Staring in disbelief, Jack looked at him in bewilderment, his pupils dilated from the beauty of the glimmering light.
"How did you do that?"
Nicholas gave a small smile.
"Well, like I said, I am an inheritor of a lineage myself.
It's more common than yours—
At least."
He gestured casually.
"As you can tell, you command ice and are immune to its cold.
That kind of power... it's far more rare."
Nicholas gently traced the wooden train with his hand, looking at it melancholically. Swiping a bead of sweat from his cheek, he turned and stared Jack in the eye. Letting out a forced smile, he spoke:
"Life has forced me to become this way.
You will also have to become proficient in your powers.
Things from here only get harder, you know?"
"You have to find purpose in your power, Jack..."
Jack tilted his head.
"Purpose?"
Nicholas nodded slowly.
"Behind all of your actions lie your desires, Jack."
Jack stared at him intensely.
"I know."
Nicholas laughed, the sound echoing through the wooden walls.
"I like your attitude, young man.
You definitely take after your mother."
Jack's expression hardened. His eyes turned sharp.
"Thank you for everything, Nicholas."
Turning his gaze toward the window, he spoke with quiet determination:
"But I will go home.
I know my parents are most likely dead... but I want to see that with my own two eyes.
I'll only stay here about a week more and prepare to leave."
Nicholas stared at Jack, struck by the strength of his words. Then, without a word, he softly placed the toy train on the table. His hazel-brown eyes darkened.
In a flash, he grabbed a small hammer from the table and struck Jack squarely in the chest.
Jack's eyes widened.
In the next moment, he was launched back against the door, crashing into the snow outside, sending a tremor through the village. Jack lay in the snow, stunned, chest aching. Snowflakes clung to his raven-black hair.
Slowly, he pushed himself off the ground. Shedding his coat, patches of blue skin glinted beneath his sleeves. One hand pressed against his chest, while the other drew his dagger.
A smirk appeared on his face.
"YOU WANNA GO AGAIN, OLD MAN?!"
Nicholas stepped out nonchalantly. The once-harmless hammer began to shift in his hand, glowing with yellow light as it transformed into a warhammer.
"You've grown arrogant, boy.
You don't seem to realize the dangers of this world."
His voice hardened.
"You haven't even learned how to use that power of yours, and you're already set to go to the Eastern Glades?"
"Didn't your father teach you anything about the cruelty of the wilderness?"
He spread his arms wide.
"As a gift to you, I'll show you what ruthlessness looks like.
And this time, I won't hold back."
With a dramatic flair, Nicholas took off his burgundy jacket, revealing a tight black compression shirt over a muscular build. Light shimmered from his belt, transforming into gleaming red-plated armor.
His warhammer rested against his shoulder. His sharp eyes met Jack's as his brown hair, now tied back, blew slightly in the cold wind.
From across the village, the great doors creaked open. Curious villagers gathered, watching as the conflict shook the very foundation beneath them.
A brown-haired woman stepped out of her house, anxiety painted across her face. She turned to a neighbor.
"Hey! What's going on? Why is Nicholas in his armor?!"
The neighbor frowned.
"I don't know! Is it a beast?!"
The woman turned her eyes toward Nicholas, worry mounting.
Please... not again. Not like last year...
Suddenly, her eyes flicked back toward Nicholas's cottage.
Is Aos okay...?
Just then, from beneath the snow, a young man rose. His raven hair stark against the white ground, and his blue eyes shimmering with an unnatural glow. A dagger in one hand, the other clutching his chest.
Jack raised his dagger defensively just in time, meeting Nicholas's swing. His glowing eyes flickered with blue light as his power surged.
Staggering from the impact, Jack leapt back. Nicholas planted his warhammer before him, then willed it to transform again—this time, into a dagger eerily similar to Jack's own.
"This seems more suited for this, don't you think!?"
In the blink of an eye, Nicholas dashed forward, eyes locked on Jack. Jack braced for the clash—only for Nicholas to leap above him, flipping in midair.
The red dagger was suddenly inches from Jack's eyes.
Jack spun instinctively, parrying the blade just in time. Sparks of silver burst from the impact.
Nicholas landed with precision. Their blades clashed again—again—again. The sounds of metal echoed through the cold air, reverberating across the village. Jack barely kept up.
Nicholas grinned.
"What happened to the confidence from before!?"
Jack pushed himself back, panting. But Nicholas wasn't done.
With a leap, he jumped again—this time flipping to Jack's blind side.
Jack's eyes glowed deep blue.
He turned just in time to intercept the blade coming for him. The fight resumed, faster, more intense.
Jack's vision sharpened.
What is this...?
It's like I can see clearer.
As if my eyes know what he's going to do before he even moves...
Even so, he was no match in strength. Meeting Nicholas's blows directly was a mistake.
Instead, he began to dodge.
And finally—he found his rhythm.
Evading rather than clashing, he created distance.
Nicholas didn't pursue. He stood still, dagger in hand, and nodded.
"Good.
It seems we found one of your tricks...
But that alone won't help you through everything."
In a blink, Nicholas willed his dagger into a rope and flung it forward. It coiled around Jack's feet before he could react. Nicholas yanked hard, pulling Jack toward him.
Jack slashed at the rope, but it wouldn't break.
Nicholas grabbed his dagger and knocked it from his hand.
Jack was defenseless.
Nicholas raised his fist.
Jack's eyes widened—
—And then, everything turned blue.
Shards of ice burst from the snow, wrapping themselves around Nicholas.
He froze in place, stunned.
Jack stood up, brushing snow off his clothes, staring at his hands in awe.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Soo... I'm guessing I'm leaving next week then?"
Nicholas burst out laughing.
"HO HO HO!"
With a casual shrug, he shattered the ice.
He stepped forward and flicked Jack's forehead.
"Aand... dead."
"Don't get me wrong, child. You are strong.
But there are some things you don't need to rush."
"You're staying here at least a year. After that, do whatever you want. I don't care. You start training tomorrow."
He grabbed Jack by the arm and raised it high.
The villagers gathered closer.
"EVERYONE! We have here a young man born with the blood of ice! Born from the lineage of frost!"
"I ask that you welcome him here for a while!"
"His name is Jack!... Jack Frost!"