted her wrist. Orbs of ice began floating around her like satellites, and snow started forming beneath her feet in spreading patterns.
"So the mice finally came out to play," she said, her voice carrying across the clearing.
The auburn-haired girl pulled out a sleek wand. It began to glow with orange light.
She grinned. "It's over, Ice Princess."
The archers drew back their bowstrings. Lucas charged his hammer with earth magic until it glowed brown. The mage's spell reached critical intensity.
All three attacked simultaneously.
But...
The silver-haired girl's smirk only deepened.
And she whispered just a single word.
"Frostnova!"
And the world turned white.
*****************
Wind passed through the air, making the flowers in the courtyard sway in gentle waves.
Victor stood in the center of the space, his steel sword gleaming in the afternoon light.
"This is a new technique I created at the academy," he said, shifting into a combat stance. "Pay attention, little brother."
He moved through a series of fluid motions, thrust, parry, diagonal slash, spin. The blade sang through the air with each movement, creating a pattern that looked almost like a dance.
But there was deadly precision in every strike, power behind every swing.
I watched from where I sat on the stone bench, my fingers unconsciously tightening around the wooden practice sword Victor had shoved into my hands earlier.
Why the hell am I even holding this thing?
The wooden blade felt foreign and clumsy in my grip.
Jin's muscle memory offered no help, this body had never properly learned swordplay. Every time Victor had tried to "teach" him before, it had ended with bruises and humiliation.
I gulped as Victor finished his demonstration and turned toward me with that predatory smile.
"Your turn," he said, pointing his sword at my chest. "Show me what you learned."
My mouth went dry. The wooden sword might as well have been a pool noodle for all the good it would do me. Jin's arms were stick-thin.
This wasn't going to be a lesson. It was going to be target practice.
And I was the target.
[StatusEffect.Poison]
[Warning: Physical exertion may accelerate toxin spread]
Even the system was telling me this was a bad idea.
But refusing wasn't an option. Not with Victor's gray eyes already gleaming with anticipation.
I stood up on shaky legs, raising the practice sword with trembling arms.
This is going to hurt.
I moved forward and performed a clumsy slash, the wooden sword wobbling through the air with no technique or power behind it.
Then, without any warning...
Crack!
Victor slammed the flat of his steel blade against my back.
"Argh!"
The impact sent me sprawling face-first onto the courtyard.
"What the hell was that?" he snarled above me. "I spent my time teaching you, and you can't even understand basic movements?"
Thud!
His boot connected with my ribs, making me wince and curl up instinctively.
"Stand up," he commanded.
I tried to push myself up, but my arms gave out.
Thud!
Another kick to my side.
Then he spat on the ground beside my head. "I'm done with you. Stay weak."
His footsteps faded as he stormed back toward the house.
I slowly pushed myself up, groaning with each movement. My ribs throbbed where he'd kicked me, and my back felt like it was on fire.
"Bastard," I muttered under my breath.
Using the wooden practice sword as a crutch, I limped toward the house. Each step sent jolts of pain through my torso. I made it to my room and closed the door behind me before collapsing onto the bed with a pained groan.
Why does everything in this life hurt?
Just as I was cursing my shitty luck.
The door opened and Vivienne entered, her expression were of maternal concern.
"Oh my," she said, hurrying to sit beside me on the bed. She helped me sit up. "Are you alright, dear?"
I nodded weakly.
"Please don't take it to heart," she said softly. "Victor just wants to help you grow stronger. He's your brother, he cares for you."
Right. He cares so much.
I scoffed inwardly at her words about Victor's "caring" nature.
She retrieved a bowl of broth from the side table. "Here, drink this. It will help you feel better."
I nodded and accepted the bowl, though the poison warnings were already flashing in my peripheral vision.
Vivienne smiled and stood to leave. As she turned, a small leather pouch fell from her dress pocket onto the floor.
She quickly snatched it up, looking at me with momentary panic before forcing another smile.
"Just the medicine I use to make your broth," she said hurriedly, stroking my hair. "You should rest now."
She turned to leave, tucking the pouch back into her dress—
Debug Vision.
I activated the skill internally, focusing on the pouch in her hand, before she could put it back.
Then I smiled. As the next panel flashed in front of my eyes.