The next morning came too quickly.
Lyra knew that the moment she opened her eyes.
Her arms felt heavy.
Her legs refused to move.
Even breathing felt like effort.
"…I'm not getting up," she muttered into the grass.
A pause.
Then—
"You already are."
Lyra's eyes snapped open.
Adrian stood over her, holding two sticks.
Completely fine.
Not even tired.
Lyra stared at him.
"…You don't feel pain?"
"I do."
"…You don't look like it."
"I don't show it."
Lyra groaned and rolled onto her back.
"That's worse."
Adrian tossed a stick onto her chest.
"Get up."
Lyra didn't move.
"…What if I refuse?"
Adrian thought for a second.
"Then I'll drag you up."
Lyra immediately sat up.
"…You're actually serious."
"Yes."
She grabbed the stick and pushed herself to her feet, wobbling slightly.
"…I hate you."
"That's fine."
Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"…You don't even care."
"Not about that."
Lyra sighed.
Then steadied herself.
"…What are we doing today?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pointed toward the far end of the field.
Lyra followed his gaze.
The ground there was completely frozen.
Smooth.
White.
Solid ice.
Her expression changed instantly.
"…No."
"Yes."
"No."
"You need control on unstable ground."
Lyra shook her head.
"That's not unstable—that's a death trap."
"You won't die."
"That's not reassuring!"
Adrian walked toward the ice.
Lyra stared at his back.
Then—
"…You're the worst teacher ever."
He didn't respond.
So she followed.
Carefully.
The moment her foot touched the ice—
She slipped.
Instantly.
Adrian caught her before she hit the ground.
"Balance," he said.
Lyra grabbed his arm tightly.
"I hate this."
"Good."
"…Why is that good?!"
"Because you're paying attention."
Lyra glared at him.
Then slowly let go and stood on her own.
Her legs trembled slightly.
The ice beneath her reflected the morning light.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
"Spread your weight," Adrian said.
Lyra adjusted her stance.
"Lower your center."
She bent her knees slightly.
"Don't fight the surface."
Lyra took a careful step.
This time—
She didn't fall.
"…Okay," she said slowly, "that worked."
"Again."
She walked.
Step by step.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Each movement forced her to focus.
On her body.
On her balance.
On her breathing.
Then—
"Now use your mana."
Lyra froze.
"…You're joking."
"No."
Lyra stared at him.
"…If I lose control here, I'm definitely falling."
"Yes."
"That's a terrible idea."
"It's the right one."
Lyra clenched her jaw.
Then—
"…Fine."
She closed her eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
Focused.
Cold began to gather around her fingers.
Not violently.
Not uncontrollably.
But still—
Unstable.
Her foot slipped slightly.
She caught herself.
"…This is hard."
"Good."
Lyra took another step.
Then another.
Each time—
Balancing her body…
While controlling her mana…
While staying focused…
It was overwhelming.
Twice—
She slipped.
Once—
She fell.
Hard.
"…Ow," she groaned.
Adrian didn't help her up immediately.
"Again."
Lyra looked up at him.
"…You're really not going to make this easy."
"No."
"…I figured."
She stood up again.
This time—
More carefully.
More focused.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
Then two.
Her movements became steadier.
Her breathing more controlled.
The cold around her fingers no longer surged randomly.
It followed her rhythm.
Her intent.
Her control.
Adrian watched closely.
Every step.
Every fluctuation.
Every improvement.
Then—
"Stop."
Lyra nearly collapsed in relief.
"…Finally."
She dropped onto the ice, not caring about the cold anymore.
Her entire body ached.
"…Am I at least better than yesterday?"
Adrian nodded once.
"Yes."
Lyra blinked.
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
"…You could at least say it with more emotion."
"No."
Lyra sighed.
"…You're impossible."
Adrian crouched down in front of her.
"Now we move to phase two."
Lyra stared at him.
"…There's more?"
"Yes."
"…I knew I was going to die."
Adrian ignored her.
"Stand up."
Lyra forced herself up again.
Barely.
Adrian extended his hand.
Lyra hesitated.
Then took it.
The system activated instantly.
[Resonance Bond — Active]
[Frost Thread — Linked]
But this time—
Adrian didn't guide gently.
He increased the pressure.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…Wait—this feels different!"
"Because I'm not stabilizing you."
The cold inside her surged.
Faster.
Stronger.
More chaotic.
"Try to control it yourself," Adrian said.
Lyra's breathing broke instantly.
"…I can't—!"
"Yes, you can."
Her mana spiraled.
Wild.
Violent.
The frost spread across the ice beneath them.
Cracking it.
Breaking it.
Lyra panicked.
"It's too much—!"
Adrian didn't step in.
Not immediately.
"Focus."
"I can't focus!"
"Then force it."
Lyra's vision blurred.
The cold roared inside her.
Louder than before.
Stronger than before.
Her control—
Slipping.
Slipping—
Then—
She remembered his voice.
*Don't suppress it.*
*Guide it.*
Her breathing slowed.
Just slightly.
The chaos didn't stop.
But—
It shifted.
A little.
Adrian's eyes sharpened.
*There it is.*
"Again," he said.
Lyra gritted her teeth.
Her hands trembled violently.
But—
She didn't lose it.
Not completely.
The frost surged—
Then stabilized.
Barely.
But enough.
Adrian stepped in.
Frost Thread activated.
He caught the remaining instability and smoothed it out.
The cold faded.
Slowly.
Lyra collapsed forward.
Breathing hard.
"…I… did it…"
Adrian released her hand.
"Yes."
Lyra laughed weakly.
"…I actually did it…"
Adrian stood up.
"Day two."
Lyra groaned.
"…I hate day two."
Adrian looked down at her.
"Tomorrow is worse."
Lyra didn't even react this time.
"…Of course it is."
But—
She was smiling.
Even through the exhaustion.
Even through the pain.
Because this time—
She didn't lose control.
And that meant—
She was getting closer.
Closer to control.
Closer to strength.
Closer to proving—
She wouldn't freeze again.
Adrian looked at the system.
Synchronization: 13%
Frost Thread Mastery: 6%
Progress.
Real progress.
He looked at Lyra.
Then toward the distant academy.
Three days.
One left.
"…We're not done," he said.
Lyra didn't even open her eyes.
"…I know."
The wind passed over the frozen field.
But this time—
The cold obeyed.
---
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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Author's Note
If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to support the novel with **Power Stones**—it really helps the story grow and motivates me to keep releasing more chapters consistently.
We're entering the final day of training next… and things are about to get intense.
See you in the next chapter!