Chapter 46 — Practice


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Aster]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">Three more years had passed in what felt like the blink of an eye. Three years of a happy childhood filled withughter, warm smiles,forting hugs, and loving kisses. Three years of growing, learning, and simply being a normal kid. Three years of contentment and happiness, shared with his mother and sister.


    <span ss="userText">Thanks to his continuous daily workouts, Aster grew into a healthy little boy with a somewhat athletic body and good stamina. Surprisingly, despite the age gap, he was now only a half-head shorter than his sister. Silvia hasn''t grown much since she got her affinity for some reason. She still looked like the same ten-year-old little girl she had been three years ago, her chest as t as ever and her face keeping its childlike innocence. Perhaps it is normal for half-elves to mature at a slower pace? Aster wasn''t sure.


    <span ss="userText">Today, Aster and Silvia were in a small clearing near the cave entrance, sweating their little butts off. The sun was only slightly above the horizon, shining brightly; the sky was cloudless and blue. The birds were chirping and singing their morning songs, and a gentle breeze rustled the branches — perfect weather for training. The air smelled fresh and crisp, and the grass was still slightly wet with dew.


    <span ss="userText">Although Aster usually exercises alone in the early mornings, sometimes Silvia decides to join him, and today is one of those days. For the past hour, they did basic workouts:ps around the clearing, push-ups, sit-ups, squats, lunges, and so on. Both kids were covered in sweat and breathing heavily, exhausted and drained.


    <span ss="userText">— "Alright, onest time," Aster said, looking at his sister''s sweaty, exhausted face. He held her knees as she struggled to do onest crunch. "Come on, you can do it," he encouraged, smiling at her. Her long silver hair was messy and sweaty, clinging to her flushed skin.


    <span ss="userText">During these workouts, they wore no upper clothing, exposing their naked chests to the morning air and allowing their sweat-drenched bodies to cool off. Silvia had only her old pants and a pair of sandals on her feet. Her t chest heaved heavily, rising and falling with every ragged breath, her ribs distinctly visible. The grass and dirt stuck to her bare back, and the sun reflected off her wet skin.


    <span ss="userText">"Ahhhh," Silvia groaned in pain as she pushed herself. "I hate you for this," she panted, gritting her teeth. She felt her stomach muscles burning and her legs trembling slightly. With a final grunt, she managed to pull herself up and grab his neck, hanging her arms around it. "Haaa," she exhaled, resting her forehead against his chest.


    <span ss="userText">— "See? I told you you could do it," Aster smiled, his hands still holding her legs.


    <span ss="userText">"Mhm," Silvia murmured, her eyes closed.


    <span ss="userText">— "Alright, the warmup is done," Aster suddenly announced, "Now we can finally start our training!"


    <span ss="userText">"Wait, wait, what?" Silvia''s eyes shot open, looking up at his grinning face. "What do you mean by ''warmup is done''!? This was the warmup!?" she asked, staring at him in disbelief. "We spent an entire hour-"


    <span ss="userText">Aster burst intoughter. "Rx, it was just a joke," he said, interrupting her. "I didn''t expect you to fall for it."


    <span ss="userText">"Ugh, you''re such a dork," Silvia grumbled, rolling her eyes at him. "You almost gave me a stroke, you know," she pouted, letting go of him and copsing on the grass.


    <span ss="userText">— "Haha, sorry, couldn''t resist," Aster chuckled, sitting beside her.


    <span ss="userText">"You''re lucky I''m too tired to kick your ass," Silvia huffed, rubbing her stomach.


    <span ss="userText">— "Sure<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> sure<span ss="aiText">," Aster chuckled<span ss="userText">, poking her side with his finger.


    <span ss="userText">She squeaked cutely, pping his hand away, and narrowed her golden eyes at him. "I would so totally kick your butt," she <span ss="userText">said with confidence<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> raising<span ss="aiText"> her chin.<span ss="userText"> "I just don''t feel like wasting my energy on someone as weak," she smirked, flexing her biceps, which barely bulged.


    <span ss="userText">— "Uh-huh, keep telling yourself that," Asterughed, standing up and stretching his arms. "How about a little wrestling spar? We haven''t done it in a while," he suggested, ncing down at his sister''s sprawled figure. "Unless you''re scared, of course," he added, giving her a cheeky smile.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Pfft, me?<span ss="aiText">" she huffed, rolling her eyes. "<span ss="editText">O<span ss="aiText">f my little brother? <span ss="userText">Please," she chuckled<span ss="aiText">, waving her hand dismissively.


    <span ss="userText">— "Great," he <span ss="userText">said, his eyes shining mischievously. "Whoever wins gets one favor from the loser."


    <span ss="userText">"Oh?" Silvia raised her eyebrow, a smirk forming on her lips. "Sounds tempting... I''m in," Silvia stood up, dusting herself off.


    <span ss="userText">— "<span ss="aiText">Let''s go, then,<span ss="userText">" Aster said, walking to the center of the clearing. "The first one to pin the other down for five seconds wins. And to warn you, I won''t hold back," he grinned, cracking his knuckles.


    <span ss="userText">"Neither will I," Silvia replied, following after him. "You are going to massage me for hours after I crush you," she dered, pointing her finger at him.


    <span ss="userText">— "In your dreams," Aster scoffed.


    <span ss="userText">They started to circle each other cautiously, their gazes locked onto their opponent''s movements. Simultaneously, they rushed forward, their hands extended in front of them. They collided<span ss="aiText"> midway, each<span ss="userText"> grabbing<span ss="aiText"> the other''s <span ss="userText">shoulders<span ss="aiText">, struggling to gain the upper hand.


    <span ss="userText">Minutes<span ss="aiText"> passed as the two siblings<span ss="userText"> wrestled, <span ss="editText">trying<span ss="aiText"> to<span ss="userText"> knock<span ss="aiText"> the other to the ground. However, neither winning nor losing. The kids were sweaty and breathing heavily, but their expressions were intense, and their eyes shone with determination.


    <span ss="userText">— "C''mon, Sis. Just give up already," Aster grunted, trying to trip her, but she twisted her body, dodging his attempt, and pushed him instead, forcing him to step back.


    <span ss="userText">"Hah, you wish," Silvia replied, her breathingbored. "You can''t beat me," she added confidently, throwing her entire weight forward.


    <span ss="userText">This provided an excellent chance for him to hold his sister''s waist and attempt to lift her, but she was too quick to react. Already in mid-air, she wrapped her legs around his waist, squeezing tightly. Then, she wrapped her arms around him <span ss="aiText">and<span ss="userText"> brought<span ss="aiText"> her<span ss="userText"> mouth<span ss="aiText"> to his ear. "Too bad, brother. Looks like I''ve won already. This will make you beg for mercy," she whispered smugly <span ss="editText">and started to lick <span ss="aiText">his earlobe <span ss="userText">— such a dirty trick.


    <span ss="userText">— "Eww, gross," Asterined, squirming in her grasp, trying to pull her off him. "You''re cheating!" he shouted, struggling to maintain his bnce.


    <span ss="userText">"No, I''m not!" Silvia eximed,ughing loudly. "This is fair y," she giggled, her tongue swirling around, making him shudder. Her hot breathing against<span ss="aiText"> his ear<span ss="userText"> was the only thing<span ss="aiText"> he could<span ss="userText"> hear.


    <span ss="userText">— "It isn''t!" Aster protested, grunting in frustration. He grabbed her hips and tried to push her away, but she clung to him stubbornly. But all he needed to win was to pin her down for five seconds. So, he lowered himself and dropped his sister on her back, using his body to pin her down.


    <span ss="userText">"Oof," Silvia gasped, feeling the weight of her brother on top of her. She began to twist her body and wiggle under him, trying to get free. Using her hips and thighs, she eventually flipped them around and gained the upper hand.


    <span ss="userText">What followed was a fierce battle of dominance between the two siblings, this time on the ground. One would get the upper hand every few seconds, only to lose it again. The situation was getting increasingly heated, and neither was willing to give up.


    They kept rolling on the ground, their bodies sliding against each other and their limbs entangled. Brother and sister, their t chests were pressed together as they grunted and groaned, breathing heavily.


    <span ss="userText">Finally, after a particrly intense struggle, Silvia managed to pin Aster underneath her. She sat on his chest, pressing her weight down. Her hands were gripping his wrists, keeping them pinned to the ground. She breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling rapidly, sweat dripping down her forehead. "Hehe, now who''s on top," she grinned victoriously, her golden eyes glimmering triumphally, her silver hair cascading down her bare shoulders.


    <span ss="userText">Aster groaned, struggling to break free. "Ugh..." He tried to push her off with his legs, but she was sitting too high for him to reach.


    <span ss="userText">"Looks like I won," Silvia said victoriously, enjoying the view of her brother''s defeated expression. He tried his best to break free for the next minute, but it became clear that he lost. "You are now my personal masseur," she dered, leaning down and blowing air into his ear to piss him off even more.


    <span ss="userText">Aster grimaced and closed his eyes, ignoring her teasing. "Damn it," he cursed under his breath, finally giving up. "You got lucky at the end, that''s all. Now, get off me," he muttered, still feeling her warm breath against his ear.


    <span ss="userText">"I want you to say, ''Please forgive me, oh mighty big sister, I will dly massage you whenever you want,''" Silvia demanded, wiggling her tiny butt over his chest.


    <span ss="userText">— "What!? No way!" Aster shook his head, trying to free himself. "I''m not going to say that. Besides, you cheated when you started licking my ear. You''re not getting any favors," he argued.


    <span ss="userText">"Oh, really now?" Silvia''s expression transformed from victorious to menacing as she raised her eyebrows. "Be a good little brother and say the words," she threatened, her grip on his wrists tightening. "I wonder how long you canst," she teased, her mouth slowly moving closer to his ear.


    <span ss="userText">A shiver ran down Aster''s spine. "N-no, not again," he stuttered<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> turning<span ss="aiText"> his head away from her<span ss="userText">,<span ss="aiText"> his face flushing red. "Stop! Don''t do that," he pleaded<span ss="userText"> desperately<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="editText">wiggling <span ss="aiText">beneath her.


    <span ss="userText">Ignoring his protests, Silvia pressed her wet lips to his ear and breathed warmly against it, "Just give up and say the words, baby brother." Then, her mouth gently sucked in his earlobe, pulling<span ss="aiText"> it and nibbling it softly<span ss="userText"> with<span ss="aiText"> her<span ss="userText"> soft pink<span ss="aiText"> lips<span ss="userText">, making her little brother as ufortable as possible.


    <span ss="userText">Aster groaned in protest, attempting to move his head away, but Silvia''s persistent mouth followed, continuing her onught on his ear. Her wet pink tongue slid inside, flicking against his inner walls, causing him to squirm beneath her. "Say it," Silvia whispered, her hot breath tickling his ear.


    <span ss="userText">Finally, Aster gave in and said, "Please forgive me, o-oh mighty big sister, I will dly massage you whenever you want... UGH!" he pleaded, unable to withstand any more of her torture.


    <span ss="userText">"Hahahaha," Silvia burst intoughter. "Oh my, I can''t believe you said it," she giggled, releasing his hands.


    <span ss="userText">— "You''re horrible," Aster grumbled, wiping his wet ear.


    "I love you too," Silvia replied with a sweet smile <span ss="userText">as if she hadn''t just vited his ear canal a moment ago. "But really, my body''s sore from your sparring idea. <span ss="userText">You owe me a nice, rxing massage," she added, dismounting from her little brother and settling beside him. "Right?" she locked eyes with him, her expression pleading like a puppy''s.


    <span ss="userText">Aster rolled his eyes, letting out a long sigh. "Sure," he answered reluctantly. "But not now. We need to help Mom <span ss="editText">today<span ss="aiText">. You know, the usual," he said, referring <span ss="userText">to collecting herbs and mushrooms.


    <span ss="aiText">"I know," Silvia nodded. "Then in the evening?<span ss="aiText">" she suggested, smiling at him.


    <span ss="aiText">— "Deal," Aster agreed, returning the smile.


    <span ss="userText">"Yay!" Silvia squealed happily, raising her hands and cheering. "Thank you, Asty," she beamed, hugging him tightly. "Get ready for a loooong massage session."


    <span ss="userText">Asterughed, shaking his head. "Okay, okay, just let me go," he said, squirming in her embrace.


    <span ss="userText">"Alright, alright," Silvia giggled, releasing him. "Let''s go. We should get back home and wash up. Mom is probably making breakfast already." she said, getting up. She reached down and pulled her little brother to his feet.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <span ss="userText">The Silverfrost family spent the day just as usual. After a quick washup to<span ss="aiText"> remove the dirt and sweat, the kids ate breakfast and helped their mother prepare for a trip to the forest. Then, they<span ss="userText"> left<span ss="aiText"> the cave and spent most of the day gathering herbs and mushrooms.


    <span ss="aiText">Once the sun began to set and the sky turned orange, they decided it was time to return home. On their way<span ss="editText"> back<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="editText">Nivalis<span ss="userText"> spotted<span ss="aiText"> a<span ss="userText"> rabbit<span ss="aiText">, which she <span ss="editText">managed to <span ss="aiText">sho<span ss="editText">o<span ss="aiText">t with her bow. Thus, <span ss="editText">a delicious <span ss="aiText">dinner was ensured for the<span ss="userText"> evening<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">When the trio finally <span ss="editText">returned to <span ss="aiText">the cave, Nivalis<span ss="userText"> began<span ss="aiText"> preparing their meal while Aster and Silvia<span ss="userText"> went straight<span ss="aiText"> to the<span ss="userText"> bed<span ss="aiText"> andid down, exhausted. The day had been hectic, and their<span ss="userText"> bodies<span ss="aiText"> were sore and aching.


    <span ss="userText">"Asty<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> it''s time<span ss="aiText"> for our deal," Silvia<span ss="userText"> reminded<span ss="aiText"> her little brother,<span ss="userText"> poking<span ss="aiText"> his shoulder with her finger.


    <span ss="aiText">— "<span ss="editText">Right<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="editText"> right...<span ss="aiText">" Aster mumbled, closing his eyes. "Give me a minute."


    <span ss="userText">Sil<span ss="aiText">via pouted,<span ss="userText"> impatient<span ss="aiText">ly<span ss="userText"> staring<span ss="aiText"> at his face. "<span ss="editText">Y<span ss="aiText">ou promised," she <span ss="editText"<span ss="aiText">ined, poking his cheek.<span ss="userText"> Aster didn''t<span ss="aiText"> react<span ss="userText">, pretending<span ss="aiText"> to be asleep. "Astyyyy<span ss="userText">!"<span ss="aiText"> she <span ss="editText">whined<span ss="aiText">, shaking his arm<span ss="editText">. <span ss="userText">Aster started snoring.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Oh,e on! You had never snored<span ss="aiText"> before," Silvia said,<span ss="userText"> rolling<span ss="aiText"> her eyes. She<span ss="userText"> waited a moment<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> then<span ss="aiText">, unable to bear hisck of response, she <span ss="userText">leaned over<span ss="aiText"> him and<span ss="userText"> began<span ss="aiText"> pinching and pulling his face repeatedly. "Wake up<span ss="userText">,zy brother!<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="aiText">Aster continued snoring, unfazed by her actions.


    <span ss="aiText">Nivalis, who had chopped the ingredients, nced at the children andughed. Silvia had previously told her about their small deal, and she couldn''t help but smile at Aster''s attempt to weasel out of it. "<span ss="userText">Oh no, my breasts<span ss="aiText"> are <span ss="userText">in pain again! If only<span ss="aiText"> someone could massage them," she <span ss="editText">eximed<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="userText">deciding to help her daughter out<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">Aster''s eyes<span ss="userText"> snapped<span ss="aiText"> open instantly<span ss="userText">, and he quickly sat up, looking at his mother <span ss="editText">with a silly smile<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis smirked, turned away, and continued cutting as if nothing had <span ss="aiText">happened. <span ss="aiText">Aster<span ss="userText"> blinked<span ss="aiText"> a few times, confused.<span ss="userText"> Then<span ss="aiText">, his expression changed to disappointment<span ss="userText"> as<span ss="aiText"> he realized <span ss="userText">it was a trick to make<span ss="aiText"> him wake up. "Mo<span ss="userText">m!<span ss="aiText">" he pout<span ss="editText">ed<span ss="aiText">, ring at her back.


    <span ss="aiText">"Hehe, sorry, honey," Nivalis replied, a smile ying on her lips.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia <span ss="userText">couldn''t contain herughter when she saw<span ss="aiText"> her little brother''s<span ss="userText"> disappointed expression<span ss="aiText">. "That was amazing, Mom. You are the best," she praised, grinning widely.<span ss="userText"> Nivalis<span ss="aiText"> chuckled, pleased with herself.


    <span ss="aiText">Aster looked between them and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Alright, fine<span ss="editText">. I''ll massage you," he grumbled, gesturing her to lie down by patting the bed. "One day, this trick won''t work anymore... One day..." he mumbled<span ss="userText">, watching his sister get up and undress.


    <span ss="userText">"Good luck with that," Silvia smirked, yfully sticking her tongue out as she took off her pants, revealing her pale skin in the firelight. Once wholly undressed, she crawled back onto the bed andy on her stomach, her long silver hair cascading over her back and her tiny butt wiggling excitedly. "Do your best, little brother," she said, resting her head on her folded hands.


    <span ss="userText">Aster sighed heavily and started to rub his sister''s body, gently massaging her back first before moving to the other parts of her petite body. <span ss="aiText">Silvia moaned quietly, enjoying <span ss="userText">her brother''s touch on<span ss="aiText"> her skin.<span ss="userText"> "Oh<span ss="aiText">, right there..." she whispered, arching her back slightly.<span ss="userText"> "Do my<span ss="aiText"> legs, too, please," she asked, closing her eyes.


    <span ss="userText">...


    After finishing dinner and cleaning the dishes, it was time for Silvia''s evening magic practice session.


    Since she developed an affinity for ice magic, Silvia has practiced it almost daily, gradually improving her control over it. However, it was not an easy process. <span ss="userText">On the contrary, it was extremely challenging and required a lot of dedication and effort from the little girl. Her powers came with unpleasant side effects such as headaches, dizziness, and exhaustion, along with intense coldness affecting her body.


    Silvia''s ice magic is as beautiful as it is challenging to control. At the end of each practice session, it makes her entire body tremble and shiver. Sometimes, even her teeth chatter and her lips turn blue, making her look like an ice princess from a cartoon movie. If she pushes herself too hard, which has only happened once so far, her entire skin turns pale blue, and she falls into aa-like state.


    It is hard to describe the level of panic Nivalis and Aster experienced when it happened. They tried everything they could to warm her up, fearing the worst. Fortunately, nothing serious happened, and she woke up from her unconscious state two dayster, her skin returning to its healthy color. She was incredibly tired for the next week or so but otherwise unharmed; there weren''t anysting consequences. Since then, Silvia has always made sure not to push herself that far during her magic training sessions.


    Silvia prefers to practicete in the evening, just before bedtime, to mitigate the side effects. This way, they could return home and snuggle under their warm nkets beside the crackling firece, where they could warm her shivering body and wait for the effects of her training to pass. And she likes to sleep between her mother and little brother, sandwiched between them and enjoying their warmth.


    Silvia stood outside the cave entrance under the moon''s gentle glow, bathed in the soft light. Nearby, Aster and Nivalis sat watching her practice, the cool evening breeze rustling the leaves of the trees around them.


    Nivalis was dressed in a loose tunic and skirt made from old garments that had seen better days. Her silver hair was gathered in a casual bun, and her long ears asionally twitched<span ss="userText">, picking up every sound of the night. Aster leaned against her, <span ss="userText">feeling sleepy, as Nivalis held him close, her fingers idly tracing patterns on his belly.


    <span ss="userText">"Are you ready, sweetie?" Nivalis asked her daughter<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> smiling<span ss="aiText"> encouragingly.


    <span ss="userText">"Yup," Silvia nodded, her eyes closed as she took a deep, steadying breath. As she exhaled, ayer of frost began to form on her right hand, slowly creeping up her skin as she channeled her mana into her palm. <span ss="userText">The moonlight glinted off the icy surface of her skin, creating a mesmerizing sparkle. Silvia''s brow furrowed at the tingling sensation, but she pressed on, her concentration unwavering.


    Opening her golden eyes, Silvia fixed her gaze on the center of her palm. A thick mist rose from her hand, drifting down to caress the grass at her feet. She focused her thoughts and mana into a single point, forcing the fog to swirl and condense into a small chunk of ice that floated just above her palm. It was rough<span ss="userText">and uneven, smaller than the size of a fingertip. Silvia''s breathing slowed as she continued to pour more mana into the spell.


    <span ss="userText">The ice crystal started to rotate, growingrger with each passing moment. A small smile yed on Silvia''s lips as she watched her creation change from a rough and irregr chunk of ice to the shape of an icicle, its sharp point glinting dangerously in the moonlight. She wanted to create a perfect icicle roughly the size of her thumb.


    <span ss="userText">However, as the icicle grew, it began to tremble and vibrate, fine cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. Silvia''s brows knit together, her focus intensifying as she struggled to control her spell.


    <span ss="userText">"You are doing great, honey," Nivalis encouraged, tightening her embrace around her son. "Don''t rush, take your time."


    <span ss="userText">"Mhm," Silvia hummed, nodding her head slightly. She concentrated all her thoughts on stabilizing the spell and mending the cracks. Sweat trickled down her forehead, and her breath formed little clouds of mist as she exhaled shakily. Finally, after several tense moments, the spell stabilized, and the cracks disappeared. Silvia let out a relieved sigh as the<span ss="aiText"> crystal stopped trembling, now floating perfectly in ce.


    <span ss="userText">When the <span ss="editText">icicle g<span ss="userText">otrge enough, Silvia stopped the growth process. Mist continued<span ss="aiText"> to flow from her hand <span ss="userText">as she closed her eyes and tried to picture the next step of the spell.


    <span ss="userText">— ''Incredible...'' Aster thought as he<span ss="aiText"> watched silently,<span ss="userText"> fascinated<span ss="aiText"> by the process. <span ss="userText">Silvia previously described every<span ss="aiText"> stage <span ss="editText">of how her magic works, how<span ss="aiText"> the mana flows through her body, the<span ss="userText"> mental<span ss="aiText"> images she<span ss="userText"> uses, and<span ss="aiText"> how difficult it is to<span ss="userText"> control... She shares every detail with him, no matter how small. The amount of work<span ss="aiText"> she puts into <span ss="editText">casting a spell<span ss="aiText"> is staggering, to say the least.


    <span ss="userText">However, the most challenging part of magic is not casting<span ss="editText"> but figuring out how the spell should work and what details should be added or excluded. <span ss="userText">It requires a lot of trying<span ss="aiText"> and failing until the desired<span ss="userText"> result<span ss="aiText"> is achieved.<span ss="userText"> This is the most exciting part for Aster<span ss="aiText"> and something he would have loved to <span ss="userText">try himself... But he has no<span ss="aiText"> affinity, sadly.<span ss="userText"> Time will tell if<span ss="aiText"> he will get <span ss="userText">one, but at least he can participate<span ss="aiText"> in developing Silvia''s magic by observing her and suggesting changes to her spells.


    <span ss="editText">Silvia''s eyes opened, and she raised her hand higher, guiding the icicle to float slightly further away. The mist followed close behind, swirling around the icicle and forming a sphere of dense, pressurized fog behind it.<span ss="userText">


    <span ss="userText">Launching a spell is a tricky process, and there are two ways of doing it<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> The first involves using mana to propel the spell forward, much like how the icicle floats now. It is simple and easy, but it consum<span ss="aiText">es a <span ss="editText">lot<span ss="aiText"> of mana<span ss="userText"> to make it somewhat<span ss="aiText"> effective.


    <span ss="userText">The second method, the one Silvia is practicing, is tounch it with an explosion-like force behind it<span ss="aiText">, much like a<span ss="userText"> cannon. However, the problem with this method is how to create such force with ice magic? Luckily, she can control <span ss="userText">this mist of hers<span ss="aiText"> and force it to move and squeeze together into apressed sphere behind the <span ss="userText">ic<span ss="aiText">icle. <span ss="userText">It requires a bit of mana to prevent solidifying,<span ss="aiText"> as well as a tremendous amount of concentration, but<span ss="userText"> the<span ss="aiText"> result is worth it.


    <span ss="userText">When the<span ss="aiText"> pressure<span ss="userText">inside<span ss="aiText"> the sphere was good enough, Silvia took a deep breath and<span ss="userText"> shifted her focus back<span ss="aiText"> to the icicle.<span ss="userText"> Suddenly<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> it spun<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> creating<span ss="aiText"> a<span ss="userText"> loud humming<span ss="aiText"> sound that intensified as the speed increased<span ss="editText">. <span ss="aiText">She clenched her teeth, feeling her mana draining rapidly<span ss="userText">. <span ss="aiText">Nivalis and Aster covered their ears to protect themselves from the sound.


    <span ss="userText">"Almost done!" Silvia shouted<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> struggling<span ss="aiText"> to maintain the spell.<span ss="userText"> She <span ss="userText">aimed her hand towards<span ss="aiText"> a<span ss="userText"> nearby<span ss="aiText"> tree<span ss="userText"> and released<span ss="aiText"> the pressure<span ss="editText">. <span ss="userText">The sphere behind the icicle exploded with a deafening boom, sending the icicle flying forward with a whistling sound<span ss="aiText">. It<span ss="userText"> flew<span ss="aiText"> through the air with incredible speed and mmed into the tree<span ss="userText">. The tree shuddered, its bark splintering and ice fragments scattering in all directions; a noticeable hole marked the point of impact. <span ss="aiText">"Nice," Silvia <span ss="editText">said<span ss="userText"> proudly, trying<span ss="aiText"> to shake the lingering cold off<span ss="userText"> her hand.


    <span ss="aiText">"That was incredible, honey," Nivalis pped her hands, impressed by her daughter''s spell. "<span ss="userText">You<span ss="aiText">''ve<span ss="userText"> gotten <span ss="userText">much better.<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="userText">Aster nodded<span ss="aiText">, adding, "It was amazing. Well done," he praised.


    <span ss="aiText">She walked towards <span ss="editText">them to sit beside her mother. "Hehe, thanks," she said, beaming with pride<span ss="aiText">. "I<span ss="userText"> thought it was over when it started to<span ss="aiText"> crack," she confessed, cuddling up to her mother and seeking her warmth. "But<span ss="userText"> I<span ss="aiText"> managed to stabilize it.<span ss="userText"> And it<span ss="aiText">''s so much easier to <span ss="editText">aim <span ss="aiText"pared to thest time," she added, sighing with relief. "Thanks for the advice, Asty.<span ss="editText"> Spinning the icicle really helped<span ss="aiText">," she smiled at him.


    <span ss="aiText">— "I''m d," Aster replied, <span ss="editText">still leaning against Nivalis and receiving a belly rub<span ss="aiText">. "It <span ss="userText">was quite loud<span ss="aiText">, though. Perhaps you should <span ss="editText">reduce <span ss="aiText">the spinning. Otherwise, the target might flee before you have time to <span ss="editText">finish the spell<span ss="aiText">," he suggested, putting his hand on <span ss="userText">his mother''s naked knee<span ss="aiText">. "What do you think, Mom?"


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Mhm. T<span ss="aiText">hat''s<span ss="userText"> a<span ss="aiText"> good idea,"<span ss="userText"> N<span ss="aiText">ivalis said, looking down at her son<span ss="editText"> and kissing him on the<span ss="aiText"> temple.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yeah, good point," Silvia nodded<span ss="userText">, standing up. "Alright, let''s try<span ss="aiText"> again<span ss="userText">."


    <span ss="userText">...


    <span ss="userText">"Brrr<span ss="editText">... <span ss="editText">I''m<span ss="aiText"> cold," Silviained,<span ss="userText"> crawling<span ss="aiText"> on<span ss="editText">to<span ss="aiText"> the bed<span ss="userText">. <span ss="aiText">Nivalis followed right after, lying beside her daughter and opening her arms invitingly. Silvia immediately <span ss="editText">hurried <span ss="aiText">closer and hugged her mother''s waist, burying her face into her<span ss="editText"> mother''s <span ss="editText">milky breasts<span ss="aiText">. <span ss="userText">The girl trembled visibly, goosebumps covering her naked body. Nivalis gently rubbed Silvia''s back, eliciting a contented sigh from her daughter.


    <span ss="aiText">"Better?" Nivalis asked, a note of concern in her voice.


    <span ss="aiText">"Yeah," Silvia said, <span ss="userText">pressing her little body<span ss="aiText"> closer to her mother''s warmth.


    <span ss="aiText"> "You did well today, my love," Nivalis said, <span ss="editText">kissing<span ss="aiText"> her head. "I''m so proud of you."


    <span ss="userText">"Thanks, Mommy," Silvia mumbled<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> her teeth<span ss="aiText"> chattering<span ss="userText"> slightly<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">"Oh, my sweet girl," Nivalis cooed, gently rubbing Silvia''s back and bottom to help warm her. "How about<span ss="aiText"> a<span ss="userText"> story <span ss="editText">while we wait for Aster?<span ss="aiText">"


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia''s eyes brightened instantly as she looked up at her mother, her lips curling into a smile. "I would love that," she replied, hugging her <span ss="editText">waist <span ss="aiText">tighter. "But I want you to do all the voices this time."


    <span ss="aiText">"Okay, but you have to promise not tough," Nivalis said, smiling tenderly.


    <span ss="userText">The mes danced hypnotically as Aster sketched his sister''s face with charcoal on a piece of white bark, its flickering light casting shadows on the walls. He sat<span ss="aiText"> cross-legged<span ss="userText"> near<span ss="aiText"> the fire in the kitchen area, focusing on his<span ss="userText"> work. <span ss="editText">The sketches mainly were of what he saw throughout the day — a squirrel, a few birds, some flowers, a rabbit, and Silvia practicing her magic. <span ss="userText">This was his nightly routine,sting no more than fifteen minutes, helping him keep his drawing skills in check. It would be a shame to lose such a skill simply because ofziness.


    He didn''t even keep those drawings. Instead, he would wash them away every morning, dry the bark, and start over again. The reason behind this was purely practical: there are not enough white trees growing around, so the drawing material is limited. <span ss="userText">Besides, there''s something rxing about knowing that his creations would be gone the next day, only to be<span ss="aiText"> reced with new ones.


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia''s happy giggles filled the cave, bringing a smile to Aster''s face.<span ss="userText"> "Alright... time to sleep," he whispered, setting aside the charcoal and bark. He washed the ck dust from his hands and walked<span ss="aiText"> towards his family.


    <span ss="aiText">"Well, I think he is finally joining us," Silvia said, looking up at him as he approached.


    <span ss="userText">— "Yup," Aster replied with a nod. He dropped his pants and removed<span ss="aiText"> his<span ss="userText"> tunic<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> exposing<span ss="aiText"> his<span ss="userText"> pale skin<span ss="aiText"> to the warm glow of the fire.


    <span ss="aiText">Aster hurried <span ss="userText">underneath the nkets, nestling close behind his sister. Her skin felt cold, as it always did. "You''re freezing," he whispered into her ear, enveloping her in his arms and pulling himself closer. She shivered<span ss="aiText"> slightly<span ss="userText">, weing her little brother''s warmth by pressing back against him. <span ss="userText">Their legs intertwined, her icy toes brushing against him<span ss="aiText">, making him grimace<span ss="editText"> slightly<span ss="aiText"> in response.


    <span ss="userText">He ignored the difort, saying nothing<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> He had gotten used<span ss="aiText"> to <span ss="editText">her icy touch by now<span ss="aiText">. He rested his chin on her shoulder and nced up at his mother, his eyes locking with hers. <span ss="userText">"What did I miss?" Aster asked with a yawn.


    <span ss="userText">"Nothing, just getting to the good part,"<span ss="editText"> Nivalis replied, cupping his cheek in her hand.<span ss="aiText"> "So, as I was saying," she paused, clearing her throat dramatically. "''Oh no! Run away, everyone!'' cried the<span ss="userText"> little<span ss="aiText">mb. ''The wolf ising!''" Nivalis<span ss="userText"> continued the tale<span ss="aiText">, her eyes twinkling in the firelight.