Chapter 48: Kingdom of Ice, Terrible situation.

The sound of hurried footsteps rang out as Elsa and Anna emerged from the stairway, their expressions filled with urgency.

"Lioro!" Elsa called, her voice laced with a mix of excitement and desperation.

Lioro turned his head slightly, a small smile gracing his lips as he kept his hands clasped behind his back. "Yes?"

Anna looked at him in curiosity.

Elsa stepped forward, her gaze locking onto his. "I need your help. Arendelle is trapped in an eternal winter, and I... I don't know how to stop it. But you can! You have fire magic! You can melt the ice!"

Anna's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, he has fire magic?!"

Lioro chuckled softly before finally turning around to fully face them. "Yes, I do. But magic alone isn't always the answer.

Elsa clenched her fists. "What do you mean?"

Lioro stepped closer, his six eyes glowing faintly as he observed her. "The problem isn't just the ice. It's you, Elsa. You fear your own power. And as long as you let fear control you, it will spiral out of control."

Elsa flinched slightly at his words. "But... I've tried. I can't just wish the fear away."

Lioro smiled, raising a single hand. A small, controlled flame flickered into existence on his palm. "You see this? This fire can destroy, but it can also warm and protect. The difference is control. Right now, your emotions are controlling your power, not the other way around."

He was simply bullshitting his way through.

What emotion? What control? His power came from his classes.

If he wasn't immune to fire then he wouldn't even be able to pull this cool act of playing with fire using his fingers.

Anna stepped between them, looking between Elsa and Lioro. "So... how do we fix this?"

"And this young lady is?", Looking at Anna, Lioro asked Elsa.

"My sister....Anna.", Elsa replied in a soft voice.

Lioro nodded at Anna before extinguishing the flame and crossing his arms. "First, we need to understand the connection between your emotions and your ice magic. I want you to try something for me, Elsa. Close your eyes."

Elsa hesitated but obeyed, taking a deep breath and shutting her eyes.

"Now," Lioro continued, "I want you to remember the happiest moment of your life. Something that made you feel truly safe and free."

Aka follow the original plot of the series.

Elsa's brows furrowed slightly. For a moment, nothing came to mind. But then, like a soft whisper, a memory surfaced, Anna and her as children, playing in the snow, laughing, without fear or worry. A warmth spread through her chest.

Lioro's eyes glowed as he watched the faintest shimmer of snowflakes swirl gently around Elsa, no longer chaotic or wild, but soft and controlled.

"Good," he murmured. "Now, hold onto that feeling. This is your power when it's free of fear. When it belongs to you, not the other way around."

Elsa opened her eyes, watching as the delicate flakes danced around her fingertips. It was beautiful and peaceful. But then doubt crept back in, and the flurry turned erratic again. Ice began to spread once more, this time even faster.

Elsa gasped, clenching her hands. "No! I... I can't stop it! It's happening again!"

Anna's face filled with worry. "Elsa, calm down!"

With Elsa as the center, a wave of ice magic spread out, rushing at everything around.

Anna could only look helplessly as the ice attack came straight for her.

But then the next moment, Lioro's figure appeared before her and smashed the ice attack using his bare hands, protecting Anna.

Looking at his back, Anna said in a hurry.

"T-thank you."

Lioro frowned and looked at his arm which was frozen again.

This time was a little different than the last.

'Cursed Energy?'

He felt a flow of cursed energy from the ice.

Of course with his passive curse immunity, he was completely immune to its effects, but if a normal human like Anna were to be hit with it.....

The image of Anna freezing into an ice sculpture suddenly passed through Lioro's mind.

Dropping to the ground, Elsa turned to Lioro and shouted with desperation in her eyes. "I can't control it! Help me like you did before!"

It looks like his talk-no-jutsu was quite useless and not quite effective.

Breaking the ice covering his hand, Lioro cast his tier 2 spell.

"Mind Of Undead."

A green light surrounded Elsa before her mind calmed down and the ice element stopped raging.

"Elsa!"

From behind Lioro, Anna ran out straight towards Elsa, getting down on the ground beside her she grabbed her arm and asked in a worried voice.

"Are you okay? Elsa talk to me!"

"I'm fine Anna."

Elsa shook her head and replied in a calm voice.

Turning towards Lioro she continued: "As you saw my powers are difficult to control, they run out of control at the most awkward times..."

"So please Lioro, help Arendelle using your strength."

Anna also turned to Lioro and lowered her head, begging in a loud voice.

"Please help Arendelle!"

Lioro studied them for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Let's go."

It seems he'll have to personally unfreeze Arendelle now as the story has strayed too much from its original path and could no longer follow the original flow due to his intervention.

Behind them, at the room's door, Kristoff along with his Reindeer and Olaf appeared near the door, looking at the scene in confusion, wondering what they just missed.

"Are these your friends?"

Lioro asked while looking at the three newcomers.

"Yes, they're with me..."

Anna said as she supported Elsa to get up from the ground.

Just when she was about to continue, Elsa suddenly pulled away from her.

Anna looked at her in confusion.

"The effect of the magic is going away.", Elsa said as she held her arm.

The effect of a tier 2 spell was limited, it only lasted for some time before going away.

Knowing it full well, Elsa moved closer to Lioro, as he was the only one who could help contain her in case she lost control of her powers again.

Anna's eyes widened.

She looked at her sister, then at Lioro, then her sister, then Lioro again.

She repeated the action a few times before coming to a conclusion.

'There is something wrong with these two!'

She shouted loudly in her mind.

But knowing the situation of her kingdom, Anna suppressed her doubts and said. 

"Let's leave quickly."

Lioro nodded his head and said: "Okay let's go."

Then, all of them exited the ice castle together, making their way through the snowy mountain paths.

Kristoff, accompanied by his loyal reindeer Sven, took the lead, guiding them through the terrain with practiced ease. Having traversed these mountains more times than he could count, he was by far the most familiar with the safest routes.

However, his focus occasionally drifted to Lioro, and each time his gaze landed on Lioro's handsome face, a deep sense of injustice welled up within him.

'Seriously, how is that fair?!' Kristoff grumbled internally.

Anna, walking beside him, noticed his increasingly forlorn expression and tilted her head in curiosity.

"Kristoff, is something wrong?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

Kristoff quickly snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. "It's nothing..." he muttered, though the dejected tone did little to convince her.

Beside him, Sven rolled his eyes, huffing in exasperation.

Just then—

The rhythmic crunch of hurried footsteps against the snow mixed with the howling wind as a group of figures emerged from the frost-covered trees ahead.

Hans and his entourage.

"Anna! You're okay!" Hans called out warmly as he strode forward, his expression alight with relief before his gaze shifted toward Elsa. "And you found Queen Elsa!"

Anna's eyes brightened at the sight of him. "Hans! It's so good to see you again!" she exclaimed, stepping toward him without hesitation.

Kristoff, however, narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the man more closely now that he had a chance.

'This is Hans?' he thought, watching him with growing suspicion.

There was just... something about the guy. Something off.

Kristoff couldn't quite put his finger on it, but one thing was certain—Hans had an extremely punchable face.

Meanwhile, Elsa hesitated, her gaze flickering warily between Hans and the guards standing behind him.

Without a word, two of the red-clad soldiers exchanged a silent nod, their movements almost imperceptible as they reached for their crossbows.

Hans, unfazed, continued conversing with Anna in his usual calm manner.

"Why are you here, Hans? What about Arendelle?" Anna asked.

"I was worried when I saw your horse return without you," Hans explained smoothly. "So I set out to find you myself..."

While Hans and Anna conversed, two red-guard soldiers silently released their crossbow bolts. The deadly projectiles hurtled toward Elsa, who stood a few paces away, lost in her own thoughts.

It happened so suddenly, without any warning.

But.

There was someone even faster than the arrow.

Elsa's eyes trembled to see the metal tip of the arrow mere centimeters away from her face.

If the arrow had hit her...she would have died.

Without even knowing how.

Fortunately.....

Elsa moved her eyes and looked at the hand firmly holding onto the arrows.

Lioro!

Her heart instantly felt at ease.

She knew her friend was strong but damn!

He can even catch arrows!

For a moment, silence filled the air. Everyone stared in shock, frozen by the display of speed and power. Even the wind seemed to hush in the face of what had just happened.

Anna blinked. "Y-You just—caught them? With your bare hands?!"

What the hell kind of strength was that?!

Kristoff's jaw hung open. "That's… not normal."

Olaf, ever the innocent observer, gasped in excitement. "That's so cool...I want to try that!"

Lioro lightly played with the two arrows in his hands before looking at the two guards in red.

Hans's face paled. "P-please wait! There must be some kind of misunderstanding!"

Ignoring Hans's words as if he didn't exist, Lioro casually threw the two arrows back at the perpetrators.

*Arghh*

A heart-piercing voice rang out as the two arrows hit the same guard, one on the shoulder and the other on the leg.

The other red guard looked at his companion in fear.

Lioro fell silent.

He had actually meant to hit both of them... but apparently, his aim wasn't as precise as he thought.

Hearing the scream of their companion, the other guards instinctively pulled out their swords.

Lioro's blue eyes swept over the stunned soldiers, his voice calm yet laced with quiet authority. "I suggest you lower your weapons," he warned. 

Hans's expression crumbled as he took in the scene.

On the other hand, Anna finally recovered her bearing.

With quick steps, she came between the soldiers and Lioro.

"Wait please just wait! We have no reason to hurt each other!"

Lioro raised a brow. "I wouldn't be so sure about that," he said, glancing at Elsa, who had instinctively positioned herself behind him. "They just tried to kill your sister."

Anna instantly turned to Hans.

"Hans.....what is the meaning of this?"

"Princess Anna trust me I never intended to hurt the queen!"

Hans said with a sincere look on his face.

"These two...they acted on their own!"

Pointing at the two men in red he easily sold them out.

Looking at the scene Anna's brain was filled with confusion, not understanding what to do.

She was definitely on her sister's side, but seeing the red guard's miserable appearance she couldn't bring herself to reprimand them.

While Anna was confused and everyone else was feeling nervous, Lioro moved and stopped before Hans.

Being stared at by Lioro, a feeling of unease filled Hans as he felt his throat run dry.

"You said you didn't plan to hurt Elsa?"

"Of course! I would never do such a thing to the queen!", Hans said in a hurry.

"Then you wouldn't mind wearing this ring for me yes?", Lioro said as he took out a metal ring from his inventory and added an effect to it.

----

Item: Metal Ring Of Truth

Grade: Medium.

Type: Accessories

Equip Requirement: None.

Description: A simple metal ring blessed by the divine smith able to distinguish truth and lies.

Added Effect: Turns red when the wearer is lying.

----

-15,000 experience.

"A ring?", Hans looked at the metal ring in confusion.

"This is a magic item, a lie detector ring which turns red when the wearer is lying."

"What?!"

Everyone was shocked.

Anna's mouth fell open. "That exists?!"

They all looked at Lioro in shock.

"Here put it on, I want to ask you some questions."

Lioro said as he forcefully grabbed Hans's hand and put the metal ring on his finger.

"W-wait! Please stop!"

Unable to free himself from Lioro's grip, Hans pleaded to Anna.

"Anna help!"

Anna quickly went up to Lioro and said in a hurry.

"Mr Lioro please let go of Hans--"

Lioro cut her off and held the struggling Hans down by grabbing his shoulder.

"I'm just asking a few questions, I swear I won't hurt him."

"But!"

"What do you think Elsa?"

Ignoring the stupid in-love princess, he asked Elsa.

"Anna let's trust Lioro."

Elsa said to her sister and gave Lioro a nod.

"Elsa....."

Anna looked at her sister, then at Hans, stuck between the two sides she could only remain silent.

But that didn't mean she doubted Hans.

She believed Hans would pass the test with flying colors.

"Tell them the truth Hans, I believe in you."

Anna said, Giving Hans an encouraging look.

Hans's face fell.

Kristoff clearly saw the change in Hans's expression and got ready for a good show.

"It seems everyone agrees, so for the first question...."

Lioro smiled and asked.

"Do you even love Anna or are you just trying to marry her to overtake her kingdom?"

Fck the drama, get straight to the point!

Hans's face turned white.

"What kind of question is that? Of course, Hans loves me!", Anna said with furrowed brows.

"What do you have to say, Hans?"

"I--I of course love Anna--"

The ring turned red.

Silence descended upon the place.

"No way..."

Anna muttered in a sad voice as her eyes lost focus.

"Anna...."

Seeing her sister's state, Elsa wanted to hold her but because of her current state, she held herself back, staring silently at Hans with hateful eyes.

"I believe there is no need for a second or third question."

Lioro said as he lightly punched Hans and knocked him out, taking the metal ring off from his hand.

"Here feel free to check it if you think I'm lying.", Lioro threw the ring at Kristoff who caught it with one hand.

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Kristoff took off his glove and put on the ring.

After thinking for a second he said.

"I'm a reindeer."

The ring turned red.

"Wow, it actually works!"

Kristoff's eyes shone with bright light.

His pet reindeer looked at him in disappointment.

"I'm a human!"

The red color faded, turning back to normal.

Kristoff tried a few more times before shouting in a loud voice.

"It's legit! It's definitely legit!"

"Guards apprehend him and put him in the sellers."

Elsa took a step forward and commanded in a cold voice.

The guards followed her order and apprehended Hans along with the two guards in red.

"Well let's keep going."

Lioro said, looking at the snowy path ahead.

"Hey Anna are you okay?", Olaf asked, looking at Anna with worried eyes.

"I'm fine Olaf."

Anna let out a sigh then slapped her cheeks and got her emotions under control.

"Need a hand?", Kristoff said while extending his arm towards her.

Anna grabbed his hand letting Kristoff pull her off the ground.

"Didn't I tell you? It was crazy to go after a guy you just met."

"Yeah, you were right, It seems you're love friends were right after all."

Anna said with a sad smile on her face.

"Don't worry there are plenty of good men out there, I'm sure you'll find the one for you in no time."

Kristoff said in an encouraging tone.

Anna smiled.

Seeing her sister recover, Elsa sighed in relief.

Now they just needed to save Arendelle.

Sliding through the snowy mountain was a sleigh made of ice being pulled by an excited reindeer.

In the front were Kristoff, Anna, and Olaf.

The guards were following behind on their horses.

Elsa, on the other hand, sat in the back with Lioro.

At first, she remained quiet, watching the snow-covered peaks pass by, her thoughts swirling with everything that had happened.

But as she sat there, her eyes slowly shifted toward Lioro.

The scene of him catching the arrows so effortlessly replayed in her mind.

He had reacted faster than anyone—no hesitation, no fear.

That realization made her smile and a warmth bloomed in her chest.

Before she even thought about it, her fingers twitched, and the next thing she knew—

She had reached for his hand.

It felt nice and helped calm her down.

Lioro stiffened.

'Excuse me?'

Lioro was speechless.

You don't just grab people's hands like that out of nowhere!

And excuse me but did you know that you were freezing my hand?

He could literally feel frost enveloping it!

Elsa!

Oh Elsa what is wrong with you!

Slowly, he turned to glance at her.

Elsa was staring straight ahead, seemingly unaware of her own actions. But the small, almost imperceptible smile on her lips gave her away.

'…I see.'

She was nervous.

Or maybe—

Maybe she just felt safer this way.

Well, if it helped calm her down, then fine.

As for his freezing hand?

His magic resistance was too high for it to do any actual damage.

Meanwhile, in the front seat, Kristoff and Anna silently glanced at each other, communicating with their eyes.

'Are you seeing this?'

'I know, right?!'

Even Olaf, sitting between them, turned his head to observe.

"They're holding hands.....How lewd."

Lioro's eye twitched.

Anna let out a small giggle despite herself, the tension from earlier momentarily forgotten.

Elsa, realizing what she had done, quickly pulled her hand back, her face turning a light shade of pink.

"I—"

She cleared her throat. "I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," Lioro said simply, shifting his gaze back to the scenery.

Still, Elsa kept her hands firmly in her lap after that.

The sleigh picked up speed, sliding down the icy slopes with ease, and soon, the towering walls of Arendelle came into view.

They arrived at their location.

----

PS: SEND POWER STONES!!!!! Or no Elsa ship :v