Avatar of the Frozen Behemoth: Volume 1

Chapter 5: From Chaos to Clarity

The crisp evening air stung Yukio's cheeks as he and Rome hurried through the snow-blanketed streets of Spadia, their breath swirling in soft clouds that hung in the air.

The city, with its towering crystalline buildings glinting in the fading light, felt both enchanting and eerie. Icicles hung like delicate chandeliers from the rooftops, reflecting the last rays of sunlight.

Yukio's heart raced not just from the chill but from the adrenaline of their escape. The echoes of the chaotic scene back at the tournament still reverberated in his mind-the crowd's shouts, the announcer's frantic lies, the moment he'd snatched the medallion mid-air. It felt unreal now, almost like a dream.

As they walked, he absently fingered the medallion hanging around his neck, its cool surface grounding him. He glanced at it, the intricate designs shimmering faintly, and wondered what it truly represented.

Was it a trophy or a reminder of the chaos? The weight pressed on his chest, and he felt more lost than ever.

Rome was the first to break the silence. "You know, back there, I was getting on you for grabbing that medallion," he said with a small chuckle. "And yeah, maybe it was kind of reckless, but..."

He trailed off, glancing at Yukio, who hadn't said much since their escape. Rome's teasing softened. "Look, I get why you did it. We both know that tournament wasn't exactly fair from the start."

Yukio's fingers brushed the medallion again. "Yeah, but technically, I didn't win it," he said, his voice more somber than he expected. The adrenaline was fading, leaving behind a strange emptiness.

Rome shrugged, his tone still light but more serious now. "Maybe not. But honestly, does it even matter after the way things went down? That announcer was a scam artist, and you saw how the crowd flipped when they found out the Spadian Princess wasn't even there, on top of that the winter feast invitation was a joke just for his pleasure. The whole thing was rigged. You deserved that medallion more than anyone else."

Yukio sighed, his breath misting in the cold air. "I guess... but I wanted to win it fair and square. Not like this."

Rome stopped and put a hand on his friend's shoulder, spinning him around to face him. "Come on, man, seriously? After everything that happened, you're still stuck on that? You were the best out there, gadget or no gadget. Don't let one stupid tournament rule ruin that for you."

Yukio wanted to believe him, but the gnawing feeling of doubt remained. It wasn't just the medallion or the disqualification-it was the sense that the whole thing had spiraled out of control from the moment he stepped onto the field.

"I just wanted it to mean something," Yukio muttered. "And now, it feels... hollow."

Rome shook his head, his expression softening even further. "Yukio, listen. It's not about how you got it. It's about what you do with it now."

Yukio glanced down at the medallion, feeling its weight again. Rome's words hung in the air, and for the first time since the tournament, something inside him loosened. Maybe Rome was right. Maybe it wasn't about the fight, the gadget, or even the disqualification. Maybe it was about what came next.

He gave Rome a small nod. "Yeah... maybe."

As they stepped into the library, the warmth enveloped them like a cozy blanket, a stark contrast to the biting cold outside. The faint scent of old paper and polished wood hung in the air, and the soft rustle of turning pages created a peaceful hum. Rows of ancient books lined the shelves, their spines worn and faded, whispering stories of the past.

Yukio took a deep breath, feeling the tension from the tournament start to fade. He watched as a couple of patrons glanced up from their books, curiosity flickering in their eyes before they returned to their reading.