The headmistress gave each orphan a limited number of matches. Partly because they were genuinely hard to sell, partly to prevent wastefulness. Fifty matches had earned them twenty copper coins—ten more than expected at the rate of one coin for every five matches.

Yihan told Lia to carefully stash the extra ten coins for future use.

"Hide them somewhere only you know. Don’t tell anyone."

"From now on, sell matches this way. When business slows, I’ll help you again. Always set aside a little travel fund for yourself each day."

Lia nodded vigorously like a chick pecking rice, but froze at the last two words.

"*Travel fund*?" What would she need that for?

Yihan looked utterly matter-of-fact. "Of course. If you ever want to leave Soul Valley Town, you’ll need money. Otherwise, you won’t get far. Don’t tell me you plan to sell matches here your whole life?"

Lia instinctively shook her head, anxiety flickering across her face. She didn’t want that—but she’d never dared imagine life beyond the orphanage. As the headmistress always said: *Unwanted orphans like you should be grateful just to have shelter. Work hard and repay the kindness. Don’t dream of impossible things.*

She’d never learned to prepare for danger. Though half-starved and shivering in the orphanage, at least she wouldn’t die of hunger or homelessness. Even when she despised the headmistress’s cruelty, she never rebelled—not when unity was impossible. Defiance alone meant death.

Besides, she knew nothing of the world beyond. Her entire universe was this frigid, isolated Soul Valley Town. No one had ever told her which country it belonged to, or where on the continent she stood.

"Is... the outside world... nice?" Her voice trembled as she stared at the boy who’d filled her short day with wonders.

*How should I know? My world’s this town too.* Yihan scratched his brow, forcing lightness. "Definitely better. Nowhere’s as cold as here. There are grasslands, beaches, mountains, plains—endless beautiful places."

The girl’s emerald eyes widened slowly, shimmering with sudden joy. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

*He must have traveled everywhere. Lived such amazing stories. He’s incredible.*

*If only he’d take me with him...* Her gaze dimmed. Fingers slipped beneath her clothes, clutching the hard copper coins—her ticket out, her fragile hope.

"Lia, if you want... we could leave together someday."

The girl’s head snapped up.

Unaware how those words shattered her world, Yihan continued casually, "With enough travel funds, we can go anywhere. No one can stop us."

"Honestly, I hate this frozen place. We’ll find somewhere warm—forests, lakes. Stand on a mountain peak and greet the stars."

He chattered on, oblivious to Lia’s flushed cheeks and the tears glistening in her eyes.

Raised in this icy town, Lia’s vision of the outside was hazy—but she’d dreamed of escape countless times. Fear and lack of means had chained her here. Yihan’s arrival reignited that hope; his words painted vivid dreams: two figures trekking across sunlit snowfields, packs on their backs, faces alight with anticipation.

Like any girl with a budding heart, Lia had waited shyly for someone to step into her life.

She exhaled slowly, her smile brightening. "I’ll work hard."

Watching her eager stance, Yihan chuckled—reminded of his first sales job. He held out his palm. "Give me one copper coin."

Lia blinked, confused. *Weren’t we saving every coin?*

"I’m buying bread for lunch," he grinned. "Saving doesn’t mean starving. A full stomach means stronger arms for work this afternoon. Right?"

Trusting completely, she placed a coin in his hand. As he walked toward the bakery, she swayed gently, a sweet, contented smile on her lips.

Two other match-selling girls watched from the shadows. They’d seen Lia and Yihan whispering under the clock tower, hadn’t caught the words—but those gleaming copper coins in Lia’s fist? Impossible to miss.

Now that the boy was gone, they pounced.

"Need something?" Lia’s warm smile vanished like ice sealing a lake. Her gaze turned glacial, voice sharp as flint.

The taller girl forced a grin. "Just passing by! Chatting?"

"We have nothing to chat about." Lia inhaled sharply, frost still in her tone. Orphanage life had taught her isolation. These two? Rivals over scraps of space, never allies.

*Fake concern? Even fools see through that.*

She edged backward—but the shorter girl lunged, grabbing her collar. The taller one pinned her down, chanting: "You must’ve earned ten coins! Lend Luna and me three each. You’ll still have four left! Orphans should help orphans, right?"

"*Get off me!*" Lia thrashed in the snow, roaring with fury.

"Don’t be selfish—" They twisted her arms, fingers clawing toward her hidden coins.

Lia’s eyes reddened.

*No!*

These coins were her future—hers and Yihan’s. Their promise: warm lands with forests and lakes, stargazing on mountain peaks, greeting dawn’s sun together. How dare these scum shatter that dream?

A searing heat surged from her brow. Her emerald eyes blazed, burning with intensity.