"Hurry up, Ariana! We can''t miss this!" Dn darted through the forest with his characteristic acrobatic ir, leaping over fallen logs and swinging around low-hanging branches as if the terrain was his personal yground. A wide grin stretched across his face, his excitement palpable.


    "Is that all you ever think about?" Ariana called after him, struggling to keep pace. Her auburn hair trailed behind her as her sses slipped down her nose slightly from the motion. Her tone was sharp, though tinged with exasperation. "What if they interrupt the forest''s illusion spell because of all this?"


    "Oh, yeah, good point!" Dn shouted back, his grin growing mischievous. "Another reason we need to hurry! Don''t want to miss the fireworks, hehehe!" He picked up his pace even more, his movements bing a blur of effortless agility.


    "Hey! Wait up!" Ariana yelled, frustration growing as she tried to keep up, her breathing uneven as her chest rose and fell with the effort.


    Minutester, Dn suddenly came to a halt,nding softly on the forest floor after flipping off a sturdy branch. His entire demeanor shifted, his usual carefree energy reced by a quiet stillness.


    Ariana finally caught up, panting heavily as she slowed to a stop beside him. "W-What the... hell is wrong with you?" she snapped between gasps for air, hands on her knees. "I told you to wait up!"


    She straightened after a moment, pushing her sses back into ce. "Why are you just standing there like—" Her words trailed off as she followed his gaze and finally saw what had him transfixed.


    The forest before them was transformed, a surrealndscape of frozen beauty. Ice coated the ground and trees, shimmering like ss in the sunlight.


    The branches were encased in crystalline frost, and the air itself felt heavy with residual myst. It was a battlefield frozen in time, a testament to the ferocity of the sh that had taken ce here.


    "Whoa..." Dn muttered, his voice unusually subdued. He stepped forward, his boots crunching against the icy ground. "They really went all out, huh?"


    "Yeah," Ariana breathed, her green eyes wide behind her sses as she took in the scene. The sun''s rays refracted through the ice, casting faint rainbows that danced across the frozen expanse.


    The two continued further into the icy clearing, their steps crunching softly against the frost-covered ground. The air was heavy, the aftermath of the battle evident in every frozen branch and shimmering shard. It didn''t take long before they spotted her.


    She sat slumped against a tree, her back resting against the frosted bark. Her arms were folded over her knees, her head buried in them, shielding her face from view. She looked small, a stark contrast to the confident,manding presence she usually exuded.


    Dn''s smirk faltered, reced by a faint look of concern. Still, he couldn''t resist his usual tone. "Looks like someone lost the fight," he whispered to Ariana, though his voice carried a softness not often heard.


    Stepping forward, he called out, "Hey, Icy Heart."


    "Get lost, Dn. Not in the mood," She muttered, her voice muffled but edged with frustration. Her face remained hidden, buried in her arms as if to shield herself from the world.


    Dn tilted his head, scratching the back of his neck. "Don''t wanna talk about it? Fair enough. But we need to move. The illusion spell needs to repair the damage, and staying here will mess that up."


    "Yeah, he''s right," Ariana added, her tone gentle but firm. "If we don''t leave, the spell could malfunctionpletely."


    They waited for a response, but She didn''t stir. Dn nced at Ariana, his usual grin reced by an uncertain frown.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "She..." he started again, but the words caught in his throat as she moved.


    She slowly rose to her feet, brushing frost from her arms. Her hair fell forward, partially obscuring her face, but her silence spoke volumes. Without sparing them a nce or a word, she walked past them, her steps deliberate and heavy, like a soldier retreating from a battle lost but not forgotten.


    Ariana and Dn stood still, watching her figure disappear into the distance. The weight of the moment hung in the frozen air, unspoken yet understood.


    Dn let out a breath, pping his hands together in an attempt to break the tension. "Well, that was... dramatic. Let''s get moving before the forest decides to eat us or something," he said, his grin returning, though it didn''t quite reach his eyes.


    Ariana nodded, her gaze lingering on the path She had taken. "Yeah. Let''s go."


    And with that, they turned, leaving the icy battlefield behind, their thoughts as cold and restless as the air around them.


    ***


    The crisp air of the forest had been reced by the bustling energy of the academy grounds. The sun hung low, casting warm golden hues across the sprawling courtyards and neatly trimmed gardens. Students milled about, some moving back to their dorms, others lounging on benches, engrossed in conversations.


    Dn strolled ahead of Ariana, his hands tucked casually behind his head. "You think Icy Heart''s gonna be okay?" he asked, his tone light but with a hint of genuine curiosity.


    Ariana walked beside him, her delicate sses catching the sunlight as she adjusted them. "She''ll recover," she replied, her voice filled with concern. "But whatever happened in that clearing really got to her."


    Dn chuckled, though it was softer than usual. "Guess Liam finally found a way to shut her up, huh? Not that I me her for being rattled. That guy seems to be on another level when he gets serious."


    Ariana shot him a nce, "You''re making light of it, but you know it''s more than just a bruised ego. She''s built herself on being untouchable. Losing like that—it shakes everything she stands on."


    Dn sighed, lowering his hands as his grin faded slightly. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. But hey, maybe this is what she needs. A little reality check to keep her grounded."


    Ariana didn''t respond immediately, her gaze drifting to a group of students chattering in the distance as they showed off their magic. The vibrant disy of myst energies—mes, water, and even bolts of lightning—filled the air.


    "You''re not entirely wrong," she finally said. "But She''s not like you, Dn. She doesn''tugh things off or bounce back easily. If anything, she doubles down—harder, colder."


    Dn smirked again, but it didn''t carry his usual yfulness. "Colder? I mean, sure, she''s literally ice, but you''re acting like she''s some unbreakable cier. Everyone cracks eventually, Ariana. Even her."