Maxwell had no idea how long he had been unconscious.
Only that it was night when he finally woke.
The world was quiet.
Too quiet.
A long howl drifted through the frozen air, thin and distant, carried by the wind.
He blinked, eyes still heavy, and slowly moved his hands across the ground. His fingers brushed against something soft. Warm. Furry.
Snowy, he thought.
Relief loosened his chest a little. He shifted, feeling around more clearly now.
But then his hand touched something else.
It was warm. Smooth. Soft in a completely different way.
Maxwell froze.
This isn't Snowy.
His mind struggled to catch up. He pulled his hand back slightly, then paused.
I already touched Snowy. So this…
A slow, uncomfortable realization crawled up his spine.
Nova.
His face heated instantly. He didn't know what exactly he had touched — and he didn't want to know — but instinct screamed that it was a bad idea to stay there.
Better to move. Now.
The moment he pulled his hand away, the air in the cave dropped several degrees.
A chill crept over his skin.
Before Maxwell could even turn—
A wave of cold rolled through the cave like a silent roar.
"What do you think you are doing?" Nova's voice cut through the darkness, sharp and edged with something dangerous.
"N-nothing!" Maxwell blurted out. "I was just… searching for my phone!"
"Nothing?" Nova snapped. "I was asleep and you were touching my—my—"
She stopped.
Her words caught in her throat.
Her mind scrambled, trying to force the word out.
Why can't I say it?
Embarrassment burned through her chest, twisting into irritation.
The silence stretched, thick and unbearable.
Before she could think it through—
Smack.
The sound echoed through the cave.
Maxwell's world went white.
For a second he couldn't feel his face. His ears rang. His thoughts scattered.
I just got slapped.
By Nova no less.
And I didn't even get to explain.
He sat there, stunned, then slowly lowered himself to the ground. He didn't even bother searching for his phone anymore.
The cave was completely silent.
Not a peaceful silence.
The kind that presses on your skin.
It felt like the air itself was holding its breath.
Finally, Maxwell spoke, his cheek still burning.
"Why did you do that? I didn't mean anything. I just… touched you by mistake."
"Just touched?" Nova's voice rose. "Just touched? You touched my—my—!"
Again the word refused to come.
"Why is this so embarrassing?!" she snapped, more at herself than him.
Maxwell looked at her.
And suddenly, he laughed.
Not loudly. Just a small, breathless chuckle.
It slipped out before he could stop it.
Nova turned sharply. "What are you laughing at, you perverted freak?"
"Call me whatever you want," Maxwell said, still faintly smiling. "Anyway… while I was asleep, did anything happen?"
The shift caught her off guard.
Who does he think he is? How can he so casually change the topic?
Nova opened her mouth, ready to insult him again—
Then froze.
Did anything happen?
Her thoughts turned back.
When Maxwell had collapsed, she had stayed beside him, watching.
Ready to freeze him the moment his condition worsened.
But it never did.
His breathing had stayed steady.
His heart had remained strong.
And more than that—
His wounds had begun to close.
Slowly. Not dramatically. But undeniably.
Almost… unnaturally.
A healing rate dangerous for someone so fragile.
Nova's eyes flickered.
Did he really not notice?
Or was he pretending?
Either way…
A slow smile crept across her face, something sharp hiding behind it.
If he could heal like this…
Then she didn't have to hold back.
She could push him.
Break him.
Train him until blood soaked the snow.
The real game was finally starting.
And the road ahead was looking very entertaining.