Morning sunlight slowly crept over Frostridge Village, melting the edges of the frost that had formed during the night. The village had not slept well. People whispered behind doors, guards walked nervously along the walls, and every adult kept their children close.
But the center of all those whispers… was Alina Frost.
She sat on the edge of her small wooden bed, staring at her shaking hands. The room was quiet; only the soft crackle of the tiny fireplace broke the silence. Her fingers were pale as always, but now she could see faint silver lines under her skin—lines that pulsed like veins made of light.
She touched them carefully.
"They weren't here yesterday…"
She looked around her little home. Everything felt the same… yet she felt different. Too different.
The events from last night replayed in her mind—the roar, the boar, the glowing screen… the ice spear.
She swallowed hard.
"Did I really freeze a Spirit Beast?"
A soft chime echoed in her head.
Ding.A blue panel appeared in front of her again, shimmering gently.
[Good morning, Alina Frost.]
[System Stability: 87% Functional.]
Alina blinked in surprise."It… talks to me even now?"
Another line appeared.
[Status Window Unlocked.]
[Would you like to view your stats?]
Her curiosity overpowered her fear."…Yes."
The panel expanded into a full screen.
STATUS — ALINA FROST
Designation: Goddess Candidate
(Stage 0)
Spiritual Root: Frozen Origin (Dormant → Awakening)
Cultivation: 0th Stage — Mortal
Affinity: Ice (Perfect Compatibility)
Unique Trait: "Heart of Eternal Winter" (Locked)
System Blessings: 1 (Unclaimed)
Alina stared at the page for a long time.
"G-Goddess Candidate…? Perfect Ice Affinity…?"
She let out a shaky laugh."Me? The girl who can't gather a single drop of Qi?"
The system responded at once.
[Correction: You could not gather Qi before.][The Goddess Creation System rewrites limitations.]
Her heart trembled at the words.
Rewrites limitations.Not grants shortcuts.Not gives cheat powers.It rewrote her.
Alina placed a hand on her chest. Her heartbeat felt stronger, steadier, as if something frozen inside her had begun to loosen.
A sudden knock made her jump.
Knock. Knock.
"Alina? Are you awake?"
It was Elder Mira, the oldest woman in the village—and the only person who ever treated Alina kindly.
Alina quickly hid the glowing panel. It faded like mist.
"I'm awake," she said.
The door creaked open, and Elder Mira stepped in, leaning on her cane. Her silver hair was tied tightly, her wrinkled face serious but warm.
"Child… come outside. There's something you must see."
Alina nodded and followed her out.
The entire village stood gathered in the center square. Guards, farmers, merchants—everyone stared at the ground where the body of the Frostfang Boar lay frozen solid like an ice sculpture.
Whispers spread immediately.
"That beast was too strong…""It froze instantly. No elder here could do that.""Who saved us?""Which cultivator visited last night?"
Elder Mira glanced at Alina."You know why you're here, don't you?"
Alina looked down nervously."I… Elder, it wasn't a cultivator."
Everyone quieted, turning toward her.
Alina hesitated—but Elder Mira nodded gently, encouraging her.
She exhaled."It was… me."
Gasps filled the air.
"What?!""Impossible!""She can't even gather Qi—how could she freeze a Spirit Beast?"
A few children peeked from behind their parents with wide eyes. Some adults stepped back as if afraid she would suddenly turn into a monster.
Alina's hands tightened.
Just as the whispers grew louder, Elder Mira lifted her cane and pointed at Alina's chest.
"Be silent," she said firmly. "Look."
Alina followed her gaze and slowly looked down.
She froze.
A mark—thin, delicate, glowing softly—shone right above her heart. It looked like a snowflake made of silver light, small but impossibly beautiful.
The Frost Mark.
Elder Mira's eyes widened with both fear and awe.
"That mark… appears only once in a lifetime," she whispered. "A divine sign."
Villagers stared in shock.
"A divine…?""Is she chosen by the heavens?""Is this a blessing or a curse?"
Alina felt overwhelmed and took a step back. The mark pulsed with a faint cold glow, and a small wave of frost spread under her feet.
People gasped again.
Elder Mira quickly moved in front of her, blocking frightened villagers.
"Enough! She is not a danger. Something extraordinary happened last night—and we must not judge what we do not understand."
Alina lowered her head, her eyes stinging.
Elder Mira gently took her hand."You saved us, Alina. That is what matters."
Alina's breath hitched.
Nobody had ever said that to her before.
The system suddenly chimed again.
[Emotional stability detected.][Unlocking first System Blessing.]
Alina blinked in surprise.
[Blessing Unlocked: Frostflow Veins — Your body can now gather Qi.]
Her heart almost stopped.
"I… can cultivate?"
The system answered calmly.
[You can begin your path.]
Alina felt warmth—no, cold warmth—spread through her chest as the Frost Mark glowed brighter.
For the first time in her life… she felt Qi.
Soft, cool, gentle energy drifted around her like falling snowflakes.
Elder Mira noticed the change and gasped."Alina… your spiritual root… it's awakening!"
The villagers fell silent.
Alina raised her hand, and a small swirl of frost formed above her palm like a tiny snowstorm.
She stared at it in disbelief—and wonder.
Her life had truly changed.
And this was only the beginning.