Prologue: The First Painting
That afternoon, the Grandelbell family garden was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. A magnificent three-story mansion stood majestically in the center of perfectly manicured green lawns, adorned with lush trees and colorful flower bushes blooming beautifully.
In the corner of the garden, a white-painted wooden gazebo served as the family's favorite tea spot, complete with a round table and comfortable chairs facing a small pond with a fountain at its center.
Neatly uniformed servants moved about in an orderly fashion—some sweeping the stone pathways, others trimming rose bushes, and still others cleaning dry leaves from the pond's surface. The atmosphere was peaceful and serene, exactly as befitted a noble family who chose to live far from the hustle and bustle of the Asteria Kingdom.
But that tranquility shattered when a thunderous roar echoed from the forest behind the mansion.
"GROOOAAAARRRR!"
A massive magical bear burst through the trees, standing four meters tall with dark brown fur that gleamed like metal. Its yellow eyes blazed with fury, and from its body emanated such a thick murderous aura that it made the surrounding air tremble. Its spear-sized claws glinted razor-sharp, ready to tear apart anything that stood in its way.
The servants screamed in panic and scattered for cover. But amidst the chaos, one figure remained calmly seated at the gazebo—a handsome young man with silver-white hair that had soft blue gradients at the tips, like ice illuminated by moonlight. His blue eyes were as cold as winter ice, yet radiated a profound tranquility. Sirius Grandelbell, the second son of the Grandelbell family, didn't even stop sipping his tea.
"Hah... and I was just about to enjoy my afternoon tea," he murmured, setting down his porcelain cup with a soft 'clink.' "And today mother made my favorite apple tart."
The magical bear roared again, this time louder. The sound was followed by a long howl from within the forest—a horse-sized black wolf emerged with glowing red eyes that contrasted starkly with its cold appearance. Its fur was pitch black like a starless night, and drool that steamed like acid dripped from its mouth.
"Fenris," Sirius greeted the wolf with a casual tone. "You brought a friend, I see."
The wolf called Fenris approached Sirius with graceful steps, its body positioned ready to attack. Its red eyes gleamed with intelligence, as if communicating wordlessly with its master.
Sirius rose slowly, his right hand resting on the hilt of the sword hanging at his waist. The sword remained sheathed in a black scabbard with intricate silver carvings—a Grandelbell family heirloom that never left his side.
"Very well," he said with a long sigh, his breath forming thin vapor in the air as if the temperature around him had dropped several degrees. "Let's finish this before my tea gets cold."
The magical bear lunged with impossible speed for a creature of its size. Its claws swept toward Sirius with enough force to fell a mature tree. But Sirius simply stepped aside with flowing, water-like movements, dodging the attack with ease.
—BLAM!
The bear's claws struck the gazebo and shattered it instantly. Wood splinters flew everywhere, but Sirius was already in another position, standing on the grass with a relaxed posture, his white-blue hair swaying gently in the breeze.
"Fenris, watch the left."
The black wolf shot forward like a shadow, biting the magical bear's hind leg until the creature stumbled. But the bear retaliated with a claw swipe that forced Fenris to retreat quickly.
For several minutes, Sirius only dodged and evaded attacks. His sword remained sheathed, occasionally using the scabbard to block attacks or deliver light strikes that made the bear step back. His movements were like a dance—elegant, efficient, and without waste.
"What? Is that all?" Sirius asked mockingly, his blue eyes gleaming with cold light. "I've faced stronger opponents than you when I was ten years old."
The magical bear grew even more enraged. Its murderous aura increased dramatically, its yellow eyes blazed brighter, and dark red magical energy began radiating from its body. This was no longer an ordinary animal—this was a mid-level magical bear that had been thoroughly provoked.
"Now that's more like it," Sirius smiled thinly. His hand finally gripped the sword's hilt seriously. "In that case, I'll be somewhat serious too."
The sword was drawn from its sheath with a melodious 'syiing' sound. Its blade gleamed pristine white without flaw, with ancient rune carvings that glowed faintly along the sword's edge. But what truly remarkable happened moments after.
Sirius swung his sword in a slow, controlled horizontal motion. In the air, the sword's trail didn't disappear—instead, lines of pale blue-white light formed, floating like... a painting on an aerial canvas.
The lines began to develop, forming intricate and beautiful patterns. Like a giant brush painting in the air, every movement of Sirius's sword created stunning visual elements. Small ice crystals began appearing along the light lines, then glittering snowflakes, then frozen tree branches.
"Winter Painting: Frozen Forest."
Sirius's voice was calm but resonated with magical power. The light painting in the air became clearer—a complete winter forest scene with snow-covered trees, crystal ice-covered ground, and a sky filled with snowflakes that sparkled like diamonds.
The magical bear fell silent for a moment, as if mesmerized by the beauty of the painting spread before it. But that fascination turned to horror when it realized the painting wasn't just an illusion—it was very real magic.
The temperature around them plummeted drastically. Breath began to steam, the grass beneath Sirius's feet became covered with frost, and most terrifyingly—the magical bear began to feel its legs growing stiff.
"You know," Sirius said while stepping forward slowly, sword still drawn in his hand, his blue eyes now shining with intense cold light, "the best paintings are those that make people feel what's inside them."
He swung his sword again, this time in a vertical motion. A new line of light formed, and the winter forest painting became even more perfect. Now there was a snowstorm swirling within the painting, and its effects began to seep into the real world.
Cold wind blew fiercely, carrying sharp ice shards. The magical bear tried to move, but its body was already half-frozen. Its feet were trapped in ground that had now turned to ice, and its fur began to be coated with thick ice crystals.
"GROOOAAAR!" It tried to resist by unleashing all its magical power. The dark red aura blazed intensely, attempting to fight against the binding cold.
Sirius shook his head, his white-blue hair swaying gently. "Too late."
The final sword swing—an elegant diagonal movement like a master artist's brush stroke. The winter forest painting was complete, and at that moment, the world around them truly transformed to match what was inside the painting.
The magical bear froze completely in its roaring position, like a giant ice statue that was both terrifying and beautiful at the same time. Its yellow eyes still glowed, but its body couldn't move a single millimeter.
"Fenris, the finishing touch."
The black wolf leaped high and struck the frozen bear with its front paws. The giant ice statue shattered into pieces with a loud cracking sound, transforming into thousands of small ice crystals that sparkled beautifully under the afternoon sunlight.
The crystals fell like diamond rain, and gradually the temperature returned to normal. The light painting in the air began to fade, leaving only thin traces of light that eventually disappeared as well.
Sirius sheathed his sword with the same elegant motion as when he had drawn it. He sighed deeply and looked toward the destroyed gazebo.
"Well... looks like I'll have to drink my tea inside the house today," he murmured while patting Fenris's head, who had returned to his side with tail wagging. "And I suppose mother will give me a long lecture about the broken gazebo."
The servants who had been hiding began to emerge one by one, their faces full of admiration and slight fear. They were used to seeing Young Master Sirius fight, but magic paintings like that were still mesmerizing every time they witnessed them.
"Young Master," an elderly servant approached carrying a tray with a fresh cup of tea, "your hot tea."
"Thank you, Sebastian," Sirius smiled and took the cup. "Oh, and please clean up those ice crystals before they melt and damage mother's roses."
"Yes, Young Master."
Sirius walked toward the mansion with leisurely steps, Fenris following beside him. The afternoon sunlight illuminated his white-blue hair until it sparkled like snow touched by light, and for a moment, he looked like an ordinary young man who had just finished light exercise in the garden.
Yet he had just defeated a mid-level magical bear with a winter painting that froze everything.
At the mansion's threshold, he stopped briefly and looked at the sky that was beginning to turn orange.
"Tomorrow it's time for the Asteria Academy entrance exam," he murmured while sipping his tea. "I hope it won't be too troublesome."
Fenris barked softly, as if laughing at his master's words.