The snow had settled, a serene white covering over the chaos that had just passed. Eira sat on a fallen log at the edge of the village, the dragon curled beside him, its warmth seeping into him.
His sword rested across his lap, faint blue light pulsing as his mana slowly ebbed. The adrenaline of battle lingered, and yet his mind felt foggy, like he'd run through a storm of memories he couldn't fully grasp.
Iris approached, her steps careful, but the strength in her posture was unmistakable. "You did well," she said softly, her golden eyes meeting his. "The fire mage… she was no ordinary S-rank. If you hadn't come, I don't think the village would have survived."
Eira shook his head. "I… I didn't remember anything at first. Not why I came here, not who I am." He ran a hand through his silver hair. "But then… something came back. Just fragments. Faces, voices… the dragon, the snow. It felt like it was guiding me."
The chief, a tall woman with streaks of silver through her hair, stepped forward. Her voice was calm, but firm. "You were brought here by fate, young one.
The snow realm… it only accepts those of your bloodline, or those who carry snow-magic in equal measure. You are the first to come here since the last hero, and your arrival was… not a coincidence."
An elder beside her spoke, leaning on a staff carved with ice patterns. "We've been keeping the village hidden for decades. After the previous hero created this space, it was meant to be a refuge. But recently, two S-rank mages from the evil organisation discovered us. Their aim… they targeted Iris and the village to weaken the defences here, and perhaps test the boundaries of this realm."
Iris lowered her head, struggling against exhaustion. "I barely held them off… and they pushed me to my limits. If Eira hadn't appeared…" Her voice faltered, then strengthened again. "I don't know if we would have survived."
Eira looked down at the dragon, which gave a soft, approving hum in his mind. "I was… drawn here. I don't know why yet. But these people… these children… they needed me. And… I had the power, so I stepped in."
The chief nodded, turning to the village elders. "We must acknowledge what happened. The evil organization is active, and their reach is wider than we thought. But thanks to this stranger…" she looked at Eira, "…and to Iris, the immediate threat has been eliminated."
One of the elders, a small man with a fur-lined robe, frowned. "There's something to consider. The organisation's movements aren't random. They are probing for weaknesses. And the fact that Eira arrived here… it may have shifted their attention away from other villages."
Eira lifted his gaze, meeting the elder's eyes. "So… you mean they were looking for someone like me? Or someone from this snow bloodline?"
The chief spoke again, her voice steady but edged with concern. "Perhaps. The recent attacks show their interest, but you… you are a beacon here, Eira. Whether you understand it yet or not, your presence altered their plans."
Iris crouched beside him, her hand brushing the edge of his sword. "I'm glad you came. The dragon told me you were special, but I never imagined this. You… you saved us all. You saved me." Her voice softened. "I only wish I could have helped more, but I was stretched to my limit."
Eira shook his head, feeling a warmth in his chest he hadn't anticipated. "You did everything you could. And… I was guided here for a reason. Maybe it's time I figure out what that is."
The chief stepped closer. "Rest first. There is much to discuss. The organization is active, and we must prepare. But tonight… let your body heal. Tomorrow, we talk about what your presence means, how the village can support you, and how we can support each other."
Eira nodded, finally allowing himself to relax. He glanced at the snow falling gently over the village rooftops and the dragon curled at his feet. "Alright… I'll rest. But after that… I'll learn everything. I'll protect this village, no matter what."
Iris gave a small smile, brushing the snow from her shoulder. "Then we have work to do. Tomorrow, I'll start your training with techniques suited for someone like you. But tonight… you rest. And know that you've earned the trust of everyone here."
The elders murmured their agreement, and villagers who had watched from behind ice barriers brought food and blankets, tending to Eira with care.
The dragon's glow shimmered around him, pulsing in time with his own slowly stabilizing mana. For the first time in weeks, Eira felt a semblance of peace—yet beneath it, the whispers of memory teased him, fragments of who he was and why he had come here, waiting to surface when the time was right.