The beasts—those monstrous ants in front of him were frozen solid, transformed into trophies forged from ice. Not a one had time for last wishes, nor could they manage a dying screech for backup. If these monsters had family, that family would never know what happened.

Suddenly a figure walked in from the mist that had grown thick enough to hide everything within the expanse.

As she drew closer, the fog seemed to peel away at her command, revealing a woman who walked not with hesitation but with sovereign authority and a fanged sort of dread. Step after step, she approached her collection of ice-sculpted monsters.

Sezel, hiding, was awe-struck by her beauty, a queen perhaps, that's what he thought. Her curves were unnatural, perfectly highlighted by the tight red outfit that radiated a power and nobility that put courtly legends to shame.

And those big melons are other... no no no no, remember she is dangerous.

Her azure hair, fell behind her like literal waterfall and her piercing eyes were nothing short of ice shards, That's why everything is covered in ice.

She was an unnatural beauty to be honest, and Sezel couldn't quite take his eyes off of her. Alright. She's nothing short in front of Vesta, maybe even more Se—cough-cough. Self-preservation finally shouted loud enough to silence the hormonal uproar.

The winds became chilly to a level that Sezel was shivering, barely able to keep his mouth shut. The ability that could turn everything in such large area into literal ice was nothing but miraculous. uh...not miraculous after all the abilities Fables grant are beyond human comprehension, but the sheer extent of it was...dangerous!

Sezel was not even properly covered, maintaining his distance from the bush was making it hard for him to hide and observe at the same time.

From his puppet's perspective, he got nothing—just blank white, fog and cold. If the puppet took a single wrong step now, the ice ripples would give him away instantly.

Sezel clenched his jaw, What are the chances that i am in such a bad situation all by myself.

Not that it mattered here, he slowly looked upwards leaving site of the mysteries queen for once, the sky was covered in grey clouds, the rain has stopped but the weather said, it will rain once more.

Sezel shifted his attention to the lady once more, Will this ice melt in sun? hmm, it is produced by a fable. Probably not, given how Spirit Realm's logic works. Fable-generated ice is a nightmare on its own.

The noble lady approached the frozen ant, and looked behind it. Behind the statue, three more ants were reduced to pulp, unrecognizable monster meat slick and shining in the gloom. Then, unexpectedly, a faint smile flitted across her lips.

Who gets happy looking at that mess? Is she aroused by monster mincemeat? Sezel's brain short-circuited for a moment.

But what followed, made Sezel's mind go blank. The seductress laid one perfect, pale hand upon the frozen ant, and it simply vanished. Turned into small particles and mixed with the fog that grew thicker with all the new added contents.

Sezel gulped hard, dread coiled in his gut. He shrank deeper behind his dubious cover of spiky ice bush, trying to make himself as small as he could.

Behind her two more lovely beauties emerged from the thick fog, each clad in skin-tight black that emphasized every line and edge, they were like twin moons orbiting around the queen.

Sezel couldn't help but wonder. Are they part of some kind of underworld gang? He got the idea from the various Hollywood movies he had seen by sneaking at places.

Well even if they weren't, they were equally dangerous given that Sezel was pretty sure they were from an enemy nation. And his face paled even more, not just from the increasing cold, but the internal war waging inside of him.

The war between his survival instincts that screamed at him to get away from their sight, however he could and the male part of his mind that was utterly fascinated by the flawless beauties.

He was after all, a teenager. A doomed one, but a teenager nonetheless.

Seriously. Stop staring. They'll notice and kill you. Not because you're better looking than their boyfriends but because you're a half-frozen trespasser.

And yes, his body was starting to fail him. Teeth chattering, skin burning with cold, he was pretty sure he was standing in a death trap carved by a Fable.

The kind where the math is simple: run = become a popsicle, stay = become a popsicle.

He calculated his odds, like any good coward. Vanilla-flavored popsicle? At least it's classic.

Sezel finally decided against lust and completely hid himself behind his spiky cover. Then he heard them talk, the ladies spoke in a language he'd never heard, but somehow, absurdly, he could understand every word.

What the hell? When did I get a dictionary for weird languages?

Sezel lingered for a few moments, their voices were not that clear. I guess, its good to listen if i need information. I need to get closer.

Sezel thought to move to some closer but also safe place, he would crawl on the ground towards another bush that was relatively closer to the ladies. Hoping that the thick mist would help him hide and transverse safely.

But he froze as he heard the clatter of several chains. He caught the motion above, and his eyes darted upward, muscle memory anchoring him in place.

The queen's eyes slid sideways, her gaze slicing through fog and ice to the bush where Sezel trembled.

He held his breath, summoning every neuron to stay completely still, praying to anything that wasn't currently trying him into an appetizer.

The woman's eyes narrowed.

Nothing here. Just a bush, a very cold and scared bush. Alright, just let me be. Move along, do your whole icy dominance thing. Ignore the dumb bush nerd and his flavor dilemmas.

Suddenly, the earth next to him shuddered. As always, the Spirit Realm hated subtlety.

A crack snapped through the frozen ground. The ice queen's gaze locked onto Sezel's refuge, deadly as a guillotine.

He braced for hell, ready to abandon every hope. Whatever would happen next, the bush wasn't going to save him. And Sezel, as always was going to witness disaster in real time, flavor and all.