LightReader

Chapter 4 - The snow princess

"Ohhh… so I have the honor of fighting the Alys, the Snow Princess of Valtoria." Gon's grin stretched wide as his hulking frame cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing like snapping bones. His voice carried mockery, but his eyes were sharp with focus.

"I just hope," he added, licking his lips, "you last longer than the other examinees. I'd hate for this to be boring."

"Shut the hell up," Alys shot back coldly, her ocean-blue eyes narrowing in disgust. "Your voice alone makes me want to puke."

The crowd gasped. Nobles never spoke like that—especially not the kingdom's prized princess.

"That's quite the tongue you've got, young lady," Gon said, amused.

"Whatever," she sighed, brushing her long black hair back as frost began to gather on her fingertips. "Let's get this exam over with."

"Fine by me." Gon smirked. "Name's Gon, by the way."

"And I'm Alys Voldric—the girl who's going to humiliate you."

The temperature dropped instantly. Alys raised her hand, and a crystalline sword of ice formed in her grip. Her dark hair paled into shimmering white, and snowflakes began to fall gently in the exam arena, turning the battleground into a winter stage.

The crowd collectively held their breath. Alys Voldric wasn't just another noble child—she was the youngest ever to achieve the rank of 8th-grade Magic Knight at fourteen. To see her in action was like watching a legend bloom before their eyes.

"She really is the Snow Princess…" one student whispered, shivering despite the heat spells around the arena.

"Done showing off for your fans?" Gon sneered. "Because I'm starting to get bored."

"Sorry," Alys smirked, spinning her ice blade once. "Didn't mean to keep you waiting."

"9th-gradeArmorMagic: Hard Body!"

Gon's muscles ballooned, his skin darkening to a metallic sheen as he dashed forward at inhuman speed. His fist slammed into Alys's gut, the impact cracking the ice under her feet. She stumbled back, coughing, the crowd gasping.

"I didn't know the Snow Princess was this fragile." Gon mocked.

But Alys only smiled. "10th-grade Magic: Ice Illusion."

Gon blinked—and froze. His fist was still raised. His body hadn't moved an inch.

"What the—?! What did you do to me?!"

"I haven't even touched you yet," Alys whispered, her voice echoing from behind.

Before he could turn, her fist—frozen and sharpened with ice shards—slammed into his back, sending him flying across the arena. Frost spread from the blow, freezing patches of his armor.

The crowd erupted.

"She's playing with him!"

"She froze his back with a single hit!"

Gon staggered to his feet, grinning wider. "I'll admit, princess, that spell of yours stings. But you'll need more than that."

"Gladly," Alys said, sprinting forward. She slashed her ice blade across his chest, then spun and uppercut him in the jaw with icy knuckles. Catching him by the shirt, she hurled him skyward.

Her voice thundered: "9th-grade Magic: Heavenly Ice Fist!"

From the storm above, a colossal fist of pure ice materialized and smashed Gon to the ground in an explosion of frost. Dust and snow filled the air.

The crowd roared—until Gon's shadow grew larger.

His body swelled, muscles twisting monstrously. "Things are about to get scary, little princess."

"You just made yourself a bigger target." Alys smirked and blinked behind him, slicing deep into his back. But her sword shattered on impact.

"Your toy broke," Gon mocked, and his counterpunch sent her crashing to the ground, blood streaming from her head.

"How'd that feel, princess?"

"Like I got punched by a brat." She spat blood, staggering back to her feet.

"Don't act tough. You can't win. My Hard Body doesn't just protect me—it absorbs the power of every hit and makes me stronger. You've already lost!"

Alys wiped her mouth, her smile returning. "Guess I'll have to finish this with one move."

She raised her hand, frost swirling. "8th-grade Magic: Snow shield!"

A shimmering wall of ice rose before her.

"Hah! Hiding already?" Gon laughed, charging. "Pathetic!"

But when his fist shattered the shield, he realized too late—Alys hadn't been hiding. She'd been preparing.

Her voice echoed with divine resonance:

"OhHeavenlySnowGoddess, grantmeyourbladetodefeat theenemybeforeme… 7th-grade Magic: Sword of the Ice Goddess!"

The sky split open. A radiant blade, massive as a mountain, descended from the heavens, forged of divine ice. It crashed into Gon with a roar, freezing him solid in an instant. The ground cracked under the weight of the spell as silence swallowed the arena.

When the frost cleared, Gon stood frozen mid-stride, eyes wide, unable to move.

"Winner: Alys Voldric!" the examiner declared.

The crowd erupted: "Alys! Alys! The Ice Princess!"

Alys brushed her hair back, reverting to her normal form, and walked calmly to the waiting room.

---

"Alys, you did amazing out there!" Magna said, clapping.

"Thanks. And… I understand why you lost."

"You didn't have to say that out loud…" Magna muttered.

"Well, she's not wrong," Light chuckled. "But damn, that was a fight."

"Light. Ragnar." Alys blinked. "What are you two doing here?"

"We came to congratulate you," Ragnar grinned.

"Thanks. But I guess all that's left is Ragnar's fight."

"Yeah." Ragnar stretched lazily. "And unlike Magna, I'm going to win."

"You don't say," Magna growled.

"Don't underestimate them, Ragnar," Alys warned. "If you do, you'll lose."

"Relax," Ragnar smirked. "I won't."

"Look at us," Light laughed. "We're already becoming close friends."

"Shut up, Light," Alys rolled her eyes.

"Rude, don't you think?"

Ragnar stood, heading for the door. "Well, I've got to get going."

"Good luck, Ragnar," Light called. "I hope you win."

"Thanks."

"Wait—Ragnar!" Magna suddenly stood. "You're about to fight the same teacher I lost against. She uses water magic. What about you? What's your affinity?"

Ragnar scratched his head casually. "Oh. I've got two, actually."

"Two?!" they all said in unison.

"Yeah. Fire… and portal."

Silence. Dead silence. Even the air seemed to stop moving.

Magna's jaw dropped. Light's eyes widened like saucers. Alys froze in place.

"Portal?" Magna whispered. "No… that's impossible."

"The last known portal mage," Light muttered, his voice trembling, "lived over a thousand years ago… the Phantom Blade. They said he could cut reality itself."

Alys's heart pounded. "Ragnar… are you his descendant?"

Ragnar shrugged. "Beats me. Anyway, I've got a test to take."

He strolled out the door like he hadn't just dropped the most earth-shattering secret in centuries.

The three stared at the door in stunned silence.

"Portal magic…" Light whispered. "That explains why he was recommended."

"Or why they said not to hold back against him," Magna muttered.

"Ragnar Wryd," a voice boomed from the hall. "Your test is about to begin."

The tension was suffocating.

Alys whispered, "Ragnar… just who the hell are you?"

More Chapters