Time passed.
Not slowly.
Not quickly.
But relentlessly.
Three full years slipped by after the night the Snowflakes were taken and returned—three years that reshaped everything.
Aster Snowflake Wynfall was no longer a fragile eleven-year-old who collapsed from mana exhaustion.
Astra Snowflake Wynfall was no longer the little girl who clung to his sleeve.
They were fourteen now.
Taller.
Stronger.
Sharpened by silence.
And far more dangerous than the world realized.
***
Snowflake Mansion stood unchanged atop its hill, white walls gleaming under the morning sun, but the atmosphere inside had matured.
The laughter was quieter.
The practice rooms were busier.
The training schedules were stricter.
Since the kidnapping incident, Arlienne Snowflake had made one rule absolute.
*No public concerts until you turn fourteen.*
No exceptions.
No negotiations.
Not for nobles.
Not for foreign kings.
Not for absurd sums of money.
And Aster had agreed.
Because that night taught him something crucial—
Music alone was not enough.
Strength was required.
Control was required.
And sound magic… had far more depth than he once believed.
***
Now, three years later, the world was stirring again.
Aster stood on the balcony of Snowflake Mansion, silver eyes narrowed as he watched the distant city of Vornis waking up.
Beside him leaned Astra, arms crossed, hair fluttering gently in the breeze.
"Hard to believe it's been three years," she murmured.
Aster nodded slowly.
"Feels longer."
Behind them, footsteps approached.
Lea Kingscrown—now thirteen—strode onto the balcony with confidence. Her posture was firm, her movements sharp, her body radiating the physical magic her family was famous for.
She grinned.
"You two look like old veterans."
Astra scoffed. "You say that like we aren't."
Lea laughed. "Fair."
Over the past three years, Lea had become more than an ally.
She had become a true friend.
After the kidnapping incident, Duke Leon Kingscrown had personally ensured that Lea trained alongside Aster and Astra whenever possible. Physical magic lessons. Combat drills. Endurance training.
Lea's body grew strong.
But Aster's mind grew sharper.
And Astra's control over sound magic became frighteningly precise.
***
Now, a letter lay open on the table behind them.
Stamped with royal authority.
*Royal Academy of Vornis*
An institution where the future elites of the kingdom were forged.
Magic theory.
Combat training.
Mana control.
History.
Strategy.
Politics.
Every noble child attended.
Some talented commoners too.
And now—
Aster and Astra were officially enrolled.
Lea punched her palm excitedly.
"Can you believe it? We're finally going to the academy!"
Astra tilted her head. "I wonder how long before people realize who we are."
Aster exhaled slowly.
"They already know."
And he was right.
Across the country, students were already arriving at the academy dorms.
Sons of dukes.
Daughters of marquesses.
Gifted commoners.
Foreign exchange nobles.
Whispers followed them:
"The Snowflakes are joining."
"The twins?"
"The singers?"
"The inventors?"
"The ones who embarrassed the palace?"
Excitement mixed with curiosity.
And fear.
Because everyone remembered:
The twins hadn't performed publicly in *three years*.
***
Inside Snowflake Mansion, preparations were underway.
The concert.
The one Arlienne finally approved.
The *first Snowflakes concert since the incident*.
Held not in the palace.
Not in the capital square.
But in a grand open arena near the academy—neutral ground.
Engineers adjusted sound amplification arrays.
New-generation Harmonia speakers were tested.
Recording stones glowed softly.
Aster walked through the stage area, inspecting everything carefully.
"These resonance plates need recalibration," he said calmly. "They'll distort low frequencies."
An engineer nodded frantically. "Yes—right away!"
Astra tested a microphone crystal, humming lightly.
The sound came out perfect.
Clear.
Warm.
Controlled.
Lea watched in awe.
"You two really changed," she said quietly.
Aster glanced at her.
"So did you."
Lea grinned, clenching her fist.
"Just don't make me cry with your songs again."
Astra smirked. "No promises."
***
That evening, Arlienne sat in the main hall, watching her children practice.
Her heart was full—and heavy.
For three years, she had protected them.
For three years, she had refused the world.
Now… she was about to let them step forward again.
"Aster," she said softly.
He turned instantly.
"Yes, Mama?"
She hesitated.
"…Are you ready?"
Aster didn't answer immediately.
He thought of the goddess's words.
The kidnapping.
The silence.
The training.
The nights spent pushing sound magic beyond music.
Then he smiled.
"Yes."
Astra stepped beside him.
"We are."
Arlienne closed her eyes briefly.
Then nodded.
"Good. Then let the world hear you again."
***
Night fell over Snowflake Mansion.
In the distance, lights glowed from the Royal Academy dormitories—students settling in, unaware of what was coming.
One week remained.
One week until:
- The academy officially opened
- Aster, Astra, and Lea entered as students
- The Snowflakes returned to the stage
And this time—
They weren't just singers.
They were innovators.
Combat-capable magic users.
Symbols of independence.
And somewhere in the palace, far away—
Queen Lura watched reports pile up on her desk.
Academy enrollment.
Concert announcements.
Crowd estimates.
Her fingers tightened slowly.
"…They're back," she whispered.
And this time—
The kingdom of Vornis
would not be able
to look away.