novelonline Chapter 3656 The Fate of Ice and Snow
Chapter 3656 The Fate of Ice and Snow
Chapter 3656 The Fate of Ice and Snow
“It’s rare to see someone swear an oath with their pet cat, but you seem very sincere. Well, what would you like to hear? That Moon Sorcerer was quite famous among the Ring Sorcerers of the previous era, so perhaps Danestar sees her shadow in you. I mean, talent.”
Miss Asperger knew a lot. Although she was not a student of the Academy, she frequently visited the Academy in her youth due to the close ties between the Northern Tribe and St. Byrons, and even lived there for a period of time as an "exchange student".
In her memory, Helena Carter was the kind of teacher who was strict but very gentle:
"Compared to her, Daniste's image in most people's eyes is only that of a stern one."
She recounted some amusing anecdotes to Shad, describing her few private meetings with Ms. Carter. Shad could tell she held Ms. Carter in high regard, perhaps influenced by the glimmer of her youth, but more so by a conclusion drawn from genuine memories.
"Dannister and Ms. Carter had a very good relationship, better than most mother-daughter relationships. Daniste always regarded Ms. Carter as her goal and ideal, which is why she never gave up searching for Ms. Carter all these years after her disappearance."
I do hope your presence can help her let go of this obsession. It's not that I don't miss Ms. Carter; I also miss the little cakes we ate in her office back then, but one must always move on. Daniste understands this; she just can't accept it.
She gazed at the campfire before her, her expression nostalgic, and Xia De asked:
"Dannister told me that she found traces of the Moon Sage in the material world before she disappeared, during her investigation. Did Ms. Carter discuss anything similar with you?"
The sorceress, dressed in a dark blue dress, carefully recalled:
“No, I didn’t have the power I have now when that lady left, and no one would have discussed topics related to the Old Gods with me back then. But if Ms. Carter really did disappear while pursuing the Old Gods, then that should be considered an honor.”
The two chatted for half an hour, during which time the rituals surrounding the icy pool were basically completed. The "Fragment of Winter" brought out from the underground tomb was finally thrown into the icy pool, and an extremely cold frost swept across the snow, almost extinguishing the campfire in front of him even with Shad's protection.
"It's so cold."
He shuddered and stood up with Miss Asperger, wanting to observe the ceremony, but he and Elder Harald were quickly ushered aside.
The ritual required Stella to have symbols painted on her body, and then she had to enter the icy pool without wearing any clothes. Elder Shad and Elder Harald, being the only two men present, were naturally not allowed to approach her during this process.
The two returned to the campfire, a little further away from the cold pool. After sitting down, Elder Harald warmed his hands by the fire and then turned to look at Shad:
"Let me guess—you might have just brought your own Rhodes deck with you?"
Xia De burst out laughing:
"I always carry my Rhodes deck with me, just like I always need to carry my keys when I go out."
"I usually don't carry my keys when I go out because there's always someone at home, but I happen to have my Roderick brand phone with me."
So, while making the final preparations, Claire, worried that her grandfather and Shad might get bored because they had nothing to do, went to check on them. She saw the Rhodes cards scattered around the fire, and the two of them happily calculating the points of their respective hands. She then pursed her lips and ignored them.
However, Shad and Elder Harald were simply playing cards and didn't gamble on their special cards. This wasn't because the elder thought he couldn't beat Shad; it was simply because the pain of losing his special card last time had made him determined never to gamble with others lightly again.
This was a very cautious decision, but Shad believed he couldn't hold on for long.
Once everything was ready, Stella grabbed the stone harp and jumped into the icy pool. A few girls stayed around the pool to prevent any accidents, while most returned to the camp to rest.
It was nearly noon when they saw them return, and Elder Shad and Elder Harald immediately put away their cards.
Someone started cooking by the fire, Elder Harald went to Elder Ursa to confirm the details of the ceremony, while Flora and Claire sat on either side of Shad.
"There shouldn't be any more complications, right?"
Claire said with some concern, "Nothing has been going completely smoothly lately."
Flora, on the other side of Shad, felt that even if something unexpected happened, it wouldn't be a big deal; she had already gotten used to it when she was in the Vista Forest.
"With Xia De around, even if something unexpected happens, it'll be fine. You have to learn to trust him."
The artist said this, and then chatted with Shad about the situation in the Willendale region after the year-end holidays.
After lunch, Shad and Miss Bell played cards for a while, while Flora kept score for them. The girl who lost in the end went to make tea for everyone. While drinking afternoon tea, Shad went to listen to Claire and Miss Asperger talking about the similarities and differences in the ice powers they used.
Although their lineage originated from one place, after such a long period of time, the powers they use have become fundamentally different.
Afternoon tea time is over, and the ceremony is almost over as well.
As Elder Ursa raised her ancient staff, the runes engraved on the edge of the cold pool glowed, and the block of ice that had frozen Stella inside rose from the surface.
The girl in the ice had her eyes closed as if she were asleep, but soon cracks appeared on the surface of the ice. After the ice exploded into a shower of crystal dust, Stella slowly fell onto the water's surface.
Of course, since the girl wasn't wearing any clothes, all of the above is what Claire described to Shad afterward.
After Stella had tidied her clothes, Shad saw her. Claire pulled her to the campfire to warm herself, but Stella didn't seem to feel cold.
The stone harp, which had been sent into the icy pool, returned to the surface. Everyone watched as Stella picked up the stone harp, but the harp remained unchanged.
Then the white-haired girl, in a standard posture, held the violin and plucked the strings. Like a cold spring dripping onto a stone, the violin produced a melodious sound, and the Frostmourne, held by Stella, shone with a dazzling icy blue light in the snowy weather.
The light resonated with the light on her chest and the stone slab beside her. Stella Larson looked at the concerned eyes around her and thought of everything she had experienced since leaving the tribe.
"Thank you."
She whispered, but she didn't know who she was talking to. The long, harsh winter seemed to her over; even if the snowstorms came, she wouldn't feel the cold anymore.
And so, in the light that resonated with each other, the ring of fate behind Stella emerged.
The harp in her hands gave her a whisper—[sorrow], the light in her chest gave her a miracle—[winter], and the floating stone slab gave her enlightenment—[destiny].
In the light, most of the power of the "Frozen Punishment Mark" merged into her body, truly becoming a part of her. The stone harp in her hand released its self-containment state, revealing the true form of this relic.
The stone slab obtained from the underground mausoleum also dissolved itself in the resonant light, leaving only an icy blue halo radiating a chilling aura floating in front of Stella.
"As expected of winter, her winter procession was never truly over. She is still on the path of that trial, but she is not far from the end."
Miss Asperger smiled with satisfaction.
"The fate of ice and snow is indeed the Ring of Fate. The first generation of Fatu people did indeed come into contact with the Ring of Fate during the Fourth Era. That elder knew that this ring was both a gift and a price, which is why he did not tell us about its existence."
Shad pondered how the appearance of this new ring would change the story. At that moment, the *Manual of Fate* was unfolded beside him, and "she" softly read the analysis of the new Ring of Fate:
[You witnessed the "Ring of Fate - Ice and Snow," the destiny of ice and snow.]
[Interpretation of Fate: Winter will inevitably come, and so will ice and snow. All things will slumber in the cold, but this is not death, but preparation for new life.]
[Effect: The holder of this destiny can control ice and snow, bringing all things to a state of slumber.]
"Stella can prepare to advance to the seventh ring! She only reached the sixth ring in the second half of last year, that's really fast."
Claire said with great delight, and seeing that Stella was somewhat hesitant to touch the Ring of Fate in front of her, Claire asked Shad:
"What should we do with this ring? Are you going to keep it for now?"
"No, this is the destiny of ice and snow, she activated it herself. Stella, pick it up."
The white-haired girl trusted Xia De completely, so she put down the violin and instead held the ring in her hands. The icy blue light from the ring spread towards her body, and at that moment, the howling wind and swirling snowflakes in the mountains became even more intense and dense.
A beam of icy blue light, visible to the naked eye, shot straight into the sky. Winnie, in the ice castle, smiled as she watched the light from the terrace. In the city's Prophet's Association, President Lenorman walked to the window, squinting, seemingly lost in thought. Luvia, who had just entered the town of Kyle-Todd, turned to look at the mountaintop, while the black snake eyes in the mountain temple peered at this scene through the crack in the temple's door.
At the same time, Stella's sloughed-off snake skin automatically emerged, with new ink writing simple words—
You have received a destiny that matches your true self.
She looked stronger, of course, compared to her past self. Her white hair had taken on a touch of icy blue, and even the life ring she hadn't yet put away showed signs of broken ice.
"The upper limit of spirit, mental strength, vitality, and the strength of magical spells have all increased slightly, and the power related to ice and snow has also been enhanced."
Stella said this, while Claire frowned:
"Hasn't the arc not been activated yet, and it hasn't been integrated into oneself? Why is it having such a strong effect? When we took turns checking the Ring of War at the dinner on Friday night, none of us felt so obviously stronger."