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A REUNION BENEATH FALLING SNOW
That afternoon, the freezing chill of the Ice Kingdom crept through the gaps of the inn’s wooden window. Ken stood like a statue in the corner of the chamber, his razor-sharp gaze piercing through the bustling city now slowly being cloaked in a snowy mist. Beside him, a pitch-black cloaked shadow stood in absolute, silent loyalty.
”Monitor every inch of General Lamarr and General Bonar’s movements. Do not let a single breath they take escape your perception,” Ken commanded without shifting his gaze from the window in the slightest.
”As you command, My Lord,” the figure replied with a low rumble before fading, melting seamlessly into the shadows of the room.
Ken walked slowly toward the bed. He laid his exhausted mortal shell down, staring at the rough wooden ceiling. Julia… a string of a name that had only echoed in the silence of his memories for so long. He never anticipated his long wait and search would anchor so swiftly. The silhouette of the Ice Princess he sought was now right before his eyes, even though their brief encounter earlier felt so fleeting and glacial.
Excellent… at least this way, I can conclude my affairs swiftly and return to Master, Ken mused, closing his eyes and cementing the absolute resolve in his heart.
The following morning, just as the first light of dawn grazed the peaks of the ice spires.
Knock… knock… knock…
”Brother Ken, are you inside?” A gentle voice called out from behind his wooden door.
Ken was jolted from his light meditation. This voice… Diyah? he thought, recognizing the familiar cadence.
”My Lord, I saw her wandering in confusion, searching for your whereabouts across several inns near the palace gates. Therefore, I took the liberty of guiding her here,” whispered the black-cloaked figure who abruptly materialized in the corner, delivering a concise report.
”Is that so? I assumed she was busy wandering around with Kirin,” Ken murmured to his subordinate. “Just a moment!” Ken called out toward the door, hastily stepping up to open it.
The moment the door swung open, Diyah stood there radiating a warm, amicable smile, a stark contrast to the freezing temperature outside. “Ah, hello! So you truly are here. Forgive me, am I interrupting?” Diyah cast a fleeting glance down the corridor before Ken gestured for her to enter.
Diyah stepped inside and immediately arranged several wrapped packages she had brought upon the wooden table. “Umm… initially, I merely tried following my instincts, but it turns out Brother Ken is exceptionally skilled at hiding. You were incredibly difficult to track down. Hehehe,” Diyah chuckled softly, recalling her exhaustive effort scouring the city. “I found this inn’s calling card left behind on the receptionist’s desk at the last tavern I checked. I figured Brother Ken would definitely prefer a tranquil place far from the bustling crowds, so I tried my luck here.”
She set down the final plate, which steamed with an incredibly savory aroma. “Eat, Brother Ken. I know you definitely haven’t had the chance to fill your stomach,” she offered, her eyes sparkling with pure sincerity.
”You shouldn’t have gone to such lengths, Princess. This feast feels far too luxurious for a wandering martial artist like myself,” Ken replied, feeling slightly awkward at the profound attention.
Just as he was about to decline, a treacherous rumble erupted from his stomach. Grrr… Grrr… The growling echoed blatantly in the quiet room.
Ken froze instantly, a faint crimson hue dusting his visage. “A-ah, forgive me… did you hear that?” he murmured, displaying a rare glimpse of embarrassment.
Diyah could not contain her laughter. “Of course I heard it. It sounded like a primordial dragon that just woke up from a thousand-year slumber,” Diyah teased, her eyes curving playfully. “Never mind, save your excuses. Let us eat, Brother Ken,” she urged, handing him a pair of chopsticks.
Ken finally surrendered and devoured the meal ravenously. The authentic taste of palace cuisine temporarily warmed his mortal shell.
After the meal, Diyah invited Ken for a stroll through the inner sectors of the royal domain. The atmosphere was incredibly bustling; artisans and soldiers worked shoulder-to-shoulder, preparing the decorations and arenas for the impending Pandhega Trial. The Pandhega Trial itself was a sacred crucible for 8-Star Seal Cultivators to prove their absolute worth. Those who successfully passed would be bestowed the title of Pandhega—an elite military status sitting merely one tier beneath a General.
After wandering for quite some time, they halted at a spacious second-floor terrace. From there, the main training grounds were clearly visible. Down below, the Ice Kingdom’s core team was engaged in an intense combat simulation.
Suddenly, Ken’s eyes narrowed sharply. His focus locked onto a specific youth on the field. Hah! That man… what in the world is he doing here? Ken thought.
”Princess, who is the man with the horizontal scar across his eye?” Ken asked, pointing toward a fighter whose movements were exceptionally aggressive.
”Oh, that is Onoke. He is my teammate,” Diyah answered while adjusting a wooden chair on the balcony. “Have a seat first, Brother Ken.”
Ken sat down, but his mind remained anchored to the man below. A teammate? Someone like him? Ken furrowed his brow. Onoke… what vile conspiracy are you orchestrating here?
”Indeed, he is our member. The Star Seal Tournament is a team-based competition. Each faction consists of five core members and two reserves. The Ice Kingdom’s team is bolstered by myself, Julia, Onoke, and four other chosen elites,” Diyah detailed comprehensively. “Why, Brother Ken? Do you recognize his visage? Onoke was previously a regular soldier, but because his talent was deemed exceptional, he was recruited to complete the team. He only joined two months ago, but if he continues cultivating diligently, he will soon awaken his seventh Star Seal.”
”A-ah, no… forget it. Perhaps my eyes merely deceived me,” Ken deflected, even though his instincts were screaming danger. What exactly are you targeting from the Princess, Onoke? Ken could sense a cloaked aura of darkness oozing from the man’s intentions.
”Oh, look over there! The silver-haired woman is Julia, my cousin, the first princess of the Royal bloodline. I suppose you two already acquainted yourselves in a… slightly dramatic fashion yesterday, didn’t you?” Diyah explained, flashing a bizarre, meaningful smile. “And the noble youth beside her is Raden, a Prince from the Water Kingdom. He and Julia are already engaged. Rumor has it they will hold a grand royal wedding immediately after this tournament concludes,” Diyah continued, laying bare the political and romantic map before him.
Ken nodded in understanding, his eyes tracking Julia’s movements. “Yes, she is the one who nearly slit my throat with her sword yesterday. I suppose they make a fitting pair, a perfect prince and princess,” Ken remarked, his voice slightly elevated in a desperate attempt to veil the tempest raging in his chest.
Diyah stared intently at Ken’s visage, searching for a fracture of emotion. Why does he look so perfectly tranquil? Does he truly not feel even a microscopic shred of jealousy? Diyah wondered, a mysterious smile curving her lips. “Julia is actually a very kindhearted person. Yesterday, she merely didn’t want you to escalate the tension, so her body moved purely on reflex. Sometimes, when her fury reaches its zenith, she can indeed lose a bit of her self-control,” Diyah defended her.
”Is that so? It is good if she treats you well,” Ken replied flatly.
”We are extremely close; she often stands at the absolute vanguard to defend me. So, I hope Brother Ken does not harbor a grudge against her, alright?” Diyah looked at Ken with an innocent gaze, resembling a child desperately hoping her plea would be granted.
This girl… is she deliberately baiting me? Ken thought, observing Diyah’s behavior. “Ah… yes, rest assured. I am not the type of man to harbor a grudge against a woman,” Ken affirmed, accompanied by a faint smile.
Hearing that answer, Diyah appeared exceedingly satisfied. However, a heartbeat later, the radiance on her visage faded, replaced by a gloomy trace of seriousness. “Oh, right… Brother Ken, are… are you going to leave soon?” Diyah asked, her voice shrinking slightly.
Ken was momentarily stunned. “What do you mean?”
”Hmmm, haven’t you already found the person you’ve been searching for all this time?” Diyah looked straight into Ken’s eyes. “Do not worry, I am exceptionally skilled at guarding secrets.”
Ken fell silent. It turned out this girl’s perception vastly eclipsed his expectations. “Yes, you are correct. I have found her,” Ken admitted candidly. “And it seems, there is no longer any reason for her to be by my side. So… perhaps my journey will soon continue elsewhere.”
Diyah lowered her head, her eyes staring at the terrace floor as a vortex of emotions churned within her. “Is that truly the case, Brother Ken?” she whispered softly, barely audible.
Ken offered a small smile at Diyah’s reaction. This girl… if you wish for me to stay, why don’t you just say it directly? Ken thought. “Naturally,” he stated, maintaining his flat tone.
”Then… when exactly will you depart?” Diyah asked again, this time with a visibly forced smile.
”Perhaps tonight, or perhaps tomorrow morning,” Ken answered casually, adjusting his seating posture. “Why do you ask, Princess?”
Diyah remained silent, her fingers nervously intertwining. Knowing you for such a fleeting moment was apparently enough to make me refuse to part with you, Diyah realized, acknowledging a brand-new emotion taking root in her heart. “Could it be… you might stay here just a little longer, Brother Ken?” Diyah asked, her gaze now brimming with hope, her eyes beginning to glisten.
Ken’s heart felt as though it were being sliced open seeing the glimmer of agony in Diyah’s eyes. That beautiful visage, usually so radiant, now looked incredibly fragile, causing the absolute fortress around Ken’s heart to slowly soften. “What could possibly serve as a reason for me to remain in a place as freezing as this, Princess?” Ken asked with a profoundly gentle tone.
Diyah fell silent again, her brain working frantically to formulate an excuse. “Umm… I do not possess any invaluable treasures to offer as collateral. But… would Brother Ken be willing to accept this?” Diyah retrieved a small box and opened it, revealing a Pair Necklace forged of pure gold that radiated a warm, magical energy.
A Pair Necklace? So she possesses one as well, merely in a different color spectrum… Ken was taken aback inwardly. He stared at the necklace, then shifted his gaze to Diyah’s visage. “Are you absolutely certain about this decision, Princess?”
”Mm-hmm. I want Brother Ken to have it more than anything,” Diyah answered resolutely, even though her cheeks were now flushed a deep crimson.
”Very well. If that is your will.” Ken bit down slightly on the tip of his right index finger, allowing a single drop of pure blood to seep out.
Diyah unlocked the spiritual seal upon the necklace and mirrored his action—dripping her blood directly onto the core of the seal. Instantaneously, the necklace detonated with a blinding golden light, signifying that the bond of blood and soul upon the artifact had fused flawlessly.
Diyah handed the male counterpart of the necklace to Ken. “This is for you, Brother Ken.”
”I wish for you to place it around my neck yourself,” Ken said, rising to his feet, gazing at Diyah with a rare, gentle smile.
Diyah flinched, yet her heart was flooded with a wildly beating euphoria. “Hmmm, very well.” Diyah stood before Ken. Ken’s towering, muscular physique forced her to stand slightly on her tiptoes to reach the youth’s neck. The distance between them eroded until only mere inches remained. Ken’s warm breath caressed her forehead, causing Diyah’s cheeks to burn even brighter.
Once she finished, it was Ken’s turn to take the female counterpart of the necklace.
”Now, allow me to do the same for you, Princess,” Ken requested. Diyah could only nod softly in her bashful silence.
Once the necklace rested perfectly around Diyah’s neck, Ken abruptly pulled the maiden’s body into his embrace. Diyah gasped, her eyes widening in absolute shock as she felt her chest press against Ken’s broad chest. Her heart hammered wildly, her mortal shell stiffening for a fleeting moment before she finally began to melt into the profound warmth of that embrace.
”From this exact second, I swear to become your absolute aegis and protect you with every ounce of my power,” Ken whispered softly, directly into her ear. “If anyone dares to harm you, I do not wish to see you shed another tear. You do not need to weep over such garbage as long as I am by your side.”
Hearing that vow, Diyah’s entire emotional fortress collapsed. She returned Ken’s embrace tightly, feeling that this man was the absolute only person who truly comprehended the crushing burdens she had shouldered all this time. Thank you… Brother Ken, she whispered in her heart, closing her eyes. A single tear of profound emotion escaped, falling to stain Ken’s black robes.
That night, within a forbidden sector deep beneath the palace.
So, this is the concealed treasure of the Ice Kingdom… Ken mused inwardly, staring bleakly at a 500-year-old Ice Dragon Star Monster curled up inside a crystal cavern. The mythical beast’s body was shackled by Star Seal chains pulsating with sapphire light, surrounded by a high-tier sealing formation.
”Hey, Little Dragon. Have you grown tired of being imprisoned in this damp pit?” Ken tossed a spiritual fruit toward the monster. “Eat. And endure this just a little longer…” Ken murmured before turning away, leaving the dragon behind in suffocating silence.
The following day, within General Lamarr’s private chambers.
”Inform the Patriarch that my movements are currently severely restricted. General Hameng continues to monitor my every step like a shadow,” General Lamarr ground out with absolute fury to a cloaked spy beside him.
”Understood, My Lord. Your message will be delivered immediately,” the spy answered before vanishing.
Bastard… That old King is deliberately exploiting this moment to suppress me absolutely. That youth from the Siama Alliance could become a highly troublesome stumbling block, but it is the figure of the ‘Master’ backing him that I absolutely cannot underestimate. Those old fossils must make their move immediately before it is too late! General Lamarr’s inner voice roared, his fists clenching so tightly they trembled.
On the kingdom’s main training grounds, the team slated to compete in the Star Seal Cultivator Tournament had gathered to heed their coach’s directives.
”The tournament will commence in exactly two weeks. However, our condition is pathetic. There are still three team members who have yet to breach the 6-Star level, including you, Princess Diyah,” Uncle Uria, the coach, explained with a grim visage.
”I will exert every last drop of my energy to elevate my cultivation, Uncle Uria,” Diyah answered resolutely. “However, I observe that Andin and Suta appear to have hit an absolute bottleneck; they are in desperate need of the appropriate Star Monster Cores to condense their sixth Star Seals.”
”It is excellent that you possess a shred of self-awareness…” A sarcastic voice sliced through the conversation. General Bonar strode onto the field with towering arrogance. “It seems this team still harbors a flicker of hope. But what about you, Princess? When will you stop cowering in the shadows and begin hunting your own Star Monsters?”
Diyah merely offered a faint smile, weathering the insult with extraordinary tranquility. “I will do everything in my power, Uncle. Do not worry.”
”General, thank the heavens you are here. Would you be willing to spare some time to escort Andin and Suta to hunt for Star Monsters in the border forests?” Uncle Uria interjected, attempting to divert the hostile tension.
”There are still far too many crucial national security matters I must resolve in the immediate future, Uria. Find another guard,” General Bonar rejected him outright. “I came here merely to deliver the King’s edict; he wishes to see you in the hall this very instant.”
Bonar shot Diyah one last disdainful glare. “Princess, I pray you rapidly grow strong and do not humiliate the grand name of the Ice Kingdom during the tournament. Remember, only those who possess absolute power are worthy of donning the Queen’s crown.” Without waiting for a response, General Bonar turned on his heel and strutted away.
Hearing those words, Diyah’s teammates felt an overwhelming surge of fury. “That loud-mouthed general! He is always oppressing the Princess. Had the Princess been born earlier and possessed the same amount of cultivation time as him, he would undoubtedly be crawling beneath her boots! What a bastard…” Andin cursed, absolutely disgusted by Bonar’s arrogance. “Do not listen to him, Princess,” she then added, attempting to console Diyah.
”Yes, Andin is right. He is merely terrified his position is threatened. Do not give it a second thought, Diyah,” Julia added, wrapping an arm around her cousin with profound affection.
”Yes… I understand. I am perfectly fine,” Diyah replied, forcing a resilient smile.
Unbeknownst to them, from a distance, Ken had witnessed the entire spectacle with an absolutely glacial gaze before he finally turned and walked away in silence.
”Very well, I must seek an audience with the King immediately. As for Andin and Suta, continue your physical conditioning. I will arrange a hunting schedule for the two of you posthaste,” Uncle Uria concluded before rushing off the field.