Chapter 16: At the Frozen Lake's Edge: Two Hearts in Collision
As the remaining Ice Scorpions began to freeze over the gaps formed during the battle—it was never a mere fight, after all, but a clash between a titled Spirit Master and a Spirit Beast that had lived for more than two hundred thousand years—the surrounding land was scarred with pits and valleys, some tens of meters deep and stretching over a hundred meters across.
Meanwhile, I sat quietly in meditation on one of the small islands.
The territory of the Ice Scorpion Clan lay closer to the center of the Extreme North, where the temperature plummeted sharply and the spiritual energy became denser and more potent, greatly accelerating my recovery rate.
After a few hours, the conversation between my mother and the Ice Scorpion Empress, Green Star, came to an end.
The outcome was that Aislin and I were granted permission to visit the Ice Scorpion Clan's lands and train freely with their members—on the condition that we be accompanied by "Bing Xue," the name the Ice Empress allowed herself to use.
Especially after she learned that I had broken through the Ten-Thousand-Year threshold in only five thousand seven hundred years—her gaze toward me changed slightly. It grew a bit warmer… or maybe not. Nonsense. If there was any warmth at all, it didn't exceed five percent.
I decided not to waste time and began my training the very next day.
My target was an Ice Scorpion that had lived for thirty thousand years.
Like most scorpions of that age, it regarded the Ice Empress as its ultimate role model.
Although its personality had matured to the level of an adolescent, it still lacked self-restraint and hadn't yet learned to suppress its primal instincts.
What I learned yesterday was that "Bing Xue" was the most talented among the entire clan.
Despite her young age, she possessed the highest level of refinement, which made her a highly sought-after companion.
Well then… fine. I'll break all its claws, but I'll start with the smaller ones first.
In just a single day, I fought more than ten battles, and none of my opponents—each over forty thousand years old—could match me.
The thirty-two-thousand-year-old Ice Scorpion, however, one with the ability of "Ice Burst," gave me a bit of trouble.
I couldn't get close to it, as it kept detonating the ice around me endlessly.
Though it didn't inflict any real harm, it was unbearably irritating.
After thirty minutes of pursuit, I finally caught it—and to my surprise… its physical strength and defense were weaker than even its kin.
Even at the forty-thousand-year level, I could easily suppress my opponents—not only with sheer strength but also with my solid defense.
However, in battles against beasts that had lived for more than fifty thousand years, I found myself fighting them on equal footing for quite some time.
I hadn't lost any speed or power, but frustration began to creep in. They managed to leave only a few shallow scratches on my scales, while I couldn't land a single proper hit on them, forcing me to retreat in the end.
Overall, it was a good day of training, but there was still much room for improvement—especially in battle tactics.
Although I was somewhat used to fighting Martial Spirit Masters, battling Spirit Beasts was an entirely different experience.
In our territory, there hadn't been a single Spirit Beast over ten thousand years old, so I had no real opponents to learn from.
Of course, I could have fought my mother, but she was preparing for another breakthrough, and it wouldn't have been wise to disturb her over something so trivial.
I also had to force Aislin to participate in a few battles.
Despite her emotional maturity and behavior resembling that of a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl, she still preferred playing around more than anything else.
No, the suppression of bloodlines had no effect on them.
So, I had to promise her that I'd accompany her on her little adventures within the Ice Scorpion Clan's territory.
In the end, I couldn't just let her wander off alone.
Who knows what might be running through the minds of some of those Ice Scorpions?
Still, keeping her by my side didn't make much of a difference… she always found a way to slip away anyway.
End of Flashback
Present Time
First-Person POV
It's only been a single day since the battle with the Armored Ice Lizard, yet its echoes remain etched into my memory as vividly as if it had happened mere moments ago.
The northern winds are still as cold as blades, slicing through ice and soul alike, as if to remind me that peace in the Extreme North is nothing but a fragile illusion.
Now, I'm preparing to leave the clan's territory and head for the Star Forest, on a new mission that might reignite the flames of battle within me.
But before I depart, Aislin asked me to accompany her for a walk around the nearby lake.
A strange request… why the lake, of all places?
It isn't far—only ten kilometers from the cave. A quiet place where the icy sky reflects on the water's surface like a perfect mirror.
And so, here I am now, flying toward it, snow swirling around my wings in cold spirals.
A few seconds later, I landed near the lake. She was standing there, at the water's edge, her scales glimmering under the faint light of the moon.
I smiled slightly and spoke in a light tone: Well then, my dear Aislin… have you decided to play now?"
She turned to me slowly, her eyes shining with the color of pure ice, and said in a calm yet sharp voice: Oh, dear Aison, I'm no longer a child. I'm already a mature dragon. I hope you'll look at me as an adult… not as a spoiled child."
"Hm… really? To me, you'll always be the little spoiled one, my dear Aislin. No matter how hard you try, that won't change in my eyes."
But she narrowed her eyes, her tone suddenly unfamiliar, laced with a biting edge: So, Aison, you're saying you don't see me as a mature dragon… just some naive creature unworthy of you? If that's true, then why did you get angry when you saw that male lizard approaching me? Have you become a hypocrite… or are you simply too afraid to admit your feelings?"
The words froze in my throat.
What is she saying? Has she entered some rebellious phase… or is this something else entirely?
And why does her voice sound more like that of a wounded girl than that of a fighter?
I spoke quietly, tension tightening my voice:
Aislin… what's wrong with you? Are you serious about this?"
She looked at me with sad eyes and said in a muted yet steady voice:
Yes. I'm serious. If you don't want me, then I'll find another partner. But I'll wait… you know how long I can wait."
I let out a heavy sigh.
Aislin, have you lost your mind? What nonsense is this? Come back to the cave with me and let's end this talk."
But she turned away from me, snow beginning to dance around her as if shielding her from my words, and spoke in a voice cold as the ice itself: Is that all you have to say, Aison? Very well… go back to your cave if you wish. As for me… I won't return until I find a partner worthy of me."
Then she smiled a faint, mysterious smile and added, her voice a whisper like the wind: Keep digging your tunnel, oh you who resemble humans more than you claim…"
And I stood there, staring at her back as she walked away, the lake reflecting our figures as if mocking us—two ice dragons… separated by a wall of silence and pride.
Before she could get any farther, I spread my wings wide and stopped her with a swift step, snow scattering around us as if even time itself had frozen still.
"Aislin… my dear, I believe I've spoken to you about this before, haven't I?"
My voice came out low, yet sharp enough to cut through the silence.
She turned to me slowly, her frozen eyes piercing straight into my heart, and spoke with steady coldness:
"No… we've never spoken of this before. And I'm not in some rebellious phase, Aison. I'm serious this time. I've already spoken to my aunt about it, so the decision is yours now."
The blood in my veins turned to ice.
My aunt? My mother?
"Wait… you spoke with my mother? Why didn't I know about this? When did this happen? And is she the one behind that Armored Ice Lizard being in our territory?"
The words tumbled from my mouth in fragments, sharp and jagged like pieces of shattered glass.
Aislin lifted her head slightly, her voice quieter now but heavier in weight:
"Yes… in fact, my aunt wanted to give him a part of her blood essence… so that he could become an Ice Dragon and my partner. But you killed him, Aison. It's over now. It doesn't matter anymore."
Then she lowered her head, but her eyes still glimmered with a sharp, cutting light:
"You passed judgment on him yourself, and that means you stood in the way of my personal happiness. I hope… you can understand that."
Her voice was like the echo of the glacial mountains—cold… yet brimming with bitterness, disappointment, and reproach.
The air around us grew heavier, and the lake behind her turned into a mirror of the fractured ice now lying between us.
——————————————————————————————————————
🌟 Word count of this chapter: 1,618 words! 🥰✨
Writing was a fun challenge,
while reading it is an easy and enjoyable journey! 📖💫
If you enjoyed it, support me with ratings and comments.
Your words ignite my passion for writing and inspire me to create even more exciting chapters! 🔥✍️
§ I'm not asking for much—just a sincere review from your heart is enough to be a huge motivation §