Jack gave her a warm smile.
Staring at the flower and then back at her his eyes still widened.
"Thats… Beautiful."
A small bead of sweat was visible on Maya's face. Her voice remained calm, yet held a hint of nervousness.
"I come from the eastern borders of Spring."
"My powers aren't really strong since I'm here in the cold, yet I can handle myself."
She stepped closer, staring up at the sky.
"Me and Miche would meet near here under a tree."
"He would tell me stories."
"I really liked it here."
"But I'm not really supposed to be here… This land isn't safe for someone like me."
She turned to face him.
"Your lineage, Jack… There's barely any people that know of its existence."
Jack stared, a bit confused.
"Really?"
"Yes. The frost lineage is thought to be lost. Well, at least nobody knows the man you met."
She stopped gazing at the sky and looked directly at him.
"The Monarch of Winter."
The atmosphere became heavier.
"My father… He is the Monarch of Spring.
He told me all about the War of Renewal.
The Winter-born against Spring-born."
Jack stared at her with a curious gaze.
"Why are you telling me this?"
She let out a small sigh.
"The winter, even though it's your home…
I don't think you should stay here with that man roaming around."
Jack gave her an empathetic smile.
"Thank you, Maya. I can take care of myself."
Jack looked back at the flower.
Maya turned a bit red looking at Jack's face. She turned away slightly.
Jack continued speaking, staring at his left arm.
"Thank you, Maya, for taking care of me while I was unconscious."
"I must go to my village. I'm sure they are worried about me."
She looked at him with a hint of doubt.
"Village?"
Jack smiled and looked in the direction of the village.
"Yes, I have somewhat of a family there, you see."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"May—I go?"
Jack seemed confused by her question.
"Go?
To the village? Didn't you say you weren't allowed to be here?"
"Well, I can stay here in Winter for about a week. I told my father I was on border patrol.
A friend of mine will vouch for me there."
She began speaking a little nervously, realizing the weight of her words. She shook her hands in front of her.
"I—If you don't want to it's fine, I can go back, no problem."
Jack turned a bit red and scratched his head.
"Sure—as long as you have money for a place to stay."
Her eyes gleamed slightly with happiness.
"Really?!"
Her mind echoed:
Finally, I will be somewhere other than Spring!
Jack looked at her with a smile.
"Yes, we should leave tomorrow since the sun is going down."
She formed a smile—now wider.
Suddenly, two ears popped out of her hair almost magically. Bunny ears, gray with pink insides, covered in soft fur. Both ears stood upright, twitching with excitement.
Jack stared silently.
Maya looked up, following his gaze. Seeing both ears, she turned bright red with embarrassment. The ears flopped down, covering her face. She spoke nervously.
"Oh—T-This is just!
I'll wait inside!"
She sprinted back into the cave, flustered.
Jack stood there, frozen.
What the—?
***
Later, Jack went out to hunt for dinner. In the forest, he carried the dagger Maya had retrieved, along with his staff. He wore a compressed, sleeved shirt.
Eastern border of Spring, huh?
I wonder why she wants to go to the village…
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted. A small bunny hopped across the trees.
Jack considered hunting it—but decided against it.
He crept through the dimming forest light. A large animal lay ahead in the snow—a deer, sleeping.
There!
Jack hid behind a tree, eyes glowing with a blue glint. He lunged, leaving a sharp streak of cold behind his eyes. A second later, his blade pierced the deer's heart.
Yes!
This will be enough until we reach there.
He carved it up for carrying and started back to the cave.
***
By the time Jack returned, night had fallen. The deer meat was tied with rope across his back.
As he entered, the sound of a crackling fire greeted him.
Maya sat beside it. Her bunny ears were gone. Her white coat had been removed and now hung tied at her waist, revealing her slender but slightly muscular frame, clothed in a light garment. Despite her lack of layers, she was sweating near the fire—as if absorbing its heat. Her eyes were closed, and her hazel hair flowed freely past her shoulders. Her breath, visible in the cold, left in soft puffs.
Jack stopped at the sight.
Then, suddenly, her eyes opened, revealing their bright emerald hue.
"Oh!" she said, a little surprised. "You're here!"
She began tying her hair back.
"Sorry—I was just absorbing some energy for my lineage."
She threw her coat back on.
"What did you catch?"
Jack turned away slightly.
"Deer."
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Deer? You must be good at hunting then."
She gave a soft smile.
Jack composed himself and sat down, placing the deer meat in front of him.
"Me and my dad used to hunt a lot; I've become quite good."
He looked down at the meat with a somber smile.
He raised his head.
"Oh, and by the way—what did you mean by energy?"
Jack began cutting the meat into cubes with his dagger, placing them onto sticks. Maya perked up.
"Oh, right! I assume you didn't feel it much yet since you haven't left this season."
She paused, suddenly remembering something. She reached into a nearby bag.
"Wait—try these herbs with the meat. It makes it taste delicious."
She handed him a small tied bundle of herbs.
Jack accepted it with curiosity and started threading them between the meat chunks.
"Thank you."
Maya coughed.
Cough cough.
"As I was saying…"
"Since each season marks a territory of power, if you're in your lineage's home, your energy recharges really fast."
Jack started placing the meat sticks over the fire.
So that's why I felt weak before…
Maya continued.
"Normally, in your season, it won't run out—unless the circumstances are extreme.
Out of your season though, like me, you have to charge it with your element."
"It also depletes quite fast when used."
Jack finished arranging the meat and rested his chin on his hand, thoughtful.
"I see…"
Thanks—I'll take that into account."
Jack smiled kindly.
"No problem."
Maya smiled back. A second later, her stomach grumbled audibly. Her face flushed.
Jack looked at her, then chuckled.
Maya glared.
"Why are you laughing?!"
Jack grinned.
"No reason."
Maya pouted.
"Don't worry, it'll be done in a minute."