As frost and ice bloomed outward from Snow's mana, the interior of the igloo shimmered in pale blue light.
The air trembled—not violently, but in quiet recognition.
Her resolute blue eyes gleamed.
The doubt from before was gone.
Slowly, Snow rose to her feet.
Each movement was steady, deliberate.
She no longer looked like someone trying to survive the storm.
She looked like someone who had understood it.
Without hesitation, she stepped out of the igloo.
FOOOOSHHH!!!
The blizzard swallowed her instantly.
Wind roared like a living beast, snow lashing against her body with cutting force.
Visibility vanished.
The world returned to white chaos.
It was harsh.
It was merciless.
It was suffocating.
But this time—
Snow did not wrap herself in mana.
She let the cold touch her skin.
She let the wind scream around her.
Because her answer was already there.
She slowly lifted her chin and looked up into the storm, even though she could see nothing but endless white.
