Stunned, Gale laid limply on the floor. His body shivered, no longer under his control. Blue fingers curled in front of him, numb. He twitched, slowly pushing himself up. His frozen hands slid out from under him, and he thumped back to the ice.

Paws patted at Gale’s face. Scared black button eyes stared at him, and an icy nose nudged at him. “Gale. Gale!”

Gale’s lips moved. He shivered again, curling in on himself.

Kino curled up, gathering Gale into the coil of his body. He patted at Gale until he found the leather coat, then wrapped that around Gale. “Warm up, warm up!”

Gale shivered and burrowed into the fluffy brown-and-white fur. He glanced over. Tysir laid still on the floor, stiff, her eyes half-closed. He turned away. I can’t help her. I have to hope she’s fine.

The sounds of fighting reached his ears. Steel clanged. A high-pitched keen rang out, a sound Gale recognized as magic. He fought his way out of Kino’s fur. “I can’t stay here. We have to fight!”

“You’re up? You’re warm now?” Kino asked, peering down at him.

“I’m good enough!” Gale declared. He stepped out of Kino’s fur.

Instantly, the warning popped up again.

Warning! You are Freezing. Death in 1:30.

Even if I hide in Kino’s fur, it’s not enough to raise that timer. I could abandon fighting entirely… but then the Church of Light would take Sarah away.

Gale sprinted around the corner, pumping his arms half for warmth. Kino bounced after him. Ice and snow rimed the cottage’s corner, jutting out past the wood. Snow crunched underfoot as the green of the rear yard, where the cottage blocked Sarah’s snow, gave way to the icy wonderland on the front half of the meadow.

The Church of Light’s party stomped forward slowly, pushed back by a brutal wind laced with snow. Ice coated their armor and weapons. Lucretia raised her arm against the wind, blocking some of the icy cold. “Sarah. Give in! Come with us! We can still forgive you!”

“Forgive me, my ass! What gives you the right?” Sarah snarled.

“If not… if you insist on taking this path…then we have no option!” Lucretia frowned sternly and raised her hand.

Piero stepped forward. Taking the cue, Felicity thrust her hand out. The golden wall appeared again, blocking the icy wind. Piero reached behind him and lashed out with his whip.

Sarah’s face flickered. She threw her hands up. A crystal ice shield materialized in front of her.

The whip smashed through the ice. Piero flicked his wrist. Golden light glowed from the core of the whip. It wrapped around Sarah’s waist. Piero pulled, yanking her toward them. She flicked her hand. A dozen icicles zoomed toward the Church of Light’s party. Felicity stepped forward, enveloping Piero with her shield again. The icicles shattered.

Eunice charged past Felicity’s glowing shield, raising his broadsword.

Gale threw out his hands. Blood streamed from his palm toward Sarah, snaking quietly under the icy snow. Some of it ran into the snow or froze away, but Gale pressed on, spending mana to keep it moving. I can’t be late!

Sarah scowled. Another volley of icicles flew at Eunice. Felicity threw out her other hand, and the golden symbol on Eunice’s armor glowed with golden light. The golden light burst from the starburst and enveloped Eunice. A shield formed around Eunice. The icicles bounced off and fell harmlessly to the floor. The second the icicles fell away, Felicity sighed and dropped her hand. The gold light around Eunice faded.

Eunice hefted his sword high and leaped into the air.

“Alive, we need her alive!” Lucretia shouted.

Eunice changed his grip subtly, pointing the pommel at Sarah’s head. Sarah flinched back, but the whip held her in place. She threw her hands up. Ice formed between them. It shattered under Eunice’s pommel. The sword’s butt hurtled toward Sarah’s head.

Now! The blood hidden in the snow jabbed up at Eunice, spearing toward his undercarriage. As it jabbed upward, Gale retracted his energy from the tip. The blood froze solid, becoming a blade.

[Prerequisites Acquired] [Combo Skill Unlock!]

Frozen Blood Lance

Combine an Ice Mage’s Frozen Domain with Blood Manipulation to create this icy spear! Mind that you don’t lose too much mana/blood to the frozen air. Cost: 10 mana, expect an additional 2 mana/second expenditure in icy weather.

Eunice’s eyes flashed downward. He leaped backward, aborting the blow. The blood spear sliced past his thigh, cutting trousers but not flesh.

Sarah’s hand flashed out. A blast of icy cold rushed from her hand, condensing into an ice cube. Eunice swept his sword down and took the blow on the blade. The second the ice cube touched the blade, ice climbed up the blade all the way past his hilt and froze his hand. In seconds, ice encased his arm up to the elbow.

Eunice grunted. He slammed his sword down on the ground, breaking it out of his frozen hand’s hold. The sword stuck into the ground, hilt up. He grabbed it up again, ignoring the ice on the hilt biting into his hand.

“A Blood Mage? Kill him!” Lucretia snapped.

Eunice turned toward Gale. Gale stepped back, a nervous grin on his face. Eunice lunged, heavy and brutal. Gale threw himself to the side, rolling through the snow. Eunice tried to corner, but his boots slipped on the ice and snow. With a grunt, he thumped to the ground. Eyes flashing, Gale leaped at Eunice, drawing his dagger. Eunice pushed himself up, slapping Gale away with the back of his hand. Gale hit the ground hard and climbed back up, but before he could, Eunice stepped on his chest.

Piero flicked his whip again. It drew Sarah toward the party once more. She grabbed the whip. Ice crawled out from her hand and raced down the whip toward the hilt, almost hungry.

Piero released the whip and jumped back. Ice coated the hilt and surged toward him. It came to a point inches before his gut, unable to push any further.

He drew his sword. “We don’t want to hurt you, Sarah. Come with us. The Church will provide for you.”

“I don’t want to be provided for. I want to run a damn ice cream shop! What’s so wrong about that?” Sarah snarled.

“The people need the Legendary Heroes, Sarah. Like it or not, you were called to this world for a duty, a purpose. You have great power for a reason,” Piero said, looking her in the eyes.

Quietly, Felicity circled off to the left.

“Yeah, fuck off. I’m done, I’m tired. This isn’t even my world. I’m not doing anything for you assholes. Leave me alone and let me make ice cream, or become my ice statues forever.” Sarah flourished her hand.

Piero jumped aside. A second later, a pillar of ice formed where he’d stood.

Lucretia gestured. Gold light shimmered around her hands, then shot at Sarah. Sarah slashed her hand downward, materializing a slanted panel of ice in front of her. The light reflected off the ice panel and flew into the sky.

Grunting, Felicity sprinted at Sarah from the side.

Kino hurtled out and slammed into Felicity, body-slamming her to the ground. The two rolled along the ground, pummeling one another with their bare fists.

Caught under Eunice’s foot, Gale squirmed. Snow melted into his back. Freezing cold water soaked through his jacket and pants. Blood leaked down his hands and slicked over Eunice’s leg, pooling in his boot.

Eunice leaned more of his weight on Gale. “I am protected by the Goddess. Your Blood Magic cannot touch me. Surrender.”

“I… won’t…” I don’t have enough mana to possess a human in the first place, idiot!

Gale’s ribs creaked. He winced and grappled at Eunice’s leg. Eunice stared at him, expression flat, and put more weight on him. Something cracked. “Surrender.”

“N…never!” Gale’s eyes turned ferocious. He grabbed on to Eunice’s leg and shoved with all his might. At the same time, he activated Blood Needles on the blood in Eunice’s boot. All of Eunice’s weight pushed the needles into his own foot. They shattered, but even as they shattered, Gale poured more blood in, creating new needles. Suffer! Suffer the way I did, when I stepped on those plastic bricks!

Eunice flinched. Gale shoved his foot away and rolled out from under him at the same time. His chest ached, but distantly, the pain numbed by adrenaline. He drew his dagger and glared at Eunice.

“Boys! Cover me. I’ll finish this!” Sarah shouted, backing away.

Kino kicked Felicity into the woods and looped back toward Sarah, bounding back and forth in front of her. Eyes still locked on Eunice, Gale stepped backward toward Sarah.

I don’t want to kill. Especially not people. If I help Sarah do this… isn’t that the same?

If I don’t, then what? Should I let them take Sarah? Is that fair? They want to kill me. Should I…

What should I do?

Gale grit his teeth. His hand tightened on his dagger.

Lucretia whistled. The Church of Light party fell back toward her. Piero slapped his frozen whip experimentally as he passed, but it remained stiff.

“Sarah! If you do this… not even your Eyes of the Goddess will save you! You’ll be an enemy of the church forever!” Lucretia shouted.

“Fine! Good! It’s better than you idiots pestering me every day! I wish I didn’t have these damn eyes, so you could leave me alone,” Sarah snapped, frustrated.

“We only want what’s best for you!” Lucretia returned.

“You only want what’s best for you, not for me,” Sarah said, annoyed.

Gale flinched. That’s… isn’t that me, as well? Everyone here sees Sarah as a thing, an object to have, not a person.

Then…

He swallowed. Stepping forward, Gale planted his feet. He stood between the Church and Sarah, in the middle of the field. He stared down the party of four. The Church’s party tensed, raising their weapons.

“Gale!” Kino shouted, concerned. He stomped his paws in place, unwilling to leave Sarah alone, but afraid to leave Gale alone in the middle of the field without support, too.

Gale sheathed his dagger. He held his hands out to his sides, wide open. “Do we have to fight?”

“Don’t listen to the accursed Blood Mage. Kill him!” Lucretia snarled.

“I don’t want to hurt you! I don’t want Sarah to kill you, either. Can’t we talk this out?” Gale tried.

Felicity lifted a lip in disgust. She stepped forward, shaking her head. “You’re a monster. A Blood Mage. We don’t talk to monsters.”

Piero held his hand out in front of her. “Wait. The kid’s right. We don’t have to fight.”

“Don’t have to fight?” Felicity’s eyes flashed with brutal light. She stepped forward and leaped. Snow flew around her. She raised her sword high, bringing it down on Gale.

Gale swung his hand above him, tracing blood after it. A shimmering panel of blood stretched in the air. Felicity’s sword met the blood shield, and it gave, slow and sticky but still unable to hold her back. Gale jumped back. “Stop! There’s no need for this. Sarah isn’t going with you. Leave her alone!”

Sarah looked at Gale from the corner of her eye. “Weren’t you just telling me…”

“I… was in the wrong. But so are these people,” Gale said firmly.

Felicity landed. She shook the blood off her blade, glaring at Gale.

“Felicity. Stand down,” Piero snapped.

Lucretia shook her head, narrowing her eyes. “She has the Goddess’ eyes. She’s too precious for us to ignore. With someone like her in the Church, we could reclaim our glory of old, back before the Legendary Heroes claimed the spotlight!”

“She’s a Legendary Hero,” Gale pointed out.

“That’s unimportant. We need those eyes,” Lucretia argued.

“You only want her eyes. What about the rest of her? What is she, chopped liver?”

Lucretia shrugged. “There are ways to make her… compliant. We can consider that once we have her in our hands.”

“The Church swore off that kind of… behavior years ago. Under the auspices of the Legendary Hero Arthur,” Piero said, taken aback.

“Did you really think it stopped?” Lucretia asked, waving her hand.

Piero drew away from her. “Lucretia. This isn’t acceptable.”

“This is why the Knights’ Division is…” Lucretia put a hand to her forehead and shook her head, exhausted. “Don’t worry about it. All you have to do is capture the girl. I’ll take it from there. We’ll treat her well enough. All we need is a figurehead, in the end. A few of the right spells, a little mind magic, and we’ll wipe that unwillingness right out of her. She’ll be smiling down at a loving populace from atop her rightful throne in no time.”

Gale frowned. “Is this… really what the Church thinks?”

“I can’t agree with this. The Goddess wouldn’t want one of her beloved Legendary Heroes to be treated like a slave,” Piero replied. He pointed his sword at Lucretia.

“You dare?” Lucretia asked, aghast. She drew her hand back. Gold light sparkled in her palm.

Eunice grunted and turned toward Lucretia as well.

“You too? Felicity, at least you…?” she asked, startled.

Felicity glared at Gale for another second, then turned against Lucretia as well.

“This— I’ll have you all indicted for this! You’ll face the inquisitory court!” Lucretia shouted.

“If you make it out of here,” Piero said quietly.

Lucretia’s eyes flashed. The gold light in her hand flared, brilliant as fire.

“Don’t forget about me,” Sarah said, almost lazily. She snapped her fingers.

Lucretia froze where she stood. Ice crawled up her limbs, locking them in place. She struggled, her face twitching, and released the golden light at the ice climbing up her body.

The ice temporarily melted, but only temporarily. It continued to climb, growing stronger and stronger with every passing moment. The temperature dropped, fierce cold emanating from Lucretia’s freezing figure.

Gale shivered, hugging himself. Frost accumulated on his shoulders and arms and crept up his legs.

Warning! You are Freezing. Death in 0:25.

Lucretia turned to Sarah. “Sarah! This is your last chance—”

Thicker and thicker, until the ice encased her. It cracked as it grew, then, with a final snap, coalesced into a single crystal. Frozen inside, Lucretia still reached toward Sarah, hand splayed, mouth open wide.

“Yeah? Last chance for what, huh? I won’t be your puppet,” Sarah said, letting out a decisive snort. She turned to the other three, her hand still raised, fingers ready to snap.

Felicity tensed. Eunice’s grip tightened.

Piero lowered his sword. “We surrender. There’s no need to fight any more.”

Gale’s limbs stiffened. He jumped in place, but the cold still surged up his arms and legs. “Sarah, I’m Freezing.”

“I know, but bear with it. I don’t trust these people,” Sarah said, narrowing her eyes at the Church’s party.

“Not… freezing. Freezing!” he insisted. His hands no longer flexed. His toes sat stiff in their boots.

Kino’s ears flicked up. He raced over to Gale’s side and coiled around him. Gale sunk into his fur, but the icy wind had chilled the outer layer. Even the fur only did a little to warm him up. He shivered again.

Warning! You are Freezing. Death in 0:10.

“Sarah…” Kino said. He picked up Gale, but hesitated, flicking his eyes at the Church of Light.

Sarah glared down the Church of Light. “Throw down your weapons.”

Piero tossed his sword aside without hesitation. Eunice glanced at Piero, then stabbed his sword into the ground.

All eyes turned to Felicity.

She scowled, then threw her sword away. “Dammit. Why aren’t we killing the monsters?”

Sarah clapped. The icy domain faded away, and spring heat rushed back in its place. Only Lucretia remained frozen, the ice crystal unchanged despite the vanishing ice.

The ice coating Gale’s body melted. Kino’s hair poofed up as the ice melted away, instantly enveloping Gale in incredible warmth. He gasped, popping out of the coils of Kino’s body. “Too hot!”

“You’re not freezing?” Kino asked.

“I’m melting,” Gale replied, fanning his face. Kino uncoiled and transformed back. He slapped Gale on the shoulder happily.

The three remaining members of the Church of Light’s party glanced around awkwardly. Piero bowed to Sarah. “We apologize. I had no idea Lucretia was planning to do… that kind of thing to you.”

“Ask questions next time!” Sarah demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

Piero stood. “We’ll take Lucretia away with us. You… should probably move on. I’ll try to suppress the news, but… I can’t imagine the Church will overlook this.”

Sarah sighed, but nodded. “I know. I already made preparations.”

Piero bowed again and walked stiffly away. The other two followed him.

“Ah, paying customers… there’s no need to leave so soon,” Sarah said. A strange light appeared in her eyes, almost vicious. “You’ve caused me so much trouble… why don’t you come and have some ice cream?”

Piero hesitated. “We wouldn’t want to cause any more trouble.”

“Not at all. In fact, I’m inviting you personally. Come on, come on. Surely you want to try the fabled ice cream? You’ve come here so many times, but you’ve never had any of that delicious frozen treat,” Sarah said, putting on a beautiful smile. She beckoned them warmly toward the ice cream churn.

Gale ran a hand over the back of his neck, where all his hairs stood on end. Why is her smile so much scarier than her scowl?

Piero approached hesitantly. “How much is the ice cream?”

“Two gold a person,” Sarah said, grinning.

“Two gold?” Felicity roared, incensed.

Piero raised his hand. He reached into his pouch. “Of course. Such a valuable treat would naturally… be very expensive.”

Gale licked his lips. He glanced at Sarah. “Er… could I also… have some ice cream?”

“Me too, me too!” Kino added, bouncing in excitement.

“One copper. Two copper for the big cone,” Sarah replied.

Felicity stomped her foot and reached for her sword. Her hand swiped empty air at her hip.

Piero held his hand out in front of her. “Felicity. Now’s not the time.”

“But she’s scamming us! Right in front of our noses! Scamming us and fraternizing with monsters!” Felicity insisted, aggravated.

“Haven’t we caused her enough trouble?” Piero said gently.

Gale glanced at Piero, then at Lucretia. “Will you be fine, going back to the church?”

“Eh? Ah. Well, she’s only one person… even if she wakes up, will they believe her, or us?” Piero knocked on the ice crystal and shrugged. “If they don’t believe me, I’ll deal with it from there.”

Gale tipped his head. “You seem confident.”

Piero gestured. The whip, which had fallen to the floor as the ice melted, leaped off the ground and into his hand. He snapped it once. All the filth, melted ice and mud, flew off it. He snapped it again, and it coiled into his hand. Rubbing the back of his neck, he shot them a bashful smile. “I didn’t want to kill Sarah, so I wasn’t using my full strength, but… among the Church’s many knights, I doubt there’s more than ten people who could beat me. That includes the Priests’ Division.”

“He’s a Paladin,” Felicity declared proudly.

“A…?” Gale said, frowning. I know what paladins are, but aren’t all of these people holy knights, and therefore paladins?

“Paladins are the most powerful knights of the Church. They’re like generals in an army, but for the Church!” Kino whispered. He glanced at the knights, then hunkered behind Gale.

“He’s that strong?” Gale asked, startled.

“He could wipe us out with a pinky finger! When we go, we have to make sure he doesn’t follow,” Kino insisted, nodding.

“I’m not interested in killing monster children. That’s tasteless,” Piero insisted.

Gale straightened to his full, unimpressive height. “I’m also a Legendary Hero, so… I don’t know, you probably shouldn’t kill me? Is that in your religion?”

Felicity stepped forward, toward her sword. “Legendary Heroes who turn to darkness are the most dangerous of all. Should you come across one in your travels, suffer it not to live, but smite it immediately from existence!”

“Hey. No smiting, or you won’t get any ice cream,” Sarah said, narrowing her eyes in warning.

Felicity froze. “I already gave you two gold!”

“Then you’d better not smite anyone, huh?” Sarah said.

Felicity frowned, hesitating where she stood. Her eyes flicked toward her sword.

An icy wind blew. Sarah’s blue eyes glittered.

“Felicity. Calm yourself,” Piero said.

At that, Felicity huffed and crossed her arms. She scowled fiercely and glared at Gale, but didn’t move toward him.

“Aha, haha, if we aren’t smiting anyone… Sarah, about that ice cream?” Theo asked, stepping out of the cottage.

All three knights turned toward him. A vein throbbed on Felicity’s forehead, and she ground her teeth. “A demon…”

“Felicity,” Piero warned her.

Eunice stepped toward Theo as well. His hand twitched, as if to close around his sword. “A demon. Piero, do we stand down while she parades monsters in front of us? Flirts with demons?”

“Excuse me, I’m doing what with Theo?” Sarah demanded, disgusted.

“You—you don’t have to take that as an insult!” Theo insisted, giving Sarah a pitiful look. He shot a glare at the holy knights.

Piero pinched the bridge of his nose. “Eunice, I understand how you feel, but…”

“Tysir made buggers!” Tysir announced, bounding around the corner of the house. She carried a huge pile of fresh, shredded meat on a platter, some of it loosely shaped into patties. At the sight of the holy knights, she balked and retreated a step, suddenly hesitant.

“This—how many monsters do you fraternize with?” Felicity asked, aghast.

Eunice narrowed his eyes and cracked his knuckles, a deep scowl on his face.

“Tysir, how many people are coming for burgers tonight?” Sarah asked.

“Um… five, five, ten… seven… twenty-seven?” Tysir estimated.

“At least thirty,” Sarah said, shrugging.

“This—”

“Shut up and have some ice cream,” Sarah said, thrusting a cone into Felicity’s hands.

Felicity hesitated, then took a tiny lick. She blinked, then backed away, holding the cone away from her. “This… this…”

“What is it?” Piero asked, suddenly concerned.

“If you injured Felicity in any way,” Eunice snarled, rounding on Sarah.

“This… it’s delicious!” Felicity exclaimed, taking a bite. She closed her eyes, enjoying it, then clasped her hands to her mouth and hopped in place.

“Ah, cold headache. Make sure you eat it slowly,” Sarah warned. She filled another cone and handed it to Piero.

Gale stood next in line, hands out. Sarah glanced at him, then at the table beside her churn. “There’s no more cones. Want to run inside and try your hand at making one or two?”

“Make… cones?” Gale asked, tilting his head.

Sarah nodded. “I had some waffle irons made for the cones. It’s the same idea as you’re used to with waffle irons, just thinner and not automated. Here, I’ll show you.” She closed the churn, then stepped toward the cottage.