A door swings open, thudding against the wall. Isabella ran into the room, ignoring the mess, and jumped on Asukem's bed, waking him up. She screamed excitedly, "Big brother Asu-su, Wake up! It's snowing!" she followed up, giggling.

Asukem wakes up with Isabella on top of him, jumping on his chest. He coughs out and gasps out in pain as Isabella pounds her weight on his chest, "Izzie. Izzie! come on, quit, you're hurting me!" Isabella sat on his chest and slapped the bed beside his ears as she whined to him, "Well, get up then, big brother Asu-su!" Asukem giggled and looked at her, frowning at him, as he said, "Well, get off me, and I get up, silly girl."

Isabella climbed off Asukem and off his bed. She frowned and apologized, "I am sorry, Big Brother Asu-su; I didn't mean to hurt you. I hope you're not mad at me?" Asukem sat up in his bed and rubbed her hair but kept himself covered as he stated, "Me mad at you, Izzie? Never!" he gave a gentle smile but spun his finger around, telling her to turn around.

She turned around like her brother suggested. A look of excitement formed as she asked, "So, Big Brother Asu-su, are you excited for The Day of Beginnings?" Asukem uncovered himself and shivered as it was cold but answered while putting on long wool-weaved pants, a long-sleeved wool shirt, and his boots, "Not as much as you are." Asukem grinned hugely as he glanced at Isabella, making sure she stayed turned around, facing away from him, but he saw the excitement from her.

Asukem finished getting dressed and told her, "Okay, Izzie, you can turn around now." That is when he really noticed her. Isabella was not in her white oversized shirt, nor did she have ponytails in her hair. She wore her hair down. She wore a wool shirt, long wool-weaved pants, small black boots, and furry gloves. Asukem looked at her and smiled, realizing she was wearing Clair's old winter clothes; he asked, "Did big Sis Clair let you borrow her winter clothing when she was little?"

Isabella blushes and sways her body back and forth as she says shyly, "Maybe." She giggled, turned towards his door, and ran out of it, her face red in embarrassment. Asukem smiles, watches her run out his door, and shakes his head.

She wore wool baggy pants that had pockets that kept her hands warm from the cold. To finish, her outfit was boot-laced in wool. Clair looked down the stairs where Isabella went, walked towards Asukem, and smiled gently. Asukem's heart skipped a beat, and he shook his head, trying to accept Clair's realism; he smiled back as he asked, "Did you give her your old winter clothing?"

She smiles gently and nods as she asks, "I did. Doesn't she look adorable?" Asukem shrugs as he says, "I guess." she glances at him as she spins around, showing him her outfit, and asks, "How do I look? you like mine?" Asukem nods, still with a blank look of awe, as he says, "You look good in it." Clair's blushing made him blush as he formed a nervous grin.

all of a sudden, Isabella yells, "Come on guys!" Isabella frowns, waiting for Clair and Asukem to come downstairs.

Asukem and Clair both look down, blushing in embarrassment. They looked at each other, then back down at Isabella, and laughed as they continued down the stairs to accompany their little sister.

Asukem, Clair, and Isabella go outside the doors of the orphanage. The door moans as if it were old and ancient.

Isabella's face glowed with excitement. Asukem and Clair looked out into the town. Their eyes widened in awe at the beauty of the scenery. Blanketing the ground was white, fluffy, cloud-like snow. The air blew freezing cold air, sending the snow into a cold mist. The sky was light and calm, with a hint of enjoyment across the town.

Isabella charged out into the white scenery, dived into the snow, and started to play in it by making snow angels, snowmen, and snowballs, which Asukem and Clair joined in after Isabella threw a snowball at Asukem. As the snowball hits him in the back, he looks back at her with eyes widening with a silly smirk as he says in a playful tone, "Oh, it's war now." he makes a snowball and throws it at Isabella but misses.

Isabella and Clair ganged up on Asukem in the snowball fight, outnumbering him two to one. The giggling and laughing in a playful tone filled the town streets with an even more lightened tone. Suddenly, Isabella accidentally hit a man with long white hair and a long white beard that seemed to be in a white robe.

Isabella gasped in worry as she said, "Oh, no, I am sorry!" In response, the man in the white robe turns around, waves, signs it is okay, and gives a gentle smile. The wind blows, and the man magically disappears as he looks at her and gently puts his finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet. Asukem and Clair looked where she threw the snowball but saw no one. They look back at her, and Asukem asks, "Why are you apologizing, Izzie?"

Isabella looked as confused as they were as she replied, "I thought I hit somebody." she scratched her head, trying to figure out what was happening.

Asukem looked back again but still didn't see anyone; he noticed people heading to the church and leaving it. Asukem looked back at Isabella and Clair as he said, "Let's go see what's going on in the church."

Clair and Isabella nod. Asukem takes Isabella's hand, and they all walk to the church. They found themselves inside the church as everyone gave items to an altar. The items were not unique of any kind. It was money, clothing, fruits, or other food. Asukem looks confused as he asks himself, "What is this?"

A man in a robe answers Asukem's question, saying, "People are gifting Alterous, the great divine of creation and understanding gifts. they are doing this to earn his blessing." Clair's eyes widened as she was amazed. Isabella was excited by it and wanted to give the Great Divine something. Still, Asukem smacked his lips together, unimpressed at the situation.

Isabella bolted to the altar, turned to Clair and Asukem, and signaled them to come over. Isabella pats herself down, looking for something to give to the great divine at the altar. She slowly removed her gloves and put them on the altar as she frowned. "I am sorry I don't have much, mister. Alterous, but perhaps these can keep you warm." Clair smiles as she slowly strolls over, taking off her hat and setting it down on the altar. Asukem, however, marches over with attitude and spits on the altar. Everyone in the church gasps in fear and disgust. Isabella snaps at him, "Big brother Asu-su! Why!"

Asukem looks around as if he did nothing wrong, as he explains himself, "What? It's not like he is going to do anything. The great divines are myths. They don't listen to us anyway." he looks down at Isabella and says with sorrow, "I am sorry, Izzie but that's how I feel about the great divines."

A man Isabella saw stood behind the altar. Still invisible to everyone's eyes. he looks down in sorrow and sighs as he nods as if he understands what Asukem is saying. He says to himself, and no one can hear him, "I understand your frustration, my son; please let it out." he bends over the altar and touches the spit, saying, "I accept this heartless gift, Asukem. It will remind me how brave you really are to defy me and my brothers and sisters."

Asukem just grunts and marches outside in anger. Isabella's concern for Asukem follows him, yelling in worry, "Big brother Asu-su, wait, I didn't mean to make you mad!" Clair sighs, disappointed in Asukem. She bows to the altar and everyone in the church, "I am so sorry for this rudeness; please forgive us." as she walks outside, she hears, "It's okay, my child, I understand."

As the three orphans leave the church, the man in white robes, invisible to everyone, smiles as he says, "I, Alterous, the one who created Rikros, understand everything about those three, and Asukem, in time, I will return to you as a gift, but for now, keep rebelling my brave warrior, in time you will serve to be of good, and you will be a chosen hero, but of your own way."