It's night time, the aurora borealis is out in all it's glory.

Soft snowflakes floated gently through the air, glimmering like tiny stars against the soft glow of the lanterns in Kael's room. The floor was now a shimmering blanket of snow, cool to the touch, and the air smelled crisp and wintry.

Layla sat on the bed and flourishly and elegantly controlled the snow cloud that snowflakes gently floated down - an ice blue light circling her hand as she used her powers. While Kael was on his knees on the floor as he built a snowflake - gloves on his hands, and a scarf around his neck, and snowflakes on his black curly hair.

" Are you terrified of the notion that says ice is the starting point of life? " Layla asked with a straight face as she focused on the snow cloud she tried sustaining.

" No!?," Kael answered with a scrunched face as he tried fitting in the snowman's hands. " And also, that sounds kinda dumb!," he added.

" It hits different as a snow princess," She said.

" Sometimes, you say the darnest things," Kael said as he patted on the snowman.

" It's not darn! The crowning ceremony is fast approaching, I'm about to be crowned princess! So, this things tend to make me worry. I believe it's called maturity," she defended.

" Okay. Whatever you say," Kael agreed with pursed lips.

" Speaking of the crowning, how's the preparation for Edward's crowning?," She asked as she rests her hand on the bed.

" Honestly, I don't know. They never really discuss anything concerning his crowning near me...or anything for that matter," kael said as he patted around the snowman.

" Oh," Layla said as she squeezed her mouth to the side. " But I bet it'll be awesome," she added.

Kael scoffs. " The crowning ceremony is always awesome....so I've heard," Kael said- still working on his snowman.

" It is! It's colorful, it's magnificent and it's a whole vibe," Layla informed. " And, there's this part in the ceremony, where the old claus and the new one get shirtless, and the old one passes he's markings to the new one, hence, passing his powers and everything that makes him Santa Claus, to the new one," Layla said.

" Wow! That sounds wonderful," Kael said.

" It is. And this time, I'll get to see Edward shirtless...mmmmm," she bit her lip and stared into nothingness.

Kael bats his eyelashes with a disgusted face. " That isn't...gross at all," Kael said.

" Haven't you observed Edward's physique? He's body is my happy place. And in this ceremony, he's going to be shirtless. Oh, I wish I could just run my hands around his body," she gestured. " And then, slowly slide my hands into his p-

"- Okay! That's enough! I get it!," Kael quickly interrupted. " Jeez!"

"What!?"

" You need help! Like professional help! You're seriously mentally unstable," Kael said in a high pitched tone.

" I am not!," Layla defended.

" That was disgusting!"

Layla groans and rolls her eyes.

" And disturbing!," Kael added.

" It's not disturbing," Layla said. " You're still young, so you won't understand," Layla said as she crossed her legs.

" I'm seventeen years old," Kael said.

" And I'm a thousand years old so...." Layla said proudly and flipped her blonde hair back and a smug smile on her face.

Kael rolled his eyes and did the final touches on his snowman. Kael leaned back to admire his handiwork. "There. Perfect." He smiled at the little snowman, its tiny stick arms stretched out like it was welcoming the world.

Layla peered over, her icy blue glow fading as she dropped her hand. "Hmm. It's cute... in a very amateur, 'just-learned-to-make-snowmen' sort of way."

Kael shot her a glare. "Excuse me, Princess Ice Queen. Not everyone has a thousand years of snow-related experience."

Layla smirked. "It shows." She flicked her fingers, and a sudden gust of wind sent a spray of snowflakes over Kael's snowman.

"Hey!" Kael protested, using his arms to shield his creation.

"Relax. It's just constructive criticism," Layla said with an innocent smile.

Kael groaned and brushed the excess snow off the snowman's face. "Sometimes, I wonder why I hang out with you."

"Because I'm fabulous," Layla said without missing a beat, tossing her hair again. "And also, because deep down, you know you'd miss me."

Kael rolled his eyes but couldn't help the tiny smile that crept onto his face. "Yeah, yeah. Don't let it go to your head."

Layla stretched her arms above her head and leaned back on the bed, staring up at the soft glow of the aurora through the frosted windows. "You know," she said, her voice quieter now, "it's strange to think about how much will change after the crowning. For both of us."

Kael glanced up at her, his hands still resting on the snowman. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I'll officially be crowned Snow Princess. My responsibilities will triple, and I'll have to spend less time doing... this." She gestured vaguely at the snow-filled room. "And Edward... he'll become Santa Claus. The Santa Claus. Everything will be different."

Kael frowned and looked back down at the snowman. "Yeah. I guess it will."

For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint crackle of the lanterns. The air felt heavier now, like the weight of their futures was pressing in on them.

Layla sat up suddenly, breaking the quiet. "But hey! At least we've got tonight, right?" She gave him a mischievous grin.

Kael arched an eyebrow. "What are you planning?"

Layla hopped off the bed and twirled around dramatically, her ice-blue aura reigniting around her hands. "We're going to make this room a winter wonderland! Snow trees, ice sculptures, the works!"

Kael sighed. "Layla, it's already a winter wonderland." He gestured to the snow-covered floor.

"Pfft. This is nothing. Watch and learn, mortal."

Before Kael could protest, Layla spun her hands, and the snow cloud above them expanded, shimmering with icy light. Snow began to spiral around the room like a miniature blizzard, and delicate frost patterns crept up the windows.

Kael shielded his face from the swirling snow. "Layla! You're going to bury my snowman!"

"Oh, don't be so dramatic!" Layla laughed, her voice full of excitement as she waved her arms. "This is art!"

As the blizzard settled, the room transformed. Glittering icicles hung from the ceiling like chandeliers, and crystalline snowflakes floated gently in midair. A towering ice sculpture of a snow phoenix stood in one corner, its wings spread wide, and tiny snow-covered trees lined the walls.

Kael stared, wide-eyed. "Okay... I'll admit, that's pretty impressive."

Layla placed her hands on her hips, grinning triumphantly. "I know. I'm amazing."

Kael shook his head, a small laugh escaping him. "You're insufferable."

Layla's smile softened, and she plopped back onto the bed, her earlier energy fading. "Hey, Kael?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you ever feel like... you're stuck in place? Like everyone else is moving forward, and you're just... standing still?"

Kael hesitated, surprised by the sudden seriousness in her voice. "Sometimes," he admitted. "But... I guess I've just gotten used to it."

Layla frowned, her gaze distant. "You shouldn't have to. You're worth more than that, you know."

Kael looked at her, taken aback by the sincerity in her words. " But I have," he smiled through the pain.

" You're so strong!" Layla said with a smile.

Kael smiled back. And with a beaming and mischievous smile, Layla suddenly sprang to her feet. "Anyway! Enough deep talk. Let's finish decorating your snowman. It needs a crown. A big one. Fit for a king!"

Kael sighed but decided to let it go. "Fine. But you're not allowed to destroy it again."

"No promises," Layla said with a wink.

As they got to work, the room felt lighter again, but Kael couldn't shake the feeling of the inevitable change that was about to happen. He's sure gonna miss his best and only friend.

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Thank y'all for reading, the votes and comments... thank you so much...love y'all and God bless you ❤️