Chapter 11 - The Snow Castle
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The winter air was sharp and invigorating, carrying the distinct, clean scent of fresh snow. Roberto carried Sofía out to the expansive backyard, her joyous laughter ringing out like silver bells against the quiet morning.
"Okay, Captain," Roberto announced, setting her down gently into the knee-deep snow. "Where is the optimal location for this fortress?"
Sofía swept her sensory cane in a wide arc, feeling the texture of the snowdrifts.
"Right here," she declared confidently, pointing to a clearing near the large oak tree. "It needs to be near the tree so the snow-king has shade in the summer."
"Excellent strategic thinking," Roberto praised, grabbing a large plastic shovel from the patio.
They spent the next two hours working side by side. Roberto piled the snow high, while Sofía meticulously shaped the walls with her mittened hands, determining the height and thickness by touch.
"The walls need to be thicker, Daddy," Sofía instructed, patting a section of the snowbank. "The dragon might knock it over if it's too thin."
"We certainly cannot have a dragon breach the walls," Roberto agreed, scooping more snow onto the barrier. "What kind of dragon are we expecting?"
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"A fire dragon, obviously," Sofía giggled. "That's why the walls are made of ice."
As they worked, Roberto felt a profound sense of peace settle over him. He wasn't thinking about market fluctuations, hostile takeovers, or the betrayed trust of the past. His entire world was reduced to the sound of his daughter's laughter and the cold snow soaking through his gloves. This was the presence he had fought so hard to reclaim.
