Sometimes, we know exactly what we want to achieve—like a seagull fixated on a fish glinting beneath the surface. Her eyes never waver. She's resilient, determined. But in the moments before she swoops down and catches it, she must ignore all the distractions—the other sea creatures swimming by, the drifting weeds, the waves pulling her attention elsewhere. Her focus is her strength.
It has been months since Araina has been wandering through the lush forest, surviving solely on the fruits hanging from the trees and the wild vegetables growing along her path.
Just as she had begun to lose all hope of achieving her goal, what appeared before her made her eyes widen in disbelief
In front of her was a world of white—pure and untouched. Everything was albino; the ground stretched far into the distance beneath a thick blanket of snow. A few delicate snowflakes had begun to fall from the sky, dancing slowly through the air. After walking miles through the dense forest, Araina had finally reached the snowy mountains. The icy wind kissed her skin, and her hair billowed around her like a halo, as if a goddess had descended in that very moment.
Stepping forward with stern eyes and unwavering resolve, she made the decision to face whatever lay ahead.
Walking. Walking. Walking.
A full day had passed since she began walking, yet there was no sign of sunset—the sky remained as bright as midday. There was no trace of inhabitants, no footprints, no smoke, no distant voices. Just an endless, silent expanse of snow stretching in every direction.
With her body numb from the cold, she felt as if life itself might slip away right there in the snow. But suddenly, a thunderous roar shattered the stillness. She spun around—and what she saw made her heart freeze. Towering before her was a massive, white, ape-like creature. Its eyes burned with a murderous intent, and its roar echoed through the mountains like a warning from the wild itself.
As the beast charged toward her, Araina turned and ran, her breath sharp in her throat and her legs stumbling through the deep snow.
"I will kill you… You can't kill me…"
The thoughts clashed in her mind like a chant of survival and defiance.
Then, without warning, the creature leapt high into the air, aiming to crush her in a single devastating blow.
But just as he descended—
A gleaming trident flew through the air, striking the beast mid-flight.
With a deafening thud, the creature crashed to the ground, snow erupting around him. He lay still, unconscious, the weapon standing tall in the ice beside him like a guardian's mark.
Araina stared, wide-eyed, as the snow began to settle. From the swirling mist stepped a figure—calm, composed, and radiant against the icy backdrop. A monk emerged, his long white hair flowing like silk in the wind, his beard resting gently on his chest. Dressed in pristine white robes that blended seamlessly with the snow, he looked like a spirit born of the mountains themselves.
In his hand, he held the trident.
His eyes, deep and ancient, met hers—not with fear or judgment, but with quiet knowing.