"It's cold…"
The words slipped from my lips in a quiet murmur, breath curling in pale mist as I stared blankly at the gray sky above.
It was nearly noon now, yet the sun was nowhere to be found—hidden behind layers of thick, wintry clouds.
Snow continued to fall in gentle waves, blanketing the world in white, erasing color, sound, and warmth.
I sat on both knees, perfectly still, as snow slowly gathered around me like an offering to some miserable god of shame.
My arms were stretched forward in apology posture—palms open, posture stiff, and pride long since buried under the frozen ground beneath me.
Floating lazily beside me, Lavine tilted her head, her voice laced with teasing amusement.
"Master, you sure have a weird way of enjoying pain. Fufu~"
"I'm not enjoying this,"
She giggled, thoroughly entertained.
"Sure doesn't look like it from here. I'm starting to think you like being scolded by beautiful women."
