What Is Snow? (Snowy Mountains End)
Snowy Mountains. What is snow? Cool and cold. And the amazing thing is, the snow here is delicious.
"Brheee…."
I flopped onto the ground and opened my mouth wide. I chewed the snow piling up inside, then swallowed. This is why I love the countryside. Well, technically it's not the countryside, but there's no smog anyway. Snow mixed with exhaust fumes is bitter and tastes awful.
"What are you doing there?"
"Eating breakfast. Want some, Dragon?"
"That's not food; it's snow."
"They're both white and tasty, aren't they?"
Maybe rice is just a lesser version of snow. Similar color and texture, but snow's refreshing.
"Spouting nonsense first thing in the morning."
"It's not nonsense; it's a profound inquiry into magic."
"Saying that while lying naked and eating snow really sells it."
"I want to wear clothes. You turned me naked."
I'd been wearing at least a cloth before, but Dragon blasted it away and shredded it. And yet Dragon's the one dressed all fancy. No idea how, but every time she polymorphed, clothes appeared on her body. Wonder how I can copy that. Hmm, no clue.
"So for now, I'm living naked. No one's around to see anyway."
"I'm seeing you."
"Dragon, are you getting weird ideas about your one and only precious disciple's naked bod—"
"My mistake. Stop."
Dragon covered her eyes with her palm and retreated into the cave. Teasing her is secretly fun.
I took a deep breath to clear my mind. The cave was filled with mana. I absorbed it into my body, circulated it, then gathered it into a single point, shaping my fingers like a gun.
"Yap."
The mana orb shot from my fingertip, hovered in midair, then spread out. The spherical mana blob writhed and took the form of a cloud. Plop, plip plop.
Red snowflakes fell from the cloud, smaller than my hand.
"You've gained some control over it now."
"Dragon, what do you think? Pretty cool, right?"
My first unique magic, Snow Fire, had been too big. It covered the entire Snowy Mountains. Wide range is great for brute force, but efficiency sucked, so I needed to refine it. And this is the result.
"I shrank the Snow Fire down tiny."
"To control a unique magic this well already? You're a genius."
"Of course. Who do you think I am? The snow grand mage who'll shake the world."
"A snow grand mage who can't use snow magic. Where does that even exist?"
Dragon's right. But I can't give up on snow. Who am I? The one who made Dragon tremble and gasp in shock. With diligent trial and error, training, I'll master snow magic too.
"I didn't tremble."
"You did when I first used Snow Fire."
"Do you even know the difference between trembling and freaking out?"
"You shook either way."
"Sigh, true, I did tremble. Thinking back still gives me chills all over."
Dragon gazed at the sky, reminiscing. It'd been three years since that day. Three years since I met Dragon. Not an eternity, but no short time either. Lots of changes in between. I'd grown to the mid-140s in height, while Dragon stayed eternally young.
"Disciple, don't you want to go outside?"
"No need. And the snow here falls heavy—perfect."
"You really love snow. In your homeland's tongue, it'd be 'snow-charming' or something."
"Watch that phrasing. Swap 'mi' to 'ma' and I'd sue for copyright infringement."
Dragon, living out here, doesn't fear copyrights. But she didn't react to my dumb joke with her usual chuckle or bug-eyed contempt.
"Dragon, something on your mind?"
"Sharp intuition. As expected of my disciple."
"Saying that with that look."
Dragon, who'd stared at the nonstop snow for three years straight, turned to me.
"I have something to say."
"What? You're not kicking me out for being a freeloader, are you?"
"I'm going to die soon."
"Didn't expect it to be this deep."
"Not surprised?"
"I suspected."
Living with her three years taught me plenty. First, that barrier—it wasn't to trap her, but her defense against pursuers. Second, she never showed me her belly. As a dragon, always lying with it flat on the ground. As human, bundled in thick clothes covering everything.
"My guess: wound on your belly. From whatever's hunting you."
"Your insight's a true genius talent. Better than magic."
She lifted her clothes. Beneath the thick layers, a slim waist—and a massive scar crossing it. From left breast to right hip, grievously serious. Pus-rotted, nearly black-purple.
"Disciple, know about Dragon Hearts?"
"Heard of 'em, don't know much."
"Dragons' magic power source. Forged into a weapon, it's supreme. Brewed and drunk, it revives the half-dead."
I get why she's telling me. Ancient dragon, moniker Fearsome Dragon. Her Dragon Heart's invaluable. Plenty hunting it.
"One got you."
"Yes. Human, yet inhuman. Huge numbers. Left me this wound."
"Can't heal?"
"Spent decades on recovery. Useless. It clings, gnawing my body bit by bit."
"…."
She lowered her clothes, knelt on the ground. Pat pat—signaling me to sit beside. I did.
"I won't last past today. When I die, they'll swarm again. Escape in the meantime."
"…."
"Pff, hahaha. First time in three years seeing you cry."
"Huh?"
I wiped my face. Tears trickled from my right eye. Ah, right. Three years isn't short.
"One last request?"
"…What."
"Your first unique magic. Spread it vast, vast as possible."
"…What's the point?"
"Just want to see. Magic from my first and final disciple."
"…You barely taught me."
I stood, brushed my butt. Arms out wide, deep breath. Mana flooded my body. Then blasted it all skyward.
-Kurrrung!
Gray sky parted. Crimson clouds surged from all sides, blanketing the Snowy Mountains. But I didn't stop. Dropped unconscious control, swelled it endlessly. Unleashed all at once.
-Kugugung!
Snow fell. Red snow filled the air. Eternal permafrost melted under it. The Snowy Mountains I'd honed myself on regained blue hues. My master, Dragon, watched smiling.
"You really…."
She turned to me, drained from exhausting all mana.
"Disciple."
"Can't talk."
"Just listen. For showing me something good, I'll give you something good."
"What. Hidden treasure hoard?"
"My name. Only to you."
"…And?"
"Demanding much from a dying master."
Silence, then she spoke. Gave two choices, leaned on my shoulder, closed her eyes.
The Fearsome Dragon, my master. Yuria. Her end.
The raging Snow Fire stopped. Sky grayed again. My lightened right shoulder—no corpse.
-Wooong.
Just a white-blue glowing heart.
"…."
I rose, reached for it. Her final words echoed.
'Use the Dragon Heart as bait and flee far. They won't chase you.'
'But if my disciple wants, take my heart. Forge a weapon, brew it—your call.'
"…Leaving a will like that kills the choice."
I lifted the Dragon Heart. Piercing chill seeped to my bones. And I—
"Ah—."
Swallowed it whole.
Dragon Heart: dragon magic source. If accepted—
"Kuhup…!"
Ow, this hurts a lot. Quickly sat cross-legged. Mana from the Dragon Heart gnawed my body. One lapse, I'd burst. Focused all will on controlling it. Suppress the mana, max, max…. No need all at once. Adjust output to fit my body.
Thinking that, the mana surge eased.
"…Success."
Accepted a Dragon Heart into human flesh. Felt new paths beyond mana circuits. Stacked right hand over left like her.
Mana extended from Dragon Heart. Plip plop.
"…Snow."
Pure white snow fell from my hand. And intruders breached this untouched Snowy Mountains.
"What? A human beat us here?"
"Hey, she's naked? Just a crazy bitch?"
"Hey, you! Seen a dragon around?"
Two in black robes, skull masks. Dragon's mentioned group, I bet. Instead of answering, I raised my right hand.
Molded piling snow into a ball, coated it in my flame. Snow Fire orb at them.
-Bang!!
Snowball exploded on impact. One's torso bid eternal farewell to his legs.
"Hiiik!!"
The other fled—but thud. Stomped, controlled ground snow to bind his feet. Stuck, he glared.
"Who are you?! Think you can touch the Dawn Church and walk?"
"…Me?"
Oh, right—no name yet. Earth's name didn't fit.
"…I'm Yuria."
With that, another Snow Fire orb.