Unhonored Brutality

Kaltain knew something was wrong the second something went right for her. It’s the law of life, she thought in bemusement. When the clock strikes clockwise, prepare for it to spin counterclockwise.

Her perception instinct flares with danger, yet she remains cool and collected.

Kaltain was being dramatic when she said she would fail before the first class during the trip to Lightless, which was unnecessary. They could have been at the institute right away with the tether portal.

Kaltain has never lost a fight. Physically anyway; hand to hand combat. That’s why she felt confident enough to be so carefree throughout Deathly Journey.

“Usually after we bond, I remain here and you can summon me or I can summon you, but I shall accompany you,” says Osyth. She shrinks into a smaller size without awaiting Kaltain response. 

“Lyrielle always accompanies Wyn, so I guess it’s fine.” Kaltain shrugs nonchalantly and uplifts herself with flight to get out of the flowery bed afloat in the pond, followed by Osyth, who leaps out, landing gracefully on the lavish grass.

Then, Osyth hooks herself around Kaltain's hip.

Kaltain's body freezes, horrified images of cascading ice shards and bloody feathers framing her vision momentarily. She instantly snaps out of it, as a cherished memory of thanksgiving with her family surfaces.

Familiar voices chatter comfortably, the sweet smell of pies, and the delicious aroma of roasted chicken, turkey, and baked mac and cheese rose within Kaltain senses, a giddy feeling tinged, filling loneliness.

The cozy atmosphere of home untwists the knot in her belly and soothes her racing heart.

“Not there.” Kaltain's hand trembles as she points to her neck. Once she has relaxed her muscles, she redo her high ponytail tighter.

Soft fur brushes her chin and tickles her nape as Osyth settles comfortably, with her small head resting on Kaltain's right shoulder.

“Are you okay?” Osyth asks softly. “You seem… What's the word? Like you have to shit something out. Your emotions, I believe.”

Kaltain inhales gravely before nodding slowly. ‘It’s okay. I didn’t panic for long or crash out.’

“Hide beneath snow and call it ice,” a cocky voice snarls from behind. “I have believed that term to be accurate since the disgraceful death of their heir.”

In a tranquillity manner, Osyth turns her head. Her sharp eyes lock onto four figures.

They were boy freshmen, who wore angry and envious looks.

Osyth snorts and glances away, shutting her eyes in disinterest.

‘Are they the danger I felt?’ As a daughter from Winter Clan, Kaltain instincts were on beast level. Additionally, she sensed their spiritual aura as they approached, but she wasn’t entirely certain they were the threat. Turning, she steps towards the boys and jerks her chin. “Say it again.”

The tall brunette one regards Kaltain with an arrogant gaze, flashing a mocking grin. “I said, you’re a bitch that hides beneath snow and ca—

Kaltain didn’t let him finish. With a casual movement, her red gloved hand reels back and punches his face.

Crack!

His nose breaks and instantly bleeds profusely. “W-what?!”

In the next second, Kaltain grasps his arm firmly and dives a strong kick into his gut.

With a foul curse, he stumbles into two boys, causing them three to tumble to the ground.

The one who remained standing was already charging at Kaltain.

She sidesteps his fist, her eyes widening slightly as the boy spins swiftly and kicks her.

Whack!

Kaltain adeptly blocks with her arms. The impact of the attack gently tingles her forearms. She adopts a grave demeanor and becomes serious.

Kaltain advances towards the boy with green fluffy hair and smoothly fends off against his hurl of strikes by swatting his wrists.

The boy grits his teeth in shame before widely smiling in a mocking air as the other boys rise and join the fight.

Officially annoyed, Kaltain leaps into the air and delivers kicks with controlled strength. Two collide into a tree, causing the trunk to tremble.

“Not the cherry tree!” Osyth exclaims suddenly, vines erupting from the ground and entrapping the boy’s tightly. She hisses in warning, “Do not damage my treasures with trash!”

Kaltain ignores the elegant fox. 

Kaltain didn’t want to kill any of them, whether out of her own morals or because she was their comrade. However, they did insult her, so she had no choice but to remind them of the fear of winter.

As her feet hit the ground, Kaltain avoids a strike to her left and a kick to her right.

With a huff of irritation, one of the boys performs a martial arts stance, with both arms daintily arched and legs bent as if preparing to leap, then storms Kaltain with rapid kicks.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Kaltain ducks and reels back. Upon seeing her dodge with an ease that made him feel like she was toying with them, the boy felt his heart shake with dread.

‘She’s not even tired, yet we’re sweating buckets,’ one thought bitterly.

Kaltain's hand catches a leg and immediately she elbows his calf. A sickening pop greets her ears like a friend, followed by a howl of pain.

Instead of letting go, Kaltain twists his leg and uses him as a shield against a raid of assault punches from behind.

The poor boy’s back is pounded on fiercely, the sound of bruised flesh and shattering bones echoing. By the time the other boy realizes who his attack hit, Kaltain notices them almost lined up like dominos.

A small chilling grin spreads across her gorgeous features. Her eyes dart to the pond and then back to the boys. 

In the following second, Kaltain lands a formidable strike upon the front one’s chest. He staggers backward into the boy behind him. Both end up falling into the pond.

Splash! Splash!

“Water is said to be holy enough to drain the sins of all,” Kaltain muses, gesturing for Osyth to toss the other two with the others.

Splash!

Agilely, Kaltain bends down and points at the water. “Your insult was sinful, so drown,” she says, her cold gaze looking down upon them.

Osyth abruptly understands her new master's intentions. Landing with perfection on the ground, her eighth tail extends, the tip brushing the pond’s surface.

The water ripples delicately, as if preparing for what’s to come.

Danger radiates the atmosphere with thick tension. The boy’s faces pale, panic evident in their movements as they attempt to get out, roughly pushing and shoving each other.

It was too late.

The water rises and slams them underneath the waves before hardening into ice.

Kaltain, already walking away, says to Osyth casually, “Release the ice once we’re gone.”

Osyth hops and softly lands on Kaltain's shoulder, settling down once more. “What if they don’t survive?”

Kaltain shrugs, her expression impassive. “If they live that long, fantastic. If not, well, let this be a lesson for their next life. Do not mock the strong, or you’ll die.”