Chapter 600: A Cold Heart 6

This is bad…

The situation is way out of my control.

“P–Princess!”

“Senior!”

“H–Help—n–no!”

Their voices echoed all around me—panicked, desperate.

Everyone’s counting on me.

I… I need to do something.

I have to move, I have to fight—anything!

But—

It hurts.

It hurts so much…!

It’s like thousands of tiny needles are piercing through every vein, every inch of my flesh.

Just a single twitch makes the pain flare up like fire under my skin.

My body refuses to listen. My mana—it’s raging inside me like a storm, unstable and wild, threatening to tear me apart from within.

The only thing dulling the pain, even if barely, is the chill of my own magic—my unique attribute.

The ice running through my veins numbs me, keeps me from breaking completely…

But it’s not enough.

No matter how much I try to suppress it, the curse… the corruption… it keeps crawling, spreading through me, vein by vein, bone by bone.

To get us out of this situation—

I needed to make a choice.

A decision that would decide everything.

To save them all… I needed to endure.

Yes. That’s right. If I can just hold on a little longer—

If I can just stay conscious long enough—

He’ll come.

He always does.

He’ll come… and save everyone.

I’m sure of it.

“P–Princess Snow!”

Ah… that voice.

It’s familiar—soft, nervous—but not his.

It’s one of the young knights I was momentarily intrigued with…. The young man who was always so eager to protect everyone, Lucas….

Is he here for Janica?

“Snow!”

That one—yes, that voice.

Bright, sharp, and steady.

Alice.

Relief washes through me like a faint breeze cutting through the heat of agony.

Why… why are they here?

Did they come because of me?

Ah… yes. I… called for help, didn’t I?

The signal—

The spell—

It was a success, right?

I can’t… I can’t remember anymore.

Everything’s blurring together.

Voices are fading.

The world is spinning in and out of focus—light and shadow bleeding into each other.

Where are they…?

Riley…

Where are you…?

My breath trembles as my vision fades further, the edges of reality growing cold and distant.

All I can feel now is the faint pulse of my heart… slowing… and the creeping weight of darkness tightening around me.

…..

Haaah—!!!

A heavy breath escaped her lips.

“Haah… haah…!”

Her chest rose and fell in uneven rhythm, every inhale burning like fire against her ribs.

“W–Where…?”

Questions formed hazily in Snow’s mind as confusion clouded her thoughts.

She wasn’t in the forest anymore—

The dense smell of blood and moss was gone.

Where… am I?

Her eyes darted around, still shaking as she pressed a trembling hand against her chest where the pain pulsed sharply.

The world around her was bright—too bright.

People were walking past her.

Students in casual robes, merchants pushing carts, laughter echoing faintly from the street.

No screams, no monsters, no dark aura eating away at her.

Just… normal life.

A woman selling fruit at a nearby stall glanced at her, concern etched across her face. She stepped forward, holding out a hand.

“Miss, are you alright?”

Her voice was kind, worried. Snow blinked, trying to focus on her face.

That was when her mind finally began to stabilize—and realization hit her like a cold wave.

The cobblestone streets, the colorful banners, the familiar stalls lined with food and trinkets—

This was the commercial district inside the academy grounds.

“What…?” she whispered.

Why was she here?

She had been in the Forest of Monsters just moments ago.

She could still remember the screams, the blood, the twisted presence of that elf.

She could still feel the curse crawling beneath her skin, the burning pain of it trying to devour her.

“What about… the competition?” she muttered.

What about my teammates…

Her eyes widened in horror.

Janica… Lucas… Alice…

They were still back there!

The realization stabbed through her chest harder than any curse.

That’s right—

They were fighting.

And she had… escaped? No, she must’ve been transported, pulled away somehow.

But by who?

Or by what?

She didn’t understand what was happening, but one thing was certain—

This was her chance.

If she was really back in the academy, she could get help—

She had to get help.

The elf that attacked them wasn’t an ordinary one. That much was clear.

His aura alone felt ancient—wrong. Almost demonic.

She couldn’t waste time thinking about it. Every second mattered.

“Y–Young miss?”

Snow blinked, turning back to the fruit vendor.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, forcing a faint smile despite her trembling lips.

“I–Is that so? I have a pouch of water, if you want—”

“No. Please keep it. I… I need to go.”

Before the woman could respond, Snow had already turned and started running.

Her steps were uneven, her body weak, every muscle screaming for rest—but she didn’t stop.

She couldn’t.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, part fear, part desperation.

The pain still lingered inside her—dark, crawling, heavy—but she ignored it.

Her friends were still out there.

She didn’t know how much time had passed or what exactly was going on…

But if she stayed still now, she’d never forgive herself.

“Just hold on,” she whispered under her breath as she ran through the crowded street.

It was a bit late but as she ran she noticed her cut severed right arm had returned…

The darkness that crept on it was now gone.

How?

As she ran more and more questions formed in her mind.

But she had no answers…

Although she could go back to the forest right now—help Janica, Lucas, and the others still fighting for their lives—Snow knew she couldn’t.

Her body was far too weak. Her mana reserves were almost empty, her veins still throbbing with leftover corruption from the elf’s curse. Every breath came out shallow, shaky, and uneven.

If she tried to cast another spell now, her body might collapse completely.

Her mind was still a bit hazy, but not enough to make her lose reason.

She needed help. And there was only one person she could think of right now—

Riley.

If she could find him, everything would be fine. It always was when he was around.

“…As long as Riley’s there,” she whispered, touching the ring on her finger.

A faint pulse of light rippled from the crystal embedded in it—an artifact connected to Riley himself.

Immediately, the ring reacted, pulling her in a certain direction like a guiding star.

“Killian Hall?” she muttered in confusion.

That didn’t make sense.

Wasn’t he supposed to be out taking part in the same exam?

Why would he be at the dorms instead of in the forest like everyone else?

More questions filled her mind, one after another—but she shook them off.

There wasn’t time to think.

She just had to find him.

Her legs moved on instinct, the faint glow from the ring leading her across the cobbled paths, past the quiet courtyards and through the breeze that carried the faint scent of blooming mana-lilies.

Her chest ached as she ran, lungs burning, her body screaming for rest. But she didn’t stop.

And then—

Haah…! Haah…!

Her steps slowed as she finally reached the back courtyard of Killian Hall.

And there he was.

Her heart almost leapt out of her chest.

Standing beneath the shade of the courtyard tree, his golden hair catching the sunlight, was her ever-reliable fiancé.

Her hero.

Her beloved.

“Riley…!” she called out, her voice filled with relief and trembling hope.

She stumbled forward, almost falling, but caught herself before running straight to him.

“Riley! I think there’s something going on—I don’t know what’s happening, but we need to—”

She reached for his arm, desperate to pull him along, to beg him for help—

—but before she could, a sharp sound cracked through the air.

Slap!

Her wrist stung.

She froze, blinking in confusion as her hand dropped limply to her side.

He… brushed her away?

Her mind blanked for a moment as she looked up at him, expecting a teasing remark, a smirk, or at least something—anything—to show that it was a misunderstanding.

But there was nothing.

His eyes—those calm, gentle blue eyes she knew so well—were cold. Distant.

They looked at her like she was a stranger.

“R… Riley?” she whispered, her throat tightening.

“Who are you?”

Her heart stopped.

For a few seconds, she thought she’d misheard him.

“W–What are you talking about, Riley? It’s me!” she tried to laugh, her voice trembling, desperately searching his face for a trace of warmth.

But there was none.

“I don’t know you,” he said again, his tone flat.

Empty.

“Hmm? Do you know her, Riley?”

A soft, melodic voice chimed in—feminine, smooth, and filled with faint curiosity.

Before Snow could take a step closer, a figure moved between her and Riley, blocking her view.

Her breath caught.

“S–Sophiel?”

The girl who stood before her—silvery hair cascading like sunlight, sharp blue eyes that mirrored her own—was someone she could never mistake.

Her sister.

But… that was impossible.

Snow’s mind froze as she stared, unable to make sense of what she was seeing.

Sophiel was supposed to be at the Imperial Palace, serving in imperial affairs in her place.

And even if she had been accepted to the academy, her official enrollment wasn’t until next year.

So why—why was she here now?

And more importantly—why was she standing beside Riley?

And even closer still—why did her hand rest so comfortably on his arm?

Sophiel’s expression softened into something that might’ve looked kind to anyone else, but Snow recognized that faint tilt of her lips—an elegant, almost mocking smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“For a stranger, you are quite bold with your words,” Sophiel said smoothly, her tone dripping with poised condescension. “I know that ranks and titles matter little within the Academy, but I don’t recall granting you permission to address me so casually… Oh, dear stranger—what business do you have with my fiancé?”

Snow blinked.

Her mind blanked.

F–Fiancé…?

Her lips trembled as the words sank in, echoing through her chest like a slow, cruel poison.

But Riley was her fiancé.

She looked between the two of them, disbelief flooding her voice.

“I–I am—what are you two talking about? Is this a prank!?”

Her voice rose slightly, almost cracking.

Sophiel tilted her head, the feigned sympathy in her tone only making her words sharper.

“Prank? Whatever could you be talking about… ah—are you one of those delusional fans of my beloved?”

A soft laugh escaped her lips, delicate and cruel.

“While I do appreciate the support you admirers have given him, there’s a line between admiration and delusion, don’t you think?”

“Enough,” Riley interrupted, his voice calm but distant.

“Ignore her words for now, Sophiel. She doesn’t seem alright.”

“Now that you mention it…” Sophiel murmured, her gaze sweeping Snow from head to toe. “You don’t look well, strange miss. You’re pale, trembling, out of breath—and hurt.”

She stepped closer, extending a gloved hand in what seemed like concern.

“Is there something wrong? We can guide you to the infirmary if you want.”

The tone sounded gentle—genuinely so.

But to Snow, every syllable felt like a knife twisting deeper into her chest.

Her trembling eyes lifted to Riley’s face, desperate for any flicker of recognition, any warmth, any hint of the man she knew.

But there was nothing.

Just polite concern.

The same detached kindness you’d offer a stranger on the street.

They weren’t pretending.

They truly… didn’t know her.

And in that moment—

Snow felt something inside her heart crack.

The cold that had always been her ally—the frost that once protected her from pain—shattered like fragile glass.

And beneath it, the unbearable warmth of heartbreak began to seep through.

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