Slowly the blizzard died out, the impenetrable mist gave way to the dawn's light to reach the siblings and Corvus, who were still asleep.

  Elsyn stirred awake, her fatigue had eased after a long night's sleep.

  "Pipsqueak, I'm going out to search for firewood and food. But don't keep your hopes up."

  "Okay, sis, I'll look after Corvus."

  Patting her sister's head, Elsyn left the cave and ventured outside. She was yet to inform her sister about their names and their mother's letter.

  I'll tell her once I get back.

  She had come far away from their cave, yet she found no sign of life. Everywhere around her she saw the familiar sight of pervasive white snow, with no vegetation in sight. Irritated by the bare mountain expanse, Elsyn rolled up a handful of snow and hurled it at the mountain.

  Mountains are supposed to have trees; what's wrong with this one... looks like I'll have to go further ahead.

  Meanwhile, inside the cave Corvus stirred, and soon his eyes opened. The first thing he saw was blurry, but he could make out a sweet, childish face staring unflinchingly at him—the younger sibling.

  "Corvus, you are awake!"

  "Indeed, I am little girl... Whatever happened to Mister Ashford—I liked the sound of it, honestly," Corvus said as he sat up.

  The younger sibling did not reply to his suggestion and only smiled innocently.

  Scratching his neck, he added, "It's alright actually, call me whatever you will, I don't mind."

  "Sure thing, Corvus."

  And she can talk again.

  Corvus looked at his leg going out of the blanket and asked, "Why's the blanket turned sideways?"

  "Right! You were shivering last night, so sis suggested that we should sleep close to keep you warm."

  "Oh really, tha—"

  Before Corvus could finish, the younger sibling intensely added, "Because of which I couldn't hold sis to sleep—do you know how much I wanted to do that."

  The younger sibling continued her rant, but Corvus's attention drifted towards her sister—or the absence thereof: "Where's your sister?"

  "Sis woke up early, so she went to collect supplies. She always does that, you don't need to worry," the younger sibling replied.

  "Supplies?"

  "You know food and stuff."

  "Didn't you guys check me first? I've got food on me already."

  "That... we did not... But we also needed firewood—sis will come back as soon as she collects some."

  Corvus's eyes widened, he rose and replied, "I'm coming from the other side of the mountain. For whatever reason I saw no plants, let alone a tree—and if I didn't come across any then she likely won't."

  "Why are you standing, Corvus? Your body is still wounded—you should rest."

  "No. There are monsters out there frightening enough to scare even me. She needs to come back right now. Besides, I strangely feel light, despite the wounds—better than I have in years, actually."

  "Must be that Unity or Mundukar thing that you mentioned."

  "Perhaps, but I'm not sure. Ever since waking up today, my mind feels new and clear. In any case I must leave now. You stay here little girl, I'll come back soon with your sister."

  Not waiting for her reply, Corvus exited the cave.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Elsyn was scouring the mountain and its numerous crevices and cracks. To her dismay she could not find anything beyond a handful of twigs, barely enough to last a minute. But, she was not one to give up so soon, as such her quest for firewood continued.

  However, she did not let her stubbornness cloud reason or caution. Elsyn kept track of her location, using the sun as her compass, and the open field allowed her to spot any looming threat—though she was yet to encounter one. Or so she thought.

  A few meters ahead of her, a large mound of snow stood out against the smooth snowy field. It was uneven, its surface had shades of white and smoky-grey, with black circles showing through the snow.

  Amid the endless expanse of white, Elsyn missed the subtle difference. Stepping on something long and spongy, she walked right past the bulge.

  Suddenly, it slithered beneath her feet—tickling her as it moved. Looking down, she saw a thick, rope-like shape retreating into the mound, as if something had yanked it back.

  Elsyn turned—and froze.

  The bulge shook violently, shedding its snow cover to reveal a majestic yet menacing form beneath. What emerged was a snow leopard more than ten meters long.

  A jolt of terror ran through Elsyn's spine as she grasped the scale of the predator before her. Wary of making the slightest of movement or sound, she took slow, measured steps backward.

  The snow leopard lazily swayed its tail through the air before opening its eyes—glacial blue, glacial cold. It stared at Elsyn, and she at it, locked in perfect stillness.

  Instinct told her that even a tremor, the smallest motion, would mean death.

  I really messed up this time—fuck!

  The leopard slowly rose and stepped toward Elsyn. She glanced around, but there was nowhere to escape the beast's claws.

  Just as she had accepted her fate, something crashed down behind the snow leopard—sending the snow spraying through the air and across her face. As the snow settled, a figure emerged from the haze: a man draped in a mangled black cloak, his body marked with scars and wounds.

  Corvus had arrived.

  The sound of the impact drew the leopard's attention, making it turn back. Corvus strode toward it, a sabre-like blade gleaming in his hand.

  "Shall we continue where we left off, monster? My blade's itching for your blood."

  In an instant, he shot forward. The leopard raised its claws to strike, but Corvus plunged his blade into the snow and used it as a pivot—launching himself at an impossible angle onto the beast's back.

  The leopard reacted fast, rolling to crush him under its weight. Corvus twisted away just in time, slicing across its neck as he moved away.

  Crouching low on the snow, he hissed, "Not deep enough."

  The leopard roared and lunged. Corvus dropped to the ground, sliding beneath its body. As he passed, his blade carved a crimson line across its underbelly.

  Undeterred, the beast turned and pounced again. Corvus sidestepped, evading the attack by a hair's breadth—the rush of air brushed past his cheeks.

  The beast's gaping maw rushed for his head, but Corvus vaulted over it, while widening the wound he had opened earlier.

  Landing to the beast's left, Corvus barely had time to reset before the leopard lunged once more. Again he leapt over its neck, driving the blade deeper into the first wound.

  As his weapon struck, he felt it jar against something solid and hard.

  Bone.

  However, despite the progress that he made, he saw the futility of it when he saw his blade beginning to chip away.

  Shit. The blade's not sharp enough. I'll have to do that again.

  Elsyn stood barely a few meters away, observing the battle in awe. She saw the chilling speed of the leopard—unnatural for a creature of its size—and the terrifying force behind each of its strikes. Each attack produced a small burst of air, scattering the snow.

  But even more bizarre was the man fighting the beast.

  His unpredictable movements defied all logic, while his speed and precision inspired dread in friends and foes alike.

  Though Elsyn was no expert, she could tell that the snow leopard would have been dead twice over had it not been for Corvus's failing weapon. Every strike he delivered was lethal, yet none fatal.

  That, however, was about to change—dramatically.

  Suddenly, Corvus’s blade seemed sharper and fiercer. The leopard, which had been pouncing recklessly until now, noticed the change and took a cautious step back.

  But its predatory instincts soon overpowered caution. It braced its paw and lunged at Corvus, jaws gaping wide—ready to devour him whole.

  Unfazed by the oncoming attack, Corvus did not dodge this time. He simply stepped forward and swung in a single, sweeping arc.

  For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, behind him, the snow leopard collapsed. Its body remained as pristine and majestic as ever, but its glacial eyes had turned hollow.

  A crimson line ran through its body—from mouth to tail—splitting the beast in perfect symmetry. Corvus’s strike had cleaved it cleanly in two; the upper half still rested neatly upon the lower, held together only by the precision of the cut.

  Elsyn watched in stunned silence as the very air hissed and parted along the blade’s edge—though it fell just short of breaching the sound barrier.

  Elsyn walked past the leopard's corpse and approached: "Thanks for the help, Corvus. You saved my life; I owe you one."

  "It's alright; I don't consider doing what I enjoy a favour. Let's go, we can burn its meat for tonight," Corvus said as he crouched to take a few portions of the snow leopard's meat.

  Elsyn silently watched him, then asked, "If you don't mind my asking, why didn't you do what you did now, earlier?"

  "I had to make the blade a part of me—in my mind, alright, don't give me weird looks... That feels very alien, letting something become a part of you only to discard it moments after. I suppose, I'm still not used to using Unity properly. Also, it drains me too much, so I have to use it sparingly."

  Elsyn nodded: "I see."

  Corvus paused for a second before adding, "Besides, someone once told me to always impress the new people, especially girls. Never understood why, though."