Winter winds howled outside Frostbound Coast's Administrative Tower.
Snow drifted lazily through the sky.
The territory continued moving forward.
Roads expanded.
Ships departed.
Banks operated.
Construction sites worked.
Knight Orders recruited.
Investments flowed.
Explorers prepared expeditions.
The machine called Frostbound Coast had finally begun moving on its own.
And for the first time in months.
Kel Rosenfeld found himself with something dangerous.
Time.
Inside the highest office of the Administrative Tower.
The young Count sat behind an enormous desk.
Documents covered every surface.
Maps.
Project reports.
Investment reports.
Recruitment reports.
Exploration reports.
Bank reports.
Construction reports.
Months ago.
Every report required his direct attention.
Now?
Most of them simply informed him that everything was progressing according to schedule.
Which was exactly what he wanted.
The purpose of systems was to function without constant supervision.
The purpose of leadership was creating structures that survived the leader.
Kel slowly leaned back in his chair.
His silver eyes moved toward the window.
Beyond the glass.
The city stretched into the distance.
Alive.
A strange feeling surfaced.
Four months.
Only four months remained.
After that.
His time in Frostbound Coast would end.
The thought lingered quietly.
Not sadness.
Not regret.
Simply reality.
Eventually he would leave.
Return home.
Prepare for Aetherial Institute.
Fulfill the promise he had made.
The promise to his father.
Kel closed his eyes.
A memory surfaced.
Duke Aktaris Rosenfeld sitting across from him.
The conversation from months ago.
"If I enter Aetherial Institute..."
"I will not enter as a noble."
"I will enter as a commoner."
"I will gather merit myself."
"Work under guilds."
"Build connections."
"Earn recommendations."
"Prove myself through results."
Back then.
The proposal had sounded simple.
Now.
With only four months remaining.
The reality of it approached rapidly.
Kel opened his eyes.
His gaze shifted toward the sofa.
Lyra sat there.
Quietly reading reports.
A thick blanket rested across her lap.
Golden eyes moved across financial documents.
She wasn't particularly interested in administration.
At least not passionately.
Yet she still studied.
Because she understood responsibility.
The former serpent guardian had changed greatly since arriving at Frostbound Coast.
Her human appearance remained beautiful.
Long silver-white hair flowed over her shoulders.
Golden eyes reflected the sunlight entering through the windows.
Yet her expression had become calmer.
More human.
Less isolated.
Less lonely.
A strange transformation.
Kel observed her silently.
Lyra noticed.
Without looking up.
"What?"
Kel blinked.
"What do you mean?"
The serpent woman turned a page.
"You've been staring at me for thirty seconds."
Silence.
Then Kel nodded.
"Fair point."
Lyra sighed.
"I knew it."
Several moments passed.
Then Kel suddenly spoke.
"Only four months remain."
Lyra paused.
The report lowered slightly.
She knew exactly what he meant.
Aetherial Institute.
His departure.
The next chapter of his life.
The serpent woman quietly looked toward him.
"What are you thinking about?"
Kel answered honestly.
"The future."
Lyra rolled her eyes.
"That's obvious."
Another.
"You always think about the future."
Kel considered that.
Then nodded.
"Also true."
The room became quiet again.
Outside.
Snow continued falling.
Inside.
Only the sound of turning pages existed.
Then.
Kel suddenly stood.
Lyra immediately became suspicious.
Because she knew that expression.
Every time Kel made that expression.
Something happened.
Usually something troublesome.
Very troublesome.
"What are you planning?"
Kel walked toward the balcony.
Nothing suspicious.
Which somehow made it more suspicious.
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"Kel."
The Count stopped.
Then casually replied.
"Yes?"
The serpent woman slowly lowered her report.
"Why do I feel like you're about to do something stupid?"
Kel looked genuinely confused.
"I do not."
Lyra stared.
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then she pointed at him.
"That answer alone proves I'm correct."
Kel ignored her accusation.
Instead.
He walked toward the balcony doors.
Opening them.
Cold winter air immediately entered.
Snowflakes drifted into the office.
Lyra watched.
Increasingly suspicious.
Then Kel casually spoke.
"I'm leaving."
The serpent woman blinked.
"What?"
Kel answered calmly.
"I'm leaving Frostbound Coast for a while."
Silence.
The report slipped from Lyra's hand.
"What?"
Kel continued.
"I need recommendations."
Another.
"Connections."
Another.
"Guild experience."
Another.
"Exploration achievements."
Another.
"Everything required before entering Aetherial Institute."
Lyra stared.
Trying to process this.
Then realization appeared.
"You intend to start now?"
Kel nodded.
"Correct."
Another pause.
Then Lyra slowly stood.
The blanket slid away.
"Wait."
Kel tilted his head.
"What?"
The serpent woman pointed at the mountains of paperwork surrounding them.
"What about this?"
Kel glanced around.
Then looked back.
"Oh."
Another pause.
Then he pointed at her.
"You handle it."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The room froze.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Lyra stared.
The reports stared.
The desk stared.
The entire universe stared.
The serpent woman slowly blinked.
"What?"
Kel answered casually.
"I gave you equal authority."
Another.
"You can handle it."
Lyra stared.
Still processing.
"You mean..."
Another.
"All of this?"
Kel nodded.
"Yes."
The serpent woman pointed at the office.
"The administration?"
"Yes."
"The projects?"
"Yes."
"The investments?"
"Yes."
"The exploration programs?"
"Yes."
"The banking system?"
"Yes."
"The Knight Orders?"
"Yes."
Lyra's eye twitched.
"The entire territory?"
Kel nodded.
"Yes."
Silence.
Long silence.
Then.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
The serpent woman inhaled.
Preparing a speech.
A long speech.
A speech involving numerous complaints.
Possibly threats.
Definitely threats.
Kel recognized the signs immediately.
And made a strategic decision.
Retreat.
Immediately.
Before the speech began.
Before she organized her thoughts.
Before she became dangerous.
The Count smiled.
Then said.
"Good luck."
Lyra froze.
"What?"
The next thing she witnessed.
Was Kel climbing onto the balcony railing.
The serpent woman blinked.
Several times.
Because surely.
Surely.
He wasn't about to—
He was.
"Kel."
The Count waved.
"See you later."
"WAIT."
Too late.
Kel jumped.
The serpent woman rushed forward.
Golden eyes widening.
She reached the balcony.
And looked down.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
No falling Count.
No broken Count.
No dead Count.
Nothing.
The streets below remained crowded.
People continued walking.
Commerce continued operating.
Life continued moving.
Kel had somehow vanished.
Completely.
The serpent woman stood there.
Wind blowing through her hair.
Speechless.
Then.
Very slowly.
She turned around.
Toward the office.
Toward the desk.
Toward the reports.
Toward the paperwork mountain.
The paperwork mountain seemed bigger now.
Much bigger.
Far more intimidating.
One report slid from a pile.
Landing softly on the floor.
As if mocking her.
Lyra stared.
The report stared back.
Several moments passed.
Then the serpent woman walked toward the desk.
Sat down.
Opened the first report.
Read one sentence.
Closed it.
Opened another.
Read three lines.
Closed it.
Opened another.
Then immediately closed it.
Silence filled the room.
Finally.
Lyra buried her face in both hands.
"What have I agreed to?"
Far away.
Through their telepathic connection.
Seiren's laughter exploded.
The Guardian had witnessed everything.
Every single second.
Every glorious second.
"HE ABANDONED YOU!"
The serpent woman nearly jumped.
"Who said that?"
No answer.
Only laughter.
Endless laughter.
Meanwhile.
Several streets away.
Kel walked through Frostbound Coast wearing ordinary traveler clothes.
A simple cloak.
A common sword.
A backpack.
Nothing identifying him as Count.
Nothing identifying him as nobility.
Just another adventurer.
Exactly as intended.
Snow crunched beneath his boots.
People passed without recognizing him.
Merchants negotiated.
Workers talked.
Explorers prepared supplies.
The city moved naturally around him.
Kel quietly observed everything.
A faint smile appeared.
This.
This was what he wanted.
To see his territory functioning without him.
To see systems working independently.
To see people moving forward.
Without requiring his presence.
The Count walked toward the harbor district.
Toward adventure guild offices.
Toward explorers.
Toward unknown oceans.
Toward unmapped lands.
Toward the future.
And far behind him.
Inside an office overflowing with paperwork.
A certain serpent woman finally opened another report.
Read two pages.
Then sighed deeply.
Because she had just realized something terrible.
Truly terrible.
Absolutely horrifying.
She understood why Kel worked so much.
And understanding it made her wish she didn't.
Outside the window.
The city glowed beneath snowfall.
Inside.
Lyra stared at mountains of documents.
And for the first time in centuries.
The ancient serpent genuinely missed her cave.