FROST Chapter 41: The Autumn Apprentice

The air shifted.

The suffocating pressure that had held the apprentices in place just monts ago was gone, as if it had never existed.

Now, in its place, was the overwhelming scent of peonies.

Sweet.

Floral.

Choking.

And, worst of all—East’s annoying confidence.

The apprentices barely had ti to recover from witnessing an actual demon transformation before being rcilessly attacked by rogue flower petals.

Everywhere.

In their hair. In their mouths. Sticking to their uniforms like so divine punishnt. And yet, standing in the middle of this peony storm, East was smiling like the happiest and most important person in the entire kingdom.

Which, to be fair, he kind of was.

"Ahh~ excuse , Spring Guardian master, sir—" a woman, one of the apprentices, hesitated behind East. She was trying—and failing—to shoo the petals that clung to her like overly affectionate spirits. "I’m sorry, b-but... can you make these petals go away, p-please?"

She looked miserable. Her once-pristine uniform was now a fashion statent of petal embroidery.

Her long, ticulously tied-back hair? Ruined. Peony-stuffed. A nest for floral disaster. And yet East, in all his glowing, divinely smug presence, simply turned to her with a radiant smile.

"Oh? You don’t like them?"

The woman visibly paled. "N-No, Your Grace! I an, I do! I love peonies! They’re, um... beautiful? So beautiful!" She coughed as another petal forcefully lodged itself into her mouth.

"But, um... maybe less of them?"

A beat of silence.

East tilted his head. Then, with the grace of soone who absolutely knew he was in charge now, he gently raised his hand—And made it worse.

So much worse.

A fresh wave of peonies exploded around them, showering the entire garden in soft petals.

"Accept my scented congratulations for passing yet another test, my humble apprentices!"

East’s laughter rang through the garden, bright and carefree, hopping from one spot to another like a mischievous spirit, he flung his hands out in dramatic flourishes, sending waves of peonies spiraling through the air.

The apprentices—poor, unfortunate souls—were the primary victims. So of them tried to dodge. Failed. So attempted to swat the petals away, only to be swallowed whole by the sheer volu of East’s magical enthusiasm.

Others, too exhausted to resist, simply stood there, arms stretched out in surrender, as if accepting their fate.

Sowhere in the distance, a particularly devastated apprentice collapsed onto their knees, whispering, "I never even liked flowers, Your fucking Grace."

In the distance, the sorcerers who had nearly burned themselves out sustaining the academy’s barrier before the apprentices and East stepped in finally took a mont to collect themselves. They erged from the dense forest encircling the academy, likely near the very edge of the barrier’s circumference.

So were dragging themselves back to their chambers, crawling across the garden like war survivors. Others, clearly suffering from a spiritual breakdown, had started stacking stones in small, reverent piles.

Praying.

For strength.

For guidance.

For a universe where East did not exist.

Cullen, standing untouched by the storm of petals, narrowed his eyes at East.

Sothing wasn’t right. There was no way East hadn’t noticed that the dark presence that turned his crimson peony earlier into pitch black and the dark fla that devoured it isn’t from the foul atmosphere earlier, but from the dark magic Cullen has been suppressing even when he’s still in the human realm.

He knew for a fact that the Season Guardians weren’t just powerful. They were forces of nature. And yet, despite everything, despite the undeniable weight of Cullen’s hidden dark magic, East continued to act like an airheaded flower-throwing nace.

It made no sense. Cullen knew East had seen through him. Had felt it. So why wasn’t he reacting? Why was he still bouncing around like so overly excited petal demon?

It wasn’t possible that he hadn’t noticed.

...Right?

Cullen’s fingers twitched. For years, he had tried to uncover the truth behind his own magic. For years, he had searched for answers, for soone who could help him understand.

The Season Guardians should have been able to see it. Should have known sothing was wrong.

And yet, they remained oblivious. Even his own master, Cloud. He never even talked to him since he got into the Academy. The man was too busy hopping from one realm to another, securing things Cullen didn’t have any idea about.

Are they expecting him to seek answers on his own? That could be it, right?

"Callaghan..."

Cullen turned to his right, where Athyst sat, untouched by even a single petal.

Sohow, in the middle of this absolute floral catastrophe, she had managed to remain pristine. Not a single flower clung to her uniform, not a single petal dared to land in her hair because of her powerful wind barrier. One that, unfortunately, had turned the petals even more aggressive for those outside of it.

The apprentices who had still been struggling to breathe under East’s peony storm now found themselves dealing with hurricane-level petal assaults.

Elise was one of them.

Or—at least—she had been. Because at this very mont, Elise had ceased to exist.

Sowhere beneath the mountain of petals, a muffled voice let out what sounded like a desperate plea for help... only for it to be imdiately swallowed by the sheer density of East’s flowery massacre.

And then—nothing.

Silence. Elise was gone. Sacrificed to the peony gods, Athyst didn’t even blink.

Cullen, watching this unfold, exhaled through his nose. He didn’t answer her, just arched a brow. Because, honestly, what the hell was he supposed to say to any of this?

"You felt it too, didn’t you?"

Athyst’s voice cut through the chaos once again, low and certain. It wasn’t really a question—it was a statent, an expectation that Cullen had sensed it just as she had.

At first, the words felt entirely foreign to him. But then, the aning sank in.

That magic. The foul aura from outside the barrier earlier. Cullen had barely acknowledged it, too focused on watching East—on waiting for a reaction. But now that Athyst brought it up, the mory of that presence, chilling yet familiar, crept back into his mind like frost on glass.

After a long, awkward silence between them—punctuated only by East’s obnoxious laughter and the muffled suffering of apprentices drowning in petals—Cullen finally spoke.

"Yeah. I felt it. Why?"

Athyst’s gaze didn’t waver. "For so reason, it felt like Frost’s presence. Didn’t it?"

Her tone was quiet, but firm, like she had already made up her mind and was just waiting for Cullen to confirm it.

Cullen scoffed, exhaling sharply through his nose.

"I don’t know, woman," he muttered, rubbing his temple. "I know you’re fixated on that Winter Guardian, but give it up already."

Athyst stiffened. "I’m not—"

"Uh-huh," Cullen cut in, unimpressed. "Say it with a straight face next ti."

Cullen straightened, his posture rigid, his sharp gaze locked onto East. The so-called Spring Guardian had finally begun to tire, his seemingly endless energy dimming. Probably because the suffering of the apprentices no longer entertained him.

Typical.

"And next ti," Cullen muttered, voice cool and precise, "if you want to prove your worth, maybe try not dragging Silvermist into it."

He turned, ready to leave, but Athyst stepped forward, blocking his path.

"Why?" she snapped. "And why not?"

Her voice rose above the muffled groans of apprentices still buried in peony petals, drawing startled glances. The air shifted—not from East’s magic this ti, but from Athyst’s sheer frustration.

"I am far more powerful than her anyway," she continued, her tone laced with resentnt. "If she wasn’t just Frost’s apprentice—"

Cullen turned to her, his expression unreadable.

"Frost chose her," he said evenly. "Perhaps even the Moon itself did. Because they know her power. Unlike any of us."

The weight of his words settled heavily in the air. And with that, Cullen left. Even East, for once, had nothing to say, watching silently as Cullen disappeared into the darker part of the academy.

Then, just as he rounded a corner, Cullen halted. Gail was leaning casually against the stone wall, arms crossed, her ever-present wry smile already in place.

"All this ti," Gail mused, "I figured you were just interested in Silvermist because of her hidden magic—power whatever," her smirk widened. "But don’t tell you like her?"

Cullen didn’t answer. But the way he rolled his eyes made Gail gasp. Loudly. In pure disrespect.

"You can dislike soone and still respect them," Cullen muttered, brushing past her. "Silvermist is soone I don’t like. But she’s also soone I don’t dislike, either. And I’d rather keep it that way."

Gail let out an exaggerated sigh, clutching her chest. "That’s just a fancy way of saying you don’t know how you feel about her."

Cullen ignored her. He had more important things to deal with. For too long, Cloud—his so-called master—had neglected him, but this ti, he had gathered all his guts. And this ti, he would demand answers even if he’d follow him into realms.

The mont Cullen turned the corner, his body locked up, his lips curling into a slow smirk. Because at the far end of the hallway stood soone who shouldn’t—couldn’t—possibly be here.

And yet, there he was.

Escorted by two sorcerers in pristine white cloaks, their faces hidden beneath enchanted hoods, the man walked with an air of quiet composure. He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t falter. Just moved forward, oblivious to the delightful ss his re existence was about to stir.

Cullen’s fingers twitched with barely contained amusent.

Oh, this was about to be fun.

Closer...

His heart pounded—not in shock, but in wicked anticipation.

Closer...

Sothing in his chest twisted—not in disbelief, but in sheer, unfiltered entertainnt.

Finally, the figure stepped fully into view. Cullen had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from chuckling.

The two sorcerers escorting him noticed Cullen and halted in perfect unison. Without a word, they stepped aside, revealing their precious new apprentice like so grand offering to the heavens.

Cullen stared.

The man stared back.

A beat of tense silence passed.

Then—

"Cullen?"

The voice was uncertain, hesitant—like it didn’t quite belong here.

"Y-You’re here too?"

Cullen barely heard him over the sheer joy bubbling in his chest.

Perfect! Absolutely perfect. Absolute cinema!

There had only been one apprentice missing from their ranks all this ti. And now, standing before him, looking like he would rather be anywhere else in the world, was the answer to that mystery.

Cullen let out a slow, deliberate exhale, dragging out the mont for his own amusent before finally—finally—speaking.

"Levi..." His voice dripped with sothing that wasn’t quite mockery, but wasn’t exactly welcoming either, then his smirk widened. "You must be the Autumn Apprentice."

Levi shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "I... I guess so."

Cullen could barely contain his grin.

Levi. The Levi Aetherborn.

The ex-boyfriend of Silvermist.

The current boyfriend of Gail.

The stolen boyfriend that had caused so much drama between the two girls that Cullen thought they were going to set their academy in the human realm on fire at one point.

And now he was here. Stuck. Trapped. Forced into their little dysfunctional apprentice family—with his past and present and potential future.

Cullen’s shoulders shook slightly with suppressed laughter. This is going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to see the look on Silvermist’s face when she— where did that woman went with Adeline, Mila, and those three flowerboys anyway?

He turned to the sorcerer on his right. "Perhaps, did the Spring Guardian know he was coming?" He jerked his chin toward Levi, whose face was stuck sowhere between confusion and regret.

"Yes, master," the sorcerer answered. "We are heading toward the Grandmaster’s office now."

"He’s still in the garden—"

"Says who?"

Cullen barely stopped himself from unleashing a windstorm in all directions as a voice—suspiciously close to his ear—interrupted him.

He whipped around, only to find East standing right there, practically breathing down his neck.

"By the stars—!" Cullen’s entire soul nearly left his body. His hand almost reacted on instinct, ready to slap the life out of him—but then.

Then.

He rembered this was East. The Grandmaster of this godforsaken academy. The man was as untouchable as he was irritating. And, in the blink of an eye, he had already disappeared—only to reappear right next to Levi.

Not just next to him.

On him.

East flung himself over Levi’s shoulders as if they were the best of friends, despite Levi standing there like a man questioning every life choice that had led him to this mont.

"Oh, don’t be so violent, Cullen," East scolded, wagging a single finger in the air as if he had just caught Cullen misbehaving. "That’s not very becoming of a future—ah, never mind." He waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, look! Our little lost lamb has finally co ho!"

Levi wasn’t even able to react. He was still stuck in so weird suit—probably from a party.

"Ahh!" East suddenly gasped, clutching his chest like he had just witnessed a great tragedy. "You still didn’t change? You’re wearing the exact sa outfit from Silvermist’s birthday party last year!"

Levi blinked. Then blinked again. His brain lagged. "Last year... LAST YEAR?!"

He almost choked, but East just nodded, looking completely unbothered—like what he had just said was the most normal thing a person could casually ntion on a Tuesday afternoon.

"Yep," East said with a dazzling smile. "Technically, it should be Silvermist’s this year’s birthday, but then." He waved his hand dramatically. "Shit happened. So goddess—let’s hide her na under Periwinkle—tried rewriting soone else’s story, and now you’re here."

Levi looked one second away from short-circuiting.

East, completely ignoring that, continued cheerfully. "You’re only a week late, by the way! Your master—Fall, the Autumn Guardian—couldn’t figure out where your presence was coming from since Frost accidentally caught you in a ti plane when Tim, the Ti Guardian, tried fixing what Silvermist left behind."

Silence.

Long. Painful. Silence.

Cullen stared at Levi, who looked like he was going through all five stages of grief simultaneously.

East was still grinning, completely unfazed by Levi’s impending existential crisis.

"And since you’re about to collapse after that," he announced cheerfully, "let teleport you to my office—"

Before Levi could even protest, poof—they were gone. Cullen barely had ti to exhale in relief before— poof. East reappeared.

"—and I’m taking you, too," he added like an afterthought, grabbing Cullen by the arm before he could physically escape. Then, as if he had all the ti in the world, he turned to the two sorcerers.

"Thank you, Grey... Yuri."

The sorcerers nodded, looking like this was just another day. Cullen, on the other hand, had exactly one second to process his fate before—poof.

Cullen blinked.

One second, he was in the hallway. The next, he was already seated on a couch in the Grandmaster’s office.

For so reason, Levi was sitting directly across from him, staring blankly into the void like he had just astral projected out of pure stress.

East was already at his desk, lounging in his grand Victorian chair with his elbows propped up and his hands clasped together—like a final boss waiting to monologue.

"So, Levi Aetherborn..." East’s voice, unusually serious this ti, cut through the air like a blade.

Cullen and Levi snapped their heads toward him, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone.

"Perhaps, can you tell about what happened when you were stuck in the ti plane?"

Cullen turned to Levi. Sothing can happen in a ti plane?

Levi’s hands were visibly trembling and Cullen understood why. The guy had just stepped into an academy he knew nothing about. Probably didn’t even have a concrete idea why he was here in the first place—judging by how lost he looked.

"I—I couldn’t rember much," Levi muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "All I saw was Silvermist hovering in front of from afar... I—I just know it was her. I’ve morized everything about her. I’d recognize her even from her scent."

Cullen frowned. "But there’s nothing in a ti plane but darkness," he muttered. Then, he hesitated and glanced at East, silently asking if he was allowed to continue.

East sighed. "They will eventually et anyway," he murmured, drawing Levi’s full attention.

Levi’s brows knitted together. "B-But I thought we would never be able to go back to our lives?"

Cullen shrugged. "That’s not what he ant." He paused, looking back at East—who, of course, just shrugged like this wasn’t a life-altering conversation.

"Anyway," East continued, tapping a finger against the desk, "regarding the ti plane... It is true that there will be nothing to see when a human enters with complete consciousness. Perhaps, it’s because you are the Autumn Apprentice... or maybe, it’s because you have a deep connection with the person you saw there."

Cullen’s brows furrowed. "You an to say, Silvermist was actually in the ti plane?"

East’s gaze flickered toward him. Then, he just shrugged. Again.

"I can’t say for certain that the person he saw was actually Silvermist," East admitted, lips pursed. "However, there has always been sothing about that woman I do not quite understand. A magic too foul, too elusive for even to pinpoint."

His eyes darkened as he turned to Cullen. Levi, in front of him wanted to speak so bad, but he couldn’t even formulate the right words to say.

"A magic... quite similar to yours. But on an entirely different level."

Cullen inhaled sharply.

He knew it.

East knew about his hidden power.

"Perhaps... it wasn’t just any hatred-powered magic just like what I suspect," East murmured. "And my damned brother, Frost, knows exactly why he’s holding onto her."

Silence settled over the room.

Levi and Cullen just stared at him.

Levi, at least, wasn’t as lost as before. Fall had already told him everything about the Guardians. When he and Tim found him dangling inside the ti plane, they had filled him in on the basics.

But this? This was sothing else entirely.

But then, Levi didn’t really care. All he wanted is to confirm what he was suspecting— "so, Silvermist is really here, too?" His voice was soft and emotional.

Cullen’s lips thinned into mocking grin. "You shouldn’t really be thinking about your little past when your present is also here."

Levi’s lips parted.