Airi stood in front of a familiar door.
Sunlight warmed her skin. Birds chirped peacefully overhead. From inside the house, she heard Haruto laughing. Her mother’s voice drifted from the kitchen, humming softly as she cooked. The scent of miso soup and steamed rice filled the air.
It was home.
And that was why her feet would not move.
Her fingers curled tightly into the fabric of her dress as she stared at the door.
She knew what would happen next.
The doorbell rang.
Her mother peeked into the hallway.
“I will check. You two stay here,” she said gently.
Airi wanted to scream.
Mama, please do not go.
But no sound left her throat.
Her mother walked to the door.
She opened it.
A scream tore through the house.
Cold dread wrapped around Airi’s chest. She ran, small feet slapping against the wooden floor.
“Mama?”
She turned the corner.
Darkness swallowed her.
Airi jolted awake with a sharp gasp.
Her body trembled violently as if she had been dragged out of the dream by force. The tent was dim, pale moonlight seeping through the fabric. Her hands shook as she pressed them to her chest.
“Onii Chan…”
Her voice cracked.
Haruto was already there. He knelt beside her and gently brushed her hair back.
“You had the dream again.”
Airi lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him. She buried her face against his chest, clinging as if letting go meant disappearing.
“Onii Chan… please do not leave me. Please stay.”
He rubbed her back slowly, steadily.
“I am right here.”
Her tears soaked into his shirt.
He held her until her breathing slowed.
Again that dream.
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I do not know if her wounds will ever fade.
When she finally drifted back to sleep, Haruto remained awake. Outside the tent, the fire flickered weakly, its glow close to dying.
He stared into the embers.
No one would take her from him.
Not in this world.
Not ever.
Morning light filtered into the tent, warm and golden.
Airi stirred, blinking slowly. For a moment, she forgot where she was. Then she smelled grass and sunlight instead of cold hospital air and metal walls.
She crawled out of the tent.
Haruto stood nearby, stretching his arms.
“Onii Chan. Good morning.”
He smiled at her, gentle but tired.
“Morning. Did you sleep well?”
She hesitated.
“I slept… better than yesterday.”
Frost approached quietly. His silver eyes studied her with calm concern.
“I sensed a disturbance last night,” he said. “A nightmare.”
Haruto nodded.
“She had one.”
Airi puffed her cheeks.
“You can talk about my dreams when I am not here.”
Frost let out a soft chuckle. Somehow, a massive wolf laughing felt oddly comforting.
The pups arrived moments later, tumbling over each other. Airi dropped to her knees as they climbed onto her lap, licking her face eagerly.
“Stop. That tickles.”
Haruto watched, a faint smile touching his lips.
Frost lowered his head toward him.
“She is healing.”
“I know.”
Suddenly, Airi stood up with her cheeks puffed to their limit.
“Onii Chan. You said we would build our house today.”
He scratched his head.
“About that…”
Frost stepped forward, tail swaying.
“I offered to train Lord Haruto in magic.”
Airi gasped.
“You can use magic?”
“White wolves command wind,” Frost said. “And as a Wolf Lord, I wield ice as well.”
Her eyes sparkled.
“That explains your name. That is really cool.”
Frost paused, unsure how to respond.
Haruto crossed his arms.
“So you will teach me.”
“We begin now,” Frost said. “Lady Airi may stay nearby.”
Airi pointed at Haruto.
“Work hard. I will supervise.”
Training began in a quiet clearing.
“To use magic,” Frost said, “you must feel mana. It exists everywhere. Close your eyes.”
Haruto did.
“Gather it. Shape it.”
Haruto inhaled. The air shifted subtly. Leaves stirred without wind.
Frost’s eyes widened.
Already?
“Do not release it,” Frost warned. “Control it first.”
Nearby, Airi sat beneath a tree with the pups piled on her lap. One tried climbing her head.
“No. That is not a chair.”
Back in the clearing, Haruto exhaled.
“I think I understand.”
“Wait,” Frost said sharply. “You still need to stabilize the flow or else”
Haruto opened his eyes.
Wind exploded outward.
Mana surged violently, tearing through the clearing. Trees snapped and fell. Birds scattered into the sky. Grass flattened beneath the shockwave.
Airi froze.
“Onii Chan… you cut down ten trees.”
Haruto blinked.
“…Oops.”
Frost stood motionless.
This is not a human.
This is a disaster wearing a boy’s face.
Airi ran forward, eyes shining.
“You are amazing.”
Haruto rubbed his cheek awkwardly.
“Thanks… I think.”
Frost stared at the fallen trees.
“These trees are infused with demonic mana,” he said slowly. “Even heroes struggle to damage them. Yet you destroyed ten in one strike.”
Haruto bowed slightly.
“I apologize. I will improve.”
Airi hugged his arm.
“I like it. Do that again.”
“No,” Frost and Haruto said together.
That night, they ate dried fruit beside the fire. Airi leaned against Haruto’s shoulder.
“Are you tired?”
“A little. Magic control is harder than it looks.”
“But you did great.”
He looked away.
Frost observed quietly.
They hold each other together.
The second day began with Frost nudging Haruto’s back.
“Again.”
“My arms are dead.”
“That means progress.”
Haruto focused.
Mana gathered.
The wind stirred.
He swung.
Another blade of wind tore through the air, cleaner and steadier.
Frost nodded.
“You are improving. Still terrifying.”
Airi clapped excitedly.
“Onii Chan is the strongest.”
Haruto froze.
Her trust steadied him more than any technique.
That night, Airi lay beneath the stars instead of in the tent. Haruto lay beside her.
“This world feels kinder,” she whispered.
He hesitated, then took her hand.
“We will make it kind. For you.”
She squeezed his hand.
“For us.”
Frost watched from afar as the pups slept around her.
Under the quiet sky, they were not survivors.
They were not broken.
Just siblings beginning again.
End of Chapter 2
