The silence stretched on as Glacius walked through the frozen forest, Peggy's golden body still glowing softly in his arms.
For the first time in his life, the cold didn't feel quite so absolute.
The icy wind howled as Glacius marched into the nearest aquatic neutral village on that island, his dark-blue, frostbitten form casting an ominous shadow over the terrified residents. The water around the village rippled, reflecting his cold, unyielding presence.
Peggy's golden form still hung limp in his arms, her wings fluttering weakly with the slightest touch of wind.
Without a word, Glacius extended one hand toward the village's central water source. A sharp crack echoed through the air as a thick layer of ice rapidly spread across the pond, freezing the surface solid. The villagers gasped in horror, taking a few cautious steps back.
Glacius smirked — a cool, effortless expression of control. "I can freeze your entire territory if I want," he said in a calm, almost bored tone, snapping his fingers and causing icy spikes to form along the water's edge. "Your homes, your land — all of it can be mine in seconds."
The villagers exchanged panicked glances, their fear practically tangible in the cold air.
Then, without care, he dropped Peggy's unconscious body onto a soft patch of frost-bitten grass.
"But," Glacius continued, "if you heal her — my enemy... the one who dares to challenge me — I might just let you keep your precious little puddles." His voice remained cold, but there was a flicker of something else beneath it — a spark of anticipation. "The game's no fun without her."
The neutrals, desperate to save themselves, quickly agreed, rushing to tend to Peggy's wounds with what limited healing abilities they had. They placed their hands over her, using herbs and water-based techniques to soothe her damaged wings and body.
As the healing worked through Peggy, Glacius' vision blurred. His legs, already unsteady from the battle with Venox, finally gave out, and with a silent thud, he collapsed right next to her. His mind swam in a haze of exhaustion, the world turning as white as his frozen kingdom.
The next day.
When Peggy finally opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the ceiling of a small aquatic home — damp, but comforting. She blinked slowly, her head still spinning from the battle… and then her gaze drifted to the figure beside her.
Glacius.
Still unconscious, his icy markings faintly glowing with a dim blue hue, his dark-blue hair messily falling over his forehead. His usually unbothered face looked oddly peaceful — a rare sight.
The villagers were cautiously watching from a distance, still fearful of what the Ice Demon might do when he woke up.
Peggy, however, sat up and calmly addressed them. "Don't worry," she said, her voice still weak but steady. "If he tries anything… I can manage him."
The villagers exchanged uneasy glances but nodded slowly.
She turned back to Glacius.
He looked… different like this. Not the cold-hearted ice prince who froze everything in his path, but something… more complicated.
With a small sigh, Peggy placed her glowing hand over his chest, her fairy magic warming the frozen edges of his wounds.
It took time, but his breathing steadied.
Then — finally — his eyes shot open, the familiar, piercing ice-blue gaze meeting hers.
There was silence between them.
"…Took you long enough," Peggy teased softly, though her voice still held a trace of concern.
Glacius slowly sat up, brushing off her hand like it hadn't just saved him. "I don't have time to waste." His voice was back to its usual cool detachment, though there was something a little more subdued about it.
Peggy arched an eyebrow. "You're welcome, by the way."
Ignoring her, Glacius stood up, casting a cold glare at the villagers. "Consider yourselves lucky," he said. "I may have spared you this time… but this land — all of it — belongs to me now."
The villagers nodded fearfully, not daring to argue.
Peggy stood up as well, brushing the dust from her golden armor. "You really know how to charm a crowd," she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Glacius to hear.
He didn't respond — just started walking.
Without hesitation, Peggy followed.
As they traveled through new territories…
Glacius wasted no time resuming his conquest, freezing seas, water residents, islands and streams — claiming more land with each passing hour. The ice spread like a silent plague, beautiful yet destructive.
Peggy, on the other hand, trailed behind, melting the ice with soft pulses of golden light, restoring the water to its natural state.
It was a constant tug-of-war — Glacius freezing, Peggy thawing.
At one point, Glacius stopped and coolly gestured to a towering ice sculpture he had created — a perfectly symmetrical structure, with sharp, glimmering spikes, an artistic reflection of his cold perfection.
He glanced at Peggy expectantly.
She gave it a fleeting look… then, with a flick of her wrist, melted the whole thing into a puddle.
Glacius' jaw tightened.
"…You ruin everything," he said, though there was no real malice in his voice.
Peggy smiled. "That's the fun part."
Glacius' smirk returned — faint but undeniable. "It is."
Despite the clash of elements, Glacius couldn't help but acknowledge a single truth:
They were destined to interfere with each other.
Like two opposing forces bound by an unbreakable cycle — warmth and cold, dark and light — they balanced each other.
And somehow, for the first time in his life, Glacius found the endless game… entertaining.