Airi stood in front of a familiar house door.
The sun was warm. Birds chirped. Haruto laughed somewhere inside the house. Her mother's voice echoed from the kitchen, humming as she cooked. The smell of miso and steamed rice drifted through the air.
Airi could not move. Her small hands clutched the edge of her dress as she stared at the door.
She knew what would happen next.
The doorbell rang.
Her mother turned toward the hallway.
"I will check. You two stay here," she said gently.
Airi wanted to stop her.
Mama, do not go.
But her voice never came out.
Her mother walked to the entrance and opened the door.
A scream followed.
A heavy, cold dread sank into Airi's chest. She ran toward the hallway, tiny feet slapping against the wooden floor.
"Mama?"
She turned the corner.
Then she woke up.
Her body jerked upward as if something had pulled her out of the dream. Her breath shook, her hands trembling. The tent was dark, illuminated only by pale moonlight filtering through the fabric.
"Onii Chan."
Her voice broke.
Haruto had already noticed. He sat beside her sleeping bag and brushed her hair back with a gentle touch.
"You had that dream again."
Airi leaned forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him. The warmth of his chest grounded her, and she clung to him as if letting go meant losing everything.
"Onii Chan… please do not leave me. Please stay with me."
Haruto rubbed her back slowly.
"I am right here."
Her tears soaked into his shirt.
After a long pause, he whispered to himself.
Again that dream.
I do not know if Airi's trauma will ever fade.
He held her until her trembling stopped.
When she finally fell asleep again, Haruto stayed awake, watching the flame outside the tent flicker near its final embers.
He would never let anyone take her away.
Not in this world.
Not ever.
The morning sun filled the tent with soft golden light.
Airi blinked slowly, her lashes fluttering as her eyes opened. For a moment she had forgotten where she was, but then she smelled grass and sunlight instead of antiseptic hospital rooms and cold city air.
Haruto was sitting outside the tent. Airi crawled out and saw him stretching his arms.
Bones cracked.
"Onii Chan. Good morning."
He smiled at her, gentle but tired.
"Morning. Did you sleep well?"
Airi hesitated.
"I slept… better than yesterday."
Frost approached them silently. His silver eyes were calm but observant. Airi noticed how he watched her with concern.
"I suspect Lady Airi experienced a nightmare again last night," Frost said quietly to Haruto.
Haruto nodded.
"She did."
Airi puffed her cheeks.
"Do not talk about my dreams like I am not here."
Frost chuckled. Somehow, a massive wolf laughing looked both majestic and silly.
The pups arrived next, tumbling over each other like clumsy cotton balls with legs. Airi squealed and dropped to her knees as they climbed onto her lap, licking her cheeks.
"You are all too cute. Stop. That tickles."
Haruto watched the scene, the faintest smile forming.
Frost leaned closer to him.
"She is recovering."
Haruto nodded.
"I know."
Then Airi suddenly stood and pouted with her cheeks puffed to the maximum.
"Onii Chan, we were supposed to build our house here. Remember? Yesterday you said we would."
Haruto scratched the back of his head.
"Ah. Yes. About that…"
Frost stepped forward, tail swaying proudly.
"I offered to teach Lord Haruto magic."
Airi gasped, immediately forgetting her frustration.
"You can use magic?"
"White wolves specialize in wind magic," Frost explained. "And I, as the Wolf Lord, can also manipulate ice."
Airi's eyes sparkled.
"So that is why your name is Frost. That is so cool."
Frost blinked, unsure how to respond.
Haruto crossed his arms.
"So. You will teach me."
Frost nodded.
"We will begin now. Lady Airi may play nearby."
Airi pointed at Haruto.
"Work hard. I will build the house while you train."
Haruto froze.
"Wait, what?"
Airi smiled innocently.
"Kidding. I am going to play."
Training began in a small empty clearing.
Frost stood tall and serious.
"To use magic in this world, you must feel the mana around you. Nature breathes it. Your body responds to it. Close your eyes."
Haruto closed his eyes.
"Good. Now, imagine your mana like water. Gather it. Shape it."
Haruto inhaled deeply. The air around him shifted slightly. Leaves rustled even though there was no wind.
Frost's eyes widened.
Already…?
"Do not release it yet. Control it."
Airi peeked from behind a tree. She sat with the pups piled on her lap like fluffy cushions.
One pup attempted to climb her head.
She giggled.
"Hey, no. That is not a seat."
Back at the clearing, Haruto exhaled slowly.
"Alright. I think I got it."
Frost's fur stood on end.
"Wait. Do not release it yet. You still need to stabilize the mana flow or else—"
Haruto opened his eyes.
Wind erupted.
A violent burst of mana surged outward like a shockwave. The air roared, twisting in a wild spiral. A slash of pure wind shot forward.
Trees toppled.
Birds scattered into the sky.
Airi and the pups froze mid jump.
Even the grass flattened as if bowing to the raw power released.
Airi stared.
"Onii Chan… you cut down ten trees."
Haruto blinked, dazed.
"…Oops."
Frost's mouth dropped slightly.
He is not human.
He is a calamity disguised as a boy.
Airi stood, eyes wide with admiration.
"Onii Chan is so cool."
Haruto scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Thanks… I guess."
Frost paced around the fallen trees, still stunned. His voice trembled with disbelief.
"Haruto… these are trees of the Great Forest. They are filled with demonic mana. Even cutting down a single one is nearly impossible. Five hundred years ago, the Hero recorded in history managed to cut down two. After that, no one ever dared come here again. Yet you…"
He stared at the leveled ground.
"You cut ten. In one swing."
Airi burst out laughing.
Haruto offered a short bow.
"I apologize. I will try again."
Airi ran into the clearing and hugged his arm, smiling brightly.
"I like it. Do that again."
"No," Frost and Haruto said at the same time.
The first night of training arrived.
After dinner of dried fruit and water, Haruto sat by the fire, staring at the flames. Airi sat beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Are you tired?"
"A bit. Magic is harder than I thought. Controlling it is like trying to scoop water with your hands."
Airi hummed thoughtfully.
"But you did amazing. You always do."
Haruto looked away. Compliments still felt heavy to him.
Frost watched from a short distance.
They rely on each other to stay standing.
The night sky stretched above, full of stars.
They slept peacefully.
The second day began with Frost pressing his forehead against Haruto's back.
"Again."
Haruto groaned.
"I can barely feel my arms."
"That means it is working."
Haruto took a stance.
Airi sat nearby, legs crossed, chick cheeks fully puffed.
"Why are you not building our house again?"
"You said you wanted stairs and a balcony."
Airi puffed harder.
"But you never told me you would train all day."
Haruto chuckled.
"Soon. I promise."
He focused again.
Mana gathered around his arm.
The wind stirred.
Airi watched with anticipation.
Haruto swung.
Another wind slash shot through the clearing. This one was more controlled, but still strong enough to split a tree cleanly.
Frost nodded slowly.
"You are improving. Slightly. You are still terrifying, though."
Airi clapped, eyes glowing with pride.
"Onii Chan is the coolest. You are the strongest person in the world."
Haruto froze mid stance.
For a moment, he looked stunned.
Her faith in him was absolute.
And that was enough to steady him through the entire second day.
That night, Airi lay under the stars instead of inside the tent. Haruto lay beside her on the grass.
She pointed at the sky.
"Look. There are so many stars."
"Yeah."
"This world feels… kinder."
Haruto did not respond at first.
But his hand found hers.
"We will make it kind. For you."
Airi squeezed his hand back.
"For us."
Frost watched from a distance, the pups sleeping around Airi like fluffy blankets.
In that moment, under the quiet sky, they were just siblings.
Not survivors.
Not broken.
Just two children starting anew.
End of Chapter 2
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