Natalya stared coldly at the ceiling.
At only five years of age, the tot had already learned how to glare. Despite being a princess, being the youngest child still had its disadvantages. The servants fretted over her the most, her father the least. Her eldest sister Kat still paid attention to her even after taking over as queen after their mother's death. She still made time for Natalya, but with her duties, every day couldn't be a play day.
Natalya rolled around her bed, sleeplessly trying to get in a comfortable position. She blamed the early bedtime, which was always scheduled at dusk. With the impending arrival of winter, sunsets came earlier and earlier, and with it, bedtime. When she flipped over to face the window, she could still see the dying Rossiyan sunset filtering dark, gray light through her window behind the clouds.
Screw this, she thought. She was going to Ivan's room.
Natalya threw the covers off her, slipping into her white booties. She didn't bother changing out of her nightgown, as the closet doors were still too high for her small stature. When she came across her mirror near the door, she gave the dark blue-eyed reflection a cold, hard glare before exiting her room.
A majority of the servants had already retired to their quarters, making the hallways mostly empty. Some were still awake, dusting the already spotless castle, so Natalya had to hide in nooks or behind drawers should one pass by. That was a rare occurrence, however, so Natalya could safely run through the halls.
Ivan's room was quite a bit away from her room, but so was Kat's and her father's. If anything, Kat's room was closer to Natalya's, if she were to go the other way. It was as if her parents wanted their children's rooms to be so far away, and their mother died too soon to realize that that was a bad decision.
Without even knocking, Natalya entered her brother's room quietly. Her brother's room was different from hers, the window being triangular instead of a rectangle, the walls a light blue instead of mint green, and the closet a dresser instead. But despite the differences, it still felt like her own.
"Big Brother?" Natalya asked, shutting the door behind her.
The small figure on the bed did not move.
"Big Brother?" Natalya asked again, a bit more insistently. She approached the bed and climbed on. "Brother, wake up." Still no reaction. Frustrated, Natalya shoved the sleeping body. "Ivan," she hissed, foregoing the 'Big Brother' title. It was only for respect anyway, and if he was going to ignore her, screw respect.
The figure finally shifted, burying his head deeper in his pillows. "Natalya, please go back to sleep."
"I can't," Natalya deadpanned, inching closer to Ivan. "The stupid sky's still awake and bothering me."
"I think it's getting ready for bed."
Natalya huffed, shoving Ivan again. "I was being sarcastic. The sky's not actually .awake." She brushed back some short blonde hair, puffing out her cheeks. "... Could you play with me?"
Ivan rolled over so that he was facing Natalya, eyes still closed. "Play by yourself, Natalya." When he slightly opened an eye to see her still there, laying on her stomach parallel to him and glaring, he lightly pushed her off his bed. "I'm trying to sleep."
Natalya had slid off the bed and landed on her rump, her cheeks puffed out and eyes pointedly glaring at the side of the bed. She really wanted to play with Ivan. Playing with him always remedied her wakefulness at night. Surely there was a way to convince him to get up…
Natalya inhaled sharply, a small smile on her face as she remembered an earlier play night. Of course!
She climbed back on the bed. Ivan had covered his head with the covers. Pulling back the blankets, she grinned slyly as she leaned in close and whispered, "Big Brother… Do you want to build a snowman?"
Ivan's eyes slowly opened at the phrase, and upon seeing Natalya's mischievous face, he slowly grinned as well.
Tonight was going to be so fun.
"Is it empty?" Natalya asked, rubbing mittened hands together. It wasn't actually cold, per say, but it was about to be.
Ivan peeked in, scanning the area. "Yeah."
They both entered the ballroom, the two grinning in delight.
Before they went to the ballroom, they had to get ready. For Ivan, only a beige overcoat was needed. But for Natalya, she had to bundle up more, with a pink dress coat, wool mittens, and brown snow boots. It was about to get cold, and waking up to fever was not good.
They always played in the spacious ballroom, lighted by candles should a person need to go across. Gigantic skylights spanned the high ceiling, but with night already upon them, they were there only for dim moonlight to filter through. But tonight, the full moon peaked inside the skylights, the overcast clouds from earlier thinning away.
As Ivan shut the door behind them, Natalya ran to the middle of the ballroom, snow boot heels clicking on the floor. Childish delight smothered her usual sarcastic attitude and she shouted, "Come on, Brother! Do your magic!"
Ivan instinctively shushed her, but both of the children knew that the others would've been asleep right about now. He joined her in the middle of the ballroom, and he brought his hands together.
Immediately, a small swirl of ice and snowflakes flew around in his bare palm, forming a floating, loosely-packed snowball. When he threw his hands up, the snowball shot up in the air, exploding in beautiful snowflakes when it was close to the ceiling. Both Ivan and Natalya watched in wonder, the crystals catching the candlelight and moonlight in a hypnotic way.
Natalya struggled to tear her gaze from the spectacle and faced her older brother, eyes sparkling. "Do it again!"
Ivan grinned. "I'll do better!" He laughed, taking a few steps back. Natalya watched with rapt attention, realizing what he was about to do with glee.
Once he was satisfied, he started running. Light blue magic trailed his steps as he ran, and as he approached the center of the ballroom, he jumped up and stomped the floor beside Natalya.
A wave of blue, magic swirls spiraled away from him, coating the entire floor with a thick, smooth layer of ice. Natalya hopped to avoid being stuck on the floor by the ice, and she slid as she landed on the now iced floor. The ice reached the edges of the ballroom, some creeping up the walls.
Ivan frowned as he looked over his handiwork. "The ice should've reached higher on the walls…"
He suddenly stumbled as Natalya half tackled, half hugged the eight-year-old. "I don't care. I love it," she mumbled into his coat, and Ivan smiled.
"There's something missing," he pondered, then snapped his fingers. "Right! Our snowman!" He gently pushed Natalya away as he waved his arms upwards, causing storm flurries to appear and rain down snow at an unnatural rate. As the snow fell upon their shoulders, Ivan and Natalya rolled snowballs and stacked them. Soon, there were three snowballs standing on top of each other, like any traditional snowman.
Natalya huffed, crossing her arms in distress. "We forgot the carrot, sticks, and coal. Now we can't have a snowman."
Ivan scrutinized the snowball stack, walking around the icy floor with ease. He brushed dust-like snow out of his pale, white hair as he thought. Sure, they couldn't have a normal snowman… But suppose…
Ivan twirled a pointer finger, and the snow on the top snowball started to shape and take form. Soon, he used his whole hand, then used both hands as he molded the three snowballs into something more humanoid. Natalya raised an eyebrow but kept silent.
When Ivan was finished, which didn't take long, a short boy made out of glazed snow replaced the snowballs. He was just as tall as Ivan, possibly slightly shorter. There was a worried look on his face and he held his arms as if he was cold.
"His name is Raivis," Ivan introduced, waving his hands again. The boy's arms dropped and he went into an awkward bow. "And he's a huge scaredy cat."
"Raivis?" Natalya repeated, walking up to the snowman. He was still in his bowed position. She poked his curly yet somewhat spiky hair and the indent she made was magically filled. "Weird."
Ivan flicked his hand up, and Raivis stood straight. Natalya dodged his head as it came up. "He's kinda like the men that come to Father's meetings: short and talkative."
"But he doesn't talk."
"He does too," Ivan protested, waving both hands. Raivis's arms moved so that one was behind his back and the other was out in a handshake. His body leaned towards Natalya. "H-Hello, Miss Natalya," he said in a squeaky type of way. "N-Nice to m-meet you…"
Natalya laughed, taking Raivis's hand and attempting to shake it. It didn't move, however. "Nice to meet you too, Sir Raivis," Natalya mocked, imitating Kat whenever she had to shake hands with some strangers. The two had seen this type of greeting custom with a certain set of strangers, and they both thought it silly.
The three danced and played in the ballroom, laughing and slipping around. The moon was now high in the sky, its light outshining the candles'. Despite their best attempts, they sometimes would shriek in laughter or shout loudly, only to be shushed by the other and keep quiet.
Soon, Ivan and Natalya laid on their backs, underneath a snowbank as Raivis 'stood guard.'
"So…" Ivan exhaled, a small bubble of laughter erupting from his chest as he breathed hard. Doing magic was draining. "You ready to go to bed?"
Natalya laughed as well, also exhausted. "Not quite yet."
"Not yet?" Ivan asked incredulously, rolling over and wincing at the touch of wet fabric. They had played so much, both of their jackets were practically soaked. "I think it's midnight, Natalya."
"So?" Natalya rolled over as well, wincing also but eventually smiling. "I don't want to stop playing. Playing with you is fun. Playing with the others… Not so fun."
Ivan also smiled. "And we can only do this at night. Father doesn't like my magic. Nobody really does, except you."
"And Big Sister!" Natalya shouted, then covered her grinning mouth as Ivan shushed her. "Kat likes your magic too. She just can't like it as much as me."
Ivan sat up, resting his back against the snowbank. Natalya did the same. "Yeah… I guess."
Natalya stayed silent, pinching the snow until she looked at Ivan with excitement. "We should marry!"
Ivan looked back at her, surprised. "Wh-What?" He sputtered, purple eyes wide. Marry?
Natalya nodded eagerly. "Yes, marry! You'll be the king, I'll be the queen! And your wife!"
Ivan blinked in surprise. "But what about Kat?"
"She might get old," Natalya reasoned, hugging her legs. "And I love you! So, so much! More than anyone in the world!"
Ivan looked at Natalya's pleading face. She was right; nobody really loved him as much as Natalya, not even Father or Kat combined. And Kat had said Mother and Father loved each other as well, even if Mother was a common herbalist.
He bit his lip, looking away. "I don't know... I'll tell you later when we're older, okay?" He smiled uncertainly, hoping his sister wouldn't freak out.
Natalya clapped her hands, smiling back. "Okay!" She stood up, rounding the snowbank. "Come on, Brother, let's play one more time!" She passed Raivis as she climbed onto a high snow mound. "Are you ready?"
Ivan stood up, and he grinned. He walked around the snowbank and stood beside Raivis. "Ready!"
A determined smile on her face, Natalya jumped.
Quick as a rabbit, a snow peak grew from the ice floor, catching Natalya. Natalya jumped again, and Ivan made snow peak after snow peak pop up to catch his sister.
She paused slightly to shout down, "I bet we can do this faster, Brother!"
Ivan also paused, surprised. "Faster?"
Natalya didn't answer, jumping again. Ivan hastily made another snow peak, this one a bit sloppy.
Ivan panted, making another messy snow peak to catch Natalya. "Natalya, please stop-" He gasped, hands retracting in an attempt to rest himself.
Not hearing her brother's request, Natalya jumped again. At this point, she was quite high, and when her feet didn't land on the familiar snow, she started to scream.
"Brother!" She screeched, arms flailing as she fell.
"Natalya!" Ivan cried out, panicking and flicking his wrist out to try and make a snow peak to catch her. However, the desired spell didn't come out, and instead, a bolt of ice magic shot out of his hand and struck Natalya's forehead. Screaming cut off, she dropped, landing on a snow mound with a dull thud.
Ivan stayed still, shell-shocked, before gasping and running towards his fallen sister.
"Natalya!" He shouted, sliding over the ice and kneeling towards Natalya. She laid limp in his arms, and shaking did not wake her. "Father! Kat! Help me!"
Ivan hugged the unconscious Natalya, sobbing. He didn't notice the ice creeping along the walls, where in some places ice overlapped other ice layers. He didn't notice that the snow seemed to be possessed by some restless spirit, swirling softly and low to the ground. He didn't even notice that his sister had turned deathly cold, deathly pale. All he cared about was Natalya.
At the sound of bangs loud as thunder, Ivan looked up just in time for one of the entrances of the ballroom to burst open. He instinctively pulled Natalya closer to him, but relaxed when he saw Kat rushing towards them, ahead of others by the entrance. She, however, was not as relaxed.
"Ivan, what happened?" Kat asked in a hurried whisper, then gasped when she saw Natalya. "Natalya!" She kneeled in the snow, despite only being in a nightgown, and stroked Natalya's cheek. She flinched the moment she touched her, though. "Oh…"
"Kat?" A deeper voice asked, and Ivan looked up. Their father stood behind Kat, hard gaze on him. He then gasped. "Natalya?"
"I swear, it was an accident!" Ivan shouted desperately at the sight of his father's glare, which painstakingly looked like Natalya's. "Sh-She just… I just… It was an accident, I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay, Ivan," Kat hushed, gently taking Natalya in her arms and picking her up. She faced the King with a worried expression. "Natalya's ice cold, Father…"
The King laid a hand on Natalya's forehead, inhaling sharply at the unnatural cold touch. He thought for a while, before looking up at Kat. "Go to the stables. Get a coach ready."
"We're not getting a doctor for this?" Kat demanded, holding Natalya closer.
He looked down at Ivan, his cold stare even colder. "There's somewhere else we have to go. No doctor can cure this." He turned around, shouting commands out to the servants.
Kat stayed rooted to the floor, staring at her father. Ivan stood up, looking up worriedly. "Kat?" He whispered, keeping his hands to himself.
Kat snapped out of her trance, looking down at Ivan. "Ivan," she exhaled, pursing her lips. "Would you mind bringing Natalya to the stables? Wait for Father and me."
"What? Why?" Ivan cried, shying away from Kat.
"I need to change, Ivan. From what Father says, I believe this is somewhere very far." She kneeled beside Ivan, holding out Natalya. "I'll be quick, I promise."
"What if I make her worse?" Ivan stammered, hugging himself. "Suppose I kill her? Father will kill me!"
Kat gave Ivan a weak smile. "Ivan, I have faith you'll protect Natalya. Just go to the stables. Okay?"
Ivan hesitated, looking at Natalya's lifeless body. He had hurt Natalya, rendering her unconscious. Kat had said that Natalya was cold; suppose he made her colder?
But Kat had faith in him. She said so. So perhaps Natalya would be safe…?
Ivan carefully plucked Natalya from Kat's arms. "O-Okay," he said shakily, clutching her tightly against his body. His feet took off, effortless sliding on the ice. Years of experience with the aid of magic kept him up and even sped him along until he reached the actual floor, in which he stumbled slightly from the change of traction. However, it didn't stop him from running. The looks he got from other servants didn't either.
Ivan rarely ventured outside the castle, due to his magic and the fear that others outside the castle would find out, but he had a vague idea of where the stables were because he would often find Natalya there, taunting the horses and cows. The reason was unknown to him, but he didn't think on it as he dashed through the halls. That would be for a later time.
He was unaware of the ice trailing behind him as he ran. Ice crystals sprung up where he stepped, growing until it joined with the ice from other steps. They formed a streak-like path, narrow and spiky. And as he neared the stables, the crystals that sprung had grown in size.
When he arrived at the stables, Ivan saw that servants were already preparing a sled large enough for the family. His father was arguing vehemently with another servant, both of them dressed to steer the coach. Ivan noticed that his father was clutching a map of sorts in his fist, old and wrinkled and tinged yellow.
"Sir… Would you like some assistance holding her?"
Ivan whirled around in a panic, before realizing it was just one of the younger servants: Eduard, that was his name. Young Eduard was learning to be a personal servant of Natalya when he was older, so of course he wanted to help. But looking at him, he looked too shaken up to hold anyone.
"No," Ivan said, a bit too firmly than he would've liked, but right now he could've cared less. "I can hold her."
Eduard looked like he was about to protest, but a senior servant grabbed his attention and he turned in that direction, shouting a "Coming!" as he ran towards the servant.
Ivan puffed out his cheeks, looking down on Natalya to check on her. He blinked in surprised as he saw that his sister's hair was a shade paler, and a splayed section of her hair was even a stark white against her the now golden-platinum blonde.
Did he cause this?
… Of course he did.
"Get on, Ivan."
Ivan looked up, only to see his father hold the reins of the sled and Kat beside him, the latter smiling gently while the former kept his hard gaze. Running to the sled, Ivan gave Natalya to Kat while he climbed on.
With a flick of the reins, the sled took off towards the mountains. Newly-forming ice trailed behind, now a thick stream, as the sled zoomed ahead.
Toris hated his life.
Oh, sure, there were some high points to it: he could do almost whatever he wanted, so he could own a pony named Feliks and stay outside all he wanted. But having no parents meant you had to work, despite being just seven years old, so you could pay rent and food. City life as an orphan sucked, so Toris took the only other job: ice harvesting in the mountains. A nice family who owned a trader's depot bought his ice, so he could stay and get a decent supper for both him and Feliks.
But ice harvesting was really hard. You could only carry one large ice cube by yourself, which was about a forearm length, width, and height. Even when he found Feliks in the forests and outfitted him with a small sled (which made him bring home three cubes a night for a month), the workload didn't lessen, although it certainly made it easier.
Feliks was his absolute best friend. The kids at the trader's depot were very nice, but it was Feliks who stayed with Toris as he harvested the ice, as he traveled down the mountains, as he slept with him in the barn. If it wasn't for Feliks, Toris felt, he wouldn't have lasted long.
Tonight, it was the last days before winter started. As such, ice was higher and higher up the mountain streams before the snow came and brought new ice. Toris's small legs could only manage to climb the mountain only half-way, so he was only able to pick out a single cube, already cut by the older ice harvesters. Normally, he wouldn't steal (no no, it wasn't stealing if they weren't quick enough to grab it), but Toris was desperate. He needed that ice.
He sighed as he pulled on Feliks's bridle, colored pink. Feliks had the strange obsession with pastel colors like pink and purple, but mostly pink. Toris had already confirmed that Feliks was a male, but he didn't mind. Coloring leather wasn't too expensive, and the sled was already trimmed purple.
When Feliks expressed restraint, Toris pulled harder. "Feliks," Toris whispered, looking back at his pony. The pale chestnut balked, looking tiredly at his owner. "Feliks, come on," Toris insisted, pulling again.
Feliks bowed his head, shaking it slightly.
"What do you mean you're tired beyond belief?" Toris asked with indignation. Living with the horse for years created a telepathic-like connection between the two. "The stables are close by. We have to keep moving."
Feliks looked up, then nickered in exasperation. Toris smiled gratefully as he pulled Feliks along the path in the forest, already beaten down by previous journeys. The two traveled in silence, both eager to be home.
Just as he was at the edge of the forest and was about to cross across a mountain highway, something large rushed past him. Toris was taken aback by the sudden wind produced, stepping back. He was about to yell irritatedly at the rushing sled before finding out a peculiar oddity:
"Ice?"
Toris let go of Feliks's reins and walked to the middle of the highway, crouching down. A wake of ice glistened in the moonlight, the ice jagged and intimidating. He reached out with a mittened hand, and when he touched it, the crystals broke. Light blue lights floated away from the breakage point, hitting his mitten and glazing it over partially, sending cold tingling through his arm. His hand retreated back in surprise, looking over the ice in amazement.
He looked to the side to check on Feliks and panicked when his pony was about to bite the ice. "Don't!" Toris shouted, taking off his iced glove to show Feliks. "Your tongue will look like this."
Feliks had stopped suddenly, tongue lolling out in trying to touch the ice. He retreated his tongue, snorting in annoyance. The ice looked so yummy!
Toris followed his gaze along the ice spikes, seeing it stretch along the highway. It intrigued him so much; that ice was magical, and he wanted to know what caused it. But he still had to deliver the ice to the depot… He glanced at Feliks, who stared back.
"Should I follow it?" Toris asked quietly.
Feliks cocked his head. He glanced at the ice, then at Toris.
Before he knew it, Toris was unhooking the sled from Feliks and was climbing on the pony's back. He had only officially ridden Feliks once when his legs were too tired and they didn't have a sled yet. Clutching tightly, he whispered, "Go!"
Feliks started running along the ice. Both unaccustomed to the concept of riding, they stumbled a bit at first before they were galloping at a fast pace.
It was easy to follow the ice trail, standing out from the gray mountain highway. The moonlight also helped, lighting the way and making the ice more noticeable. They were on the highway for a while before the ice diverted off into a rockier terrain, dipping down somewhat sharply. Feliks had hesitated at first but continued as Toris encouraged him.
Soon, Toris could see the sled, resting on the lip of a gently curving valley. Hopping down, Toris led Feliks to the edge of the valley behind some rocks. He gasped as he saw four figures - people - at the bottom of the deep valley. There was a man, a woman, a small boy… And a girl, who was being held by the woman. Were the man and woman the dad and mom?
"Please help!" The woman shouted, clutching the girl close to her. "My sister is unwell!"
Oh, the woman was an older sister. A much older sister, too. But what about the man? He must have been the father. And where was the mother?
Suddenly, rocks started to tumble down the valley and heading towards the family. Toris gasped, clutching the rock in front of him. They were going to be crushed! He covered his eyes, unable to watch the family's untimely death.
But when he didn't hear rocks pound against each other or loud screams of agony, Toris slowly uncovered his eyes. Miraculously, the stones had stopped just at the feet of the family, in orderly rows. Even more the miraculously, the stones started unfurling to reveal humanoid faces and bodies.
Toris blinked. "Trolls?"
He had heard of these mystical creatures before, from the owners of the depot. They had said that these trolls were nigh impossible to find, only favoring to giving audience to a rare few. But they were fabled to have magical abilities, like healing and making plants alive, and were very kind.
Toris yelped as the rock in front of him started to roll in place, unfurling into another one of the trolls. It looked back at Toris and Feliks and gave a mischievous smile.
"Hush, hush," the troll said with an obvious feminine voice, waving its hand and turning back at the valley. "I'm trying to listen."
Toris stared at shock at the troll, while Feliks started getting excited at the pink stones adorning the troll's hair.
The troll then slung an arm around the other two, gushing. While Toris tried and failed to wriggle out of her grasp, Feliks licked the troll's stone cheek, enjoying this a lot more than his human friend.
"You guys are absolute cuties. You don't mind if I kept you, won't ya?" The troll asked, before turning her attention back to the valley. Toris was about to protest, but his eyes went back to the valley and he went silent, watching.
Something was about to happen, something extraordinary.
Ivan clutched to the skirts of Kat's dress, fearful beyond belief. His eyes scanned the trolls around him, and he dug himself deeper into the dress. Were they benevolent, or were they there to hurt him?
The crowd of trolls parted as a single troll walked towards them. He looked the more human out of all them, looking about as old as Kat. His face was a stoic one, without any readable emotion. Small lights flitted around him, and when Ivan squinted they looked like butterflies. A small, green cross-like clip sat on his side bangs, and he was dressed in a loose tunic and pants. Kat kneeled down suddenly, and Ivan had to move out of the way.
The troll nodded to the king. "Your Majesty."
Ivan's father nodded as well. "Lukas."
Lukas kneeled on one knee, facing Ivan. Ivan nervously shifted under the troll's gaze. "Born or cursed with the powers?" Lukas asked, observing Ivan.
Ivan's father opened his mouth, but he paused as he tried to think of the answer. When he looked down at Kat for help, she obliged, but not before sighing internally. "Born, sir," Kat replied. "And I believe they're getting stronger."
"Th-They are," Ivan interjected, holding his hands nervously. "I can do magic I couldn't before, like-"
"Ivan," his father warned, shooting his son a warning glance. Ivan instantly hushed.
Lukas faced Natalya now, placing a hand on her forehead. His stone fingers felt along the white streak in her hair. "Struck by raw magic on the head," he diagnosed. He pulled out a blue gem the size of his palm, clutching it in one hand as he placed his other hand on Natalya's forehead. "We're fortunate it was not the heart. We would have had to take dramatic measures, especially one her age, but the head is easily curable."
"Do what you must," Kat said, watching Lukas.
Lukas nodded. He held the gem up as he started to massage Natalya's forehead with three fingers. Instantly, the gem lit up. "Removing the majority of the magic will be easy. However, I'll have to remove all memory pertaining the prince's magic ability to remove all the magic."
"Wait, what?" Ivan blurted, breath hitching. "She won't remember I have magic at all?"
Lukas sighed. "I'm afraid not." The gem glowed a bit brighter. "It will be for the best."
"Could you at least leave the fun they had together?" Kat asked, looking back at Ivan.
Lukas paused, glancing at Natalya. "... I might be able to," he finally replied, "enough so that the magic will only affect her on the surface. But she can't remember much of tonight."
"That's fine, thank you," Kat whispered, smiling at Ivan. Ivan tried to smile back, but guilt squashed all other feelings.
Soon, Lukas stopped massaging Natalya's forehead, and the gem stopped glowing. "It's done. Give her some rest once you get to the castle."
"Thank you," Kat repeated gratefully, shifting Natalya around her arms so that the young girl was resting on her shoulder. Natalya slept on, grimacing slightly, but was otherwise quite peaceful.
"Now, my prince." Lukas turned to Ivan, his face betraying a hint of concern. "Your power will only grow as you grow as well. There is beauty in magic, but also great danger. Fear, ultimately, will be your undoing if you're not careful." He put a hand on Ivan's own small hands. It felt odd, cool stone against his own flesh. "I must ask that you restrain your powers for now, especially by your younger sister and others. Learn how to control it first, then build from there."
Ivan nodded slowly.
"Thank you, Lukas," Ivan's father greeted. Lukas nodded, standing back up. "When we get back, we'll have to reduce contact with everyone. We'll reduce the staff, lock the gates, and keep Ivan isolated."
"Sir, I don't think that would be best-" Lukas started, holding a hand up for him to stop-
"Come, Kat, Ivan," the king continued, paying no heed to the troll. "We have work to do."
Ivan watched his father and Kat turn back towards the sled, then back at Lukas. Both Kat and Lukas shared the same concerned look, but both knew they were powerless to change the king's mind. Without another word, Ivan reluctantly followed his sister and father, bracing himself for the new changes coming up.