Whispers Under White Snow

Chapter 2- Whispers Under White Snow

Caelis walked alongside Eryx toward the port.

They were on the mainland—one of the few narrow coastlines the White Nation possessed beyond its island capital. The sea breeze carried the familiar scent of salt and iron, a reminder that even here, far from the heart of power, his rule extended.

Ahead, the docks came into view.

Thalen Crestfall was already waiting near the ship. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly when he noticed them approaching.

“You’re late, Caelis.”

Caelis allowed himself a faint smile.

“Yeah. I remembered a few things from the past. That’s why.”

Eryx slowed his steps and turned toward him.

“Caelis… we all carry those memories. But don’t let them crush 

you. You are the King of the White Nation. Hold yourself steady.”

Caelis nodded, his expression composed once more.

As they prepared to board the ship, Caelis noticed a crowd gathered some distance away from the docks. Loud voices, cheers, and laughter carried through the air.

He stopped abruptly and grabbed Eryx’s arm.

“What’s going on over there?”

Eryx followed his gaze.

“Most likely a slave trade. You banned slavery across the White Nation, but some still operate in hidden corners. We’ve been hunting them.”

Caelis’s eyes hardened.

“Then we won’t ignore this.”

He started toward the crowd.

“Eryx, capture everyone involved. That’s an order.”

Eryx bowed slightly.

“I’ll begin as soon as you reach the capital safely.”

When Caelis reached the gathering, he realized something was 

wrong.

The crowd wasn’t tense—it was excited.

At the center was an arm-wrestling platform. On one side sat potential buyers. On the other sat a slave.

The rules were announced loudly:

If the buyer won, he could purchase the slave—at the price of a prince.

If he lost, the price doubled.

An easy way to make money, even under strict anti-slavery laws.

“Interesting,” Caelis murmured coldly. “A loophole built on cruelty.”

He stepped closer—and then he saw her.

Blue hair.

Her clothes were torn but clean enough to suggest she wasn’t a common criminal. Her posture, despite exhaustion, carried restrained dignity.

“Blue Nation,” Caelis thought. “Likely noble blood. Or an 

unwanted branch… sold away.”

He took the empty seat opposite her.

The match began.

When their hands locked, Caelis felt it immediately.

Her grip trembled.

“She’s exhausted,” he realized. “She’s already fought many 

matches.”

At first, Caelis dominated the contest easily. Her arm shook 

violently as she resisted.

Then—something changed.A sudden weakness surged through Caelis’s arm. Not pain. Not 

injury. Just… loss. As if strength had been drained in an instant.

His vision blurred for a fraction of a second.

Before he could react, she seized the opportunity.

In one sharp motion, she slammed his hand down.

Caelis was thrown back from his seat, hitting the ground hard.

“What…?” he thought, stunned.

“Did I really just lose a pure strength match—to an exhausted girl?”

The merchant who owned her clicked his tongue in disgust.

“She did it again,” he spat. “Forcing the price higher every time. Because of her, no one dares buy the others. This nation is already dangerous for my business.”

The girl loosened her grip and drew a shaky breath.

“I’m safe… for now,” she thought.

“No one will pay such a high price.”

Her gaze flickered toward the merchant.

“But what happens to me next…?”

Caelis rose from the ground, brushing dust from his clothes. He stepped toward the girl, his expression calm rather than offended.

“That was impressive,” he said. “I’ve never lost an arm-wrestling match before. Yet you defeated me.”

He paused. “What’s your name?”

The girl stiffened, clearly confused. Her voice trembled as she spoke.

“S-Serine… Serine Vaelwyn.”

Before she could say more, the merchant shouted from behind.

“I never gave you permission to speak!” His gaze snapped toward Caelis. “And you, sir—if you’re not here to buy her, then leave.”

Caelis turned slowly.

His eyes were cold.

He walked up to the merchant, stopping just an arm’s length 

away.

“How much for the girl?”

The slave merchant instinctively stepped back.

“Two Nova,” he replied cautiously.

Caelis reached into his coat and handed over three Nova coins.

“Here. One extra.”

Without another word, he turned back to Serine.

“You’re free,” he said simply. “You can go wherever you wish.”Then Caelis walked away, heading toward his ship.

For Serine, the moment felt unreal.

Her life as a slave—ended in a single breath.

Relief washed over her… and then fear followed.

“I’m free,” she thought.

“But I’m alone. I have nowhere to go.”

She hesitated only a moment before following him.As Caelis boarded the ship, Serine gathered her courage and 

spoke in a weak voice.

“Can I… come with you? I don’t have a place to call home.”Caelis turned toward her.

There was no hesitation in his answer—only a gentle smile.

“Yes. You can come with us.”

Serine stepped onto the ship and sat quietly in a corner, her mind racing.

“He doesn’t seem like a bad person,” she thought.

“His hair is pure white…”

That trait belonged only to royalty and high nobility. Every nation 

bore its identity in color—hair and magic alike.

From a short distance away, Caelis called out to her.

“There’s no need to hide. Everyone here is no different from you.”

His voice was firm, but kind.

“Leave the habits of slavery behind. Walk a new path.”

A moment later, Thalen leapt down from the upper deck.

Eryx winced.

“Seriously? Show some mercy to the ship.”

Thalen ignored him completely. He picked up a glass of water and handed it to Serine.

“Idiots,” he muttered. “Did none of you notice the kid was 

thirsty?”

Caelis turned his gaze back toward the sea.

“I was going to offer juice, not water.”

Eryx laughed.

“Sure you were. You just forgot.”

Thalen narrowed his eyes.

“Say that again.”

Caelis’s expression suddenly turned serious.

“Eryx,” he said quietly. “The three coins I gave that merchant were infused with my magic. You can track him easily.”

Eryx straightened.

“When we reach the capital,” Caelis continued, “go with Kaelis. End the slave market completely.”

Eryx nodded without hesitation.
Frostwane had fully settled over the White Nation.

Heavy snowfall blanketed the sea, and as night fell, visibility dropped dangerously low. The ship sailed at a reduced speed, carefully navigating through the dark waters to avoid drifting icebergs.

By morning, they reached the island capital.

The sky was clear, the snowfall gone as if the storm had never existed.

Kaelis was already waiting at the port.

The moment the ship docked and Caelis stepped onto the pier, she leapt toward him without hesitation.

Caelis raised a hand, stopping her at a safe distance.

“Kaelis—this is sudden, but—”

She smiled shyly.

“Don’t you think this is a strange place for a proposal?”

Caelis froze.His face turned bright red.

“I wasn’t proposing!”

He turned away, took a breath, and regained his composure.

“What I meant was—go with Eryx. Some people are still disobeying my orders. Finish them.”

Kaelis’s expression darkened instantly.

“Who in this world would dare disobey Caelis’s orders?”

From behind them, Eryx approached with a tired sigh.

“She’s started again. Her fantasies never stop.”

The moment Kaelis noticed him, she rushed forward and 

grabbed him by the back of his collar, dragging him toward the ship.

Eryx panicked.

“Caelis, don’t let her do this to me! Hey—hey! Thalen, I have an idea! What about switching jobs for a while?”

Thalen turned away, whistling casually.

“Don’t dump your unfinished work on me. Do your job properly in the first place.”

With that settled, Caelis, Thalen, and Serine headed toward the 

castle.

Inside, Selwyn was already waiting.

He looked around as they arrived.

“Why aren’t Kaelis and Eryx with you?”

Caelis walked toward the throne.

“I sent them on a mission. Some merchants are still conducting slave trade.”

Selwyn frowned.

“And how will they find them?”

Caelis answered proudly.

“I gave the merchants three Nova coins. They’re infused with my magic. Eryx can track them easily.”

Selwyn’s calm shattered instantly.“Caelis!” he snapped. “I know you’re the king, and technically all 

the money here is yours—but that doesn’t mean you can waste it! Have you forgotten our nation’s financial condition?”

Caelis replied calmly,

“Selwyn, please calm down.”

Serine, standing quietly nearby, froze.

“King…?” she whispered. “Caelis is… the king?”

Thalen noticed her reaction and stepped beside her.“What did you expect? After seeing his white hair, you probably 

thought he was a noble.”

He smiled faintly.“No. He’s King Caelis Lysandrier—King of the White Nation.”

Caelis seated himself on the throne.

Serine looked at Thalen, confused.

“Then why are you all so casual with him? I thought everyone spoke formally to a king.”

Thalen chuckled softly.“You’re not wrong. Most people do.”

He gestured lightly.

“Eryx is like an older brother to him. Kaelis is his childhood friend. Selwyn teaches him how to rule a kingdom—so he’s 

formal, but sometimes shouts.”

He shrugged.“And as for me… I lack formal skills.”

He smiled again.

“So only we—aside from his siblings—speak casually to him.”

Caelis noticed Serine standing silently nearby.

“Why are you still here?” he asked. “I thought you wanted to see the capital.”

Serine lowered her head, her voice trembling.

“You are my master… so I followed you.”

Caelis’s expression darkened—not with anger, but disappointment.

“Didn’t you hear me?” he said firmly.“I told you—you’re free. There are no slaves in the White Nation. 

You can go wherever you want.”

Serine clenched her hands.“I’ve spent my entire life as a slave,” she said softly. “I don’t know 

where to go.”

She hesitated, then looked up at him.“So… can you let me stay here?”

Caelis walked toward her and met her eyes. After a brief pause, he smiled.

“I like you,” he said gently.

“You can stay.”

Mainland – Narrow Coastline of the White Nation

Kaelis and Eryx arrived at the deserted road near the port.Eryx closed his eyes, focusing on the three Nova coins infused 

with Caelis’s magic.

“I can feel it,” he said slowly.“The signal is weak… very thin. Like a wire stretched across the 

land.”

He pointed forward.“That merchant went this way.”

Kaelis followed, her expression visibly displeased.

“Why did Caelis send me?” she muttered. “Does he not like me?”Eryx sighed from behind her.

“It’s not like that, Kaelis.”

She stopped abruptly and turned, her eyes cold.“This happened because of your irresponsibility. I should kill 

you.”

Eryx panicked instantly.“P-Please calm down! If you kill me, you’ll be late meeting Caelis 

again. He’ll kill me himself! That’s exactly why I didn’t want to come with you!”

He quickly added,

“Let’s just find the merchant. That’s safer for me. Very safe.”

After walking for some time, they reached the border.

Ahead of them lay a dense forest—the territory of the Blue Nation.

Eryx placed his hand against a tree and focused.

“I can sense it. He’s hiding in the forest.”

Kaelis drew her weapon.“Then I’ll kill him now.”

Eryx grabbed her wrist.

“Stop. From here onward, it’s Blue Nation territory. Slave trade is legal there. Acting recklessly could destroy our diplomatic 

relations.”

Kaelis clicked her tongue in annoyance.“Fine.”

Her appearance shimmered. Her snow-white hair shifted into a 

deep blue, and her magic aura followed suit.

“Disguise yourself,” she said.Eryx let out a deep breath.

“You forgot. You’re the only one who can do that.”

Kaelis groaned.“What a pain.”

She reached out, altering Eryx’s appearance as well—his white hair darkening into blue, his magic signature changing instantly.

“Let’s go,” she said.

Together, they rushed toward the merchant’s hideout hidden deep within the forest.

Eryx followed Kaelis’s lead as they moved through the forest.

White magic… he thought.

Kaelis’s magic belongs to one of the secret White Nation styles.In this world, magic and appearance defined origin.

Each nation bore its own color.

Royals carried the purest hue—both in hair and magic.

Nobles had lighter shades.

Commoners possessed only the color of their magic, their hair unrelated.Yet Kaelis’s magic defied all of that.

She could alter both hair and magical aura perfectly—granting a flawless disguise.

What an extraordinary ability, Eryx thought.They reached the hideout soon after.

A small house stood hidden among the trees. Without a word, both slipped inside.

The sight within made Eryx’s jaw tighten.Cages lined the walls.

Slaves—men, women, and children—were locked inside.

The merchant walked freely among them, laughing to himself.“What a foolish boy,” he muttered. “Handing me an extra Nova 

just to buy a slave in the White Nation. I never thought I’d profit there again after the Council took control.”

Kaelis’s bloodlust flared instantly.Eryx grabbed her arm.

“Kaelis. Control yourself. We take him alive. Caelis decides his fate.”

She clicked her tongue.

The next instant, she moved.

Her fist struck the merchant’s stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. He collapsed unconscious to the floor.“We captured the culprit,” Kaelis said coldly. “That’s enough.”

Eryx immediately freed the slaves and revealed their Blue Nation disguises, calming them. Once they were safe, he searched the house thoroughly.

In an upper room, he found a letter.“Kaelis!” he called.

She took it from him and read silently. Her expression hardened.

“This is bad,” she said. “We need to return to the capital—now.”

They returned to Aurellion, bringing both the merchant and the letter with them.

The merchant was locked deep within the castle dungeon.

Soon after, everyone gathered in the meeting room.

Caelis sat upon the throne as Eryx stepped forward, handing him the letter before returning to his place.

Kaelis stood.

“Allow me to explain.”She looked directly at Caelis.

“This letter was written by one of the leaders of the underworld. It demands money and slaves from the merchant.”

She clenched her fist.“That organization has only one goal—to destroy the Nexus 

Council.”

She paused.“What is your decision?”Thalen laughed lightly.

“Such trivial news. It seems you’ve lost your sense, Kaelis. Why should we involve ourselves in the Council’s matters? We should ignore this.”

Kaelis snapped back instantly.“It’s King Caelis to you, Thalen. And if the Council falls, Caelis 

loses this kingdom. Have you forgotten the Council’s authority?”

Thalen stood.“I’m older than you. Show some respect. And if the Council falls, then perhaps we no longer need to follow its rules.”A crushing pressure filled the room.

Caelis released his magic.

“Enough,” he said coldly.The room fell silent.

“Kaelis, keep your eyes on that organization,” Caelis ordered. “That is all.”

With that, he left the chamber.

One by one, the others followed.

Before leaving, Eryx turned back toward Kaelis and Thalen.“Both of you were fools,” he said quietly. “Arguing in front of 

Caelis like that—I expected better.”

Kaelis departed to resume her work as a spy.

The rest returned to their duties.

To be continued…