The next morning arrived quietly, as it always did within the walls of the Glacius estate.
A crisp, biting wind swept through the courtyard, carrying with it a whisper of frost that clung to the stone ground like an old, familiar friend—something that refused to fade, a silent guardian of the cold. The air was still, save for the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant groan of the estate stirring to life, breaking the tranquil silence with a soft, almost reverent hum.
Kai stood alone amidst the icy landscape, his breath drifting in fragile clouds that vanished into the frigid air. The sky was tinged with the pale glow of dawn, and though it was already past the hour he usually awoke, a strange sense of anticipation thrummed inside him—a restless energy that refused to be contained.
His Frost Guard Gloves snugly encased his hands, their faint silver patterns flickering like tiny cracks of ice in the early sunlight. He flexed his fingers slowly, feeling the subtle difference—an electric ripple of potential that surged beneath his skin, whispering of power yet to be fully grasped.
"Wow, I feel different," Kai murmured softly, eyes wide with wonder. The sensation was like a faint pulse, a new rhythm echoing through his veins, awakening something dormant within him—a feeling both exhilarating and terrifying.
"Lemme try that again."
He took a deep breath, drawing cold mana from the depths of his core, focusing. With patience cultivated through countless hours, he lifted his hands, palms facing upward, and concentrated. The air around them shimmered faintly as frost began to gather—delicate, crystalline, and precise.
At first, hesitation gripped him—fear of repeating the uncontrolled chaos from before. But this time, nothing exploded, no wild surge of frost. Just a steady, controlled cold that curled around his fingertips like a gentle breeze.
"It really works," Kai whispered, a triumphant smile curling on his lips. The frost clung to his hands, shimmering with a faint glow. He clenched his fists, frost curling and twisting like icy vines.
"It doesn't hurt at all," he said softly, excitement bubbling in his chest. "Might as well try something else."
Recalling a technique from one of the books on basic ice magic he'd studied, he envisioned it in his mind—one delicate, precise, almost like sculpting with ice. Taking a deep breath, he gathered mana again, his focus sharpening.
In his palms, icy shards began to form—large, spear- like shards of frost, shimmering with a dangerous, glinting edge.
"Icicle shard," he muttered, pride swelling in his voice.
He flicked his wrists with a practiced motion, sending the shards shooting toward the sturdy old oak in the courtyard. They embedded themselves neatly into the bark, like icy spears piercing the wood.
Kai's heart fluttered wildly—an intoxicating rush of achievement.
"Yes! Should I try that one?" he thought eagerly, he stood still, took a deep breath focused his energy and was about to cast another spell, when suddenly—
"Stop!" a commanding voice cut sharply through the air.
Kai spun around, startled. Standing at the edge of the courtyard was Darius—his expression calm but serious, eyes sharp beneath the relaxed exterior.
"My, my," Darius sighed with a faint smirk, stretching lazily. "Can't you wait until I get here before you start practicing? It's dangerous to be reckless like that."
Kai blinked, confusion flickering across his face.
"What do you mean? I wasn't doing anything dangerous."
Darius stepped forward, his gaze like a blade wrapped in silk.
"Step aside," he said softly. "Watch closely."
Kai hesitated, then obeyed, stepping aside as Darius moved to the center of the courtyard. The silence thickened—the air around him suddenly grew colder, as if the very fabric of reality was responding to his command.
The temperature plummeted in an instant. No ice appeared—no frost forming visibly. Instead, a silent, invisible force seemed to descend; the ground beneath Darius's feet shimmered faintly with icy energy, a thin layer of frost spreading like a whisper across the earth.
Time seemed to slow as the icy surface stabilized beneath him, smooth and shimmering like a mirror frozen in eternity.
Darius looked at Kai with calm, unwavering eyes.
"Was that what you were trying to do?" he asked.
Kai swallowed hard, awe and nervousness battling within him.
"U-uh, yes," he stammered. "But… how did you know I was about to do that?"
Darius chuckled softly, a tone filled with quiet pride.
"I'm a fifth-circle ice mage, just like your father. I know far more than you can imagine."
Kai's eyes widened.
"But I'm not as strong as your father. I'm still behind him."
He looked down, a flicker of embarrassment passing over his face.
"Why is that? Aren't all mages supposed to be the same?" he asked, his voice trembling with curiosity.
Darius's expression grew serious, almost contemplative.
"I've traveled across regions, learned from countless mages, studied every technique I could find. But even with all that knowledge, I've hit a wall—a barrier I can't break."
Kai's brow furrowed.
"A limit? What does that mean?"
Darius's gaze fixed on him, his voice lowering.
"I've learned everything I could about ice magic, but the only ones left to learn and master are your family techniques."
Kai listened intently, absorbing every word.
"So the reason I'm teaching you... "Darius continued, "is because your father and I made a deal."
"A deal?" Kai echoed, feeling the weight of the words.
"Yes," Darius nodded. "In exchange for teaching you everything I can, and helping to find a way to fix your condition, your father promised me the secret techniques of your family."
He paused, eyes narrowing with quiet seriousness.
"But not all of them. There are techniques, as your father told me, that are exclusive to the Glacius line, and only those of the Glacius bloodline can master."
Kai blinked—he had never known. The weight of that secret suddenly pressed down on him.
"So… that's why I'm here," Darius said softly, "to help you unlock your true potential—and to train you differently from now on."
Kai's brow furrowed with confusion.
"Different? How?"
Darius moved closer, resting a hand on Kai's abdomen.
"Your core," he said carefully, "it's not reacting like an ice core. It's… warm."
Kai already knew of this so he wasn't surprised.
"Yes...I know that."
"Your core is resisting," Darius explained. "It's not the ice that's inside you—it's something else. That warmth means your core is fighting itself."
Kai's voice trembled.
"Is there really no way to fix this?"
"Hah..." Darius shook his head slowly. "Even I don't fully understand what's happening. I've never seen anything like this. Your father is doing his best to figure it out—so for now, all we can do is hope."
Kai looked down, silent.
"The spell you tried earlier," Darius continued, "it lowers your body temperature—your core's resistance makes it dangerous. It could cause something unpredictable which may put you in danger."
He paused, eyes steady.
"That's why I stopped you."
Kai clenched his fists, the weight of his limitations pressing on him.
"From today," Darius said softly, "forget everything you've learned about ice magic up until this point. No more copying, no more basic techniques. We're going to start anew."
Kai's heart skipped a beat.
"You mean… I have to abandon everything?"
Darius nodded.
"Exactly. everything you've done so far—everything. We're building something entirely different, something which suits and adjusts with your condition."
A flicker of nervous hope ignited inside Kai.
"Alright," he whispered, fists tightening. "I'll do it."
Darius smiled faintly, approving.
"That's the spirit. I'm glad to see your resolve."
He placed a hand on Kai's shoulder, his tone gentle but firm.
"And I'll do everything from my part, so give your best."
Kai bowed slightly, a new fire burning in his eyes.
"Thank you, Sir. I'll put my faith in you and I shall also work hard."
Darius grinned, ruffling Kai's hair playfully.
"You'll make a fine match for my daughter someday."
Kai froze, cheeks flushing bright red.
"S-sir, what are you talking about? I'm only six."
Darius burst out laughing.
"Haha, relax. I was joking."
He clapped his hands.
"For now, stop using magic. We'll start properly tomorrow."
Kai nodded eagerly, a renewed sense of purpose filling him.
"And thank you again," he said sincerely.
"I've got some things to discuss with your father. I'll see you tomorrow. Until then—bye."
With that, Darius turned and strode away, leaving Kai alone, pondering his future.
He looked around, eyes alight with new resolve.
"What should I do now?"
He returned to his room, carefully placing the gloves back on his table. Then he decided to wander the estate, seeking clarity.
As he meandered through the marble corridors, he nearly collided with Mara, who was stepping out of the kitchen, her face warm and gentle.
"My baby Kai," she whispered softly, her eyes shining, "are you finished with your training?"
"Yes, Mother. Darius had some things to do with Father, so he finished early."
Mara's smile grew softer as she took his hand gently.
"Come with me."
They moved into the quiet kitchen, an oasis of stillness. Mara had baked cookies—small and warm which looked tempting.
"Would you like to try some?" she asked tenderly.
"Sure," Kai replied, eyes brightening. He took a cookie and bit into it. Instantly, an odd, faintly bitter taste hit his tongue—something subtle, yet unmistakably strange.
His face twisted slightly, fighting the urge to grimace, but he masked it quickly, not wanting to upset her.
"It's good," he said softly, forcing a smile.
In truth, the cookies tasted off—the taste was hard to describe but something was strange—but he kept his expression neutral. Instead, he said:
"I'll take these to my room and eat them later."
Mara's eyes sparkled with pride.
"My sweet boy," she whispered, brushing his hair lovingly. "If you like them so much, I'll bake more tomorrow."
Kai's expression flickered, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face. He then realized why the kitchen was so eerily empty. As soon as she left, he quietly snatched the cookies, digging a small hole in the ground behind the estate, burying them out of sight.
"Phew," he sighed, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.
He returned to the courtyard behind his room—a vast open space perfect for training.
He started with warm-ups, then moved into intense push-ups. But this time, something was different.
He pushed himself to fifty reps, and instead of collapsing from exhaustion, he felt his fatigue drain away within minutes.
"That's strange," Kai muttered, puzzled.
He examined himself carefully, noticing how quickly he recovered—faster than any boy his age should be capable of.
"Should I try a lap around the yard?"
He sprinted twice around the open space, sweat streaming down his face, then paused, panting.
"Let's see how fast I recover this time."
Minutes later, he felt completely renewed—no fatigue at all.
His eyes widened with wonder.
"What's happening to me?" he whispered, bewildered.
He hurried back into his room, mind racing, trying to grasp what this newfound strength could mean.
Deep inside, he knew—there was more to his body than just the curse.