Standing at the foot of the mountain, Sophie finally grasped the sheer scale of Snowpeak. If Mount Tai were a child, Snowpeak would be a towering giant—one clad entirely in ice and snow.
Glancing at Sam's thin clothing, Sophie felt a pang of worry. But she knew—now that they'd come this far, he wouldn't let her climb alone.
The snow already reached past her calves, yet strangely, she didn't feel cold. Her body remained warm. Sam, meanwhile, was pale and shivering—though he insisted he was fine. *"Maybe Snowpeak just isn't that cold!"* In the blinding white, Sophie couldn't see the strain in his expression.
By day, they scoured the slopes for the Jade Mushroom. By night, they dug snow caves like Arctic explorers, huddling back-to-back for warmth. It was the closest they'd ever been, and neither took the moment for granted.
*"Never knew snow could be this cozy!"* Sam marveled. *"Elves rarely come this high. I'll have to teach this trick when we get back."*
Wrapped in quiet contentment, they drifted off, smiles still lingering.
Three days passed without a trace of the mushroom—not even a blade of grass. Sam, however, spotted a snow lotus half-buried in ice, its petals so delicate they seemed to shimmer. *No wonder elves are famed for their sharp eyes.* Carefully, he tucked it into the Phoenix Pouch, where it would stay preserved.
That night, the moon emerged, casting silver light over the frozen landscape. Clouds parted, bathing the mountain in an ethereal glow. Side by side, they sat in wordless harmony, listening only to each other's heartbeat.
*"It's beautiful,"* Sophie thought. *"I'll never forget this."*
*"Sam… sing for me?"* she whispered, wanting to sear the moment into memory.
*"There's an old elven song,"* he said. *"They say it makes wishes come true. You won't understand the words, but… I believe it works."*
As his voice wrapped around her, Sophie had never felt so at peace. She smiled in her dreams.
Sam turned, gently cradling her sleeping form. *"Sophie… I loved you from the moment we met. Whatever you fear, I know the Spirit God heard my song. My heart is yours—my soul bears your mark."* Pressing a kiss to her brow, he carried her into the cave, leaving only the moon as witness.
---
At dawn, Sophie stretched lazily, glancing at Sam's still-sleeping face. A giddy smile surfaced.
Her fingers hovered in the air, tracing the lines of his brows, his nose, his lips—
*Wait. What am I doing?!* She jerked back, cheeks flaming. *I almost kissed him!* Reluctantly, she shook him awake.
Sam, of course, had been watching her through slitted eyes. He'd seen it all—her hesitation, her near-confession. *So it's not just me.* But the kiss never came.
Playing along, they shared breakfast and resumed their search.
*"Sam… will my wish really come true?"*
*"Yes."*
*"When?"*
*"Soon."*
*"Oh! AHH—!"* Her scream echoed as the ground vanished beneath her.
Sam lunged, barely catching her wrist before she plummeted into the crevasse. Dangling, Sophie looked up to see him half-slipping in after her, his face strained with effort.
Then she saw it.
*"The Jade Mushroom!"* Nestled in the rock was a fist-sized, jade-white fungus. Grinning, she plucked it and stashed it away—just as Sam's grip began to falter.
*"Let go! You'll fall too!"* she begged.
His fingers only tightened.
Frantic, Sophie wedged her dagger into the ice to anchor herself. *"Climb up first! Pull me after!"* When he refused, she shouted, *"We'll both die here! The dagger will hold—GO!"*
Reluctantly, Sam released her, scrambling back to fashion a rope from his shirt. *"Grab on!"* he yelled, lying flat on the ice.
By the time he hauled her to safety, the cold had taken its toll. Elves weren't meant for such climates. Sam collapsed, unconscious.
Dragging him into a snow cave, Sophie piled every warm item from the Phoenix Pouch onto him—but he still shivered violently. Remembering an old tale, she stripped off her own clothes and pressed against him, praying feverishly.
Then, something stirred within her. The half-absorbed Holy Pearl emitted a soft glow, radiating warmth through her chest and into Sam. His rigid limbs slowly relaxed.
Heart pounding, Sophie flushed at their closeness—until she realized they were enveloped in gentle flames. Not burning, but shielding them from the cold.
No one saw it.
No one would ever know.
**But what awakened the Pearl's power?**