Kalon woke up to the sound of fighting. Just from the sound alone, he could tell that it was gentle fighting.
For a moment he stayed still on the ice bed, listening.
The mansion was cold and quiet inside, but outside he could hear sharp movements, the crack of frozen ground, and short bursts of effort.
This was a training bout.
He sat up, pulled on his clothes, and walked to the nearest window.
In the open space behind the Ice Mansion, Josinia and Sifa were sparring.
Josinia moved first.
Her purple skin stood out against the white ground as she stomped and sent a low Earth Spike toward Sifa’s feet.
Sifa slid sideways, ice forming under her soles for better grip, and answered with a sharp burst of cold air that forced Josinia to back away.
The baby dragon circled them in short, excited hops, occasionally spitting small shards of ice at Josinia. It wasn’t fighting seriously, but was providing it’s summoner with aid wherever it could.
The two women were not fighting seriously either. It was controlled practice.
Josinia used her new water skills to intercept some of Sifa and the Dragons ice attacks, while Sifa tested just how strong this alien from Venduros was.
Both of them were breathing hard, but their expressions were calm and joyful. Last night they had formed a friendship, and it remained even during their fight.
Kalon watched for a long while without moving.
The back-and-forth continued.
The little dragon darted between them, got too close, and received a barrage of water from Josinia that sent it scrambling back with an offended noise.
Kalon found himself smiling.
Josinia had only been training with his skills for about a week, and yet she was already learning how to use them in combat, whilst simultaneously holding back just enough so that she didn’t damage her weaker opponent.
Sifa was holding back too, but out of respect. In truth, if she wanted to stand a chance, she would need to go all out.
Josinia was ranks above her after all.
Kalon was pleased with the sight he was seeing, and was glad that everyone was getting along.
Two women from completely different planets were training together without tension. That alone was worth more than he had expected.
He left the window, walked downstairs, and stepped outside.
The cold hit him, but the system’s adaptation kept it manageable. Josinia noticed him first. She stopped mid-movement, white hair stuck to her glossy purple cheeks, and raised a hand.
"Kalon! You’re awake."
Sifa turned as well, a smile slowly spreading across her face too.
The baby dragon walked over and bumped its head against Kalon’s leg, trying to get his attention. He scratched it once under the jaw before looking back at the two women.
"She’s... She’s so strong," Sifa said. "She can control water just like you!"
"And earth," Kalon added. "Though it’s quite difficult to use in a world of ice."
Josinia looked mildly embarrassed but proud.
"Sifa is impressive too. She can control ice, and so can her dragon. It makes me want to stand close to a fire..."
Kalon nodded his head, pleased with the two women praising each other.
A true friendship is forming...
"Keep going. I’ll watch."
They resumed.
Kalon stayed at the edge of the practice area, observing footwork, timing, and how the two women adjusted to each other’s styles.
Josinia tried a stronger Droplet Barrage; the fist-sized water bullets left her hands and froze halfway toward Sifa, turning into harmless ice pellets that shattered on the ground.
Sifa demonstrated a controlled wave of cold that forced Josinia to jump back and answer with a rising wall of earth, which she somehow managed to create despite the ice covering the muddy ground .
The dragon attempted to keep up with both of them and only succeeded in tripping over its own legs. It was still so young.
Kalon folded his arms and continued watching.
The sparring went on for several more minutes. Sifa started to tire first, her breathing growing heavier, but she refused to stop. Josinia matched her pace and kept the pressure consistent without escalating.
It was good training.
Then the light changed.
A thick white mist began rolling in from the far side of the city. It moved fast, swallowing streets and buildings in fog.
The temperature dropped hard enough that even Kalon felt it through the adaptation.
The baby dragon froze mid-step and let out a scared sound.
Josinia stopped moving and looked around, confusion clear on her face. Sifa’s expression hardened immediately.
"The Ice Horde."
Josinia turned toward her.
"The what?"
"A swarm," Sifa’s voice trembled. "They come with the mist. Most of the time the outer defences hold them back. Still, we are advised to stay inside whilst this happens..."
The fog kept advancing. Visibility dropped. The edges of the mansion grounds disappeared into the fog.
Shapes started forming inside the mist, and slowly they came closer.
Short, multi-legged creatures of jagged ice and frozen bone pulled themselves into view.
Their bodies were uneven and sharp, limbs ending in points that dug into the ground as they moved.
Pale blue eyes locked onto the three of them and the small dragon. There were at least ten of them, spreading out in a loose semi-circle as the fog thickened around the property.
Josinia instinctively stepped closer to Kalon and raised her hands, already preparing to fight despite knowing nothing about her enemy.
Sifa’s skin glistened with a thin layer of reinforced ice, a defensive skill.
The baby dragon bared its small teeth and growled, though its body stayed half-hidden behind Sifa’s leg.
Kalon stepped forward, placing himself slightly ahead of both women.
He rolled his shoulders once and cracked his neck.
The creatures kept coming, claws scraping against the frozen street as the mist closed in behind them.
There must have been twenty now.
But it didn’t matter. Kalon was used to fighting against creature of the ice.
"Stay back, you’re both tired." He said to his women. "I’ll deal with this."
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