The howling wind and snow swept past the two of them.
He Ao watched Kaila slowly raise her hand, faint white radiance gathering at her fingertips.
Under He Ao's gaze, the edges of the sled made entirely of ice rapidly extended upward, forming a transparent, crystal-like ice canopy that completely covered the sled.
Soon, the heavy wind and snow piled atop the ice canopy, draping it in a hazy layer.
He Ao reached out and touched the ice crystals on his face.
Kaila had apparently noticed the ice crystals on herself and deliberately created some protection.
"You don't seem to be afraid of the cold," He Ao said slowly, looking at Kaila.
"I can't feel cold. The icy wind is my friend," Kaila said with a slight shake of her head, smiling at He Ao. "I haven't asked your name yet."
"He Ao," He Ao answered directly.
"Hain?" Kaila repeated hesitantly.
This really was a language issue. The pronunciation of Central Land's language differed somewhat from that of the Copy World.
However, He Ao had no intention of correcting her pronunciation. Hain could be considered a transliteration of "He Ao."
But Kaila quickly corrected herself and said softly, "He Ao, hello."
Her pronunciation was still slightly off, but it was clearly distinguishable that she was saying "He Ao," rather than "Hain."
"Hello, Your Majesty Kaila."
He Ao was slightly surprised, but he ultimately nodded in response.
Then his gaze fell on the sled's side door, where a camellia decoration had been simply outlined.
"This is the emblem of the Xikelaian royal family," Kaila said softly when she noticed He Ao's gaze.
Vaguely, He Ao recalled that the soldiers in the illusions he had seen earlier seemed to bear similar emblems as well.
"Do you know Dawn City?" He Ao withdrew