After days of travel, the storm finally began to calm.
The endless white blizzard parted… revealing a hidden valley glowing under the pale sun.
The royal convoy slowed.
Lucas stepped out of the carriage, his boots crunching softly against the snow.
What he saw surprised him.
A small northern village — colorful houses made of crystal ice, smoke rising warmly from chimneys.
And children.
Dozens of children laughing, running, playing in the snow.
But something was different.
Tiny sparks of blue light danced around their hands.
One child created a small floating snowbird that fluttered happily before dissolving into glitter.
Another shaped snow into glowing flowers.
Jenny gasped softly. "Magic…"
Lucas's eyes narrowed, watching carefully.
"They're using it so naturally."
A little girl accidentally slipped on the ice.
Before she could fall, a swirl of gentle blue wind lifted her safely back onto her feet.
She giggled.
An elderly woman nearby smiled kindly.
"The children here are born with blessings from the Blue Crystal," she explained."The Tower protects us… and we protect its secret."
Lucas stiffened.
"The Tower?"
The woman pointed toward the distant mountains.
Barely visible through the clouds…
The Magical Tower shimmered like a star frozen in time.
Jenny's heart sank.
We're already this close…
Meanwhile, a group of children approached Lucas fearlessly.
"Are you knights?" one asked with sparkling eyes.
Lucas looked down at them, surprised by their innocence.
"…Something like that."
Another child tugged his cloak.
"Did you come to see the Snow Fairy?"
Jenny froze.
Lucas's gaze sharpened.
"Snow Fairy?"
The children nodded excitedly.
"She lives in the big tower!"
"She protects us!"
"She's super pretty!"
Jenny covered her face internally.
June… you have a title here?!
Lucas looked toward the distant tower again, realization deepening.
"…I see."
A faint smile appeared — not cold this time, but curious.
"So that's where you've been."