Miraculously getting out of it unhurt, John stayed kneeling and awaiting judgment, dozing off in a seiza posture, still completely frozen. In this state, he was gently awoken with a blade, making a shallow cut into his neck as a sword maiden with a cold aura and silver hair questioned him. She asked if John was the cause of this scene, to which he admitted, causing the maiden to move the sword away in preparation for swinging as she asked for a reason. John then answered honestly, telling her of his home, his struggles, the disease, and the necessary steps he knew he needed to take to correct his idiocy and save the land he now sat upon. The woman asked how she could believe him, leaving John to slowly pull up the sleeves of his sweater after taking off his coat, showing the scars and bite mark. The infection may have left him, but the scarring was still there, so he was able to show her something as he returned to his posture, asking if that was all, as she told him it was, leaving John to expect a blade through his chest or across his neck. Instead, the woman guided him up with the blade under her chin, pushing him to stand as she introduced herself as Snow Willow of the Frozen Lake Path, born with a pure yin physique.
Snow told John that he had a lot of making up to do as she gave him a warm smile, using a simple hand movement to usher him to follow her as they walked.
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