Ais Wallenstein was a swordswoman. The one who taught her how to wield a sword had once told her that a sword was a swordsman's very life — no matter the circumstances, one must never let go of the sword in their hand.
Yet now, the young girl could only widen her eyes and helplessly watch as her treasured blade slipped from her grasp, falling to the ground with a sorrowful clink.
It had all been just an accident. As a member of the Loki family, she had ventured on a deep expedition into the underground layers. On her way back, she encountered a minotaur and accidentally allowed one to escape.
Determined to pursue, Wallenstein chased it down to the ninth layer, and when the minotaur tried to attack innocent adventurers, she struck decisively and killed it.
Though it was an accident, Wallenstein had resolved the matter perfectly — yet…
Why had this happened? That adventurer… could he be a skilled warrior from some noble family as well?
If so, why was he being cornered by nothing more than a single minotaur?
If not, then how could one explain what had just occurred? The moment he seized her sword, an eerie, chilling cold surged through her weapon. In an instant, it spread into her delicate, agile hand, numbing it completely, as if it no longer existed.
For a swordswoman, losing grip of her blade was an unbearable disgrace.
What frustrated Wallenstein even more was that her hand had yet to recover — it appeared badly frostbitten, so much so that she couldn't even pick up her weapon.
Who was this man… really?
Wallenstein cautiously looked at Ye Yu, who wore a confused expression as if unsure what had just happened. Watching him bend down to pick up her sword, she pursed her lips, feeling a bit wronged.
"Um…"
Ye Yu was still somewhat puzzled about what had happened but was certain that this girl had saved him.
No matter what… he should apologize first.
"Um… your weapon?"
But what puzzled Ye Yu was that the girl seemed to fear him, cautiously stepping back as he approached.
Wallenstein truly dreaded that terrifying cold and did not want to touch it again.
Though losing sensation meant no pain, she still recalled the unbearable stabbing agony when that chill invaded her hand — a pain as if her very soul was being torn apart.
Fortunately, the numbness came quickly and dulled the pain almost immediately.
Looking down at her hand, Wallenstein frowned slightly. Her palm appeared no different than usual, except it was covered in a faint frost — like a delicate crystal glove, beautiful as a work of art.
She knew such a severe frostbite was dangerous, having destroyed all the nerves in her palm. Plainly speaking, that hand was now useless.
She hoped Rivelia could heal this injury.
Thinking so, Wallenstein raised her head and finally asked Ye Yu with a slightly cold tone that wasn't quite her usual demeanor, but rather the result of her difficulty in socializing.
"Who… exactly are you?"
As Wallenstein and Ye Yu locked eyes, Ye Yu studied the girl before him — a figure like a goddess.
Her beauty was no less stunning than Hestia's — slender and dressed in a light blue outfit.
From her clothes extended soft limbs that dazzled the eye with their grace.
Her delicate body was surprisingly well-endowed in a way that seemed almost willful. She wore a silver chestplate adorned with an emblem, along with matching gauntlets and accessories.
Her golden hair flowed straight down to her waist, shining brilliantly like the sun itself.
On a figure that would incite envy in many women was a cute, doll-like face.
And those eyes — warm golden orbs that made one feel utterly enchanted — fixed their gaze on Ye Yu.
"Uh… who am I?"
Ye Yu was momentarily taken aback by the girl's question, clearly unsure how to respond.
He sensed a faint trace of hostility radiating from her, yet he couldn't understand where that animosity stemmed from.
"Um, are you alright? Let me take a look at your hand."
Noticing the unnatural state of her palm, Ye Yu stepped forward and gently grasped the frost-covered hand.
Wallenstein's body flinched instinctively, nearly striking out with a backhand that could have easily sent Ye Yu flying.
Thankfully, she didn't actually intend to harm him—otherwise, with Ye Yu's slight frame, he might not have withstood that blow.
"It's already numb… what good would it do?"
Even with Ye Yu holding her hand, Wallenstein felt no sensation at all. She pouted adorably, staring at him as if sulking.
"Fine, take your time. I want to see how you plan to fix my hand."
Gradually, the hostility in her eyes softened as Wallenstein realized Ye Yu had no intention of hurting her and probably didn't even fully understand what had happened.
"Hmm…"
But soon enough, Wallenstein was surprised to feel a faint coolness spreading through her supposedly frozen, dead hand.
It wasn't an icy chill, but rather a soothing, pleasant coolness.
Tentatively, she moved her fingers—and to her astonishment, sensation had returned to her palm.
"How… did you do that?"
Wallenstein stared at Ye Yu with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. There was no sign of any healing magic, yet after just a moment of him holding her hand, the severe frostbite was already retreating. It was nothing short of miraculous.
Ye Yu blinked, unsure how to explain. Still, he guessed it must have something to do with his own magic—somehow connected to that unclean frost power he wielded.