As a child, Laphlaes would often spend the night counting the snowflakes dancing in the air. Back then, he had nothing to fear—he was cherished by all, surrounded by love and warmth. He was raised in an environment where arrogance might have easily taken root in him. Yet, this future leader walked his path with unwavering confidence.

If there were any students who truly held a special place in his heart throughout his long life, it was without question Lucilicca and Charlotte. Lucilicca, the Second Archmage, offered him her bold decisiveness, while Charlotte, the youngest principal of the Academy, supported him with her boundless knowledge. Thus, for the elder elf, loneliness was just like the fading glow of a sunset long past.

But there was no escaping the despair that closed in around him. The moment he uncovered the Council's hidden agenda—to claim power over the nation—everything changed. He knew he had to stop them, as Lumisade meant everything to him.

But as the first to blow the whistle, it was Laphlaes who had to bear the burden. The Council placed the blame for the war entirely on him. It was all his fault, they said—the snow and frost in Lumisade being scorched away by the flames of war and the renowned Elven Bridge crumbling into ruin. The elder elf, who had defended his people amidst the chaos, was made a scapegoat by the Council, painted as the one who had brought destruction upon the nation he sought to protect.

But Laphlaes didn't care much about that. What mattered most to him was that Lumisade remained safe. The deepest scar, however, came from Lucilicca, who placed the blame squarely on his shoulders. Charlotte stepped forward to defend him, but Laphlaes stopped her—he knew that anyone who supported him would eventually be dragged down with him.

In time, Laphlaes came to understand why Lucilicca had acted the way she did, but that didn't mean the bitterness he felt toward her would simply melt away. This is something he has to deal with himself, as he has even lost the memory of being loved.

But don't worry. Just as the traces of winter cling to the snow, a flower will eventually bloom, even in the heart of his lonely season.