As I stepped into the forest, each stride carried me further from the village gate and deeper into silence. The quiet was exactly how I liked it — calm, still, and strangely comforting.
People in the village always said the forest was dangerous, but I never believed them. In sixteen years of my life, I hadn't seen a single monster, not even a hint of danger. The only creature that ever made me uneasy was a crow.
Marco — Sarah's father — often warned me that the forest was no place for someone my age. But what did they see that was so terrifying? To me, this forest was simply… peaceful.
I followed the familiar path toward the lake I always visited, the same one my father once showed me. The air was colder than usual, a sharp chill biting at my skin.
"Damn it… it's much colder than usual today," I muttered, tightening my scarf as I walked.
Snowflakes drifted lazily from a pale, open sky. They called this land The Frozen Country for a reason — even when the sky was clear, snow would still fall, quiet and endless.
Each flake melted as it touched my skin, like tiny ghosts fading away.
I'd been walking for nearly ten minutes. Nothing had crossed my path — no beast, no shadow. Just the sound of my boots pressing into the snow, the faint crack of hidden twigs beneath.
Still, the words of the villagers echoed in my mind.
You see, Nivalis isn't a kind country — not at all. It punishes the weak, those who can't endure.
It's a frozen land in the northwest of the continent — The Land of Snow, or as others call it, The Land of Death.
Everything here is buried under white.
I live closer to the center of the country, where winters are gentler than in the far north. Up there, the winds are crueler, the mountains endless. That's where the capital stands — Nivareth, the city where everyone wants to live.
Surviving in Nivalis is a miracle. Many die from the cold; others starve. The land barely feeds us — few animals survive here, and farming is nearly impossible.
Only those near the southern border, close to Vallaria — the elven kingdom — can grow crops. Their soil is rich, their nature alive. Thanks to them, we trade for food; without Vallaria, Nivalis would starve. My father once told me that Nivalis produces about 37% of its food — the rest comes from Vallaria.
But hunger and cold aren't what kill the most people. No — the true danger are the monsters.
Frostbeasts. Death Spiders. Trolls.
They've hunted us for more than three centuries. They live across the bridge — the Kinuki Bridge — that connects our land to Kragmor Island. Unfortunately, that's not far from Liva Village.
An old man once told me he saw one — a towering beast with blue skin and fur, standing nearly three meters tall. Its tusks curved from its mouth, its body covered in scars. He said it could tear through men like paper — and even when cut, its wounds healed instantly. He fought four of them once… and barely killed one.
So yes, I understand why people fear the forest.
But if those beasts ever came this far south… do they really think the village walls would save them?
Living here is like gambling with your own life. Every day could be your last.
That's why so many fled to Nivareth, behind the castle walls where hunger, cold, and claws can't reach them. But safety there comes with a price — people would do anything to secure it.
Even if it means… sacrificing someone else.
That's the cruel reality of our world.
And it won't change anytime soon.
But someone will have to change it.
Those were my thoughts as I walked through the quiet forest. No birds. No movement. Only the whisper of wind through branches and the rhythm of my footsteps on snow.
Two paths opened before me — left toward the lake, right deeper into the woods.
I took the left.
Soon, I saw the water — still and frozen under a thin layer of mist. The lake was surrounded by evergreens, their pine needles heavy with snow. Not a sound disturbed the air.
It was… beautiful. The reflection of the pale sky in the water looked lifeless — much like my own eyes staring back at me.
"But I will," I whispered, my voice fading into the cold.
I looked at the endless pines, then back at the lake.
For a strange reason, I thought — does the lake know my name?
What a foolish thought, Lazar. Why would it?
It's just nature. It doesn't care.
Yet, I felt compelled to speak — as if the lake had been listening to me all this time.
"My name is Lazar Kiyokazu. I'm sixteen years old, born on February 24th, 1830/8… one of the few children from Liva Village. It's nice to meet you."
Of course, there was no response — just silence.
I exhaled, embarrassed. Good thing no one heard that, I thought.
I looked down at my reflection again — my earring swayed slightly as I tilted my head.
Then — caw! — the cry of a crow pierced the silence.
I lifted my head and looked up.
A black shape circled once above me before flying east.
"That's a bad sign…" I sighed. "I should go home."
But I didn't move.
Meanwhile, back in the village…
"Thank you, Mom! She's beautiful — I really like her!" said a cheerful voice.
It was Sarah Susago, seventeen years old, with long brown hair that shimmered under the dim light. Her turquoise eyes sparkled as she held a red necklace in her hands.
Her mother smiled warmly. "I'm glad you like it, dear."
From behind, her father chuckled softly.
"I'm going to show it to Lazar!" Sarah said excitedly, already heading for the door.
But her parents' smiles faded, replaced by worry.
"Wait, Sarah…" her mother called.
Sarah turned back, puzzled. "What is it, Mom? Did I forget something?"
Her mother hesitated, glancing at her husband.
Marco cleared his throat and stepped in. "What she means is that you've been spending quite a lot of time with Lazar lately."
Sarah froze.
Her face turned red as she looked from one parent to the other.
"W-what's that supposed to mean, Father? It's not like there are many people my age here! Lazar's one of the few — it's normal we hang out together! I mean, he's even younger than me!"
She waved her hands defensively, cheeks glowing, then stormed out the door.
Her parents exchanged a look. Maria sighed, crossing her arms.
"You shouldn't have said it like that, Marco. Who knows what she's thinking now."
He scratched his head. "Yeah, I know… I messed up."
Maria rolled her eyes. "Apologize to her later. And remember — women don't like being teased about that kind of thing."
He smirked. "You weren't like that."
She smiled faintly. "I'm not most women, Marco. But Sarah's shy — you know that."
Marco leaned back in his chair. "Yeah… maybe you're right."
Maria smiled softly. "As long as she's with Kiyokazu's boy, we have nothing to worry about. Think about it — how often was she this happy before she met him?"
He thought for a moment. "Not often."
"Exactly," Maria said. "Whenever she's sad or bored, she visits Lazar — and she always comes back smiling. As long as he brings that out in her… we shouldn't stop them."
Marco nodded, smiling faintly. "Yeah… maybe you're right."