Where is the Hero?

Ahcehera barely dodged as a massive spike of ice shot up from the ground, narrowly missing her shoulder.

The Ice Guardian had emerged, a towering, armored figure of shimmering frost, its hollow eyes glowing an unnatural color.

It raised its crystalline spear and lunged.

Ahcehera had no choice. She summoned Syverian, her mecha, and activated its flight mode.

The thrusters roared to life, and in an instant, she shot into the sky, barely evading another ice spear that shattered against the academy's frozen barrier.

The magical seal around the school pulsed ominously, reacting to her presence. As she ascended, her gaze fell upon the academy's lake, now completely frozen over.

Yet, despite the ice sealing it shut, dark energy still leaked from beneath the surface. Her heart clenched. Something was sealed in that lake. Something dangerous.