At the northernmost reaches of the world, in the perpetually snowbound region of Velden, the villagers lived in fear of the legend of the Ice Witch. None dared to approach the forbidden mountain caves, where it was said she slumbered.
Yet, one day, a young boy named Ren became caught in a ferocious snowstorm while out hunting. Lost and desperate, he stumbled into one of the forbidden caves.
Deep within the cave, Ren discovered a massive block of ice encasing a woman with fiery eyes and hair as white as snow—the witch of legend. Trembling, Ren reached out to the ice. At his touch, the ice began to crack and shatter, and the witch awoke.
“Why did you free me?” Her voice was as cold as the icy winds outside.
“I… I thought you needed help. You looked so cold,” Ren replied, his voice quivering.
The witch introduced herself as Vanessa. Long ago, she had been the guardian of the village, protecting it from the unforgiving winters. But betrayal by the very people she had protected had led to her imprisonment. Vanessa, moved by Ren’s innocent gesture, promised to calm the unending blizzards that plagued Velden.
As Vanessa stepped out of the ice, the cave itself seemed to tremble. “This is the remnant of my power,” she murmured. “It is but a shadow of what I once wielded—a power meant to shield, not harm.” Ren listened in awe, realizing the enormity of the being he had freed.
When Ren returned to the village with news of Vanessa’s awakening, he was met not with gratitude, but with fear and anger.
“Because of you, the witch will bring disaster upon us again!” the villagers accused.
Ren stood firm, defending Vanessa. “She isn’t evil! She just wants to help!” But the villagers would not listen. In their fear, they decided to banish Ren from the village.
Cast out, Ren resolved to journey with Vanessa.
During their travels, Ren came to understand the depth of Vanessa’s sorrow and loneliness. She had once trusted in humanity’s warmth, only to have that trust shattered by betrayal. One day, as they passed through a small village, Vanessa instinctively extended her hand to help a child in need. The simple, unconscious act touched Ren deeply, affirming his belief that she still harbored a capacity for love.
“I’ll be your light,” Ren told her, his eyes shining with determination. “If you can trust me, then one day, everyone else will trust you too.”
His words began to thaw the ice around her heart.
Together, they continued their journey, becoming a beacon of hope—a boy and a witch working to mend the bonds between humanity and the supernatural. As they left the snow-covered mountains behind, their steps carried them toward a new future, where forgiveness and understanding might one day flourish.
