Accompanying the sound, a boy, appearing to be around ten years old, ran out from the house. He was wearing a delicate fur coat, shouting the names of the two cat-like creatures as he excitedly rushed toward the pair frolicking in the snow.
"You two rascals, stop messing around! Grandpa will get angry again," the boy called out. As soon as he plunged into the snow, he bent down, scooped up a snowball, and tossed it at the two creatures.
The Kneazles were exceptionally agile, dodging the flying snowball with a quick shift. Completely ignoring the boy, they continued their game, racing toward the center of the valley. Seeing that he was being underestimated, the boy pouted and trudged through the thick snow to chase after them.
When he finally caught up, he reached down to grab one of the disobedient fellows. However, the creature swung its agile body, slipping past his hand with a whoosh and darting between the boy's legs. This caught the boy off guard; his eyes and hands had been following the creature, and as it moved beneath him, he ducked backward to follow its path. He used too much force, lost his balance, and tumbled forward into the snow with a splash.
"Ha ha ha!" The boy wasn't angry at being tricked; instead, he was amused by his own comical tumble. He scrambled to his feet, brushed off the snow clinging to his coat, and resumed his mission.
"Rolf, Rolf, where did you run off to?"
A slightly aged voice came from the main door. An elderly man with a full head of white hair and a vigorous spirit stood at the doorway, holding another Kneazle in his arms.
"Grandpa, Hobi and Millie are being so disobedient! Hobi snatched Millie's dried fish, and then they chased each other into the yard," Rolf shouted helplessly, shaking snow from his hair as he stood with his hands on his hips.
"Is that so?" The old man chuckled. "Then don't go catching them yourself. Look, you've gotten your new clothes dirty. Your grandmother will definitely scold both of us. Tina hasn't been in a good mood lately; hurry back and watch me."
"Oh." Rolf immediately ducked his head at the mention of his grandmother and began trudging back toward the house.
The old man pulled out his wand and, with a gentle flick, transformed the tip into a feather-and-bell toy. As soon as it appeared, the small cat in his arms began to flutter its paws, reaching for the feathers.
"Don't rush, Moller, this is for Hobi and Millie," the old man chuckled, shaking the toy.
The clanging bells soon attracted the attention of the cats in the distance. Seeing the toy, the two succumb to temptation and darted back toward the house.
"Grandpa, you always have a way," Rolf said with admiration, watching the two become perfectly obedient.
"No matter what kind of magical creature it is, they all have their own personalities. As long as you learn to understand them, you'll find their wildness has its own charm," the old man said, his eyes squinted happily as he watched his grandson.
He seemed to be enjoying the harmonious atmosphere, gazing leisurely at the snowy valley, but then his expression shifted. Looking in Alan's direction, his gaze became serious.
*Did he discover me?* Alan was completely invisible, his cloak blocking any magical fluctuations. Even if the man could see through the charm, the birch tree provided physical cover. However, Alan knew the man had perceived something unusual.
"Don't make a fuss outside; you'll catch a cold and get us both scolded," the old man said, his voice holding a subtle edge. He quickly waved his wand, lifting Rolf with a Levitation Charm and pulling him toward the door with a sense of urgency.
In that instant, everything changed.
Rolf was less than thirty meters away when the ground between them suddenly swelled. A wizard wearing a white, faceless mask burst from the earth, pouncing toward the boy as he floated through the air. The stranger shot a spell at the old man with his right hand while seizing Rolf with his left, immediately flying backward to put distance between himself and the house.
"Ah!" Rolf screamed as he was suddenly clamped under the man's arm.
Simultaneously, three other faceless figures burst from the ground around the house. They converged quickly, forming a semicircle to confront the old man.
The sudden turn of events startled both the old man and Alan. Neither had expected anyone to be hiding beneath their feet. Alan realized now why he hadn't found them earlier; they had used specialized magic to submerge themselves. Their concealment was superb; he had been observing for a long time without detecting a single fluctuation.
The old man at the doorway looked shocked. He had sensed something was wrong, but he hadn't considered the ground itself. Seeing his grandson held hostage, a look of deep anxiety crossed his face.
Bang!
The old man deftly deflected the incoming spell. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the attackers. When he saw the faceless masks and the uniform, snow-white wands, his heart sank.
"Help! Grandpa! Who are you? What do you want?" Terror filled Rolf's eyes.
The masked man holding him flicked his wand, and Rolf's mouth was instantly glued shut, leaving him unable to make another sound.