Avatar of the Frozen Behemoth: Volume 1

Chapter 23: Calm before The Storm

As the moment of levity passed, Yukio's thoughts drifted back to the secret passageway he had discovered not long ago. A chill ran down his spine as he recalled how his footprints had led into the hidden path.

He couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that somehow, those footprints had played a part in the Janoans finding Spadia. The thought gnawed at him, adding another layer of worry to the already heavy burden on his mind.

Pushing those thoughts aside for a moment, Yukio remembered something else. "By the way, Amara was asking about you earlier today when we were playing in her room before the announcement. She wanted to know if you're still coming over to our house later."

Rome's face brightened with a smile. "Oh yeah, I'll come by after I help my dad with some technical issues. We've been having trouble with the old generator again, and he needs my help fixing it. It's been acting up lately, and he needs my help to fix it. Once that's sorted, I'll head over to your place."

"Alright," Yukio said, feeling a bit lighter knowing that Rome would join them later. "Amara will be happy to hear that."

Their conversation eventually began to wind down, and as they parted ways, Yukio found himself walking further into the main square, where he intended to reunite with his family.

However, as he approached, he spotted Colleen and Calista deep in conversation, with Amara and Mia-Colleen's daughter, who was around Amara's age-playing tag around their mothers.

It reminded him of the times his mother would run into a friend after a big event, and he would be stuck waiting for what felt like hours while they chatted away.

The sight made Yukio smile, but he didn't feel like waiting around this time. He decided he'd head home instead.

Back at home, Yukio settled into the quiet, his mind replaying the events of the gathering. He couldn't shake the nagging thought that had been gnawing at him since the announcement.

Could it have been my fault that my unintended actions were the reason for this crisis? He wondered, his thoughts drifting back to that day in the snowy woods. Spadia had always been a hidden sanctuary, isolated and mysterious, known only to those who lived within its borders.

No one was supposed to find it. And yet, somehow, the Janoans had.

What if they followed my footprints? The thought settled like a weight on his chest, his heart sinking as he realized that he might have been the reason Spadia was no longer safe.

Guilt and regret began to seep in, slowly at first, but then with increasing intensity. He shouldn't have ventured out so far. He should've been more careful. The possibilities of what he might have caused spiraled in his mind, a storm of worry and self-reproach.

But Yukio, unwilling to let the guilt consume him, shook his head and decided to push the thoughts away.

No, he told himself, I just need a break. I need to relax. He focused on taking deep breaths, trying to calm the racing thoughts. He didn't want to spend the entire day fretting over something that might not even be his fault.

For a good while, perhaps twenty minutes or more, Yukio kept himself occupied, finding small tasks to distract himself. But as the minutes passed, and his family still hadn't returned, Yukio's patience began to wear thin.

The longer he waited, the more his thoughts began to spiral. He glanced at the door, then at the clock. Where are they? he wondered, irritation starting to seep in. "What's taking them so long?"

Unable to sit still any longer, Yukio decided to head back out and see what was going on.

As he stepped out into the streets of Spadia, the town's usual hum of activity seemed... off.