I opened my eyes to find myself back in the garden of frost. In the distance, Azier, seeing me wake up, a faint smile crept on his face.
"Looks like you succeeded, your runic core is harmonizing with the essence of the Eternal Snow."
"Was what I saw…the true form of the Eternal Snow?"
"Indeed, very few have ever witnessed the Eternal Snow in its true divine form. You are one of them now."
"Have you ever seen it?"
"I have not," he replied, "only heard tales about its power, how just a mere fragment can bring a calamity over an entire city."
"So, how was it?" Azier asked.
"I can't quite put it into words," I muttered. "It was so vast that I seemed like a speck of dust in front of it. Its form was something I couldn't even begin to comprehend."
"That's a given, entities such as Eternal Snow stand just a step below the Gods whom the Aeriths worship."
"..How can a being be any more powerful than what i just saw?"
"You still have a lot to learn and see," He chuckled.
"Now let's try to unleash your attribute, shall we?"
"Didn't I already do that?"
"No," He murmured, "You have simply procured a fragment of the Eternal Snow, it is still sealed within your runic core."
I sighed. Why was everything so difficult and tedious?
"Don't be disappointed, the rest of the part is pretty straightforward," He reassured. "You simply have to train and keep absorbing Ember, and you should be able to lift the seal without any problem."
"I understand," I nodded
"Now then, let's begin today's training, shall we?" He said, a devilish smile forming on his face.
"...Can't we skip it? You know, just for today?"
"No can do," He replied. "We don't have much time to begin with, so get up." A rapier materialized in his hand.
The next morning, I woke up, feeling mentally exhausted as usual, the training from Azier was nothing more than a one sided beatdown.
" I really need to get stronger, for my own sake, or else I might actually die," I sighed.
Later in the morning, Asher handed us another vial of liquified Ember, "We won't be sparing for a while until you both have managed to unleash your attribute," he looked at Zei
"Although you were able to unleash your attribute yesterday, you could only maintain it for a few seconds, so try to prolong it as much as you can."
"Yes, sir."
"Most people you'll meet at the ball tomorrow will be much more powerful and skilled than you, " he said in a serious voice, "but don't let that discourage you, you have something much more precious, a potential that can surpass all of them. All you need is time and the right guidance."
He placed his hands on our shoulders. "Always remember that this power of yours can be a curse or blessing, depending entirely on how you decide to wield it. I hope that when your moment comes, you will use your power to help the ones in need in the future."
"We understand." I nodded.
"No, then let's begin our training for today."
I doused the vial down my throat, as the searing pain enveloped me, this time it was much more bearable than last time.
"Guide the Ember from your core," Asher instructed, his tone firm. " Let it flow through your flesh, your nerves, your bones. Reinforce your body from head to toe. Control it, refine it, and shape it to your will."
The process was brutal. It was like trying to control molten fire through your blood. Even a small mistake would send needles of sharp pain throughout my body, so it had to be done carefully with absolute precision.
But after last night, something changed. The ember inside my body no longer raged like a storm, I was able to control it. My control was far from perfect, but it was doable.
I steered the Ember through the pathways described by Asher. A faint warmth seeped into my flesh, my bones felt stronger, and my muscles more firm. Even my heartbeat sounded colder, echoing like a pulse through frost.
After a grueling hour the first phase of the training ended.
Next was the attribute awakening. Just like yesterday, I held the amulet close to my chest. The world around me shifted. The surroundings remained the same, but soon I noticed the changes.
Instead of white motes of light, the particles resembled more like tiny snowflakes, delicate, fragile, crystalline. Unlike yesterday, they seem to drift towards me, as if sensing my presence.
One by one, they sank into my heart where my core was situated. A strange sensation crept up my body, it felt cold yet comforting.
Soon after I opened my eyes, a faint energy lingered in my heart. I still couldn't unleash my attribute, but I could feel it no longer buried beneath a wall I couldn't breach. It was within my reach.
"...Rayne," Asher looked at me with a strange expression, as if something was bothering him
"Did something happen to you yesterday after the training?"
"Nothing of sorts that I can remember, why ?"
"No reason…" He hesitated, "It's just almost astounding how much you have progressed in a single day, it almost seems unnatural."
"...I appreciate that," I said, unsure of what to say.
"Still, it's not good to push yourself beyond your limit, so don't overexert yourself."
"I understand," I nodded.
Zei also made significant progress in her training by holding out her attribute for almost twice as much as last time.
"You both have made exceptional progress in your training, " Asher murmured with a pleased expression. "We will continue the rest of the training after coming back from Eleithiya."
It was evening by now, and I was waiting for Zei outside. We were supposed to pick up the clothes we ordered for the ball the day prior.
"I am here." Soon Zei also came out wearing an alluring beige color dress, which complemented her skin beautifully, a silver bracelet resting on her wrist that she had bought the other day, which went beautifully with the dress.
You're dressed rather well today," Zei chuckled, "Looks like the shopping we did the other day was worth it after all."
"...let's just go," I muttered, embarrassed, it was true I decided to dress a bit better today to match her, but I definitely couldn't voice such thoughts out.
We reached the White Brilliance and opened the door, their Elias sat by the counter, savouring a glass of wine. Seeing us enter, his expression brightened.
"Ahh, dear customers, you are finally here, i have been waiting for you."
"Are the dresses ready?"
"Of course they are, I worked all night on them for you."
"We really appreciate that."
"Now now. I am sure you will love them, I poured my heart into those dresses after all" He chuckled warmly.
"That reminds me, I don't see any other customers around here?"
"Ahh that is because this shop of mine is relatively new which i just opened a month ago, so there aren't many customers right now, which is why i tend to do my best to satisfy the few customers I get."
"I see."
"No need to be saddened, I actually enjoy having fewer customers rather than having a rush, since its better to take your time making clothes for each individual."
"Now then, let me bring your attires." Elias went to the back for a moment and brought out two wooden boxes with the words White Brilliance embroidered in golden letters on the box.
"Oh, since you both are attending the ball, I will give you a little gift as well."
"No, you don't have to.." Zei replied
"Don't worry it's nothing extravagant, here."
"He revealed two beautifully crafted pristine black rings, with golden patterns etched onto them."
"This… it looks really precious, "I said quietly.
"Please don't refuse, it will be of great help to you in the ball."
"What do you mean?"
A smile tugged at his lips. "Of course, you will need to hide your Aerith origins after all, if someone finds out, it will turn into a disaster, don't you think?" He said
My breath caught in my throat.