The Snow Leopard Baby of the Black Leopard Family

[Why... why?!]

The voice, which had been fading as if in confusion, suddenly sharpened again.

Of course, darkness can never triumph over light.

But that only applies if the light is strong enough to illuminate everything around it.

A light that is born but cannot even brighten its own surroundings will never defeat the darkness.

It will be devoured by it.

And that thing—that pitiful fool—couldn’t even control its own power properly, let alone shine.

So then why...?

[Has someone interfered? Did you dare to meddle again?]

The voice rippled through the darkness, tinged with wrath.

Silence followed.

In a realm devoid of time, there was no way to tell if the silence lasted for mere moments or for an eternity.

[Come closer. Come and see.]

A space that was pitch black, empty, and desolate.

There, a girl stood alone, listening to the voice echoing through the void.

A hand reached out and caressed the girl’s pale face.

She, who had been standing still as if lifeless, slowly lifted her eyelids and stared into the boundless abyss before her.

[Yes... It’s fine. That thing is nothing more than a candle flame. A candle can illuminate nothing.]

“......”

[It will be snuffed out by the wind. It will wither in the rain...]

Had the darkness not obscured her gaze, the girl’s lifeless emerald eyes would have resembled the vast, endless sea.

[But you are different... You are the one I have carefully nurtured.]

The voice swelled, growing heavier and more suffocating.

***

"Tiel is shedding,"

Clemence said carefully, gazing at Tiel.

Tiel nodded, looking back at her.

"Yes, Olivia says I’m shedding."

"My goodness, what wonderful news... I should order a feast to be prepared for tomorrow."

Clemence smiled faintly. She truly meant it.

A beastkin’s first shedding was an incredibly important milestone, and Clemence sincerely wished to celebrate Tiel’s.

"You’ve taken another step toward adulthood. In Arne, it is tradition to craft a beautiful flower crown for a child who begins their first shedding..."

"Really? Then make one for me!"

"I was already planning to, Olivia."

Clemence reached out toward Tiel’s head but hesitated, frowning slightly.

Touching the head of the Princess of Asterian without permission would be a severe breach of etiquette.

So Clemence paused and asked properly.

"Princess, may I place my hand on your head?"

"Of course! You’re making me a flower crown, aren’t you?"

"That’s right. I’ll make you the most beautiful one."

Clemence lightly rested her hand on Tiel’s soft curls and smiled as she activated her ability.

A glow of lush green light—the same shade as her eyes—flowed gently from her fingertips, enveloping Tiel’s head in a warm embrace.

It’s fascinating. Her ability feels just like sunlight.

Tiel blinked in wonder.

Strictly speaking, Tiel’s ability was much closer to ‘sunlight’ itself.

Arne’s ability had a fundamentally different nature.

Tiel’s Light Ability was a warm, radiant force that embraced and illuminated everything.

Arne’s ability, on the other hand, was a power that nurtured and cultivated growth.

So her description wasn’t entirely wrong.

As the energy flowed, delicate vines wrapped gently around Tiel’s round head, weaving themselves into a natural, intricate crown.

Before long, small buds began to sprout among the leaves.

"Wait, the flowers aren’t blooming?"

"A flower crown without flowers... Can that even be called a flower crown?"

Olivia and Ludian, watching the process intently, turned to each other with puzzled expressions.

Both of them simultaneously raised their left eyebrows, making them look eerily alike—so much so that, for once, Ferdie wasn’t the one being mistaken for Ludian’s twin.

“Ugh, what the hell! That’s so creepy!”

"I was about to say the same thing!"

Olivia recoiled in horror, quickly turning her head away. Ludian did the same. Ian Dross clicked his tongue at their antics before shifting his gaze toward Tiel.

The small girl, looking tense, had placed her tiny hands over her chest and was silently watching Clemence.

"Quiet, Olivia. The flowers will bloom soon enough."

Clemence gently chided Olivia, her voice calm and melodic. At her gesture, an Arne attendant stepped forward, carrying a large mirror, which was set down in front of them.

The mirror was big enough to reflect all of Tiel’s small frame.

Through its reflection, Tiel looked at Clemence Arne—and their eyes met.

"Watch closely... They are about to bloom."

Clemence’s voice was as soft as an incantation.

And just like that—as if responding to her command—the tightly closed flower buds suddenly burst into full bloom.

"Wow...!!"

Tiel’s golden eyes widened in wonder, and she pressed her palm against the mirror. The little girl leaned in, mesmerized by the flower crown blooming atop her head.

Soft blush-pink flowers intertwined with vibrant golden blooms, creating a stunning harmony of colors.

"How is it? Do you like it?"

"Yes! Really! Arne’s ability is incredible... A power that makes flowers bloom is so beautiful..."

Tiel murmured, her face flushed with excitement.

Hearing her words, Ferdie raised a single finger.

"Tiel, you know... Your brother can make flowers bloom too."

The moment Ferdie finished speaking, a small flame flickered to life at his fingertips.

Tiel gasped and spun around to look at him in alarm.

"Brother! You can’t use your ability indoors!"

"Do you really think I’d set Arne’s estate on fire? Don’t worry, Tiel. I’m not Ludian."

"And yet... just recently, you burned an entire wall of the annex... I trust you, Brother, but I don’t trust your ability. Please put out the fire."

Ferdie’s mouth snapped shut at Tiel’s firm response. With a sulky expression, he reluctantly extinguished the flame, and it vanished in an instant.

"But still, my ability is cool, isn’t it?" Ferdie prompted.

"Oh, Brother..."

When Olivia, Ludian, and Ferdie were together, Ferdie always appeared to be the most mature and sensible.

But in moments like these... it became clear that he really wasn’t that different from the others.

"Of course, the Fire Ability is really amazing. Even if you occasionally burn walls and furniture..."

"......."

"And that time you tried to show me fireworks but ended up burning the garden trees, making the gardener redo his work..."

"You do like it, don’t you?"

Ferdie’s voice carried a knowing tone.

Listening to Tiel’s complaints, Ferdie suddenly realized just how much she had changed.

Back when we first met, she couldn’t even speak properly.

Now, she could scold her own older brother without hesitation.

It made Ferdie genuinely happy to see his little sister grow.

He wanted Tiel to become a girl who could freely express her emotions—to speak up when something displeased her, without worrying about the people around her.

After all, the very first thing I taught Tiel... was how to say ‘No.’

Of course, at the time, it had been so she could chase Ian Dross away...

But still, Ferdie had taught Tiel how to refuse before he ever taught her how to express joy.

Because he understood all too well—it was far more difficult to say ‘No’ than it was to say ‘I’m happy.’

And if someone struggled to say ‘No’... those unspoken words would pile up inside their heart, building walls so high and so strong that they became impossible to tear down.

He never wanted Tiel’s heart to be trapped behind those walls.

So this was his own way of protecting her.

His own experience turned into a lesson for his sister.

"I like it a lot," Tiel admitted. "But I’d like it even more if my brothers and Olivia stopped using their abilities indoors."

...I didn’t expect her to say it this clearly.

Ferdie chuckled softly and gently ruffled Tiel’s hair.

"Alright. No more using abilities indoors." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"And no more burning garden trees either! Fire is beautiful, but unlike flowers, it burns everything around it...!"

Tiel clutched the sleeve of Ferdie’s coat tightly, as if afraid he might suddenly set something on fire again.

Ferdie let out a low, amused laugh and lightly poked her soft cheek.

"Fine, fine. I won’t burn the garden either. Are you satisfied now, my lady?"

"Yes, very much. Now I can confidently say that your ability is amazing."

Tiel spoke softly.

A gentle breeze drifted in through the open window, carrying her quiet laughter through the air.

The golden sunlight, which had been brightening the room, slowly flowed along with the wind.

Ferdie watched the scene unfold before him, and for a fleeting moment, he thought—

His little sister was like a small spring made of the world’s warmest sunlight.