Chaos. I can't find another word to describe what's happening around me.

  I stood on the riverbank, staring at a lone yellow flower. It stood out against the burned, dead grass. How did it survive?

  "It's the solstice now, so why is there snow in the distance?"

  The next second, I felt exhausted by everything happening. The Ice King had decided to destroy the natural barrier and approached the demon continent. Now the world faced a new war.

  "That fool seems to be planning something. Fine, Dunrok, circle the castle from the west, while Clovis and I will enter from the south."

  Dunrok frowned but nodded and walked away.

  "Alright, take care of yourself."

  I sighed and smiled after him.

  "You too."

  Krain had once been a kind man and a great sage. But eight years ago, something changed in his behavior. He went north and created his own army there. The harsh climate he conjured took our soldiers faster than enemy swords.

  For several days we pushed through the biting frost toward his castle. Many warriors couldn't survive the journey, and magic barely worked in such cold.

  "Mother, allow me to go with the vanguard. We'll clear the path for you."

  Anger boiled up in response. My son Clovis, despite being forbidden, had secretly snuck into the wagon and even convinced soldiers to help him.

  "You dare suggest anything?! You know you have an engagement coming up? Now tell me, what will you do if something happens to me?"

  I felt he was genuinely worried about me. But I was too wound up.

  "Fool! You two, over here!"

  Guards instantly rushed to us.

  "Take him into custody! I don't want to see his feet on the battlefield!"

  "Yes ma'am!"

  The castle we were storming turned out to be enormous, as if carved from ice and rock. It towered among cold winds, and the frozen flags on the towers looked like part of the icy wasteland. The surrounding cliffs were cut with cracks, and massive ice blocks jutted from the ground like roots of this grim place.

  We prepared for the final attack. I had to use the power of trees to break inside. The battle began swiftly: ice arrows flew from every direction, turning people into fragile statues.

  "Forward!"

  The magic of trees obeyed me. Dark roots began breaking through the thick snow, piercing ice and smashing everything in their path. But Krain's army and his ice golems fought fiercely, as if trying to buy time... for something terrible.

  After a couple days of fierce fighting, we broke inside. I met with Dunrok in the palace's main hall, and together with a small squad we passed through tall doors covered in an ice crust. Behind them waited wide corridors and a glittering throne room.

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  Ice chandeliers hung from the ceiling, frozen marble creaked underfoot, and sinister guardian statues lined the walls. Their stone eyes looked straight at us, as if warning against every step. Columns were wrapped in ice patterns, and the cold seemed to pierce me to the bone.

  In the hall's center stood a massive black throne. An ice crown gleamed on its back. The throne seemed to radiate winter magic, binding everything around it.

  A familiar voice called out from the shadows.

  "Well, why did you come so early? Give me five minutes."

  The sound came from the far corner of the hall. Krain emerged from there in snow-white robes with a black cloak. I felt anger rising inside me.

  "Why do you need more time? Enough, Krain. I promise you a fair trial."

  He slowly approached, smiling.

  "Our time is coming to an end, Victoria. The dual rule will shatter into small countries, and one day demons will break through to the continent. Humans will make this mistake themselves."

  I looked intently into his eyes.

  "That won't happen! Parliament survived even after the kings' deaths and won't surrender."

  "I found it... a fragment of god."

  My nerves were at their limit.

  "Tired of listening! Seize him!"

  Krain never could fight with attack magic, so he couldn't battle openly. Our soldiers had almost pinned his arms when suddenly a statue by the wall crashed down and crushed one of the fighters. Another moved toward me, and I hastily deflected its blow. Immediately after, others fell—they attacked us from all sides.

  "Mom, no!"

  I turned and saw Clovis rush to defend me. A spear whistled through the air and caught his shoulder, leaving a ragged wound.

  "What did I tell you?!"

  But before I could run to my son, one of the giant statues slid from a ceiling beam. With a crash it fell on a group of my soldiers. I only managed to see a flash of bloody snow and armor fragments—people were crushed like by a heavy press. Several pieces of armor flew toward me, staining the ice tiles with dark spots.

  "I sensed danger. Look, in his hands!"

  In Krain's hands was a strange spider figurine. While we fought off the attacking statues, he ate this figure. His body instantly covered with torn wounds, and snow began seeping from underneath him. Space around warped, as if reality was bursting at the seams.

  "Clovis, duck!"

  I only managed to shout before the explosion hit.

  We were both thrown through ice windows, and an avalanche carried us away. I still saw the enormous snow cloud swallowing the castle and soldiers at its base.

  I woke to pain. My arm burned as if bearing an ice burn. First thing, I looked at my son. He was motionless, his body shaking in the air like a rag doll, and a broken spear jutted from his chest. It had gone clean through. I felt everything inside me clench.

  "Son! Clovis!"

  I tried to scream, but words came out as whispers. From fear and pain, everything around became unclear. I had to act—we were about to crash down with the avalanche.

  I gathered my strength and focused on magic. My ears elongated, and high elf runes appeared on my face. I waited for when I could grow a tree and escape. Seeds exist everywhere and always, even in past or future—that's my ability.

  I pressed my son to me. Didn't want to let him go, even if he was already...

  A huge pink tree burst from beneath the snow and caught us on its branches. We fell into its foliage, and I only slightly hurt myself on the boughs. For a second I just sobbed. Had no strength even to scream. Wanted to end everything right here.

  But the avalanche approached. It was already covering Clovis's body with snow. I had to stop it or at least save everyone still alive.

  I gathered what remained of my strength and spoke to the magic itself.

  "I won't give up so easily!"

  I began gathering all magic into myself—mine and surrounding. First my hands stopped obeying, and I dropped my son's body. Then I fell to my knees because my legs gave out too.

  All for one spell: to grow a massive forest and shelter this place. Trees and bushes began rising from the earth, they grew so densely that soon I stopped seeing the sky. Snow pressed against the green wall of leaves and branches.

  "Did it work? I..."

  My eyes were closing, and my body felt foreign. I'd done everything I could and was ready to give this forest my last strength.

  At that, strength left me completely. Everything drowned in darkness.