Aris Sturisdottir

Between the depth of woods in Alaska,

A small youngish girl with shiny silver hair sat in a lotus position among the snow. She lived alone with her father, a man called Edvar Stroud, in the log cabin nearby. Her name was Aris Sturisdottir, the same surname as her mother, whom she did not get to know. Even so, she was happy living with her father, who used to be a soldier but retired to take care of the child when her mother died. Now, he was something between a woodcutter and a hunter, famous for selling good pelts and meat to make a living.

Winter was as harsh as any season to them; the snow never stopped falling. Even so, it was not the cold that the girl complained about—quite the opposite.

She loved the cold.

It was midday, and her father had gone out hunting. Instead of waiting for him inside the cabin, she was outside meditating, following the instructions in the mysterious book she had found a few days ago.

All her senses were heightened as she cultivated; she could feel the snowflakes gently kissing her skin, each tiny touch sending a soothing, refreshing sensation through her body. The crisp, cold air filled her lungs with every breath, invigorating her spirit and sharpening her focus. It was a marvelous feeling, 

With her eyes closed, she couldn't see that as she breathed in and out, some bluish-white particles were forming around her. It mainly came from the snow that had accumulated on the ground and after a while these particles would enter her body as she breathed in. 

These bluish dots were called: Qi

As the Qi entered her body, she felt refreshed. After two days of hard work, she had accumulated quite a bit of it in her body. Inside the place the book referred to as "Dantian"—near her heart—there was a small amount of Qi the size of a fingernail.

Minutes passed, and she kept cultivating.

After some time…

"Bang!"

The girl felt like something had exploded in her mind, painlessly. At the same time, the Qi she had stored in her Dantian spread throughout her body. It molded her bones, muscles, and skin. Her mind became clearer, and she felt even more connected with the snow.

She opened her eyes and stood up.

Looking around, she noticed that there was much more snow near her than in other places. It was as if the snowflakes were subtly attracted to her as they fell, almost like she had a magnetic field—a snow magnetic field! She smiled at that silly thought and stood up, brushing the snow off herself.

She walked over to the nearest tree, preparing with all her might, and punched.

Thung!

The tree trembled slightly, and a cascade of snow that had been precariously balanced on the branches above came tumbling down, landing squarely on her head.

"Hehe!" she giggled innocently, shaking the snow from her hair.

As she lowered her fists, she noticed something remarkable. Imprinted deeply into the bark of the tree were the distinct impressions of her five fingers, each one clearly visible. The trunk bore the mark of her punch, a testament to the strength she had gained through her cultivation.

"So this is how it feels to be in the First Stage of Body Tempering! This is incredible!" she exclaimed, amazed by her own strength. She was unsure if even her father could accomplish such a feat!

The book stated that there were nine stages in the Body Cultivation and she was only in the first level. It was said that cultivation improved the body's constitution as a whole, its strength, resistance, recovery and longevity. Aris could only imagine how much stronger she would become, perhaps even surpassing the heroines in the histories she loved was a possibility!

For a moment the girl daydreamed about herself standing tall on a snowy mountaintop, wielding immense power with a mere flick of her wrist. In her mind, she saw herself rescuing entire villages from terrifying beasts, her strength unmatched by any foe. She envisioned herself as a heroine, revered by all, her name whispered in awe by those who heard tales of her deeds. 

[That would be fun…] She smiled, dismissing those thoughts and focused back on her cultivation.

The book also mentioned that the next step after the ninth stage of Body Tempering was called Foundation Establishment, but it didn't explain how the transition worked or what benefits she could expect. That would be a problem for the future, she thought, excitement bubbling within her at the possibilities.

Suddenly, a deep voice called from behind her.

"What are you doing out here, my little girl?"

Turning around, she saw a big bearded man carrying a rifle and a big bag on his shoulder.

"Father!" she cried, running into his embrace. "How was the hunting?"

"Fine... fine," he said, patting her hair. "The animals were a bit restless today. I've spotted more wolves than usual. Anyway, guess what we have for lunch?"

"Deer?!" She jumped happily.

"Yes, kid. Go inside while I clean it." He pushed her gently away and headed to the side of the cabin.

"Okay, Dad!" Aris replied, her heart light with happiness. She darted inside, eager to help prepare one of her favorites dishes.

**********

Inside the cottage, the warmth and coziness contrasted sharply with the harsh winter outside. The simple wooden structure exuded a rustic charm, with walls made of sturdy logs that had weathered many winters. A crackling fireplace dominated one corner of the main room, its flames casting a soft, golden glow. 

The furniture was modest but functional: a well-worn couch covered in a patchwork quilt, a couple of wooden chairs that creaked with age, and a small, round dining table bearing the marks of countless meals. In the far corner, a small, old TV sat on a rickety stand, beside a worn bookshelf holding a collection of cherished books.

The kitchen, though compact, was well-organized. A simple stove and oven combo stood beside a small sink, where Edvar now worked, expertly preparing the freshly cleaned deer meat. The aroma of cooking meat soon mingled with the scent of burning wood, creating an inviting atmosphere.

On a whim, he turned on the TV to catch the news.

[Journal]

A gorgeous blonde journalist stood in front of a massive building in the heart of Europe, behind her hundreds of flags representing different countries waved in the breeze. The imposing structure loomed with an air of significance, its stone façade reflecting the weight of the moment.

". . . and perhaps this is the biggest event in decades. Delegates and leaders from around the world have gathered here in an unprecedented assembly. We can only wait until this exceptional conference concludes; for now, we can only speculate on the discussions taking place within these historic walls."

The screen shifted to show images of various people holding strange books, while the journalist's voice continued.

"Even though we have debunked the images circulating on the internet, there are still people falling for scams! It was said that even some companies spent millions of dollars on these so-called mystical books.

Remember: there is no way for humans to become powerful as these false books claim; it's all fantasy! Do not believe in fake news!"

The camera panned back to the journalist. 

"As of right now, we are still waiting for an official statement from the government about these false books. Most countries' representatives are here in Europe to discuss this urgent matter…"

Suddenly, the TV turned black.

Aris, sensing something was amiss, raised her head and saw Edvar looking at her with a raised eyebrow. "You have one of those books, don't you, girl?" He asked in an inquisitive tone.

"W-What book? I d-don't have any!" She lied naively, her eyes darting towards her room where the book was hidden under her bed.

"Don't lie to me, I've seen it." Edvar's piercing eyes met hers, unwavering. It was impossible for him not to notice how strange his daughter had been acting these past few days.

Feeling her heart beating faster, Aris couldn't hold any longer and gave in.

Yes… it is under my bed." She admitted dejectedly.

Instead of walking towards the bed and taking the book, Edvar just stood there, looking into his daughter's eyes. "What is so special about this book that all the companies and governments want it? Can you explain it to me?"

"T-They lied on the TV. It's true that we can become stronger! I can feel the mysterious energy called Qi and absorb it, just like the book said! D-Do you believe me, Dad?"

For a moment, the older man just stood there, lost in his own thoughts. The girl's heart pounded in her chest, fear gripping her as she awaited her father's response. His brows furrowed deeper, and for a brief moment, Aris wasn't even sure he was thinking about her anymore. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he took a step forward, closing the distance between them. Gently, Edvar patted Aris on the head.

"I do believe you, my princess. From the way they're talking on TV, I can assume the books are real," he said with a shrug and a smile. As an experienced soldier, he knew a lot more than he let on. "You're too young to understand everything."

"Will you sell my book, Father? I know we're short on money, but I could help you with hunting… or even get a job with Aunt Andressa!" she pleaded, her eyes filling with tears. The book was now her most cherished possession.

"I won't, this thing is yours. Somehow, I feel you were meant to find it," he said, smiling at her childishness. In fact, he didn't take the event as seriously as he perhaps should have. "But I need you to promise one thing: You can't tell anyone about it, not even Aunt Andressa. Understood?"

"Okay, Father!" she promised, a bright smile spreading across her face.