​〔 ♬ BGM: The Swell Season - Falling Slowly 〕

The snow showed no sign of stopping.

It was a persistent snow, looking less like it was falling from the sky and more like the earth was exhaling it back out.

Leo Grayven sat atop his horse, reins held loosely, gazing into the forest. It didn't feel real that the war was over. Just because it had ended didn't mean the turmoil in his heart had quieted along with it.

The northern forest was silent. Not a lack of sound, but a stillness as if every noise had been buried beneath the snow.

Just then, a minute tremor flickered through the snow-covered shrubs.

Leo's gaze landed there.

It was small.

A tiny beast huddled in the snow. It was soaked through and shivering violently, perhaps from the cold.

The creature didn't cry out, nor did it run away. It simply looked up at Leo quietly. It was a strange gaze, making it impossible to tell if it was wary of a stranger or if there was some other reason.

Leo dismounted and slowly approached the creature. It remained frozen in place. Only its shimmering eyes followed his footsteps.

"……A cat."

Leo let out a low breath as if catching his wind and knelt down. Then, slowly and carefully, he reached out a hand toward {{{user}}}. Cold snowflakes immediately settled upon his open palm.

"……Will you come with me?"