Prologue

Slash!

Heaps of blood started to pour out of the ogre's body. The cut was deep, and the orge let out a huge cry of pain, but instead of faltering, it dashed towards the man with a stained blade. The man wore a black cloak and hid his face as he swiftly chanted a spell and generously slashed the orge in various parts. 

The blood oozed out, and the orge got on his knees. Its bones protruded, and as the heavy body started to fall forward, its eyes burst out. It was a gore scene; blood splashed everywhere and tained the man's cheek. 

'Perhaps that's all the monsters for now,' he contemplated. 

His breath panted, and cold vapor formed around his warm, deep gasps. 

"Ah-" All of a sudden, he threw up blood from his mouth. He spat the red liquid on the untainted white snow. His mouth felt bloody, and a metallic taste remained. He breathed heavily, and his chest ached as if a knife had hit his chest. 

Once again, he threw up, but this time, he did not have the strength, and he got on his knees. The blood stained his cloak. Hastily, he untucked his hood and climbed the tallest tree nearby. The oath of magic was harmful, and he did not know for how long he would be conscious enough. 

As the blood dried on his cloak, his eyes dozed off, and he leaned on the trunk. 

The oath of magic was an oath taken by every magician. It was a pledge-like shackle that bound a magician's abilities. The use of abilities more than stated or allowed by the kingdom meant a mage would face the same amount of harm that they did. 

In a feudal world where kings were regarded as the utmost law, the presence of magicians was like a plague. And so, mages were the kingdom's loyal dogs.

~

The large bird's commotion woke Hael from his uncomfortable sleep. His cracked lips tasted metallic, and he opened his icy blue eyes. His chest did not hurt anymore, but his hands and legs felt cold and numb. He stayed in his position, trying to get up as the scene unfolded carefully. 

A girl with fragile limbs ran with her barely-cold protective clothes and shoes. With her blue face, she once took a glance at the tree branch; her clear green eyes glistened, tears jammed, and her lips were slightly crooked. 

Her eyes were again on the snow-filled path. A river preceded her, and beyond it was the kingdom she relentlessly aimed to get into. The river was frozen; she tried crossing it, but alas, the thin sheet of ice could scarcely handle her and the giant men who were after her. 

They had expeditiously caught up to her and shot a bullet into her ankle. "Bang!" It was loud but did not hurt her; instead, it penetrated the ice sheet, and soon enough, the river's top layer was cracked, and before she could reach the other side, the ice beneath her was dissolved into the river. 

She drowned in the cold water. Her immobile hands and legs were determined to live, desperately trying to float, but in a state of panic, she had drank too much of the cold water. 

The bandits stood at the edge of the crack, and in an attempt to get her, one of them was about to dive when all of a sudden a slash cut the head of that man, and the blood oozed out of his body. Hael got up, and in a rapid and agile moment, he slashed those men by their necks. 

Slash slash

At an inhumane speed, the bandit captain saw his minions fall apart. Blood exudated from their sliced necks and smudged his body. 

"STOP! STOP! Who are you? I CAN GIVE YOU AS MUCH GOLD AS YOU WANT TO SPARE ME!" the captain cried. 

"Captain, save us! CAPTAIN!" 

The lackeys cried for help, but without mercy; each was slashed, leaving behind their captain. His legs were frozen from fear, and expeditiously, Hael tied the man to a tree nearby. 

He took a deep breath and dove into the crack in the ice sheet. He kept his eyes open, and deep below, he saw her lifeless body sinking. He swam closer to her and took hold of her body. He detected her pulse and a very scarce presence of life. 

Despite the closed eyes, she had a beautiful face. She had a short nose, and her long brown hair cascaded. With a hand pressed to her waist, he tried to reach the surface. On a closer look, he could not find traces of the determination she had a few minutes before. It was a calm and peaceful expression.

Too calm for his liking, he got closer and pressed his bruised lips against her. He filled his air with her, and soon enough, they reached the surface. The cold water dripped from both of them, and he silently laid her body flat on the ice sheet with her head on his lap. 

The alpine accentor's group flew by with its chirpings. Small flakes of snow started to descend as if the blessings from the heavens had been sent, and it was peaceful. The cool gale of wind gently blew, and he could feel her pulse better. He gently tucked away the hair that was around her face and stayed there for a moment. 

"I did not know you were such a romanticist, Hael." The man in the green cloak smoked at the sight of his pupil, helplessly sitting on the thin sheet of ice. 

Hael simply rolled his eyes while delicately placing the girl's head away from his lap. He got on his knees, carried her in a princess carriage, and walked towards his master. 

"I have tied down that man," he said with a raspy voice. 

The master gazed at the girl in his arms. She was the only student sent by the academy to Ever Hill, despite knowing the danger. Tsk. He clicked his tongue. Perhaps it was time for him to get back to the academy. 

"Alright. Take her and attend the academy with her. I will swap the names and also send her goods. Now go," he chanted the spell and teleported Hael and the girl to a weary old house with a few suitcases.