Magneto

The air froze. The farmer looked at Magnus with terror in his eyes. Everything that defied common sense had left him unable to think.

Why had the heavy logging axe flown up by itself? Why did this German seem intent on killing him? Why did the loser have the nerve?

He thought of many things. His weed-like beard was nearly frozen to the axe, and the icy sensation pulled him back to reality.

The blond young man was staring coldly at him as if at a corpse. "I only want the payment I deserve."

"I-I'll pay. All my money. Please, don't kill me."

Magnus lowered his hand. He had only used his power to fight for what was rightfully his. He did not like killing; he had seen too much death.

"No need. I'll only take what I'm owed. That is fairness. I have no intention of hurting anyone."

Magnus took a stack of loose change from the farmer's pocket, counted out the amount owed to him, then gripped the floating axe and took it down from the air.

It was getting late. He had to hurry to town to buy food. The village had only corn and potatoes; he could not let his daughter keep eating nothing but those for too long.

He wanted to buy cheese, sausage, and the like. In winter, with the roads in terrible condition, he could only get there on his own two feet.

That would take quite some time.

He left the farm and went home first, telling his wife where he was going before kissing his sleeping daughter.

The road was difficult to travel. Winter in Ukraine was a Nightmare for any pedestrian. Setting aside the snow that poured into one's shoes, the cold wind alone could turn a person into an