ELFORIA

Billy, The Ice Cream Devourer

"Is there someone else who would like to challenge our champion? If you win, you'll receive three silvers! But just remember, losing means you'll need to pay for the amount of ice cream that you ate!" the shop owner once again shouted.

This store is known as the Challenge Stimulator Shop. Every week, they would pick a certain competition where people would either win the rewards or pay the price of everything they consumed or used in accepting the challenge. That is how they kept their shop running.

There are times where the small competition only includes something as simple as to eat a large bowl of spicy noodles, or an ice cream in winter. There are also times when they facilitate a monster taming competition, or a swordfighting one.

The challenge varies every week, month, and season. But one this is the same, they would always plant a competitor who excels in their challenge to prevent their customers from winning the prize. In short, they're a bunch of cheaters.

I stepped forward without a word then sat in front of the huge bowl of ice cream intended for the challengers.

"She's challenging him? HAHA for real?"

"Look at how thin she is, don't you think she'll freeze to death at this rate?"

"She must be in deep need of money."

"Miss?" I looked up to see the shop owner looking at me with a taunting smile on his face. "Are you here for the challenge?"

'If not, then why else? Tss.'

"Yeah. Can't I?"

"Of course you can! I just want to remind you that losing this challenge means that you have to pay a hundred copper coins for the ice cream." I just stared at him, then nod.

When I looked at 'Billy, The Ice Cream Devourer' (lol), he has that disgusting look on his face.

"You know what miss, I'll let you win if you go out with me tonight. How's that?" Iww.

"Didn't know that ogres speak human tongue." I raised my eyebrow, while a look of annoyance blossomed on his face.

"Well then, before we start, let me explain the rules for this young lady here. In front of you is a huge bowl containing almost three pounds of ice cream. All you need to do to win is to finish that ice cream first. In cases where both participant finished the bowl of ice cream at the same time, a second bowl of ice cream twice the size of the first one will be given as a tie breaker. The amount of ice cream used by both participants will be paid by the side who lost." the shop owner explained. " Is that clear?"

"Yeah."

"Well then, let the challenge, BEGIN!"

As soon as he said that, I calmly picked up my spoon and started eating the ice cream in front of me. I savored the sweet and rich flavor of chocolate that melts into my mouth instantly.

"Hey! Why is this so hard?!" I looked up to see the fuming face of the ogre in front of me, then I looked at the ice cream in front of him which I turned into a very solid block of ice.

'They've been cheating, so why can't I? HEHE'

I savored each bite of my ice cream while turning my opponent's into a hard block of ice everytime they replace his.

The result was obvious, I won.

"H-Here's your reward." Then, I stood up and walked away.

"She finished all that?!"

"She seems unaffected by cold. Cool."

"Is she an ice fairy?"

"What are you? Five years old?"

Even the ogre was too stunned to protest.

I didn't bother roaming around the market after that. Instead, I started making my way towards the entrance of the forest.

It was a good thing that everyone was so busy to pay attention to someone like me who would dare to enter a forest which everyone tries so hard to avoid.

As soon as the darkness of the forest enveloped me, I immediately teleported back to my house.

"Ugh finally." I removed the thick layer of clothes from my body until the only thing that's left is a thin floral dress.

The inside of my house is warm due to my magic so those thick garments aren't really necessary. Plus, it's not as though the cold would bother me.

With a flick of my hand, all the things I bought arranged themselves on my cupboards and cabinets.

Then, I pointed my fingers at the fireplace to light some fire to make the room warmer...for my cats.

"Come here, Vira." I called out to my cat who immediately approached me and settled itself on my lap.

"Where have you been, Master?"

Vira is a mythical creature who doesn't have a specific form. She was a ball of darkness who accompanied me since the day I was created. That is the reason why I could communicate with her through telepathy.

"I bought some things on the market."

"Is that so, Master? If only she is here, she could just easily create it for you."

"Yeah." I sighed.

"By the way, where is Zero?" I was pertaining to my white tiger.

If Vira was a ball of darkness who could take on any appearance, then Zero is a blinding ball of light who can also change it's form on a whim.

"He went out to hunt, Master." I continued stroking Vira after that, while sipping a cup of hot chocolate.

"Master, may I ask you something?" I was pulled back from my reverie.

"Hmm?"

"You know you could go back, right? Why did you choose not to?"

There it is, a question I've been trying to avoid.

Yeah. Why won't I?

"Hmm...I wonder." After that, silence enveloped us. Vira is smart, and since she's been my familiar for a very long time now, she knew that forcing an answer out of me would not do her any good, and would result to nothing. Therefore, she just then continued to nuzzle in my lap and kept quiet.

As for me, I stared out of the window and watched the endless pouring of snowflakes...Just like the endless memories that started to assault my mind.