In the bitter cold, Tokino curled her body tighter. Even when she declared herself deserving of death, her soul never gave up. Moments later, her icy breath faded. Her eyes closed.

She saw bright lights upon opening again. She felt warm, wrapped in thick wool sheets, and next to her felt warmer. She shed a tear and smiled. “Papa, is that you…? Am I in Heaven?”

Confusingly, the place she saw did not look bright and divine. Instead, it was yellow and cozy. She slowly got up and saw a fireplace nearby. The bed she was on felt softer than the one she had back home.

The wooden room beamed with warm hospitality. Even a thermos laid on a table. “Where am I?” She looked around.

Suddenly, a voice beside her startled her beyond belief. “What amazing endurance you have, little miss,” it said at a chair.

She turned and saw a black-haired woman with her braid resting on her shoulder. She even came equipped with a white apron.

“I suggest you don’t get up from bed. I’m still treating your frostbite.” She raised her right foot and placed a warm wet cloth on the sole.

Tokino felt stings when she picked up her feet but got assured it would end soon. The woman placed her legs back and moved back to the chair.

She patted her head. “I’m Aimi Shinsei (真性愛美), the local nurse in the village. What’s your name?” She found no response and saw Tokino backing away. She sighed with her eyes closed. “Don’t worry. I know you’re still scared. Sorry for asking.” She opened the door from afar.

She kept her head down until she saw her nape. “E-Excuse me… But your—”

She turned and giggled. “Surprised? I’m not from Tokyo, Shibuya, or whatever. I was only a simple farm girl from Jackson, Wyoming.” She coughed with a fist in her mouth. “Excuse me, little miss. I’ll be making dinner now.” She closed the door.

The whole time she looked at Aimi, she was quietly mesmerized. Her lily-white skin had an adequate glow. Her face exuded kindness in the flesh. She believed even the most scarred veteran would kneel before her commands. Above all, her serene expressions warmed her heart so much they would have killed her.

At that moment, she cracked a smile while sleeping. She yearned to know more about the kind woman.

An hour later, Aimi gently shook her in bed. “Come here… soups up.” She walked her to the dining room downstairs. Her frostbite had mitigated enough for her to move.

Dinner was a big bowl of borscht topped with sour cream. “Eat all you want. A lot more where this came from.” She gave her a soup bowl with a wooden spoon.

A lone sip made Tokino realize the meal was very delectable. She helped herself quicker than the last.

“Oh, no, no, little miss. No need to be messy.” She wiped her mouth.

Unfortunately, the more she took, the more she gobbled up the soup. “Sevenths, please!” She presented her bowl with closed eyes and a smile.

She giggled, knowing how she deeply loved her cooking. She also knew Tokino’s hunger peaked before she found her. She accompanied her to bed, sitting beside her. “That’s a beautiful name…” she stroked her hair. She cleared her throat. “I know it’s too early to ask. But can I be your mother from now on? I lost my angel long ago.”

Tokino sulked in bed throughout her words. She did not even look at her face and exuded shame like no other. Fortunately, she found some courage and presented a kitchen knife to her. “I loved their screams,” she muttered. “Even now, I still do. Don’t play dumb with me.” Tears welled up.

She did not cover her mouth at the sight of it. Instead, she sighed. “So, you found out already, huh? I admit it. I know your face and name. So many of the village fell at your hands.” She moved closer. “But tell me. Are you a monster or a little girl? All I see is the latter, and that won’t change.” She smiled with her eyes relaxed.

Her heart sank, hearing more of her soft voice. She lowered the knife and sobbed. “I’m sorry… I don’t deserve any of this. You should’ve left me for—” Before she knew it, Aimi hugged her.

She rubbed her back. “Shhh… Don’t ever think that way. I know you’re the Bloodstained Lavender. You’ve tortured and killed. But none of that matters now. I saved you because you were dying. Simple as that.” She let go.

She dried her eyes. “So, where will you take me…?”

“Oh, no, no, no…” she shook her head. “You stay here as long as you want. Now that I mention it—it was you who killed my angel. He protested against war, so Coelestis found him a spy.

“But I’ll never hate you, little miss. You’re indeed a lavender, but I see no blood in you. So what do you say? Be my angel for now. As I raised my son before, I promise you’ll be a strong woman.”

Tokino sobbed more. Memories flashed before her eyes of helping her father cook breakfast. Unfortunately, her idea of mothers turned ugly long ago. Her mind got filled with endless doubts. Yet, she could not deny Aimi’s warm persona.

“So… is it okay if I call you ‘honey’? To say I love you too early?” She smiled again.

She dried her eyes once more. “Can you be like Papa in some way?” She told her about a plethora of experiences, even personal ones.

She giggled. “What an amazing man, Tokino. I could never say the same for mine. It was the only time I wished death to someone.” She patted her head. “I know our views differ. But love has many faces. I assure you that.”

Tokino nodded in agreement but still sulked. She agreed with her request for a bedtime story. Being a tale adapted from a Disney movie, she became captivated by the whimsical tone. However, she cried a river upon how everyone treated the little elephant.

Aimi paused the story halfway. “Are you sure you want me to sing this? It’ll rip your heart in two.” She stroked her hair.

She nodded again. “Go on, please… I hated Mama. But not you.”

She giggled with her eyes closed. “Okay… Here it goes.” She cleared her throat and sang it as mellow as possible.

Baby mine, don’t you cry

Baby mine, dry your eyes

Rest your head close to my heart

Never to part, baby of mine

It did not sound like any of her father’s lullabies. Still, it turned on the waterworks at max setting. She bawled on her, yet the song continued.

“There, there…” she stroked her hair again. “I know that feeling, too. My mom sang it to me every night. I used to pray she was here in the otherworld.” She continued the story.

Tokino cried again during the ending. However, it was out of joy. She got up and smiled faintly. “Um… Can you read it tomorrow?”

She moved out of the bed and giggled. “Your wish is my command, honey.” She smiled at her. “So, am I much like your father? Maybe loving enough?”

She could not find the answer to her questions. She sulked again and looked over a window from afar. Her soul still felt uneasy about the notion. “I-Is it okay to give it some time…?” she slowly turned to her.

She hugged her one more time for the night. “Anything for you, honey….” She tucked her in bed and turned off the lights. Her heart bounced as she walked downstairs. “Oh, Tokino… To think you’re already my little angel….”

Golden rays shone through the window. Breakfast was pelmeni. Like before, Tokino enjoyed Aimi’s cooking. The latter wiped her mouth clean again and took out the dishes. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ll teach you—” She coughed. “…p-proper manners one day.”

She became concerned over such sounds. She even thought the worst and walked closer.

“No, no. It’s okay,” Aimi reassured her. “I’m always in top shape. I need some pills, that’s all….” She pulled out a box and breathed deeply in the living room. After said exercise, she showed her a school brochure. “Look at this, honey. It could be your first step in becoming a strong woman. Don’t worry. You won’t get hurt because they’ll only teach you the basics. If you don’t want this, that’s okay. I’m not forcing you.”

She realized it promoted “Protéger,” Hiver’s most prestigious university for mages. Her father used to tell her stories about their exceptional strength and indomitable wills. However, he knew about the flawed systems they worked in, so he discouraged her.

On the other hand, she only had one doubt. As a ten-year-old, she knew next to nothing about politics. All she wanted was for Aimi to accompany her. “Is it too much to ask?” She held her hands behind her back.

She smiled and held her shoulders. “I have good news, honey. I’m a faculty member. I can teach you myself time after time. It may not look like it, but I have a lot of money to burn. I simply chose not to. So what do you say, little miss?”

Tears welled up. She smiled back in joy and hugged her. “Thank you…” she said softly.

Enrollment came four days later. Before, Aimi taught her the simplest form of Runic Art: making a plant grow. Twenty passed out of three hundred, including her.

A boy nearby chuckled and shoved his friend with an elbow. “So much for your ‘exceptional genes.’ ‘Ey, Bernard?”

“Oh, shut up, Farkas,” his eyes narrowed slightly. “I’ll become a mage whatever it takes. My family’s moving out.”

He chuckled again. “What a coincidence. Mine’s moving out, too. Not sure why they chose a dinky no-name village, though.”

He sighed with his eyes closed. “Whatever the case, I can’t believe they allowed that girl of all people. She could shank you at any min—” A man shoved him. “Hey! Watch it, pal….”

Other enrollees turned away from Tokino, who paid no mind either way. Due to her ties, the university gave her a personal chauffeur. Back home, Aimi hugged her out of sheer excitement for her future. She decided to take her to a local spot: a perpetually frozen lake.

The residents of Hiver treated every day as Christmas, minus the gift exchange. Some children even learned magic just to throw snowballs faster and harder. Signs prohibited too much horseplay everywhere; a child lost an eye a year ago.

Tokino skated flawlessly and never fell. People stood in shock, seeing her all happy and delighted. The last thing they expected was someone watching over her.

Aimi clapped her hands. “Spectacular moves, honey!” she shouted from afar.

“Thank you!” she waved with both hands and continued skating. However, darkness loomed over the nearby woods.

Aimi’s eyes widened as she recognized the man with a pistol. “Revanche! No!!” She got off the bench.

The man came out of the trees and frightened everyone. He flash-stepped before Tokino and pulled the trigger; she blinked and shielded herself. Before she knew it, Aimi cast a runic shield in front. Everyone else stood surprised. “I won’t allow it, Revanche,” she walked closer. “She’s my new angel. If you kill her, pray to the Gods they’ll stop me!” Her eyes narrowed.

He grunted with his teeth clenched. “Stay out of this, Aimi! Do you have any idea what that little shit did to my son? Her mother boasted about it for weeks in my café!” Tears flowed out. “I stood all day bottling up my anger. I couldn’t touch her, lest my whole family suffered at her hands!

“You were the only one who knew my pain. Why would you protect the culprit!? Give me back my son!” He fired rapidly, scaring everyone for good.

She stood her ground and strengthened the shield. However, it became harder for her to breathe. She coughed out blood as it went on. The runes dispersed, and she fell to her knees.

He walked toward Tokino with heavy steps. However, she did not back away and dodged bullets with ease. She threw a punch that flung him against the trees from afar. The ice cracked beneath her feet. She looked at her hands, surprised about her inner strength.

Sadly, it was not a victory. Even if Tokino’s foresight saw every shot, she could not dodge all. Her stomach bled profusely. She fell to the ground and gasped for air.

Moments later, authorities apprehended the man who tried going back to the scene. One of them looked around and became terrified. “Wait, wait, miss! Don’t engage! Don’t—” His words failed to stop an enraged Aimi.

She flash-stepped before their eyes and took Revanche out of their hands. She always feared using Tinman’s Will, but this was an exception. She pushed him deep into the woods, destroying trees by the dozen. She laid on top of him and pummeled his gut with her steel arms. It lasted for five minutes, and the ground fissured meters wide.

Eventually, the authorities traced her whereabouts and put her to sleep via runes. Others vomited seeing Revanche’s torso almost torn off. He survived but became bedridden for the next six months.

Aimi slowly opened her eyes and saw Tokino in front of her in bed. “You were amazing, Mama! I just want you to know that.” She smiled.

Her eyes widened. “H-Honey…! Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

“Uh-hm,” she nodded. “They fixed me up real quick. The nurses were very kind.” She showed her belly, which had a scar.

Unexpectedly, she sulked before Tokino, who tilted her head in confusion. “Honey… what I did wasn’t a good thing.” She looked over a snow-covered window. “That man who tried killing you. He was my only friend. We’ve known each other ever since school.” Tears welled up. “Maybe you’re right. I shouldn’t be your—”

“Don’t say that!” she exclaimed. “I’m already calling you ‘Mama,’ but you’re nothing like Mama. Papa told me that when someone fights for you, they’re with you for life. Forever till the end!”

She sighed and turned to her with a smile. “You really mean it?” She held her shoulders. “Perhaps what I did was poetic. Remember when you showed me your knife?

“Listen, Tokino… I can be a monster. Anyone can, and you were never the only one. But that doesn’t mean we’re devils. I knew of a traveling kid who was reprehensible to the core, but he helped me fight seadrakes.

“The world we live in—is so much bigger than you think. So who’s to say monsters can’t find love? Does it always have to be hate and anger?” She moved closer. “Tell me, honey. If I said I hate you right now, would you say it back? Because even then—I’ll love you tomorrow….”

Tokino gazed upon her serene smile. Tears flowed like a waterfall, and she hugged her tightly with her eyes closed. “Of course not, Mama! I’d never say that. I know you won’t mean it. I love you forever till the end!” She bawled at her for minutes.

Aimi rubbed her back. “I’m so blessed….” She shed a tear and thought about her late son.