The thick snowballs were mercilessly trampled by small feet.
Rachel's footsteps were faster than usual today.
Zion followed Rachel, breathing heavily.
"Ruby, how far are we going? I told you to just play around here...."
Rachel stopped abruptly at Zion's words.
Oops! He almost hit his face on Rachel's back, of all places. Zion quickly stopped in his tracks.
“What are you doing?”
Zion grumbled softly.
"Zion."
Rachel's voice sounded lower than usual today. Zion tilted his head.
Rachel slowly turned around. As she pulled up the corners of her mouth, her delicate, doll-like features stood out even more.
Rachel spoke in a clear voice.
"I'll show you what you like."
"What I like...?"
Zion tilted his head to one side as if finding it difficult to understand.
There were few things that Zion liked.
His one and only older sister Eve, the meat stew she specially made for him, her stroking his hair. Hitting the trees with the fruit that had ripened, and something warm. That was all.
Watching Zion lost in deep thought, Rachel let out a sigh as if she were frustrated.
Then, she extended that small hand in front of Zion.
Hwareuk.
As if on cue, the flames began to blaze. Zion's face flushed with surprise at the warm heat touching it.
“This is it!”
Zion let out a gasp. It was Rachel's specialty: fire magic.
It was a few days ago that Zion noticed Rachel's magic.
It was after Eve had gone out to sell herbs. Feeling the surroundings growing warm, Zion slowly opened his eyes.
Rachel, crouching in front of the firewood, caught his eye. It was just as he was rubbing his sleepy eyes and about to call out to Rachel.
"...!"
Fire flared up from Rachel's hand. It happened so quickly that one might not have seen it if blinking. Zion just gaped.
"This should be enough."
Rachel brushed her hands together as if she were a worker with ten years of experience. Then, when she sat up to return to bed.
"...Did you see it?"
She made eye contact with Zion.
This is getting troublesome. Rachel clicked her tongue quietly.
She revived the embers because it was shivering from the cold, but she did it for nothing. If she had known this would happen, she should have just left it alone.
“What just happened?”
Sure enough, Zion clung tightly to Rachel's side and insisted on doing it one more time.
"What was that just now?"
“Well, what was it?"
"Show me one more time."
“Maybe you were dreaming?”
"To my sister too...!"
"I'll show you, so don't tell your sister."
And so, the contract between the two rats was concluded.
Rachel showed the fire to Zion on the condition that she would not tell Eve.
In fact, he could barely see even after begging and pleading. Rachel didn't seem to like her fire very much.
But to think Rachel lit the fire first. I didn't even beg her!
Zion looked at Rachel with an excited face, like a child about to have a sumptuous feast.
"Ruby fire is fascinating. It's really warm!"
“Are you warm?”
"Yeah, it doesn't turn off easily, and above all..."
Zion cautiously reached out his hand. Before his touch could even reach it, the flames subsided as if cowering. Zion's eyes shone even brighter.
"This fire seems to know me!"
"..."
What am I to do with this pure soul? Rachel let out a small sigh.
No. On the contrary, it was a relief. Because I could use this fire as bait to coax Zion.
Now let’s get started in earnest.
Thinking that, Rachel extinguished the fire she had kindled in her hand.
As the warmth faded and the biting wind blew again, Zion made a tearful face and hunched his body.
"Cold..."
"As expected, the North is really cold, isn't it?"
"Yeah. It's so cold. I always ask my sister to go somewhere warm, but she says no."
"Why? You can just go somewhere warm. Like the South, for example."
Rachel tilted her head as if she knew nothing.
Zion stared intently at Rachel's hand without answering. It meant that he would give her an answer if she lit a fire.
'I told you, you're just like your older sister at times like this.'
Finally, Rachel raised her hand again and created a small flame. Zion's face was flushed with joy.
“Okay, now answer.”
"Yeah, my sister said she needs to save a lot of money here."
Zion answered quickly.
"Money?"
"Yeah. She said we need to save a lot of money to move."
Moving? Rachel's eyes darkened.
Then, as if in response to the emotion, the flame rising in her hand grew even larger.
"Wow!"
Zion added, jumping up and down excitedly, unaware of what was happening.
"That's right, and she said we have to buy a castle after saving up a lot of money!"
"Castle?"
"Yes."
Does my sister want to live in the castle? Rachel tilted her head.
My sister seemed to want a lot of things. Is the need to save a lot of money all for the sake of this?
'Then, you can just give all of that as a gift.'
Rachel organized the things her sister wanted in her mind.
1. Handsome man
2. Last name
3. A lot of money
4. Moving to a warm place
'What.'
Rachel smiled faintly. No matter how much she thought about it, the only person who could fulfill all these requirements was her older brother.
That small smile grew increasingly sinister. As her emotions intensified, her flames grew fiercer. Zion's shout also grew louder.
Rachel, having wiped the smile from her face, blinked and spoke nonchalantly.
"There is a way to solve your wishes all at once."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Just follow the handsome guy who just came."
"Really? Then can he grant everything we want?"
“Yes, that’s right.”
"That guy is really amazing!"
"Right? If you and that older sister become close, you'll probably be able to get what you like."
"Wow!"
Zion's blue eyes sparkled. Just imagining his sister's face flushed with joy made him feel like he was piercing the sky.
Rachel, whose face had been flushed following Zion's, paused.
"Zion."
"Yes?"
"I know you're enjoying it, but hide your ears."
At the bolt from the blue, Zion's eyes widened.
Zion raised both hands and hurriedly pressed them down on his head.
At the sensation of the wolf ears against his fingertips, Zion involuntarily let out a frightened gasp.
"D-D-Don't tell me!"
"Okay. I understand, so hide your tail too."
Saying that, Rachel extinguished the fire that had risen in her hands.
Zion, whining and hiding the traces of the wolf, ran to Rachel's side.
Rachel was bending down to make snowballs in the winter forest. However, due to the heat lingering in her hands, the snow melted helplessly
Zion sat close beside Rachel, who was pouting.
"You're not going to tell my sister, right?"
"I won't."
"Really?"
“Tell her?”
"..."
Zion kept his mouth shut. Rachel chuckled and stood up.
I guess I really can't have a snowball fight. I wish my sister would make me some ice like she did back then.
Thinking that, Rachel walked back to the cabin.
"Don't tell anyone! I really mean it!"
"Okay."
“Did you promise?”
"Then you promise me too. Promise me you won't hate that brother."
"Okay!"
Zion seemed unaware of what kind of promise he was making.
"You must keep your promise."
Rachel smiled slightly as she looked at the cute wolf clinging to her.
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