The moment the alliance was formed, Maxwell felt a terrible weight lift from his shoulders.
For the first time since waking in this frozen hell, his breathing felt lighter.
The cold no longer bit into his bones the same way.
The fear of Nova suddenly turning on him and Snowy… faded, just a little.
They were no longer strangers.
They were a team now — fragile, unstable, but real.
Maxwell let out a slow breath.
Then his eyes widened.
"…Snowy?"
He spun around, scanning the snowy plains.
It didn't take long to find him.
Snowy was perched on a distant hilltop, wings tucked neatly against his body, staring off into the endless white horizon as if nothing in the world concerned him.
Watching.
Just watching.
Maxwell frowned.
Why didn't he move when Nova almost killed me?
Their eyes met.
Snowy immediately looked away, pretending to be fascinated by the clouds drifting above.
Maxwell's eyelid twitched.
He did it on purpose… didn't he?
***
Snowy had seen everything.
Nova's killing intent.
Maxwell's fear.
The tension thick enough to freeze the air.
Yet it hadn't interfered.
Not because it didn't care.
But because it knew.
Maxwell was not in immediate danger.
Nova was dangerous, yes — but not someone who would casually slaughter a weakling who had shown no hostility. Stepping in would have changed nothing, and might even have made things worse.
That was Snowy's judgment.
Unfortunately for Maxwell, Nova absolutely would have acted if things had gone one step further.
Nova watched the silent exchange between master and mimicsoul with faint amusement.
The foolish master… and the clever beast.
What an odd pair.
"Now that that's settled," she said calmly, "let's move."
"To the temple?" Maxwell asked.
"Yes. But first, we make one stop."
She adjusted the grip on her weapon, eyes narrowing slightly.
"If it pays off, we won't have to worry about food, shelter… or even a place to train."
It had been a long time since she had been there.
How many years?
She didn't know.
Whether anyone was still alive… she didn't know that either.
But it was a stop they couldn't afford to skip.
"Alright," Maxwell nodded immediately. "If you think it's good, then it's good."
No hesitation.
Nova glanced at him briefly, unimpressed by his blind trust.
"I only have lunch for one meal," Maxwell added. "So we should save it for when we're absolutely starving."
"Understood."
"How long will it take?" Maxwell asked. "To the settlement… and the temple?"
"One day to the settlement. Four to the temple. But since the settlement is in the opposite direction, that makes it five days total."
"Oh… that's fine."
"But don't misunderstand," Nova said coldly. "This won't be an easy journey. We'll pass through two Neovano hot zones. Be ready."
"If that's the case, Snowy can handle them easily."
Nova stopped walking.
Slowly, she turned around.
"That's exactly the problem."
Her gaze was sharp.
"From now on, Snowy does not fight. He scouts. That's it."
Maxwell blinked. "What?"
"With your ridiculous knowledge of combat arts, letting a mimicsoul carry you around would be a waste. A crime."
More than that — it would be an insult to her pride.
Someone like Maxwell, if properly trained, could become terrifying.
Not just strong.
World-class.
And if she was the one who forged him…
That would be her greatest achievement.
"How am I supposed to fight?" Maxwell protested. "I have no skills. No experience. I'll die in minutes!"
"There's nothing unfair about reality," Nova snapped. "If you keep hiding behind Snowy, you'll always be a burden."
Her eyes flared with irritation.
"Do you think I was born strong? I came here just like you — clueless, desperate, terrified. I survived by bleeding."
She turned away.
"If you're too afraid, stay here. Maybe you'll freeze to death. Or maybe you'll live. I don't care."
She walked off.
Snowy followed without hesitation.
Maxwell stared.
"…You seriously called him?"
He laughed.
"How do you expect him to leave his master?"
Snowy paused.
Looked back.
And gave Maxwell the most disappointed look he had ever seen in his life.
Then he turned and followed Nova.
Maxwell's jaw dropped.
"What the hell is going on today?!"