The clear sky, the cool breeze, and the melodious chirping of birds — that was what Yinzu and his mother experienced throughout their journey to their hometown.
Inside the carriage, Laura was quietly knitting something with black wool thread, while Yinzu was reading the book he had bought from a man in the city earlier that morning.
The book he bought contained an understanding of spell casting.Every kind of magic that was chanted through incantations used the mana stored within a caster's claim seal, forming circles either on their hands or through tools such as magic staffs or spellbooks.
The elements that most people usually possessed as their affinity were earth, fire, water, and physical.There were also higher-tier elements: wind, lightning, nature, and recovery.
Spell casting was often required when someone first learned a specific type of magic.By chanting spells recorded in a guide, one could form a magic circle and unleash the mana in the form of a spell.
The magic one could control often depended on how many circles they could form.A beginner who could only form a single circle would never be able to cast magic from the ninth circle — even attempting to cast a second-circle spell would be impossible.
Though the first and second circles were only a single level apart, the gap between them was vast.Only the purity of one's mana could narrow that gap, or perhaps even surpass it entirely.
"It seems that's all I can learn from this book… haaa, I'm bored."
"Yinzu, have you finished reading it?"
"Yes, I've read everything."
"Then wait a bit longer. We'll soon cross the border between Skylark and Quodavis."
"Alright, Mother."
Haaa, I might as well lie down for a while…
The book he had been reading explained spell casting and contained several spell-casting guides, but only up to the advanced level—and none of them mentioned ice-element spells.
It seemed that the magic he possessed was a rare one. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a curse, but at least he could use one of them already.
Maybe I should give a name to that spell I cast last night…
The spell he made before had taken the shape of a chilling mist—so cold it froze the air itself and clouded vision.
Hmm, what would be a good name? A cold fog that chills people to the bone and blocks their sight…
As Yinzu thought deeply, he raised his hand absentmindedly. He was so focused that he didn't notice his surroundings, and unconsciously spoke the name he had just imagined.
"Frostbite Fog."
Laura tilted her head, confused. "Hm? What was that, Yinzu—"
Suddenly, a mana circle appeared on Yinzu's palm and released a wave of freezing mist throughout the carriage.
Whoosh!
"Aaaaah!" Laura screamed in shock.
The coachman, startled by the scream, pulled the horses to a stop and rushed to the carriage door.
"What's going on in there—huh?! Why is there s-smoke? Hiii—so cold!"
"I-I'm sorry, sir," Laura said through chattering teeth. "Some strange fog suddenly appeared inside."
"W-What?! Alright, please step outside and warm yourselves. I'll clean up this mess."
Yinzu stayed silent, his mind racing.
What just happened? Did I… just use magic? But I didn't chant a full spell. I didn't even gather mana—and I don't have any stored in my claim seal yet.
Then how… how could the spell manifest by itself?
...
Outside the carriage, they sat on a fallen tree trunk overlooking a vast field of grass. The sky was clear, and the breeze was cool and gentle.
Yinzu sat quietly, watching a bird perch on the same branch beside them. He tore a piece of bread and offered it to the bird. The crumbs that fell onto the ground also attracted a few rabbits hopping nearby.
As Yinzu fed the animals, he heard his mother shivering from the cold.
"Hiiiii… why was there fog inside the carriage earlier?" Laura said while hugging herself tightly. "Were we… attacked by a group of bandits!?"
"Haaa, calm down, Mother. We're not being attacked. If we were being robbed, they would've attacked us the moment we stepped out of the carriage."
"Hmm, you're right. Maybe I'm just— ha, ha, hachu!— overthinking things," she sneezed.
Yinzu grabbed his bag and stood up."Wait here, Mother. I'll get the blanket."
He walked toward the carriage.
Hmm… why did my spell activate on its own? Could it be because I was just thinking about the chant?No, that's impossible. Even young master Kamael needs to recite his incantation first before his spell activates.
Then what? When my spell was released, I didn't feel anything— only a faint, cool breeze…
While Yinzu was lost in thought, the coachman called out to him.
"Hey, kid!" shouted the coachman.
"Ah, what is it, Uncle?"
"Did you folks pack some ice in your luggage?"
"Ice? I don't think so?"
"Really? Then what's this?" the coachman asked curiously, tossing something toward him.
"Hm? What is that? A water pouch—"
Thud!
"Ouch! What's this, Uncle? Why is it… so cold?? Huh? Isn't this the water I drank earlier? Why did it turn into ice!?"
Yinzu stared in confusion. The coachman helped him up and said,"Hey, we'll have to stay here for the night. The wheels froze solid and made the wood brittle."
What??
Was my spell really that strong?
Yesterday, it only made people shiver, but now it can freeze water and even wood in less than half an hour?
And strangely… I don't even feel the cold anymore, unlike Mother did.
"How… how is this possible?" he whispered.
From afar, Laura waved at him."Yinzu! Hurry and come back, it's starting to feel cold again!"
Yinzu closed the frozen water pouch and quickly returned to his mother, bringing the small blanket he had taken from the carriage.
"Here, Mom. Use this," he said as he wrapped the blanket around her shoulders.
"Thank you…" Laura pulled the blanket tightly against her body. Her face was still pale, but she forced a smile so Yinzu wouldn't worry.
The coachman, still checking the carriage wheels, shook his head in disappointment."The wood's too brittle… we can't continue the journey tonight."
"So we're spending the night here?" Yinzu asked.
"Looks like it," the coachman replied. "I'll light a campfire when the sun sets. You two need to stay warm."
"Alright, thank you, Uncle."
As the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness enveloped the sky, the flickering glow of the campfire was the only light illuminating Yinzu and his mother.Laura, still shivering, asked Yinzu to boil some warm water over the fire.
"Hmm… night has fallen, and there's no house or shelter around here. I should help the coachman set up the tent."
Yinzu walked to his mother, carrying the warm water he had just boiled.
"Here, Mom. I'm going to help the coachman build the tent, okay?"
"Oh, alright. Be careful, my child."
"Okay, Mom."
A gentle yet cold breeze brushed against their skin, making anyone who felt it shiver and feel a strong pull of drowsiness. The sky, which had been covered by clouds earlier, now revealed countless stars shining across the dark night.