The cold didn't spread randomly.
It advanced.
Slow.
Measured.
Like something breathing beneath the ground.
Adrian's eyes narrowed as he tracked the frost creeping across the field. It wasn't wild like Lyra's earlier surges. Every inch of ice formed in clean lines, controlled to an unnatural degree.
That alone told him everything he needed to know.
This person is far more dangerous than Lyra right now.
Lyra's fingers tightened slightly on his sleeve.
"…I know that voice," she whispered.
Adrian didn't look at her. "Explain."
Her voice dropped even lower.
"…It's her."
That wasn't helpful.
But the fear in her tone was.
Before Adrian could ask more, the frost reached the edge of their feet—then stopped.
Not melted.
Stopped.
As if waiting.
A figure stepped out from beyond the frozen trees.
A girl.
Around their age.
Silver hair.
Pale skin.
Eyes like clear ice—emotionless and sharp.
The temperature dropped another degree the moment she appeared.
Adrian felt it immediately.
She's not leaking mana like Lyra.
She's containing it.
That made her far more dangerous.
The girl's gaze ignored Adrian entirely.
It locked onto Lyra.
"You ran farther than I expected," she said calmly.
Lyra stiffened.
"I didn't run," she replied, but there was no conviction behind it.
The silver-haired girl tilted her head slightly.
"Then what would you call it?"
Silence.
Adrian stepped half a step forward.
Not aggressive.
Not defensive.
Just enough to place himself between them.
Now the girl's eyes shifted to him.
For the first time, something faint flickered in her gaze.
"…And who are you?"
"Adrian."
No hesitation.
No fear.
No explanation.
Just a name.
The girl studied him for a second longer than necessary.
Then—
"You're in the way, Adrian."
Adrian shrugged slightly.
"That happens."
Lyra almost choked on her own breath.
The girl didn't react emotionally.
But the frost beneath Adrian's feet thickened.
A warning.
"Move," she said.
"No."
Lyra grabbed his sleeve harder this time.
"…Adrian," she whispered urgently, "you don't understand—"
"I understand enough," he said calmly.
Then, quieter—
"She's stronger than you."
Lyra froze.
Because he was right.
The silver-haired girl took another step forward.
The frost followed.
Perfectly aligned with her movement.
No excess.
No waste.
Adrian's mind was already analyzing.
Control level: extremely high.
Mana density: far above Lyra's.
Emotion: suppressed.
Danger level—
High.
Very high.
The girl stopped a few meters away.
"That wasn't a suggestion," she said.
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"And this isn't a retreat."
Silence.
Then the girl raised her hand.
The air cracked.
A thin spike of ice formed instantly and shot forward—
Not at Adrian.
At Lyra.
Adrian moved.
Not faster.
Smarter.
He stepped into the trajectory and raised his hand—
The system reacted instantly.
[Frost Thread — Active]
The moment the ice spike entered his range—
He felt it.
The structure.
The flow of mana.
Perfect.
Stable.
Adrian's fingers twitched—
A thread formed.
Then another.
Then three.
They wrapped around the incoming spike mid-air—
Not stopping it.
Redirecting it.
The spike curved sharply—
And embedded itself into the ground beside them.
Lyra's eyes widened.
The silver-haired girl's gaze sharpened.
"…You interfered with it."
Adrian lowered his hand slowly.
"Looks like it."
Inside—
His thoughts were racing.
This isn't stabilization.
This is control.
The girl took another step forward.
The ground froze beneath Adrian's feet—
Trying to lock him in place.
Adrian reacted immediately.
Threads spread downward—
Breaking the structure just enough for him to step back.
Now—
The girl stopped.
For the first time—
She looked at Adrian differently.
"…You can touch it," she said quietly.
Adrian didn't answer.
Behind him, Lyra whispered—
"…She's my sister."
Adrian blinked once.
That explains everything.
The girl spoke again.
"You shouldn't be here, Lyra."
Lyra's voice trembled.
"…I'm not going back."
The temperature dropped sharply.
"Then you'll freeze again."
"I won't."
"You already are."
Lyra clenched her fists.
"…Not anymore."
Her sister's eyes narrowed.
Then she noticed.
No frost.
No instability.
Nothing.
"…What did you do?"
Lyra hesitated.
Then—
"I'm training."
Her sister's gaze shifted to Adrian.
"…With him?"
Lyra nodded.
Silence.
Then—
The frost around the field began to retract.
Slowly.
Perfectly.
Returning to her.
"…You have three days."
Lyra blinked.
"…What?"
Her sister didn't turn back.
"Three days to prove you won't lose control again."
The air warmed slightly.
"If you fail," she said calmly, "I'll take you back myself."
Lyra's breath caught.
"And him?" she asked quietly.
A pause.
"…He won't matter."
Adrian almost smiled.
The girl stepped forward—
Then vanished into the frozen tree line.
The cold disappeared completely.
Silence returned.
Lyra stood still.
"…That was my sister."
"I figured," Adrian said.
"…She's dangerous."
"I know."
"She's stronger than me."
"I know."
Lyra hesitated.
"…She's never wrong."
Adrian looked at her.
"Everyone is wrong sometimes."
Lyra searched his face.
"…Do you really think I can do this in three days?"
The system flickered faintly.
Synchronization: 8%
Frost Thread Mastery: 1%
Not enough.
But—
That didn't matter.
"Yes," Adrian said.
Lyra blinked.
"No hesitation?"
"No."
"…Why?"
Adrian picked up the wooden branch and tossed it to her.
"Because now we have a deadline."
Lyra caught it.
Her grip tightened.
"…Three days," she said.
Adrian nodded.
"Three days."
Then—
"Stance."
Lyra stared at him.
"…Right now?"
"Yes."
She let out a tired laugh.
"You're unbelievable."
"Fix your front shoulder."
"…You're worse than my sister."
"And yet you're still here."
Lyra exhaled.
Then adjusted her stance.
"…Fine."
Adrian watched her carefully.
Because this wasn't training anymore.
This was preparation.
For someone far stronger.
For a deadline that couldn't be ignored.
And for the first real test of—
Frost Thread.
---
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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Author's Note
If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to support the novel with **Power Stones**—it really helps the story grow and motivates me to keep releasing more chapters consistently.
Thank you for reading, and I'll see you in the next chapter!