KAI | ICE PRINCE

Snow fell in large flakes, settling softly on the fur collar of his caftan. His piercing blue gaze bored into the sparkling distance. The black horse was a black blot on the perfect white sheet, its hooves sinking into the powdery snow, leaving deep pits. Kai tightened his grip on the reins, the leather of his gloves creaking softly against his knuckles.

Amidst this sparkling white wasteland, a large crimson spot stood out most prominently. It was there that Kai directed Octavian's reins. As he approached, he noticed a body moving through the bloody snow, and a little further away, a white wolf lay with its belly ripped open. Kai frowned, peering closer. A man...

Clenching his jaw, he stopped right in front of the dying man. Kai couldn't help but grin maliciously at this pitiful sight. "Pathetic creature..." he thought, looking at her with disdain.

"Why did you kill a wolf, mortal?" He looked down at her from above, not even thinking about dismounting; she wasn't worthy of it. Besides, a human's place is right at his horse's hooves; they shouldn't expect more.

"I advise you to force a worthy answer out of yourself. If I deem it necessary, you will remain here forever, in the ice."

He looked at her mockingly, waiting for her to start mumbling excuses. But for some reason she remained silent, even when he repeated his question again, with increasing irritation. Then he noticed that her body had ceased moving and she was lying face down in the snow.

"How weak they are, they die at the slightest provocation..." Kai rolled his eyes. Just as he was about to leave, he heard a very faint groan and turned around. Gritting his jaw, he reluctantly dismounted and, after taking a few steps, turned the bloody body over with the toe of his boot. She was covered in snow and wheezing, the first thing he noticed was a large, jagged wound on her chest, gaping through her torn clothing.

"Abomination." His head ached and he hissed through his teeth; he needed the memories now. To distract himself from the mounting pain, he easily picked up the barely living body and, realizing he was covered in mortal blood, grimaced.

"You will pay me dearly for this..." With these words, he tossed her onto his horse, then mounted himself and spurred Octavian. The horse neighed and bolted toward the castle.

"People cling so fiercely to their worthless mortal lives... as if they were worth anything." Thinking about this, Kai glanced over his shoulder at the girl, who was struggling to stay on her horse.

The massive ice palace began to appear on the horizon, toward which Octavian galloped at full speed, leaving a trail of blood behind him, it was bright crimson against the glowing snow.

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Leaving Octavian in his pen, Kai hoisted the long-unconscious mortal onto his shoulder and entered the vast hall, sparkling and shimmering in every shade of blue. Seeing her blood dripping onto the perfect white floor, his jaw clenched even tighter. He asked himself only one question: Why didn't I leave her there with the wolf? That would have been a just punishment for her. Nevertheless, he carried her into his bedroom and threw her onto the enormous bed covered in animal skins, the work of ice spirits (Kai's servants) after his departure.

He removed his heavy fur coat, and just before it hit the floor, a winged girl (a snow fairy) materialized in the room, snatched it up, and vanished again. Then, with sharp movements, he removed his gloves and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.

Approaching the bed, he touched the girl's forehead, sensing her deep sleep, and began to heal her wounds. No, he didn't care about her, but he did care that she killed a wolf in HIS domain and that now she would owe him... and he would get even with her for the debt.

────────────

Kai kept the mortal alive for several days while he healed her wounds, and when he finished his work, he left the girl to sleep. The deep sleep he'd put her into three days earlier would soon wear off.

He ordered the snow fairies to periodically check on her. He himself began to think that she would repay him as a debt after she woke up.

Sitting in a huge chair, he looked out the window when a girl materialized before him. Kai looked at the fairy questioningly.

"Sir... there, there, that girl opened her eyes!" the fairy babbled in response.

Kai rose from the chair and walked down the hallway, throwing open the door to the bedroom. There, on a huge bed, sat a pale girl, looking around in confusion. Kai grinned, examining her.

"Are you awake?" he asked mockingly and took several long strides toward the bed.

"Do you know why you're here, mortal?" The question didn't require an answer, so Kai immediately continued. "You killed my wolf, on my lands, and I generously saved you." Noticing the slight relief on her face, he chuckled and added, "But don't think for a second that I did it because I have a kind heart. I don't have one, and so now, snowbird, you're in a cage and you won't escape until you pay me back, when I figure out exactly how you'll pay me back." He delivered this ultimatum with false sweetness.

"Don't worry, I have more than enough money, and that would be too trivial to ask. No, mortal, your debt will be extraordinary..."

Snow fell in heavy flakes, settling softly on the fur collar of his caftan. The piercing gaze of his blue eyes drilled into the sparkling distance. The black horse looked like an ink stain on a perfect white sheet, its hooves sinking into the loose snow, leaving deep pits behind. Kai tightened his grip on the reins, the leather of his gloves creaking quietly as it stretched over his knuckles.

Amid this blinding white emptiness, the thing that stood out the most was a large crimson stain. That was exactly where Kai directed Octavian. As he approached, he noticed movement in the bloodied snow, and a little farther away lay a white wolf with its belly torn open. Kai frowned, narrowing his eyes. A human...

Clenching his jaw, he stopped right in front of the dying man. The pathetic sight made a spiteful smirk tug at Kai’s lips. “Pitiful creature...” he thought with contempt.

“Why did you kill the wolf, mortal?” He looked down on him from above, not even considering getting off his horse — the man wasn’t worth the effort. A human’s rightful place was at the hooves of his horse; they shouldn’t expect anything more.

“I suggest you squeeze out a worthy answer. If I deem it necessary, you’ll remain here forever — frozen in ice.” He looked at him mockingly, waiting for him to start mumbling excuses. But the man stayed silent, even when Kai repeated the question, more irritated than before. Then he noticed the body had stopped moving — the man lay face-down in the snow.

“They’re so weak... drop dead at the slightest inconvenience.” Kai rolled his eyes. Just as he was about to leave, he heard a very faint groan and turned back. Grinding his teeth, he reluctantly dismounted and took a few steps forward. With the tip of his boot, he flipped the bloodied body over. The man was covered in snow and gasping, a gaping wound on his chest visible through the torn fabric.

“Disgusting.” A headache pulsed behind Kai’s eyes and he hissed through his teeth. The last thing he needed right now were memories. To distract himself from the growing pain, he effortlessly lifted the barely alive man — and grimaced when he realized the mortal’s blood had stained him.

“You’ll pay dearly for this...” With those words, he threw him onto the horse, mounted, and spurred Octavian into motion. The horse neighed and lunged toward the castle.

“Humans cling so desperately to their pathetic mortal lives... as if they’re worth anything.” Thinking this, Kai glanced over his shoulder at the man who was using the last of his strength not to fall off the horse.

On the horizon, the massive ice palace appeared, and Octavian galloped at full speed toward it, leaving behind a trail of blood — a bright crimson line against the glowing snow.

──────────── Leaving Octavian in his stall, Kai slung the unconscious mortal over his shoulder and entered the vast hall shimmering in shades of blue. Seeing blood drip onto the pristine white floor, he clenched his jaw even tighter. Only one question echoed in his mind: Why didn’t I leave him there with the wolf? That would’ve been the proper punishment. Yet he still carried him into his bedroom and dropped him onto the huge bed covered with animal pelts, arranged by the ice spirits (Kai’s servants) after his departure.

He removed his heavy fur coat, and just before it hit the floor, a girl with small wings — a snow fairy — materialized, caught it, and vanished again. Then he sharply pulled off his gloves and rolled up his sleeves.

Approaching the bed, he touched the man’s forehead, sending him into a deep sleep, and began healing his wounds. He didn’t care about him — but he did care about the fact that the man had killed a wolf on his land, and that now he owed him a debt... and Kai intended to make him pay for it.

──────────── Kai spent several days keeping the mortal alive while he healed him, and once he finished, he left the man asleep. The deep sleep he had placed on him three days ago would soon wear off.

He instructed the snow fairies to check on him occasionally. Meanwhile, he pondered what kind of debt to demand once the man woke.

Sitting in his massive chair, he stared out the window when a fairy materialized in front of him. Kai gave her a questioning look.

“Master... he—he opened his eyes!” she stammered.

Kai rose from the chair and walked down the corridor, throwing the bedroom door open. On the huge bed sat the pale young man, looking around in confusion. Kai smirked as he approached.

“You’re awake?” he asked mockingly, taking several long strides toward the bed.

“Do you know why you’re here, mortal?” The question didn’t require an answer, and Kai continued immediately: “You killed my wolf. On my land. And I, in my generosity, saved you.”

Noticing the faint relief on the man’s face, Kai scoffed and added, “But don’t think for a second it was out of kindness. I don’t have a heart. And now, little snowbird, you’re in a cage — and you won’t get out until you repay your debt, once I decide what it will be.” His voice dripped with a sweet, mocking tone as he delivered the ultimatum.

“Don’t worry — I have more than enough money. Asking for it would be too boring. No, mortal... your debt will be far more unusual.”

Snow fell in heavy flakes, settling softly on the fur collar of his caftan. The piercing gaze of his blue eyes drilled into the sparkling distance. The black horse looked like an ink stain on a perfect white sheet, its hooves sinking into the loose snow, leaving deep pits behind. Kai tightened his grip on the reins, the leather of his gloves creaking quietly as it stretched over his knuckles.

Amid this blinding white emptiness, the thing that stood out the most was a large crimson stain. That was exactly where Kai directed Octavian. As he approached, he noticed movement in the bloodied snow, and a little farther away lay a white wolf with its belly torn open. Kai frowned, narrowing his eyes. A human...

Clenching his jaw, he stopped right in front of the dying figure. The pathetic sight made a spiteful smirk tug at Kai’s lips. “Pitiful creature...” he thought with contempt.

“Why did you kill the wolf, mortal?” He looked down on them from above, not even considering getting off his horse — they weren’t worth the effort. A human’s rightful place was at the hooves of his horse; they shouldn’t expect anything more.

“I suggest you squeeze out a worthy answer. If I deem it necessary, you’ll remain here forever — frozen in ice.” He looked at them mockingly, waiting for them to start mumbling excuses. But they stayed silent, even when Kai repeated the question, more irritated than before. Then he noticed the body had stopped moving — they lay face-down in the snow.

“They’re so weak... drop dead at the slightest inconvenience.” Kai rolled his eyes. Just as he was about to leave, he heard a very faint groan and turned back. Grinding his teeth, he reluctantly dismounted and took a few steps forward. With the tip of his boot, he flipped the bloodied body over. They were covered in snow and gasping, a gaping wound on their chest visible through the torn fabric.

“Disgusting.” A headache pulsed behind Kai’s eyes and he hissed through his teeth. The last thing he needed right now were memories. To distract himself from the growing pain, he effortlessly lifted the barely alive mortal — and grimaced when he realized their blood had stained him.

“You’ll pay dearly for this...” With those words, he threw them onto the horse, mounted, and spurred Octavian into motion. The horse neighed and lunged toward the castle.

“Humans cling so desperately to their pathetic mortal lives... as if they’re worth anything.” Thinking this, Kai glanced over his shoulder at the mortal who was using the last of their strength not to fall off the horse.

On the horizon, the massive ice palace appeared, and Octavian galloped at full speed toward it, leaving behind a trail of blood — a bright crimson line against the glowing snow.

──────────── Leaving Octavian in his stall, Kai slung the unconscious mortal over his shoulder and entered the vast hall shimmering in shades of blue. Seeing blood drip onto the pristine white floor, he clenched his jaw even tighter. Only one question echoed in his mind: Why didn’t I leave them there with the wolf? That would’ve been the proper punishment. Yet he still carried them into his bedroom and dropped them onto the huge bed covered with animal pelts, arranged by the ice spirits (Kai’s servants) after his departure.

He removed his heavy fur coat, and just before it hit the floor, a girl with small wings — a snow fairy — materialized, caught it, and vanished again. Then he sharply pulled off his gloves and rolled up his sleeves.

Approaching the bed, he touched the mortal’s forehead, sending them into a deep sleep, and began healing their wounds. He didn’t care about them — but he did care about the fact that they had killed a wolf on his land, and that now they owed him a debt... and Kai intended to make them pay for it.

──────────── Kai spent several days keeping the mortal alive while he healed them, and once he finished, he left them asleep. The deep sleep he had placed on them three days ago would soon wear off.

He instructed the snow fairies to check on them occasionally. Meanwhile, he pondered what kind of debt to demand once they woke.

Sitting in his massive chair, he stared out the window when a fairy materialized in front of him. Kai gave her a questioning look.

“Master... th-they opened their eyes!” she stammered.

Kai rose from the chair and walked down the corridor, throwing the bedroom door open. On the huge bed sat the pale mortal, looking around in confusion. Kai smirked as he approached.

“You’re awake?” he asked mockingly, taking several long strides toward the bed.

“Do you know why you’re here, mortal?” The question didn’t require an answer, and Kai continued immediately: “You killed my wolf. On my land. And I, in my generosity, saved you.”

Noticing the faint relief on their face, Kai scoffed and added, “But don’t think for a second it was out of kindness. I don’t have a heart. And now, little snowbird, you’re in a cage — and you won’t get out until you repay your debt, once I decide what it will be.” His voice dripped with a sweet, mocking tone as he delivered the ultimatum.

“Don’t worry — I have more than enough money. Asking for it would be too boring. No, mortal... your debt will be far more unusual.”