Bond of Ice – 1: Called By You

Bond of Ice – Chapter 1: Called By You

When she woke up, the first thing she felt was the cold.

“... It’s reeeally cold.”

She whispered as she sat up in her crudely fashioned bed

―She was an extraordinary girl with exceptional features. Her silver hair was like moonlight itself, her skin as pure as virgin snow. She narrowed her amethyst eyes which resembled dazzling jewels, her beauty was truly miraculous.

However her countenance was marred by drowsiness, and it didn’t appear she would leave her bed any time soon.

“———”

In this manner, she whiled away her time wrapped up in her bedsheet. Fresh air blew in from outside her room. The atmosphere was the very picture of dawn, but the girl continued to waste time half asleep.

Even though it was only morning, one might worry about just how sleepy she was.

“Gotta get up...”

Nearly an hour had passed before she fully woke up.

She yawned, her long legs stretching out as she left the bed. Her thin nightclothes hung off her shoulder, salaciously exposing her smooth, slender body.

Her immodest appearance was more like a work of art than anything salacious, like some master painter’s finest work. It was far too careless even though there was no else there, it was as though she wasn’t even considering how others looked at her.

“——”

She slowly opened the door and went outside as she tidied her long silver hair. She lived in a huge tree which had been hollowed out and even had doors and windows. She narrowed her eyes as she looked overhead at the sunlight streaming in through the trees, and then shut the door with her bottom.

She descended the winding roots barefoot, down to the frost-covered land, the chill eliciting a small moan. She then headed to a nearby stream as she relished the feeling of walking on ice.

The small stream next to her tree was indispensable to her lifestyle, a blessing from nature. She got on her knees and started washing her face with the freezing water.

“Mm! Mn-!”

The water’s temperature was quite literally eye-opening, obliterating any last traces of drowsiness. She then smacked her cheeks as she stood up.

“Mm, alright!”

Having finally overcome her sleepiness, her voice was overflowing with vitality.

She shook her head to dry her bangs, and then left the stream.

“Okay, now to take care of everyone.”

Near the stream was a clearing she used to dry her clothes, it simply consisted of a line going through the trees. She obtained a small towel from here and started sprinting with vigor.

She dashed into the forest, trampling grass and leaping over roots as her skirt fluttered freely.

Her surroundings were white, the wind was cold, but even so, it was a scenery she was familiar with. Grabbing a branch with one hand, she executed a pendulum-like swing.

She reached her destination having greatly shortened her path, as though making up for her drowsiness that morning.

“Hup, and there! Good morning, everyone!”

As she landed, she pitched forward to kill her excessive momentum. As if to cover up the awkwardness, she stuck out her tongue and greeted the figures before her with an embarrassed grin.

“——”

However she received no reply.

It was only natural, though they looked human, they were in fact ice sculptures. There were three exquisitely crafted sculptures, standing back to back in a corner.

She held her towel up to them with a smile, “Well then, I’m going to clean you up again, please bear with me.”

Her apologetic voice signaled the beginning of her daily routine. She used her towel to gently clean off the snow accumulating on the sculptures. Using minimal force, her technique was cautious and tender.

Before long she’d tidied them up sufficiently, and nodded with satisfaction as she stretched lightly.

“I overslept today, so I’ll have to speed things up a bit.”

She looked up at the sky and reflected on her tardiness. Her daily routine, the maintenance of those sculptures, was far from over.

Throughout the forest, there were many such sculptures scattered here and there and it was her duty to take care of all of them. The sun was higher than usual, she’d have to give it her all to make up for the time she’d lost, as she built up her motivation-

“—Oh dear, another day of hard work I see.”

Suddenly, a voice from the sky took the wind out of her sails.

“... That again, the way you talk is reeeally mean.”

“I mean, it’s strange. No one asked you to do this, so to me it seems like a total waste.”

“It’s not like I’m doing this to have someone praise me, don’t say that sort of stuff.”

The voice speaking to her was androgynous, and they couldn’t be seen even if she looked overhead. The girl puffed her cheeks in displeasure as she steadily grew more frustrated.

“Not even a greeting, and you won’t show your face? That’s reeeally rude, you know?”

“Hm, I suppose you’re right. One moment.”

Freezing winds blew through the forest in response to the pouting girl’s complaint.

That wind carried with it a hint of pale green, forming a whirlpool in front of the girl. A silhouette started to take shape, and in the blink of an eye the light manifested into a being with a fluffy gray coat of fur, small enough to fit in a palm.

Waving a tail as long its body, its round black eyes looked right at her. It truly did resemble a cat.

However, its true nature was entirely different, otherworldly in fact. An entity possessing supernatural abilities beyond the framework of the natural world.

“―Mr. Spirit.”

Her form of address caused the spirit’s face to change. A humanlike gesture, a smile.

“That is indeed what I am, but it feels wrong considering our relationship.”

The kitten seemed displeased to be called a spirit, he groomed his face as he floated in front of her as though it was completely natural.

The girl sighed lightly at his attitude, and then-

“―Puck.”

“Yep, very good. It makes me happy, Emilia.”

This time the spirit called Puck smiled genuinely at the girl named Emilia. The girl thought him strange, for his smile was filled with tremendous affection.

In that enormous forest covered with freezing wind and snow, the odd pair conversed. In the entire frozen forest, there was only their small exchange.

2

―To Emilia who lived in the forest, Puck was akin to a strange neighbor. They weren’t together enough to be called family, and they weren’t familiar enough to be friends. But they weren’t so distant as to be acquaintances.

Thus, they were neighbors ― That’s what Emilia thought at least.

“Really, what a layabout, always bothering me when I’m busy.”

“Ehh, that’s not quite right. Rather, you’re the one at fault since you’re always busy.”

“There’s a whole lot I have to do! I don’t have time to play around with you.”

“You have time to doze off in the morning, though?”

“D-Don’t say such absurd things, I always get up early! Really, you know?”

Puck casually played with his whiskers as he watched Emilia turn red and make excuses at record speed. He simply floated behind her as she rapidly progressed through the forest.

As Emilia continued her routine, Puck started circling above her as he attempted to lure her.

“I won’t deny that I’ve got time to spare, but you’re working way too hard for no reason. Cut yourself some slack, I don’t think self-indulgence is such a bad thing.”

“Self-indulgence, I reeeally hate the sound of that.”

“Then how about Sloth? Ah, but that one gets on my nerves somehow.”

Emilia sighed deeply as Puck talked to himself.

“If you don’t like how busy I am, why don’t you help out?”

“Help as in-?”

“Like taking care of everyone, or investigating the forest! Isn’t it obvious?”

As Puck tilted his head, Emilia stopped and thrust her finger at him. She then used that finger to point around them.

“If you help me, I’ll have more time too...”

“Nah, no way. Because I believe not having to work is the best part of being a spirit. Furthermore, I think what you’re doing is pointless. Finally, I just don’t feel like it.”

“...Why are you always teasing me like this? Puck, you blockhead!”

His stern words seemed to hurt her. Calling her work pointless, it wasn’t like she was doing it for laughs.

“Consider it my revenge. You hardly ever listen to me, I’ll be nicer too if you stop being so obstinate.”

“There’s no need then! Please, take your leave! Hmph”

Emilia turned away from the winking cat and announced a breakdown in negotiations. Useless or pointless or whatever, she didn’t plan to stop her routine.

Rather, Puck smiled bitterly and shrugged his shoulders as he continued to follow Emilia who was moving extremely fast. That was their usual exchange, one that had occurred several times now.

And then Puck would retreat, only showing his face later on when tensions had cooled, but―

“―Emilia.”

“What is it?” Let me just say I’m still mad, so I don’t have much time for you. But if you’re apologizing...”

“Then save that time for later, we’ve got guests.”

Emilia’s expression instantly changed as Puck spoke in a slightly lowered voice. She extracted a scroll from her bosom, her worry clearly evident in her profile.

Meanwhile, Puck turned his head and started sniffing the chilly wind.

“Humans, quite a few it seems.”

“Do you know where?”

“North of here, around the ‘Sloppy Snow Path’ on your map... Say, perhaps you should rethink your naming scheme.”

“Why? They’re easy to remember, I think they’re good names.”

“I’ll agree with that much, but it might be embarrassing if others saw it... Ah, whatever.”

When she tilted her head at his suggestion, he for some reason completely changed the subject. Emilia felt that something was off about him, but she set that feeling aside for later.

―The ’Sloppy Snow Path’, contrary to what the name would suggest was extremely dangerous.

“People keep coming here despite all the warning signs you put up, huh.”

“Maybe they just miss them now and then.”

“They’re just facing the consequences then. It’s their own responsibility, so why not leave it be?”

“I think it’s a little nice how you don’t force me into anything.”

With a smile, Emilia nimbly tied her hair up using her towel, Puck then gave her a pure white robe he’d retrieved somehow.

She accepted it and put it on, covering her face with the hood to hide her identity.

“Even so, isn’t this too baggy?”

“It looks cute that way.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

Rolling up her oversized sleeves, she glared at Puck for a moment before she took off in a sprint.

The ‘Garden’ – the various places she’d been on her daily routine – was not where she was headed. She kicked up snow as she accelerated, taking the shortest path at the greatest speed.

She kept low as she slipped through the densely wooded area. The frozen foliage was sharp as a blade, but Emilia ran as if to weave her way through it.

“The smell’s stronger at this range. There’s... Only ten or so.”

Puck flew through the sky, his tail fluttering as he effortlessly matched Emilia’s pace. His announcement caused her draw in her chin and narrow her field of view as she dashed over the snow.

“They haven’t brought a ground dragon, even in a snow-covered forest like this. Well, I suppose it’s only natural.”

“If they had one, it probably wouldn’t enter a dangerous place like this, huh”

“Dragons are quite good at sensing danger, they wouldn’t go along with these fools’ suicide..”

Emilia nodded as she leaped over a large chasm. They were already quite far from the ‘Garden’, but this a path she’d already mapped out.

Emiila could clearly see even the subtlest details which would be imperceptible to the average person, she easily flew through even the harshest paths. Finally―

“―Here!”

Suddenly, the forest had opened up and the ‘Sloppy Snow Path’ lay before Emilia. It was a slight gap in the forest, a sloping path sandwiched by trees on both sides. It was about as wide as three men standing arm to arm, an unnaturally well-kept forest path.

Puck feigned innocence as Emilia scolded him, meanwhile she set the crossbow down and facepalmed.

To call it a little trick would be cute, but the result was dreadful. However she did understand why Puck did it.

“I understand you were helping me, I’m happy about that. But surely you had another...”

“Sorry, but as far as I’m concerned that was karmic justice, I’m not losing any sleep over it. Your safety is far, far more important, after all.”

He stroked his whiskers without a hint of guilt as he replied, causing Emilia to cast her eyes downward. She knew he wasn’t wrong, that was what he really believed. He truly cared about her.

It was because she understood that it was so painful. She had no idea what she’d done to deserve his affection, nor how to return it.

“ーー”

Ordinarily, humans and spirits would never coexist due to their radically different modes of life. There existed a method to deviate from this natural order ー a contract between human and spirit.

Having exchanged their vows and pledges, the spirit would be in the human’s service, lending them power. Those who obtained extraordinary power through such contracts were known as spirit users.

In this scenario, it would not be strange for the pair to have a loving relationship. Emilia and Puck appeared to share this kind of relationship.

However, that wasn’t quite it, there was no contract between them. Emilia was just a girl who lived in the forest, and Puck was just a stray spirit ― That was supposed to be the extent of their relationship. Emilia didn’t have the courage to take the next step.

“More importantly, let’s have a look at their stuff. Regardless of what it is, it’d be a waste to leave it around for the witchbeasts.”

“... But that’s basically thievery, isn’t it?”

“It’s making good use of waste. It’d be great if they had cute clothes, though there isn’t much chance of that.”

Emilia set aside her thoughts and smiled bitterly at Puck’s attitude, he was just clearing the atmosphere.

Accepting his consideration, Emilia checked the contents of their cart, contained in wooden boxes.

“It’s... Some kind of bottled liquid. It’s all murky, some kind of medicine maybe?”

“That green tinge is weird, huh? Shall we get rid of it? Or maybe you’d like me to make a sled?”

“Yes, please.”

The boxes were large enough to fill one’s arms, and each one was full of bottles of some kind of green liquid. Having guessed that they were some kind of medicine, Emilia collected all five boxes.

As she laid the heavy boxes down, Puck activated his magic ― A pale light warped the atmospheric moisture, producing a small ice sled.

Emilia placed the boxes on it and started pulling it toward the ‘Garden’.

“We had to leave the cart, huh.”

“Something that size couldn’t enter the forest... I suppose the Snow Blight will end up destroying it.”

“Perhaps he’ll be satisfied to have a new toy. Go, go!”

Puck said as he rode the sled, Emilia shrugged her shoulders in response and started pulling again.

She had to return to the ‘Garden’ and continue her routine.

“Heave ho!”

“What the heck is that?” Emilia continued to pull the sled, urged on by Puck’s various chants. Such hard labor didn’t seem to suit her slender arms, but her strength showed otherwise.

4

―She got rid of anyone who tried to enter the forest, no exceptions, no lenience. No one had asked her to do this, she’d spontaneously decided it on her own.

The impetus for this, and her expectations in doing so were complex in a number of ways, but to simplify things, one could say that most of it was that she simply didn’t want others messing up her home.

She understood how egotistical it was, but since for some reason almost everyone who came to the forest had evil intentions, her guilt decreased by the day.

Even though she understood that wasn’t something she should use to justify her actions.

“Even so, today’s guys really were the worst, huh?”

Puck crossed his short arms as he said this, his casual attitude not matching his words. This was shortly after they’d returned home with the boxes.

Emilia returned to her work and Puck followed after her in a bad mood.

“Yeah, I guess so...:”

“You’re using that tone even though they just tried to kill you. To lash out at you after you’d warned them so kindly is unforgivable, don’t you think?

“But maybe the way I spoke bothered them somehow.”

“Naive! Way too sweet!”

Puck immediately shot her down and thrust his tail at her.

“Listen, it’s important to be aware of your own faults, but you’re going way too far. I’ve heard far too many “buts” and “howevers”, let’s ban them for now.”

“Eh? But-”

“Take this!”

“Ow, that... Doesn’t hurt.”

Puck struck her arm with his tail for her transgression. He’d perfectly controlled the impact to maximize the sound while minimizing the pain.

“What was that just now?”

“A punishment for naughty children. If you don’t teach them right while they’re young, they’ll turn out like those guys from before. I sure would like to see their parents’ faces right now... Wonder if the parents are all beardy too?”

“Pff”

Emilia almost burst into laughter at Puck’s sudden joke. However, she quickly cleared her throat and hid it.

“Setting aside the beardy’s spankings... Things have felt a bit strange lately, like we’re being watched, and there’s the increased activity in the forest... Perhaps I’m imagining it?”

“―. Well, the feeling of being watched might be my fault.”

Puck gave a lighthearted answer as he washed his face. She felt that there was a momentary delay to his answer, but he started speaking before she could ask.

“As for the increased activity, to begin with, do you understand why those people keep coming here? Or did you face them without knowing?”

“N-No way. Their goal was... Something reeeally bad, right?”

“Yep yep, I guess so. Super cute.”

“Why are you doing that? Did I say something wrong?”

Emilia knit her brows as Puck patted her head. In response, Puck straightened his tail and started speaking in a formal tone.

“Even I’m not very well versed in the happenings of the outside world. However, I do understand why those people came here.”

“Puck, you said a banned word!”

“I can say it, it’s only banned for you.”

“That’s tyranny...”

“Tyranny’s fine. Anyway, let’s continue. They wanted to secretly pass through this forest, so people wouldn’t see them moving their goods.”

“... Couldn’t they move it normally?”

Not understanding his explanation, Emilia tilted her head.

“Probably not. Outside the forest, there’s a number of rules and laws. Depending on the place, you even have to pay just to use a road.”

Puck’s explanation seemed plausible, but Emilia didn’t seem pleased, because Puck would occasionally mix in lies in his stories.

“You’re trying to trick me again, that’s definitely a lie.”

“You seem confident, but what am I supposed to be lying about?”

“That you have to pay just to use a road. That’d be a huge pain for everyone.”

“That’s right, it is. That’s why they wanted to use the forest.”

Puck would usually admit to lying right away, but he didn’t do that this time. Emilia’s eyes widened when she realized he was telling the truth.

“Outside the forest, even roads are considered property. People crossing, and even moving goods, all sorts of things have various fees associated with them. It’s only natural they’d want to go through here, right?”

“... Then I’m doing something really terrible, aren’t I?”

Puck’s composed explanation stopped Emilia in her tracks. As she worried with a difficult expression, Puck stopped with her while grooming his tail.

“Why do you think that?”

“I mean, if that’s how it is outside the forest, I totally understand them wanting to use that path. For me to stop them is way too selfish...”

“Hm, it is true that it might be bad if that were your own selfish desire.”

Puck nodded at her worried murmurs as he continued grooming his tail.

“However, that’s not quite right. All you want is to protect the ‘Garden’.”

“...Yeah.”

“That’s your own problem, but it’s also true that it’s extremely dangerous here. I’m sure they too thought it was preferable to be assailed by you rather than a witchbeast.”

Puck spoke gentle words to console Emilia. These words surprised her, a reaction that seemed to hurt Puck.

“Why so surprised?”

“I never imagined you’d say something so nice.”

“How terrible. Even though I’m always so nice, cute and fluffy.”

“Although I only ever thought of you as fluffy.”

“Harsh!”

Puck toppled dramatically in response to her words, causing Emilia to laugh for real this time. For a while, no words were spoken.

Emilia eventually tired of laughing and caught her breath as she nodded to Puck.

“Alright, I’ll try having a little more confidence in my actions.”

“Yeah, do that. Also, not all the people who come here are evil. There were those who were genuinely lost, and you guided them out, didn’t you?

“Maybe they wanted to avoid road fees too...”

“If little kids had such intentions, it’d be the end of the world.”

The two ended their reminiscing as they reached a frost-covered sculpture. Their unplanned adventure had ended and it was time for her to get back to work.

“Alright then, I have to take care of everyone, so.”

“Yeah, I’m really sleepy since I manifested for longer than usual. But if you can’t bear to be without me, I’m prepared to stay until I disappear.”

“Right, right. Good night, you lazybones.”

Emilia indifferently sent him off as she took off her hood. Her cold attitude caused Puck’s eyes to moisten as he disappeared from the feet up.

“Disappearing like he’s dying, he only learns the weirdest things.”

She said of the spirit who was far more worldly than her. Emilia then approached the sculptures with a new towel and started cleaning them gently.

“Good morning... It’s a bit late for that, sorry.”

She wiped down their faces, receiving no reply as usual. Her careful technique slowly shaved off snow and frost, returning them to their original form.

—The sculptures were exquisitely crafted, far beyond what a human could accomplish. Their physiques, expressions, clothes, were all perfect reproductions, as though real people had been frozen solid— Well, that was actually true.

She worked hard, taking her time as she carefully maintained the sculptures. In total, there were forty nine of them, all of which she handled every morning. They were all real people who had been frozen at some point, and to Emilia they were the shadows of her irreplaceable brethren.

Counting her, there were fifty elves in that white forest—

—Regardless of how it looked to others, that was what she thought.

5

—A giant forest covered in white, a world ending all the same in every direction.

“——”

Having separated from Emilia, the ethereal spirit headed toward a certain part of the forest. There was a very slight change occurring at his destination. It was an extremely subtle shift, but if left alone, it’d become something he couldn’t overlook.

—It was akin to fire. The slightest spark could become a blazing inferno, turning everything to ash.

The forest, the people, and even the girl—

“—Disappear”

The spark which had only just ignited, the glow that threatened to consume the forest, was crushed. Making sure of that, the spirit manifested into a vague embodiment of power.

“She still needs time. If possible, an eternity.”

Within that murmur was a heartfelt plea. It was intimate, loving, affectionate—

“—”

Leaving that lonely echo behind, the spirit disappeared.