Chapter 31 Burn of Ice (1)

The darkness of the night blanketed the snow-covered forest, transforming it into a world of eerie beauty.

Despite the hour, the forest was alive with sounds: the haunting hoots of owl-like creatures, the distant howls of wolves, and the occasional pop from sap frozen within the trees.

Amidst these natural noises, the soft, rhythmic crunch of footsteps on the snow stood out, a distinct reminder of human presence in the wild.

A figure wrapped in a dark cloak moved through the forest, blending seamlessly with the shadows. This person walked with purpose, unperturbed by the sudden sound of snow falling from branches or the sharp snap of twigs underfoot.

Their steps were confident, navigating the labyrinthine paths with an ease that suggested deep familiarity with the terrain.

Emerging from the dense forest, the figure stepped towards a vast, frozen lake that dominated the clearing. The eerie, otherworldly creaks and groans of the ice expanding filled the air, adding to the mystical atmosphere.

As the person turned towards their destination, the first rays of dawn began to pierce the darkness, casting a delicate light across the snowy expanse and bringing a gentle warmth that had been absent during the night.

With the arrival of daylight, the figure pulled back its hood, revealing a head of light blue hair that shimmered in the morning light.

Her diamond-shaped jawline and flawless, clear skin were framed by the hood. Thin, rosy red lips parted slightly as she exhaled a breath of cold air.

Her eyes, predominantly red with hints of light blue around the irises, scanned the surroundings with a sharp, discerning gaze. Satisfied, she continued towards a snow-covered cabin by the lake.

The cabin appeared unremarkable at first glance, constructed from darkly colored wood and nestled inconspicuously in the secluded spot.

However, as she ascended the porch and approached the door, it swung open on its own, revealing a surprisingly spacious interior. The cozy living room came into view first, its warmth and homeliness a stark contrast to the cold wilderness outside.

Hallways extended from the living room, leading to other parts of the cabin, inviting the woman to step inside and leave the forest behind.

Seated in the cozy living room, a familiar woman was absorbed in the holographic screen projected from her index finger.

Her red hair cascaded lazily down her back, contrasting with her comfortable attire: a white cotton fleece and black sweatpants. The flicker of the hologram reflected in her eyes as she worked. 

Hearing someone behind her, she glanced up with a lazy curiosity. "Hmm... Oh, Yuki, you're here."

"Miss Xirenia! What are you doing here?" Yuki's voice was filled with surprise at the unexpected sight of her teacher in her master's house.

"I asked her to come," a voice sounded from one of the hallways. A woman with long black hair stepped into the room, her presence commanding.

Unlike Miss Xirenia's cozy outfit, Yuki's master wore a white sleeveless shirt that revealed her toned stomach and blue shorts that reached halfway down her pale thighs.

"Master," Yuki greeted, giving a short but respectful bow toward the woman.

Her master acknowledged the bow with a nod, her cerulean blue eyes locking onto Yuki's with serious intensity. 

"Are you ready?" Her tone was grave, conveying the importance of the moment.

"Yes, Master. I'm 100% sure I'm ready," Yuki responded, her voice steady with determination.

"Haah… Alright, Xirenia, let's go." Calling out to Miss Xirenia, Yuki's master turned and walked down one of the adjacent halls, Miss Xirenia following closely.

"Wait, Master, where are we going?" Yuki asked as she hurried to keep up. She had expected the ritual to take place at her master's house.

"To ensure nothing goes wrong with the process of awakening your bloodline, we've chosen a mountain with never-melt ice and strong ice mana. It's the optimal place for the awakening, so we're taking you there," her master explained, leading them up a set of stairs.

At the top of the stairs, a small spatial rift shimmered in the center of the room. Approaching it, Yuki's master said, "Once we're through, we'll be at the top center of the mountain."

Looking back at Yuki, her master received a nod of understanding. She gave a brief smile before stepping through the rift, followed closely by Miss Xirenia and Yuki.

They emerged into a breathtaking ice cavern, its walls and ceiling composed of ancient, never-melt ice. This ice was legendary and said to have existed since the dawn of creation.

It glistened with thousands of colors, casting a kaleidoscopic glow that danced across the cavern.

The air was crisp and cold, the wintry wind howling softly through the chamber, echoing off the icy walls. In the center of the cavern, a complex magical array was inscribed into the ice, its lines glowing faintly.

Yuki's master turned towards her, her voice echoing slightly in the vast space. "Alright, Yuki, go ahead and sit in the center of the array."

"Okay, Master, but I have two questions," Yuki said, holding up two fingers.

"Go ahead," her master replied, nodding for her to continue.

"First, why is Miss Xirenia here?" Yuki asked, her curiosity evident

"I can answer that one, Shiori," Miss Xirenia interjected.

"As a fellow Phoenix, I'm here to ensure your lineage awakens properly. I can detect the aura of a Phoenix within you, and you don't have to worry about your lineage suppressing mine. As a royal Phoenix, my lineage is impervious to suppression regardless of the grade of yours." Miss Xirenia's explanation was calm and reassuring.

Yuki nodded in understanding, feeling more at ease with Miss Xirenia's presence.

The ancient ice around them seemed to pulse with an ethereal energy, heightening the sense of importance surrounding the ritual. The cavern's beauty and the significance of the moment filled Yuki with a mixture of awe and anticipation.

"Thank you for educating me on this, Miss Xirenia," Yuki said with a small bow, her hands cupped together in gratitude.

She then turned her attention to the intricate array on the ground, its lines, and symbols glowing with an otherworldly light. "Second, who made this array and what does it do?"

"The one who created this array is Adam Orpheus," Shiori explained, a hint of concern flashing in her eyes at the mention of his name.

"I asked him to help, and he was more than willing. He already had an inkling about how you feel towards his brother and wants the best for both of you."

'Big Brother Adam,' Yuki thought, her heart softening at the memory of the oldest Orpheus son.

Outwardly, she remained composed, but inside, she felt a rush of affection. She had always looked up to Adam, treating him like an older brother.

"As for the effect of the array," Shiori continued, "it's designed to draw in ambient mana and convert it into ice mana, amplifying the strength of your constitution. This should increase your chances of fully awakening your lineage. This is the first attempt to awaken a primordial-grade lineage completely from its slumber, so it's crucial that everything goes smoothly."

Yuki nodded, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

"I'm ready," she said, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling within her.

"Good. If you're ready, go ahead and take a seat in the center of the array," Shiori instructed.

Yuki walked into the center of the array, feeling the power thrumming beneath her feet. She took a seat in the lotus position, her eyes closed as she tried to calm her racing heart.

Shiori and Miss Xirenia moved to two different points in the array, each marked with a smaller circle, and crossed their legs as they sat down, their presence adding to the solemnity of the moment.

"Yuki, I'm going to activate the array now. I'll be focusing on keeping it running while Miss Xirenia will maintain the built-in shield for your safety and ours. Are you ready? I'll count down from three," Shiori instructed, her voice steady and reassuring.

Yuki nodded briefly, her mind already diving deep within herself, preparing to enter her sea of consciousness.

She closed her eyes, steadying her breath, and felt the world around her fade into a distant hum. Shiori then began her countdown.

"Three," Shiori and Miss Xirenia began to draw vast amounts of mana from their internal reservoirs. The air around them crackled with energy, reflecting their elemental affinities.

Shiori's Qi was imbued with a deep, icy calm, radiated cold energy, while Miss Xirenia's mana burned with the intensity of the sun, swirling around her like living flames.

"Two," they continued to channel their mana and Qi into the array. The cave seemed to hold its breath, the volatile nature of Qi subdued by Shiori's mastery, as serene and unyielding as the ocean.

"One," Shiori and Miss Xirenia exchanged a glance, a mutual understanding passing between them. They poured their energies into the array with full force, and the intricate symbols etched into the ice blazed to life.

A brilliant red light erupted from the center, and a thin, translucent barrier shimmered into existence around the array, sealing them within a protective dome.

"The array is fully active now. All we can do is wait for Yuki to succeed," Shiori said, her voice laced with both anticipation and concern.

Miss Xirenia nodded, her fiery aura casting flickering shadows on the cavern walls. "She'll do it. I can feel it," she replied, her tone firm with conviction.

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{A/N} Short One-week hiatus to sort out some personal things.