The next morning, light snowflakes began to fall.
The old butler, Elif, looked up at the drifting flakes with concern. "The temperature's dropping even lower!"
Lucien gazed at the sky for a few moments before replying, "We need to hurry."
That same sense of urgency pressed on every resident of the territory.
A light snow today could easily become a blizzard tomorrow.
After hastily filling their bellies, the people immediately set out to cut wood for their homes.
The snow fell steadily, and the temperature outside plummeted. Several children sat in a row under their tents, gazing at the whitened world beyond. Their small faces were filled with worry.
Three Snover sat beside them, mimicking the children as they stared up at the snow.
"Mm-mm…"
Despite their young age, the children knew all too well what was happening.
They were lost in an unfamiliar land, their food supplies dwindling, their parents' faces clouded with worry every day.
As the snow continued to fall, the children's brows furrowed. They couldn't help but worry that their parents wouldn't finish building the cabins before the blizzard struck.
The Snover belatedly sensed their unhappiness and tilted their heads in confusion.
"Snover, we can't play with you today," one boy said quietly.
"Hm?" The Snover scratched their snowy heads, disappointed. "Mm…"
"The blizzard's coming soon, and Mom and Dad are out cutting trees to build our house. If the houses aren't ready before it hits, we'll all freeze to death," a little girl of five or six explained, her eyes wide with fear.
"No, we can't just sit here!" said an older boy, clenching his fists. "We have to help too!"
"But… what can we even do?" another girl asked, bewildered.
"We can gather berries, collect branches and leaves, carry what we can, anything!" the boy insisted, standing up.
He turned to the Snover and said firmly, "You can play by yourselves today. We're going to help our parents!"
The three Snover blinked at him.
"Mm… mm-hm."
They shifted their gaze between the children searching for berries and the adults chopping trees.
They didn't understand everything, but they knew one thing clearly, once the people finished their work, they could play together again.
"Mm-hm!"
If that was the case, then they would help too!
Most of the residents were too focused on their own labor to pay attention. But a few men suddenly noticed the three Snover approaching a massive tree.
A moment later, white light began to radiate from the Snover's bodies, as if they were gathering energy.
"What are they doing?" someone whispered in shock.
In the next instant, the Snover released a surge of power. A thick, gleaming beam of icy energy shot forward and slammed into the tree.
Boom!
With a thunderous crack, the massive tree toppled to the ground.
Everyone: "!!!!"
The other residents turned toward the noise, stunned.
"That's!"
"What did those three monsters just do?"
The people had been hacking away at trees with their axes for hours, yet the Snover had leveled one in a single strike.
"Snover…?"
The children, too, had seen what happened. Their eyes went wide.
The Snover, meeting their stares, only gave a cheerful cry.
"Snoo-mm!"
The adults hesitated, confused, unable to understand the creatures' intent.
But the children quickly caught on.
"The Snover are helping us chop down trees!" a girl exclaimed.
"What?!"
The adults froze where they stood, faces filled with disbelief.
The demon beasts… were actively helping them?
Impossible!
Yet it was happening right before their very eyes.
Everyone stared in stunned silence at the toppled tree.
But Ryan was the first to react.
Lord Lucien was right!
These three Snover truly were different from those ferocious wild monsters.
Lucien had said it before, if you treat magical beasts with care, they will surely respond in kind!
And now, with their help, survival through this harsh winter suddenly seemed possible.
Ryan's chest swelled with determination. He turned to the crowd and barked,
"Don't just stand there! Work together with the Snover!"
…
By the river, Anna and Zorua looked up at Lucien, their eyes brimming with excitement.
Humans and magical beasts, Trainers and their partners…
Anna had been so thrilled at the thought of becoming a Trainer like Sir Aaron that she hadn't slept a wink all night.
Last night, she had clutched Zorua close and whispered to him over and over.
They would become strong. Strong enough to protect her mother, and everyone else!
"Very good," Lucien said, his tone calm but approving. There were still many matters demanding his attention in the territory, so he didn't waste words. He went straight to the point. "Have you memorized everything I wrote on the parchment I gave you?"
"I did!" Anna answered loudly, then hesitated before admitting,
"But… there's still a lot I don't really understand."
Things like attributes, Abilities, evolution…
Lucien smiled. "That's exactly what I'll be teaching you today."