Chapter 25 - "A Gift of Power and the First Steps of Ambition"
Frostara, still dazed by Eira's new appearance, quickly composed herself, realizing the transformation made Eira's presence dangerously alluring. Her gaze shifted to Mira, who stood transfixed, mouth slightly open in admiration. She scowled. "Brat, you're hopelessly lustful over a mere child. Can you get Eira now? I'll grab the storage pouch and fill it with as much treasure as it can hold. These treasures are as vast as a small mountain, after all."
Mira snapped out of her daze, wiping her mouth quickly. She nodded and whispered into her necklace. "Sword God sister, do you think it's alright to store as many of these treasures as we can?"
The voice of the Sword God replied thoughtfully. "Not all, but prioritize the weapons and rare books. They'll be valuable in diverting attention from Eira, especially from the thirteen families. Too much wealth in the wrong hands could bring her trouble."
Mira pondered this. "True… If the families see these treasures, they'll flock to her like vultures. This is my chance to repay her a little for saving me, but I'll owe her more in the future."
Taking her advice, Mira approached the side of the chamber filled with ancient weapons, books on rare techniques, and valuable magical items. She activated the necklace, transferring the items carefully. The Sword God gave occasional guidance, pointing out the legendary swords and tomes most likely to tempt the powerful families.
After a few minutes, Mira sighed, her hands numb from handling so many items. She glanced over at Frostara, who had finished filling the storage pouch with gold and was now standing by Eira. Mira walked toward them, and Frostara looked at her, holding out the pouch.
"Here, take this to my child. It's her reward. Though…" She hesitated, then pulled out a delicate blue bracelet, cold to the touch and inlaid with a white diamond. "It's not enough. This bracelet is my last gift to her, a symbol of my blessing. It holds powers she can explore in time."
[DING! CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROSTARA'S BLESSING, A UNIQUE ARTIFACT IMBUED WITH ANCIENT POWER. THIS BRACELET ENHANCES YOUR FROST ABILITIES, INCREASES RESILIENCE, AND GRANTS AN AFFINITY WITH ICE-RELATED SKILLS. YOU CAN NOW COMMAND A SECRET ORGANIZATION KNOWN ONLY TO THOSE CHOSEN BY FROSTARA. THIS ORGANIZATION OPERATES IN THE SHADOWS, SERVING YOUR WILL AND ENSURING YOUR PROTECTION.]
[ADDITIONALLY, YOU WILL BE LOVED AND RESPECTED BY ALL ICE SPIRITS AND DRAGONS THAT BEAR THE BLESSING OF FROSTARA. THE WHITE DRAGONS, WHO HAVE ETERNAL LOYALTY TO HER, WILL COME TO YOUR AID IF YOU SO COMMAND.]
[CHECK YOUR STATUS FOR DETAILED EFFECTS AND ABILITIES.]
Gazing at Eira's peaceful face, she sighed and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before slipping the bracelet onto her wrist. She noticed Mira's look of jealousy and chuckled. "Oh, feeling possessive, are we? Well, go on—take her. We've stayed here long enough."
Though still envious, Mira nodded, moving to Eira's side and carefully lifting her. She looked at the child whose beauty had transformed to an almost ethereal charm, so captivating that Mira felt drawn in by the sight.
Mira shook herself free from the spell, then turned to Frostara. "Do you know how to get us out of here?"
Frostara thought for a moment, her eyes brightening as a mana-made text materialized in the air:
| "DING" CONGRATULATIONS FOR COMPLETING YOUR TRIAL. TELEPORTATION CAN NOW BEGIN. PLEASE CONFIRM IF YOU ARE READY. |
Mira looked up and shouted, "Yes, we're ready!"
The surrounding area began to glow, readying for teleportation back to the tower's waiting area.
---
Meanwhile, in the royal capital, within the halls of Elyndor Castle, Celestia adjusted to her new reality. She stood before a mirror, dressed in ornate royal robes that matched her status. After smoothing out the fabric, she made her way to the king's meeting chamber. To her surprise, as she opened the door, she sensed numerous presences inside.
"Tch. I thought it would just be me summoned, but it seems Father hasn't changed." She muttered before stepping inside with a formal greeting. "Greetings, Father. I am pleased to see you."
The king, seated at the head of the table, nodded and gestured to an empty chair. "Come, Celestia, take a seat."
Once seated, the king turned to the gathered nobles. "Let us continue our discussion," he announced.
"Yes, Your Majesty," replied one of the counts, his face clouded with concern. "There are complaints from the thirteen dukes and duchesses. They want to investigate certain… disturbances."
Celestia listened closely, recalling that the thirteen dukes and duchesses were descendants of the Primordial Spirits. They were referred to as dukes and duchesses out of respect for the kingdom's noble families, but when outside the kingdom, they were simply called the Thirteen Families. These families wielded significant power in the kingdom.
The king nodded solemnly. "I understand the complaints, and I've already begun an investigation. Jade, what do you think? Do you believe you can manage this?"
Celestia watched her older brother, Jade, the crown prince, who responded with a sly smile. "Leave it to me, Father. Also, I suggest inviting the thirteen dukes and duchesses to a celebration to celebrate the recent miracles in the capital. We'll have an excuse for their presence here."
The king laughed, seemingly impressed. "Hahaha! Truly fitting for the next king. Fine, we'll invite them, but be cautious. You know how dangerous it is to provoke them."
"Thank you, Father," Jade replied with a confident smile.
The king then turned to Celestia, who had remained quiet throughout the conversation. He looked thoughtful. "And you, Celestia—do you have anyone you fancy? Perhaps a suitable match for an engagement?"
Celestia's expression shifted, a hint of irritation flashing in her eyes. "I'm not interested, Father. I thought I was called here for an important matter, but if marriage is all that's discussed, I'll take my leave."
"Disrespectful brat," muttered one of the counts, frowning. He looked ready to scold her, but the king held up a hand, signaling him to let it go.
As Celestia rose to leave, her thoughts were elsewhere, her focus on reclaiming her strength. Her mind turned toward the power she had once wielded, the divine authority she had known before her fall. To grow stronger, she would need time—time to surpass the limits of this mortal form and once again touch the essence of the gods.