Five days before the present, outside the Balmount Kingdom, the dense forest around the small cottage was thick with unease. Sora stood before Kibo, Lily, and Syl, her calm but commanding presence making them tense up. The trio exchanged uneasy glances, not sure what to expect.
Syl, trembling slightly, couldn't help but think, What terrifying trial does Aunt Sora have planned this time? She's always been relentless, but this... this feels worse!
Sora's sharp eyes caught Syl's distracted expression, and her voice cut through the air like a blade. "Syl, are you listening?"
Syl snapped to attention, trying to swallow her fear. "Y-Yes, ma'am!" she stammered, fighting to keep her legs from shaking.
Sora's gaze lingered on her for a moment before she continued. "Good. Now, as I was saying, today's training will test your survival instincts to the limit. You'll be navigating the forest when the beasts are most active and dangerous. But that's not all—"
Syl felt her stomach drop. More? There's more?!
Kibo raised his hand hesitantly. "Aunt Sora, could you explain the training again? I didn't quite get it—did you mean we have to survive in the forest while running from you?"
A dark chuckle echoed through Kibo's mind. Liar. You understood perfectly, brat. You're just trying to cover for your 'precious lover' and her clueless friend Syl.
Kibo groaned inwardly. It's not just about Lily! Syl looked like she was about to faint too.
But you said Lily's name first, didn't you? Ignis mocked, his voice dripping with amusement.
Kibo clenched his teeth, ignoring the taunt, but Sora's sharp voice snapped his attention back. She looked unimpressed, realizing her explanation had gone over their heads. Letting out a sigh, she started again.
"Here's how it works. You'll survive in this forest, but not just against the beasts that roam here. No... you'll also be avoiding something far worse."
Lily raised an eyebrow, cautious but curious. "Worse than the beasts? What do you mean?"
Sora adjusted her glasses, and a devilish smile crept onto her face. "Oh, my sweet Lily, I mean me."
A chill ran through their spines, and Syl nearly choked on her own breath. Even Kibo couldn't help but feel his muscles tense. Ignis snorted with dark amusement. This woman hides her sadistic nature well, brat. You're in for it now. Better not disappoint me.
Sora clapped her hands, the sharp sound making them jump. "Now, run along and survive. I hope you don't die."
There was a tense pause as the three stared at her, unsure if she was serious.
"Go," Sora said, her smile widening.
They bolted, darting into the forest like startled rabbits, each of them feeling the weight of Sora's words lingering in the air behind them.
Kibo stayed alert as they sprinted, his senses sharp. Syl muttered anxiously, "This is so frustrating! What kind of training is this?"
Lily tried to reassure her. "Don't worry, Syl. We'll manage." Her calm determination inspired Syl, who replied, "Y-Yeah, you're right. We've got this!"
But Kibo remained silent, his thoughts racing.
Ignis, this feels off. Sora wouldn't let us go that easily.
Ignis's sinister laugh echoed.
Of course not, brat. The hunt has already begun.
Suddenly, the air around them grew frigid. Lily shivered, hugging herself. "Is it just me, or is it getting really cold?"
Kibo's instincts screamed danger. Without a word, he grabbed Lily and Syl by their waists, leaping high into the branches of a nearby tree.
The ground they'd just stood on erupted in a deadly burst of ice shards, sending sharp crystalline fragments soaring skyward. The sound was deafening, like glass shattering in a thousand directions, echoing through the forest. The once-soft earth below transformed into jagged, frozen terrain, glinting menacingly in the faint light filtering through the canopy.
Syl screamed, her fingers digging into Kibo's shoulder as she clung tightly to him. "What was that?!"
Kibo barely had time to respond. His sharp instincts kicked in as he surveyed the danger. With a firm grip on both Syl and Lily, he propelled himself upward, landing on a thick tree branch. His chest heaved as he panted lightly. "Hold on tight," he said, his voice steady despite the situation.
The moment his feet touched the branch, he sensed movement in the air. Without warning, more ice shards materialized, glinting with an eerie blue light. They hurtled toward them with terrifying speed, each one spinning like a razor-sharp wheel.
Kibo's eyes widened. There was no time to hesitate. Pushing off the branch, he launched them into the air once more. The shards sliced through the space they'd just occupied, shattering against the trunk of the tree. Splinters of bark mixed with glittering ice fragments rained down below.
Each leap Kibo made was calculated and precise. Twisting mid-air, he avoided a shard aimed directly at his shoulder. Another came from the left, forcing him to tilt his body sharply, causing Lily and Syl to tighten their grip around him. The frost trailing the shards brushed against his skin, numbing his senses.
Syl's breathing quickened, her voice trembling. "They're everywhere! How are we supposed to escape this?!"
"Focus!" Kibo barked, his tone firm but not unkind. He darted to the right, narrowly evading a cluster of shards that burst in front of him like frozen fireworks. His katana weighed heavily at his side, its blade still sheathed, but his hands were full with the two girls. He couldn't risk drawing it—not yet.
Lily, usually composed, tightened her hold on Kibo. "Kibo... the attacks are getting faster!"
She was right. The shards no longer came in random bursts. They began to follow a calculated pattern, targeting his movements with increasing accuracy. He noticed it too late—a trap. Three shards closed in from different directions, aiming to pin them mid-air.
Think fast! Kibo's mind screamed. With a burst of energy, he kicked off an incoming shard, using it as a foothold to propel himself higher. The impact sent a sharp chill through his leg, but it gave him just enough momentum to break free from the deadly triangle.
Landing on another branch, Kibo set them down. Lily looked at him with wide eyes. "Kibo, are you okay?"
Ignis's voice sneered in his mind.
Your protectiveness is going to get you killed, brat.
What should I do? Leave them behind? Kibo snapped internally.
Exactly, Ignis replied, his tone gleeful. Let them fend for themselves. They'll learn faster that way.
Before Kibo could retort, the ground below them turned to ice. A suffocating chill flooded the area, creeping up the trees and blanketing the forest in a deadly frost. An oppressive aura crashed down on them like a tidal wave, suffocating and merciless.
Sora emerged from the frozen mist, each step lowering the temperature even further. The sheer force of her presence sent shivers through the air, making Lily and Syl's legs buckle. Ice crawled along the ground, wrapping around roots and branches like jagged, crystalline veins.
Lily whispered, "We need to leave. Now."
But as she spoke, ice shards appeared around them, converging from all directions. Kibo reached for his katana to defend them, but Sora was faster. With a flick of her wrist, she froze the blade in its sheath.
"Don't think you can fight back so easily," she said, her smile never faltering.
Kibo gritted his teeth, his grip tightening. Meanwhile, Lily and Syl drew their weapons, preparing to defend themselves.
Lily spun gracefully, her dagger slicing through the incoming shards. Her movements were precise and fluid, each strike deflecting the deadly ice with practiced ease. Syl, though less confident, managed to evade with surprising agility, leaping between branches and using her dual blades to shatter the shards aimed at her.
Kibo watched in surprise. Lily shot him a reassuring glance. "Don't worry, Kibo. We can handle this too."
Syl added, "Yeah! Trust us!"
Kibo's lips curled into a small smile. They've grown stronger.
Breaking the ice encasing his katana with sheer force, Kibo unsheathed it, the blade glinting in the faint sunlight. "Alright," he said, his voice resolute. "If we're going to escape, we need to stop Aunt Sora—even if only for a moment."
Sora's smile widened. "Impressive. Let's see if you can back up that confidence."