The wind howled like razors, biting into bare skin.
The thick fog cloaked the entire landscape, creating a dreamlike, silent, and surreal canvas.
All around stretched a forest of skeletal trees—branches stripped bare, sealed in a frigid glaze of frost, standing still under blankets of snow like crystallized salt across a never-ending land.
The silence was eerie. So still… it felt sacred—and yet, unnerving.
Suddenly—
"Swoosh!"
A sharp noise sliced through the quiet—a single arrow tore through the mist, surging like a flash of lightning through the snowy air.
"Thunk!"
A crisp, biting sound rang out. Nearby—
A young girl with emerald hair and sharp, brilliant eyes stared intently ahead.
The arrow she'd just released...
Was embedded straight into the trunk of a rotting log?!
And right beside it, a snow-white goat continued munching lazily on a few withered stalks of grass that survived in this barren, frozen wasteland—seemingly oblivious to the brush with death it had just narrowly escaped.
"Swoosh!"
"Swoosh!"
"Swooooshhh!"
Arrow after arrow ripped through the air in quick succession.
And yet, when all was still again—the goat stood untouched. Not a scratch.
About the arrows? Some stuck in the snow. Some clattered against rocks. Others disappeared into the void.....
"Ughhhhh…"
A frustrated sigh slipped from the girl's lips. Her emerald locks drooped, mirroring her mood—utterly dejected.
"Giving up already, little sis? That was barely even a warm-up."
Beside the little girl, another "her" — a version of the maiden in her teenage years — caught sight of the dejected expression on the young girl's delicate face and immediately put on a mocking smirk, the corners of her lips curling ever so slightly.
The little girl, seeing the teasing expression on her sister's face, puffed up her cheeks in frustration.
"Geez, Mana! How could you laugh at your own little sister like that? It wasn't even my fault! It was that damn Capra's fault! Who told it to have Wind magic, huh? It totally deflected my arrow!"
She turned to glare at the white goat—the Capra—with righteous fury blazing in her beautiful eyes.
Indeed, every arrow she'd shot had swerved at the last second—as if some invisible force twisted them off course.
That's right! It was that damn beast's fault, not because she had any skill issues , got it, Okay?!
"Pfft—hehe~"
The young maiden—Mana—burst into laughter upon seeing the pout on her little sister's lovely face, her cheeks puffed up like a sulking frog.
Yes indeed, her little sister was just too adorable~
"Uuuughmmm!"
The little girl, seeing that teasing expression on her sister's face, puffed up even more—her cheeks already swollen like an angry frog.
Seeing that, Mana gently reached out and stroked her sister's silky, delicate hair.
She had to calm her down—otherwise, this little firecracker might just explode~
"There, there~ My little Kyouno is the best. It's all that dumb Capra's fault, not yours."
Her teasing tone shifted slightly, becoming more earnest.
"But still, little Kyouno—that Capra's only use Novice-Tier Wind element , isn't it? Didn't Mom already teach you about elemental countering? Did you forget already?"
Or... could it be that my little sister wasn't paying attention when Mom was teaching?"
Kyouno froze.
She still looked sulky, but her eyes darted nervously side to side, trying to dodge the accusatory gaze.
"I-I didn't! It's just… just that…"
"Just~?"
"It's just that I wanted to test if a regular arrow would work first, that's all… Y-Yeah, that way, when I use the counter-element later, I can better observe the results! That way... I can learn and understand more about how elemental mechanics work, right?"
She stammered, her voice rising in pitch, eyes still flickering about, cheeks pink from embarrassment.
"Oh, is that so~? I didn't know my little sister was so passionate about learning~" Mana chuckled slyly.
"Ah... uhm, of course! Hmph! You didn't know? I always want to study hard so I can become an all-powerful mage someday, haha!"
Kyouno lifted her chin proudly, trying to mask the awkwardness in her voice.
She thought that would be the end of it—
But of course, Mana had no intention of letting her off that easily~
"Well then, my amazing little sister!
When we get home, I'll tell Mom to double your study time! No more playing around, just study, study, and more study~ So you can become an all-powerful mage in no time, okay my lovely little sister~?"
Kyouno froze. One second. Two seconds. Then—
"YOU—ARE YOU EVEN MY REAL SISTER?!"
"Kekeke~"
Mana laughed so hard she nearly rolled on the snowy ground.
…...
"Alright. Now then, Kyouno. Try using the counter-element this time. Remember—Water beats Wind," Mana said, her teasing tone replaced with calm guidance.
Kyouno pouted.
"Mou, I know that already! You don't have to tell me!"
As she spoke, the little girl raised her bow and took aim at the Wind-element beast. At the tip of the arrow, something strange began to happen—
Water vapor started to condense, wrapping the sharp arrowhead in shimmering layers of moisture.
Although she was still only at the Novice-Tier and couldn't yet create elemental weapons like her mother and sister, she was still able to imbue her spells onto ordinary weapons as an alternative method.
Thinking of this, Kyouno told herself:
She have to become stronger. She must surpass her sister. Even surpass Mom.
And at that very moment, the confusion in her eyes vanished—
Replaced by a serene calm, like the surface of a frozen lake in the heart of winter.
So still, it seemed as though she had transcended all worldly troubles.
Like a fairy descending from the heavens.
She closed her eyes, slowly pulled back the bowstring, inhaled deeply, and then—
"Thwip—!"
The string snapped forward, and the arrow shot out like lightning, slicing through the air straight toward the Capra.
The beast stood still, confident that this arrow—like all the others—would pose no threat.
But this time—
"Thud!"
"BEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
A sharp impact rang out, followed by a cry of agony.
The arrow, now heavier with water, had pierced straight through the beast's wind armor and struck its weak point.
It staggered back, stumbled a few steps, and then—
It collapsed, sprawled motionless on the cold ground. From the wound, bright red blood began to seep out, releasing a pungent, metallic scent. Within minutes, the creature took its final breath.
"I... I did it. I really did it..."
Kyouno's voice trembled. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Mm, you did great, Kyouno. That's my little sister," Mana said softly, once again patting her head with pride and joy in her voice.
Kyouno scowled and swatted her sister's hand away, lifting her chin arrogantly.
"Hmph hmph, didn't I already say? I'm the future almighty mage, after all~ Hmph hmph~"
Her puffed-up attitude was so adorable that Mana couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Right right~ When we get home, I'll be sure to tell Mom all about your glorious victory, especially how you 'accidentally' forgot the elemental counter! That way, she'll reward her brilliant little girl properly~"
"You! Who are you?! What are you doing in my sister's body?! Give me back my sweet, gentle sister!!!"
"Bwahaha~"
.....