The Loneliest Soul

Colen's gaze remained as cold as the frost gathering on Maxi's clothes.

"Listen. Your birthday is coming up soon, right?"

Maxi nodded, shivering from the sheer cold that Colen's presence exuded. Bits of ice clung to his sleeves, his breath forming small clouds in the air.

Colen continued, his tone sharp and calculated. "Then I strongly recommend you spend the rest of your remaining days studying and planning. Because your test begins two days before your birthday."

Maxi blinked. "Wait—what?"

"When is your birthday?"

"The 25th."

Colen gave a small nod. "Then your test is on the 23rd. So, let me reinforce this—you need to prepare. Because my test won't be easy. And the fight won't be easy either. At least… I'll make sure they don't make it easy."

Maxi swallowed hard. "They?"

Colen smirked slightly, but his expression remained cold. "Just ditch your classes with that useless tutor and focus."

Maxi muttered, "B-But I only have a few months left with him… I want to make the most of it."

Colen sighed.

Maxi immediately shot up, his voice desperate, almost feral. "Don't you dare sigh! I'm already dying from the cold—I can't take any more!"

Colen merely shook his head, unimpressed. "Maxi, you really need to check yourself. So, I'll ask you something."

His sharp eyes locked onto Maxi's, as if they could pierce through any delusion.

"Do you like your useless tutor? Or do you like the fact that he's teaching you?"

Maxi froze.

"Also," Colen added, tilting his head slightly, "is he even a good teacher?"

Maxi's eyes widened. A strange, uncomfortable feeling settled in his chest.

He had never thought about it like that.

He liked the idea of learning. The idea of having a teacher.

But…

Did he actually like Tangen?

No. Tangen was arrogant, cocky. The only reason he changed was because Techxin humbled him. And even then…

He wasn't a good teacher.

When Tangen taught him, it always felt like something was missing. Like he was trying to fit pieces of a puzzle together, only to realize some pieces simply weren't there.

Maybe it was incompetence. Maybe it was laziness.

But Maxi had grown too used to it. He had just accepted it as the way things were.

He slowly shook his head. "No. He's not a good teacher. But he's all I've got. So what can I do?"

Colen clicked his tongue in irritation. He tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought, then finally said, "Alright. How about this?"

"Tell him to explain things quickly. Just the basics."

"Then, come down here. To the library. I'll explain things in better detail than he ever could."

Maxi's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, really?"

Colen gave him a pointed look. "I'll also ask Father to grant you full access to the library until your test. But after that, it's back to how things were."

Maxi's chest swelled with gratitude, but before he could say anything, Colen cut him off.

"And don't take my help as affection or fondness for you."

The temperature dropped slightly again.

Colen's voice was colder than ever.

"I simply like watching people lose. Knowing they had a fair chance at winning…

…Makes their defeat even more pathetic."

Colen stood up, adjusting his coat as he turned toward the massive maze of bookshelves. "So, don't lose, Maxi. Okay?"

Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into the depths of the library.

Maxi sat there, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him.

Happy. Sad. Excited. Disappointed. All at once.

The air slowly began to warm again.

Maxi let out a long sigh of relief, rubbing his arms to shake off the last bits of cold.

Then, he opened his book again.

Page three.

Seven hours later, he finish all four books.

Angelina groaned as Maxi shook her awake. "Come on, wake up."

She rubbed her eyes. "You spent the whole day reading, didn't you?"

Maxi ignored the question, stretching his arms. "Let's go. I need to return the books."

Together, they walked through the grand maze of bookshelves, returning each tome to its proper place. The journey back through the castle was smooth—none of his siblings crossed his path.

Once outside the main castle, Maxi dismissed Angelina for the night.

He walked alone through the cold night his steps soft, finally reaching his own small castle.

Maxi brushed his teeth, then stepped into a warm bath.

The warmth melted away the lingering cold from Colen's presence.

Finally, dressed in his black pajamas, Maxi lay down in bed.

His body was exhausted. His mind was spinning with thoughts.

His birthday.

The test.

Tangen.

Colen.

Everything was changing.

Maxi closed his eyes.

And for the first time in a long while—

He didn't dream.