Valentine stared up at twin gates that divided the citadel's court from the passages Thawed would march in order to sign their Rites. Flashes of his memory clouded his mind as he stumbled closer.
With each step he took, he remembered his childhood friend and the blizzard that tore through the mountain. Almost like a living memory, he could feel the pulling of the winds and howling storm.
Suth came to a halt behind him. Her hands clasped together to heavily emphasis on her calm facial expression. Where she would normally feel a hint of concern, she felt curiosity.
"Your Rite of Approval starts outside these walls. Ascend up to Digon's highest peak and perform a Sky Beast's descent down to Green Jaw. That's where we'll be waiting. Is that clear?" Suth asked.
"I'm ready," Valentine replied.
On his command, the gates swung open. Through his eyes, he saw a younger version of himself step forward. Followed by his childhood friend.
Together, they disappeared into the storm. Where they'd ascend to Digon's Rest, the end of the lower types of Rites.
It was his turn to go forth. Valentine confidently marched outside. His hands calm by his sides, eyes wide to take in what he missed, and shoulders broad to show his strength.
Snow and ice were the new dirt and stone. All the way from here to the very top. Something he understood. As a Thawed, Valentine was naturally born to scale these kinds of paths.
However, he was not designed to endure the later paths. When the road becomes a wall, and breezes become gusts of wind.
***
After an hour of balancing his body, Valentine had finally reached Digon's Rest. The mental image of his younger self stumbled upon the center of the small, flat area he found himself on.
To him, this rest was sacred. Not because of the Rite, but because of the history behind it. A glacier that dominated Digon before Frosticus called Olion, marched to claim the skies.
Here was where they rested. As time went on, Digon put each Thawed to the test by forcing them to endure temperatures not fit for Thawed. Making them reach absolute zero.
Intense snowfall eventually buried the bodies beneath the thick ice. While strong gusts of wind proved to be mighty enough to push some off the edge to their death.
As a punishment for failing, Digon kept their souls on Digon's Rest. Where they would wait for vessels seeking to claim Digon's peak.
Valentine got on one knee. Bowing his head to lure out the frozen spirits. Moments later, he began hearing distant hums. Like a personal band, they hummed in harmony.
Their voices complimented each other's to make an almost mystical, continuous choir for Valentine. It filled his heart with pride and confidence.
"Frozen souls atop Digon's rest! I offer you my body as a vessel, structured by bone and tainted by blood. Within me, I will carry you to Digon's Ascended" Valentine announced.
In seconds, he felt less lonely. Like a distant relative came to visit for a while. But instead of the company being around him, it was within.
Souls continued to flood his large frame. Hoping this ascent would be the last one they'll ever go through. Yet they knew this wasn't the case.
Because they were being punished for failing their claims. Now they were destined to be cold forever until the Nine cease this experiment.
***
Courage. It was all Valentine felt as he stared up at the start of Digon's end. His eyes looked up the steep mountainside.
He glanced down at his hands, who were completely numb. It was time to put them to use. Walking became nearly impossible.
Both hands dug themselves into small holes inside the ice. Holding on tight to ensure he would not fall. Once he was mentally prepared, Valentine began to climb.
Storm clouds surrounded him. It was Digon presenting a new challenge. One he would meet with great respect and handle with caution.
Minutes later, an intense blizzard began shaking the mountainside. Hindering his vision while forcing Valentine closer to absolute zero.
If he wanted to survive, he had to reach Victory Breach. There he would be free to march the final stretch to Digon's Ascended.
He kept repeating that to himself. The low amounts of warmth left inside his armor made it difficult to remain a safe distance from his almost certain freeze.
Voices hummed through his struggles, filling his muscles with the energy needed to reach the top. Slow climbing turned into rapid scaling.
Like a female Feral, Valentine ascended through the steep frozen wall. Digging his fingers into the ice, making new holes for him to grip onto.
For several agonizing minutes, Valentine felt the ledge. But was nearly blown off by the rapid winds. By now, the hums got louder.
Increasing Valentine's urge to succeed. His other hand reached the top. Followed by his upper body. Snow and rogue ice flew past his face.
Challenging the advancing Thawed to reach the final moments of the mountain. Something he did. With a moment of complete brace, he pulled the rest of his body up.
Digon felt the triumph, causing it to cease the storm. Valentine was caught off guard. He didn't know what that meant. Only that he had a little bit left to go.
Quickly and triumphantly, he continued forward. Walking through Victory's Breach. Where many Thawed believed Imbushko was born. Right atop of Digon.
Between two giant icy rocks, there was a path. It led forward to the final steps before Digon's end. Valentine mustered all his strength to continue.
His first step on the path was an instant gust of wind. Nearly pushing him off the side. There, Valentine realized just how dangerous this area was.
To his right and left was a seemingly endless fall. All around him were strong gusts of wind, snow, and possibly more. But this was all he had to do in order to succeed.
Valentine stepped forward. Enduring through the harsh environment. Hums played a triumphant melody as he got closer to the other side.
Thunder began erupting the skies around him. Further threatening him, but he did not care. The end was there.
As his first step onto Digon's Ascended came to an end, so did the conditions. Valentine felt at ease once again. He was here, where he wanted to be.
His footsteps echoed throughout the empty top. Letting everyone know he was there, ready for whatever came next.
"Manatok ite Digon. Stiecka, Ineta. Tresh manatokur ethano Mi minsthu nec Oternos Dushtus eh eterna minsihak nonotodo manatokur eqes ishin..."
Above Valentine, he realized the skies were parting. Letting through Digon's guardian. A black entity that resembled a Sky Beast. Its four wings had a red outline to them.
Further pushing the menacing factor was how massive it was. The beast appeared to be big enough to carry the entire mountain on its back.
Causing the ascended to second guess his arrival. But the beast wasn't showing any hostile actions. Instead, it bowed its head. Waiting for something.
That's when he felt himself grow lonely in his body once again. Every frozen soul was sucked out of his frame. The guardian remained still, waiting to hear Valentine's request.
"Digon! I come here to be approved as part of Frosticus. May my newfound innocence help Infinus' advance!" he called out to it.
As if it understood, the guardian nodded once. Before lowering all four of its wings, seemingly ready to take flight. Only to disappear from sight.
Now, Valentine was completely alone up there. Even the guardian was gone. That was the first part of his offer. All that was left was his Sky Beast's Descent.