Their father could arrange things so that the children could barely escape from the enraged creatures... Or they could fall into the void. This became the staircase in the citadel. By stepping on the right step, you can move calmly between the floors of the citadel... By stepping on the wrong one, you risk being thrown into the void or torn apart by the abyss.

Over time, the children learned to survive, to find food, and even to kill creatures for meat. Yes, there were also ordinary creatures: deer, rabbits, fish (if you broke the ice), and birds. All these animals had adapted to the climate and lived there.

The children survived as best they could. On cold nights, they huddled together to keep warm in some way. Sometimes they got sick, but even so, the father experimented on them.

Over time, the children learned to recognize the father’s presence in the world. When thunder rumbled on a calm day, it meant the father had arrived. They weren’t happy to see him at all, but they tolerated him. Leo received punishments, and his brother tried to help him. Sometimes his brother also got punished. But despite all the hardships, the children remained close‑knit...