Trapped In A Hot Igloo

Vastarael noticed a few things while they were trapped in the Frozen Ruins.

One, Runes don't work here because of the curse inflicting the area. Unless if one uses very powerful Runes, they will be utterly useless.

Two, he couldn't use his abilities that well. Since was sent back to where they started, his essence was back to normal and his Omniphage was not consuming his infinite soul energy to replenish the energy in his body.

All souls have energy called Soul Energy. Since the Aeterium near indestructible souls, they contain vast amounts of Soul Energy that are also infinite.

The main issue is that for Vastarael, he can only use Soul Energy if he's a Divine. However, his passive Tether Omniphage accessed his soul and began drawing energy from it to supply to his body.

For Aeterium, energy of the body and of the soul are completely different. Unlike all other races whose energy is linked to both body and soul, the same doesn't apply to them. In Vastarael's case, his body has essence but his soul has Soul Energy.

Those two never mix and never will. That's why Aeterium are known to be the most powerful when it comes to power consumption. They have two sources of energy to rely on, one which is nearly inexhaustible.

If it wasn't for this amazing feat, he wouldn't be summoning sapphire or even talking to Phaenora. Also, being from a divine origin made him endure the cathedral.

He was a hundred percent sure that if the Rune Sisters went to the cathedral, they would be corrupted in seconds.

And three, the Orchestral Vialex was helping them, as if it wanted to make them break the loop and solve the timeline issue.

It set a time loop that saved both of them all the time. While it was twenty one loops for Taryenne and Rienne, he only stayed in the cathedral for about... twenty hours.

The Orchestral Vialex was being protected by both the first and the second Peccavi in both timelines, neither of them wanting to let it go.

As he paced near the crumbling remnants of the city, the biting cold barely registering anymore. The pieces were falling into place and though the full picture eluded him, one truth stood clear:

The blizzard was the key.

It wasn't just a storm. It was the barrier between two fractured timelines. Taryenne's existence in the first timeline and Rienne's in the second had created a disjointed paradox.

And he, by being at the cathedral, had been caught in the nexus between them. His death, though harrowing, had forced the violex to reset and brought them all to the same point, the city entrance.

The blizzard was the embodiment of the timelines' refusal to converge. Its relentless force symbolized the temporal chaos that kept the loops alive. If he could survive it, the blizzard's grip would weaken, and the two fractured timelines would collapse into one cohesive reality.

"The blizzard isn't just a storm. It's the reset point. The moment it kills us, it forces the loops to start again. If I can find a way to survive... if I can endure..."

His thoughts trailed off, his eyes narrowing with determination.

This wasn't just about surviving a storm. It was a battle against the very fabric of time and causality. And Vastarael was determined to win.

And he had a perfect plan for that.

°°°°°°°°

Just like before when he met Runner, Vastarael made a gigantic igloo big enough for the three of them. However, since Runes don't work, he decided to use something he never thought of using.

Mystic Circles.

Since he can only use mystic circles of his creation, his mage capabilities are limited. However...

What if he could create a Heat Mystic Circle?

It didn't have to be stable. As long as he provided enough essence for it, it would be stable until the blizzard was over.

Even though it was going to consume a lot of his essence...

Vastarael sat cross-legged on the cold floor of the enormous sapphire igloo, its walls gleaming faintly in the dim light. His eyes burned with focus as he held a sharp shard of sapphire, its edge glinting ominously. The sisters sat quietly nearby, their breath visible in the freezing air as they watched him work.

Vastarael's thoughts raced.

'Runes are useless here, but a mystic circle... It doesn't rely on the same system. If I can create one that generates heat, it might be enough to hold out against the blizzard.'

Carefully, he began carving into the frozen ground, his hands steady despite the numbing cold. Concentric circles took shape, spiraling outward as he worked tirelessly. Each line had to be precise; any mistake could render the entire circle ineffective.

Between the rings, he etched ancient runes of his own design, blending the intricate patterns of Circlecraft with what he remembered of Heat Runes.

The sisters exchanged a glance but said nothing, sensing the weight of his concentration. Taryenne broke the silence after a while.

"You're using... Mystic Circles? But only human mages who are not from our tribe use them."

"I know," Vastarael replied. "I don't have the luxury to doubt myself now. If this fails, we freeze. If it works, we survive."

It took him an hour to complete. Exhausted but determined, Vastarael stepped back, admiring the lines and runes now carved into the igloo's floor. Holding the sapphire shard tightly, he pressed it to his palm until a faint glow emanated from the crystal. Slowly, he infused the circle with his essence.

The carved lines lit up, their glow spreading across the circle in radiant waves. The igloo's interior filled with a warm orange light and for a moment, nothing else existed but the hum of energy. The warmth began to seep into the air, and Vastarael allowed himself a small smile of relief.

But then something unexpected happened.

The mystic circle began to stabilize not as a temporary measure, but as something far more refined. The glow intensified and the pattern shifted subtly, almost as if the circle was perfecting itself. Vastarael's eyes widened in disbelief.

'This wasn't supposed to happen. I was just improvising...'

The air around them grew noticeably warmer, a soothing heat washing over the three of them. For twenty seconds, the circle held strong, radiating heat with efficiency and control that rivaled his best work.

Then, just as quickly as it had stabilized, the glow faded, leaving behind a faint warmth in the air.

He had created a new mystic circle.

He stood frozen, staring at the circle. A slow realization crept over him, and his voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

"I... I created something entirely new. A new mystic circle. Ha! I did create another circle! This is amazing!"

Now he didn't need to use a lot of essence on it. For the first time, things actually went the way he wanted.

°°°°°°

The blizzard roared outside, the howling winds battering against the sapphire walls. Despite the intense craftsmanship of the igloo, the cold seeped through, biting at their skin. Yet, Vastarael's Heat Mystic Circle glowed softly in the center, radiating warmth that quickly countered the encroaching chill.

It was warm. Too warm.

"What is this, a desert?" Taryenne groaned, fanning herself as beads of sweat began to form on her forehead.

Rienne was no better off, wiping the back of her neck with a frustrated sigh.

"We're going to die of heatstroke before the blizzard even ends at this rate."

Vastarael's eyes flicked toward the circle as he considered adjusting it, but he shook his head. The stabilization of the circle had been a miracle, and he wasn't about to risk tampering with it.

"It's better to be too hot than frozen solid. Just... adapt."

Adapt they did, by removing their heavy outer layers.

Taryenne pulled off her cloak first, tossing it aside as she stripped down to her innerwear. The lightweight fabric clung to her form, accentuating her pale curves and athletic build. Rienne hesitated for a moment but eventually followed suit, her softer, more elegant figure becoming evident as she adjusted her own simpler, yet equally revealing garments.

Vastarael, naturally indifferent and practiced in controlling his reactions due to the passive influence of his Boon, kept his gaze mostly neutral.

Mostly.

The sheen of sweat on their skin caught his eye and no matter how much he tried to remain detached, he couldn't deny that the two sisters were stunning in their own unique ways.

Taryenne, with her strong, confident posture and sharp features, exuded raw allure. Meanwhile, Rienne's delicate elegance, combined with her flushed cheeks and slightly shy demeanor, gave her an irresistible charm.

Even though they were twins, the only difference being Taryenne with dark hair and Rienne with blond hair, they had different body types.

Vastarael cleared his throat, focusing back on his work. He pulled off his own heavy cloak and hoodie, leaving him bare from the waist up. His divine physique immediately caught the sisters' attention.

The hard definition of his eight-pack abs glistened with sweat, his bronzed skin reflecting the faint light of the mystic circle. His broad shoulders and chiseled chest screamed of strength and grace, a combination that left the sisters utterly transfixed.

Rienne's face turned bright red and she quickly averted her gaze, biting her lip as her mind betrayed her with thoughts she didn't dare articulate.

Taryenne, on the other hand, wasn't as subtle. She openly stared, her gaze tracing the lines of his torso with an appreciation that bordered on admiration.

'Well... I guess he's not all talk after all.'

However, their fleeting hope of seeing him completely vulnerable was dashed when they realized he hadn't removed his pants.

"Of course he keeps those on," Taryenne grumbled, crossing her arms and leaning back against the igloo wall.

Rienne sighed softly, half in disappointment and half in relief, though she couldn't quite figure out why.

The awkwardness of the situation began to weigh on them. Both sisters were painfully aware of their heightened emotions, the strange heat in their chests that seemed to have nothing to do with the warmth of the circle.

"Why are we... like this?" Rienne finally whispered, her voice low and uncertain.

Taryenne didn't have an answer, but she felt it too, something primal and unexplainable tugging at her as she stole another glance at Vastarael's powerful frame.

Vastarael, meanwhile, chose not to acknowledge the tension. He sat cross-legged near the circle, his head tilted slightly as if deep in thought. Despite his best efforts to appear calm and unaffected, his Boon whispered temptations he worked tirelessly to suppress.

'Focus. The blizzard. The circle. Surviving this cursed city. Nothing else matters,' he told himself, trying to ignore the subtle glances cast his way.

But how long would he last?