Astonishment. Stupefaction.
Those emotions were written all over the faces of the two girls.
In that moment, their eyes met in a frozen gaze, vacant, dazed, and overwhelmed, as if they had just witnessed something that defied all common sense.
For the little girl, just when it felt like she was about to be swallowed whole by the cruelty and humiliation surrounding her.
A sudden breeze swept through, cool and gentle, carrying with it the scent of purity and the crispness of clean air.
And with that breeze, a figure appeared before her.
That silhouette, graceful and dignified, petite yet commanding.
Under the faded sunlight, her long emerald hair fluttered in the wind, catching hints of snowy silver like the morning mist over a northern forest.
A deep blue cloak draped over her body, embroidered subtly with silver snowflakes along the hem and body, making her seem as though she had stepped out of a dreamlike snowy realm.
An aura that didn't belong to this dusty world, yet radiated with a mystical elegance, otherworldly, noble, like a spirit descended from a celestial plane.
She stood there, before the girl, her entire being exuding a sharp, cold aura that left one breathless.
And yet, as the little girl looked upon the slender figure standing firm against the harsh world, she didn't feel cold at all.
On the contrary, that aura felt like a gentle breeze—cool yet warm—softly wrapping around her.
It was as if she were being shielded, embraced amidst a thousand layers of icy winds, comforting and strangely serene.
That warmth… that tender chill… felt somehow… familiar?
". . . ~ ~ ~ ?"
The girl blinked, stunned.
As for Kyouno—
The moment her Wind Strike launched and sent the burly boy flying, she stood frozen.
Hadn't she spent the entire day trying to interact with the people in this dreamscape?
Hadn't all those efforts been in vain?
She was nothing more than a drifting soul lost in a memory—unable to touch anyone, unable to be seen.
Then… what just happened?!
But what truly left her reeling, was the tearful gaze locked onto her.
And then, in response to Kyouno's trembling question.....The little girl, in an unconscious daze, nodded.
A small, deliberate nod, slow but firm, like thunder cracking across a silent sky.
A nod that confirmed without a doubt: the child could see her.
Kyouno stood rooted to the spot, her mind blank.
Between them, their eyes remained locked, quiet, profound, filled with unspoken words.
And in that instant, the world around them seemed to pause, falling into an eerie, dreamlike stillness.
"..."
The children, who had been laughing gleefully, fell silent upon witnessing the burly boy being flung into the air and crashing to the ground.
The scene was absurd and eerie, as if a sci-fi movie had torn through the screen into reality.
They stood frozen, their souls seemingly departed.
After a while, they began to recover from the shock, their first glance directed at the boy lying on the ground, grimacing in pain. Some even heard a chilling "crack" as bones collided, sending shivers down their spines.
Himeko's gaze shifted to the girl crouching on the ground.
But now, her eyes no longer held contempt or disgust—they were filled with fear, a vague panic at witnessing something incomprehensible.
"What... what did you just do?!" she stammered, her voice trembling. The others stared at the girl, their eyes filled with undisguised fear, as if seeing a ghost.
"Hahaha... You bitch! How dare you hit one of my people?!"
Himeko shouted, trying to mask her rising fear with aggression. But no matter how loudly she screamed, her body continued to tremble uncontrollably.
Kyouno and the little girl—still dazed—were both startled by the sudden scream.
Once again, they stood frozen in confusion.
Kyouno quickly turned to look at the children, only to see—
Their eyes were locked onto... the little girl.
That gaze completely ignored her, even though she was standing right in front of the girl.
No, it wasn't just ignorance—
It was as if... they looked straight through her, as though she had never existed in that space at all.
The kind of gaze one gives to empty air.
What...?! Kyouno was stunned, her mind a whirl of unanswered questions.
The little girl's heart quivered at the piercing scream.
"No... it wasn't me! It was..."
"SHUT UP!" Himeko's shrill cry cut her off like a whip. The girl instinctively curled up.
"You worthless bitch! Trash like you dares to fight back? Fine, today we'll show you hell. We'll beat you until your drunkard father can't recognize you!"
"Yeah! We'll break your arms and legs to vent our anger!"
"Let's all jump her and see how she resists!"
"Haha!"
Their cruel words were followed by the children charging like wild beasts, ready to tear the girl apart.
Her face turned pale, panic etched in every feature. She trembled like a leaf in winter, eyes shut tight, trying to escape the harsh reality.
But, just before their hands could reach her—
"Ice Prison!"
Time seemed to freeze in a heartbeat. No punches, no scratches, no screams.
The girl opened her eyes hesitantly, and was stunned.
Before her, the once-aggressive children, including Himeko, were now encased in ice from the neck down, their bodies stiff within thick, translucent blocks.
None could move, not even a finger.
And the one who struck—none other than Kyouno.
Though her mind was still reeling with countless unanswered questions, there were at least two things she now knew for certain:
First, only this little girl could see her. The other children, like everyone else, couldn't perceive her at all.
Second, her magic could still affect them, even if she herself couldn't make physical contact.
Though many questions remained, knowing the second was enough.
It meant she could protect the girl.She could punish those brats.
Of course, no matter how detestable they were, Kyouno couldn't be cruel. They were just kids.
So she chose this method—trapping them in cold ice until they understood the fear of being overwhelmed.
Inside the ice, the children opened their eyes wide, panic evident.
"What... is this..."
"So... cold..."
"Mama... help me... I'm dying!"
Their voices trembled, echoing with despair.
Even Himeko, the arrogant leader, couldn't maintain her composure. She shook violently, eyes wide, nearly driven mad by fear.
"No... no... someone... help me!
Aaaaaaaa!!!"
Her shrill scream tore through the air, plunging the area into chaos.
.....