Maira stood in the middle of a frozen plain.
Cold wind swept across the landscape, brushing against her skin and sending strands of her silver hair drifting across her face. Endless frozen hills stretched toward the horizon, their surfaces covered in thick layers of ice that glittered beneath the pale sky like scattered diamonds.
Maira stared at the landscape with a completely neutral expression.
"...I hate this dungeon."
Arcanis floated beside her, his pages ruffling in the bitter wind.
"I'm well aware, Master."
She folded her arms, tucking her hands beneath them for warmth.
"First we get roasted alive in a volcanic floor, then we get cooked in a desert, and now we're in a giant freezer."
"The dungeon does appear to have an interesting sense of variety."
"I don't care." Maira shivered, her breath misting before her face. "It's freaking cold."
She immediately raised one hand.
"Heat Aura."
A gentle layer of phantom-like flames appeared around her body. Unlike ordinary fire, the flames didn't burn her clothes or consume oxygen—they simply responded to her intent, radiating enough warmth to keep the cold at bay.
Maira's shoulders relaxed almost immediately.
"...Much better."
Arcanis' pages fluttered with approval.
"Nice. You immediately knew the right skill to use in this situation."
"I don't care." She rubbed her stomach, her expression becoming slightly miserable. "I just really want to rest right now. Also... I'm really hungry."
Arcanis sighed.
"Understood. Let me scan the area."
His pages opened wide, a faint blue glow spreading across the surrounding landscape.
[UNIVERSAL DETECT]
For a moment, Arcanis remained completely still. Then several markings appeared across his pages.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"Monsters."
Maira immediately became alert, her hand drifting toward her daggers. "How many?"
"Several groups."
"How far?"
"Approximately fifty meters from our current position."
Maira glanced around, her eyes scanning the empty white expanse. She couldn't see anything—just ice, snow, and the distant shapes of frozen hills.
"...Fifty meters?"
"Correct."
"And you can see them?"
"Quite easily."
"Sometimes I forget you're basically a walking surveillance system."
"I prefer 'omniscient magical companion.'"
"Book."
"...Fair."
Arcanis continued scanning, his sigils flickering with concentrated light. Then he turned toward a nearby frozen hill.
"However... I've found somewhere suitable for you to camp."
Maira looked toward the hill. It was relatively small compared to the enormous frozen mountains surrounding it, but its summit was unusually flat. A few large ice formations surrounded the area, creating a natural windbreak.
"There's nothing there?"
"No monsters."
"Are you sure?"
"Quite."
"Traps?"
"None detected."
"Anything that wants to eat me?"
"Not currently."
Maira stared at him. "That last part wasn't reassuring."
Arcanis ignored her. "On that hill, you'll be safe for the time being. It's far enough from the nearest monsters that we can prepare food, rest, and recover."
Maira looked at the hill again. Her stomach growled, loud enough to echo across the frozen plain.
She immediately started walking.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Arcanis floated after her. "You seemed considerably more motivated once food became involved."
"Of course." She glanced over her shoulder. "Revenge is important." She continued walking, her boots crunching through the snow. "But eating is also important."
Arcanis chuckled. "A perfectly reasonable philosophy."
As they approached the hill, Maira noticed something unusual. A series of footprints crossed the snow—deep, fresh tracks that hadn't been there moments ago.
She stopped.
"...Arcanis."
"Yes, Master?"
"Those weren't here when you scanned the area, were they?"
"No."
Maira crouched beside the tracks. They were enormous, three clawed toes each, with each footprint almost as large as her torso.
Her expression slowly changed.
"...How big is the thing that made these?"
Arcanis went silent.
"Arcanis?"
His pages began turning rapidly, his sigils flickering with urgent light.
"...That's interesting."
"I don't like it when you say that."
"I believe we should reconsider our choice of campsite."
Maira slowly stood, her hand instinctively reaching for her daggers.
"Why?"
Arcanis' voice became unusually serious.
"Because whatever made those tracks..."
A low rumble echoed beneath the frozen ground.
"...is currently underneath the hill."
Maira's face went blank.
"You're kidding."
The ice beneath her feet cracked.
CRACK.
Maira looked down.
"...Arcanis."
"Yes, Master?"
"Tell me that's just the cold."
Another crack spread beneath her, then another.
CRRRRACK.
Arcanis' pages fluttered nervously.
"...I would love to."
Maira sighed, her breath misting in the freezing air.
"I knew this was too peaceful."
The entire hill suddenly trembled. Snow cascaded down its slopes in miniature avalanches. The ground groaned like a living thing.
Maira immediately activated Feather Step.
"Of course." She raised her daggers, wind swirling around her feet. "Of freaking course."
The frozen ground exploded.
BOOOOOOM!
A gigantic silhouette erupted from beneath the ice, shattering the hill into a thousand flying shards. Maira shot backward as a colossal roar shook the frozen plain, the sound so loud it rattled her teeth.
Arcanis hovered beside her, his pages whipping in the shockwave.
"Master..."
"I know."
She stared at the creature emerging from beneath the hill.
"...No resting."
"Apparently not."
The monster rose—and kept rising. It was vaguely reptilian, with a body covered in thick, crystalline scales that refracted the pale light like living ice. Four massive legs ended in claws the size of small trees. Its head was elongated, with two curved horns sweeping backward from its skull and eyes that burned with cold blue fire.
Maira's Heat Aura intensified around her body, steam hissing where the warmth met the freezing air.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Fine." She raised her daggers, the golden Golem Bracers glinting on her forearms. "Let's see what this floor has for us."
Arcanis' voice was quiet but steady.
"Frost Wyrm. Adult classification. Extreme caution advised."
"Noted." Maira's lips curved into a sharp smile. "Any weaknesses?"
"Fire. Obviously."
"Good thing I have that now."
The Frost Wyrm threw back its head and roared again, the sound cracking the ice for hundreds of meters in every direction. Its breath came out as a blizzard—a cone of freezing wind and razor-sharp ice crystals.
Maira didn't wait.
"FEATHER STEP!"
She launched herself sideways as the blizzard carved through where she'd been standing, flash-freezing the air itself. Ice shards embedded in the ground like needles.
"Air Slash!"
A crescent of wind screamed toward the Wyrm's neck. It struck—and glanced off the crystalline scales.
Maira gritted her teeth. "Of course. More armored scales."
"The Frost Wyrm's hide is reinforced with ice-aligned mana. Physical and wind attacks are ineffective."
"Then let's heat things up!"
She thrust both hands forward.
"Fireball!"
A sphere of condensed flame shot toward the Wyrm's chest.
BOOM!
The explosion sent steam hissing in every direction. The Wyrm staggered—not in pain, but in surprise. Its cold blue eyes fixed on Maira with new interest.
"HEAT AURA!"
Maira intensified the flames around her body, then charged forward.
"MOMENTUM SYNCHRONIZATION!"
She flowed—dagger meets force, force becomes speed. Her bracers extended into curved blades of golden sand as she ran.
The Wyrm swung its massive tail.
Maira dropped low, sliding beneath it, then launched herself upward.
"FLAME REPULSION!"
Fire exploded from her palms, propelling her toward the Wyrm's exposed throat. She drove both blades deep into the gap between its scales.
The creature screamed—a sound of genuine pain.
But then its body flashed with freezing energy.
Maira's eyes widened. "Oh no—"
FROST NOVA!
The explosion of cold threw her backward, her Heat Aura flickering dangerously. She hit the ground hard, rolling through the snow.
"MASTER!"
"I'm fine!" She pushed herself up, shivering violently. Her Heat Aura had nearly been extinguished. "That... that was cold."
The Wyrm turned toward her, its wounds already healing—ice sealing the cuts.
"Arcanis..."
"Yes?"
"It regenerates."
"Indeed."
"Of course it does."
She took a deep breath, feeling her mana reserves. Still plenty—but the cold was sapping her strength faster than she'd anticipated.
She needed a new approach.
Her eyes fell on the Golem Bracers.
"...Arcanis. Crystalline Shift. What can it do?"
"It transforms the bracers into a single devastating weapon. The form adapts to your intent."
Maira thought for a moment. Then she smiled.
"I need something that can pierce those scales."
"Then envision it."
Maira closed her eyes.
She thought about the wyrm's healing factor. About its armored hide. About the way it had shrugged off her fire.
She needed something that struck once—and struck deep.
The bracers responded.
Golden light exploded outward, the sand swirling and coalescing. Maira felt the power drain from her, a significant portion of her remaining man but she didn't care.
She had one shot.
When the light faded, she held a massive spear of compressed obsidian sand. Its tip glowed with heat—the Golem's earth-affinity blending with her Flame Branch, creating something entirely new.
The Frost Wyrm lunged.
Maira didn't dodge.
She planted her feet, aimed the spear, and screamed.
"CRYSTALLINE SHIFT!"
She threw.
The spear became a streak of golden fire, trailing heat and light. It struck the Wyrm's chest—right where its healing scales were weakest—and pierced.
The creature's roar was deafening.
Then it collapsed.
Maira fell to her knees, gasping. Her mana was nearly gone, her vision swam.
But the Frost Wyrm didn't rise.
Arcanis' voice was soft with pride.
"Target neutralized."
Maira stared at the fallen creature, her chest heaving.
"...I did it."
"You did."
"I did it on the first try."
"Technically, you used a significant portion of your mana on a single attack."
"Details."
She laughed—a breathless, exhausted sound.
Then she collapsed face-first into the snow.
Arcanis floated above her.
"...Master?"
No response.
"Master!"
A faint mumble.
"...Sleepy."
Arcanis' pages rustled with concern. He scanned the area quickly—the Wyrm was dead, but its corpse was already attracting attention. Several smaller monsters were beginning to stir in the distance, drawn by the noise and the scent of blood.
"We need to move you."
Maira didn't respond. Her breathing was steady—she was already unconscious.
Arcanis sighed.
"Forgive me, Master."
His pages began to glow with soft green light.
WIND FLOW — EXTENDED APPLICATION
A gentle current of air lifted Maira from the snow, cradling her like a hammock of invisible force. Her body floated a meter above the ground, swaying slightly.
Arcanis floated beside her, his pages working continuously to maintain the spell.
"There we go."
He began moving—slowly, carefully, navigating around the Wyrm's corpse and the stirring monsters. The wind carried Maira with surprising gentleness, keeping her stable and warm.
"This is not how I envisioned my role as an ancient magical grimoire," Arcanis muttered. "Carrying my unconscious master through a frozen wasteland like a nursemaid."
Maira mumbled something in her sleep.
"...What was that?"
"...more... bread..."
Arcanis' pages fluttered with exasperation.
"Of course."
He continued onward, scanning for a safe location. After several minutes of travel, he found it—a small ice cave nestled into the side of a distant hill, its entrance partially sheltered from the wind by a natural overhang.
"Perfect."
He guided Maira inside, setting her down gently on a bed of soft snow. Then he used Wind Flow to sweep the entrance, piling snow into a barrier that blocked the worst of the cold.
"Now then."
His pages flipped to a new section.
MATERIAL ANALYSIS — INVENTORY
"Let's see what we have."
Maira's pack had survived the journey, still strapped to her back. Arcanis used a small gust of wind to open it, revealing:
· Dried meat from the desert floor (preserved by the heat)
· A few edible roots she'd collected (Forest Resonance had helped identify them)
· A small cooking pot (she'd learned to carry one after the volcanic floor)
· Flint and steel
Arcanis considered his options.
"I cannot cook. I am a book."
He paused.
"However... I can facilitate."
He used Wind Flow to arrange the materials—a small fire pit made from ice blocks, kindling placed carefully inside, the pot filled with snow that he melted with a gentle application of heat from Maira's Heat Aura (which still flickered faintly around her unconscious form).
"This feels vaguely unethical," he muttered, siphoning warmth from her aura. "But she needs to eat."
Once the water was boiling, he added the dried meat and roots, using Wind Flow to stir the mixture.
The smell of stew filled the small cave.
Maira stirred.
"...Arcanis?"
"Yes, Master?"
"...Are you cooking?"
"I am... facilitating the cooking process."
She slowly sat up, blinking. Her Heat Aura had stabilized, keeping the cave warm. The Golem Bracers glinted on her forearms.
"...How long was I out?"
"Approximately forty-five minutes."
"And you... made food?"
"I arranged for food to be made. With your assistance."
Maira stared at the bubbling pot.
"...You used my Heat Aura to cook."
"Waste not, want not."
She laughed—a tired, genuine sound.
"You're ridiculous."
"I am resourceful."
She crawled toward the pot, accepting a bowl that Arcanis had prepared using Wind Flow. The first bite made her eyes close.
"...This is actually good."
"I am a grimoire of many talents."
"Modest, too."
"I am the most modest."
Maira ate in silence for a few minutes, feeling warmth return to her body. The stew was simple—meat, roots, hot broth—but it tasted like the best meal she'd ever had.
When she finished, she set the bowl aside and leaned back against the ice wall.
"...Arcanis."
"Yes, Master?"
"That Wyrm... it wasn't the floor boss."
Arcanis paused.
"...Correct."
"I figured." She stared at the cave ceiling. "It was too easy. Well. Relatively easy."
"You defeated an adult Frost Wyrm with a single decisive attack. That is not 'easy' by any standard."
"It didn't feel like a boss fight."
"The dungeon may have more in store for us."
Maira nodded slowly.
"...I need to get stronger."
"You are getting stronger. Rapidly."
"Not fast enough."
She looked at her hands—the Golem Bracers, the faint scars from the volcanic floor, the calluses from her daggers.
"Every floor, I barely survive. I win because of luck or cleverness or... or something the dungeon decides to teach me. But I can't keep relying on that."
Arcanis floated closer.
"Master. You have progressed from a village girl with no combat experience to a C-Rank mage capable of defeating adult-class monsters in a matter of days. That is not luck. That is potential."
Maira smiled faintly.
"...You're getting better at comforting me."
"I am learning."
She closed her eyes.
"Wake me when something tries to kill us again."
"That is not a healthy sleep schedule."
"I know."
Arcanis' pages rustled softly.
"...Rest, Master. I will keep watch."
Maira's breathing slowed. Within minutes, she was asleep again.
Arcanis floated at the cave entrance, his sigils glowing faintly in the darkness.
[UNIVERSAL DETECT]
He scanned the area—monsters in the distance, the Wyrm's corpse now surrounded by scavengers, the frozen plain stretching endlessly under the pale sky.
Somewhere out there, the true floor boss waited.
But for now, his master needed rest.
And he would ensure she got it.
The ice cave was quiet.
Outside, the frozen winds swept across the endless white plains, carrying loose snow through the air. Occasionally, distant roars echoed between the frozen hills, followed by the cracking of ice beneath the weight of unseen creatures.
Inside the cave, however, there was warmth.
A small fire crackled beside a pot of stew. Its orange glow danced across the icy walls, illuminating a silver-haired girl curled beneath a makeshift blanket.
Maira was sleeping peacefully.
For once, she wasn't fighting anything.
No monsters. No deadly environmental hazards. No ancient dungeon guardians trying to turn her into a stain on the landscape.
Just sleep.
And she intended to enjoy every second of it.
Unfortunately, her companion had other concerns.
"[UNIVERSAL DETECT]."
Arcanis's pages glowed faintly as his perception spread across the frozen wilderness.
He detected several monsters moving around the Frost Wyrm's corpse. Most were small scavengers, though a few possessed enough mana to qualify as genuine threats to an ordinary adventurer.
None approached the cave.
His concealment measures were holding.
"Excellent."
He turned his attention toward Maira.
Her breathing was steady. Her temperature had stabilized, and the faint flames of her Heat Aura had returned to their usual gentle glow.
Nevertheless, her mana reserves remained dangerously low.
Arcanis's pages turned.
"[STATUS ANALYSIS]."
A translucent projection appeared beside him.
Name: Maira
Current Condition: Exhaustion
Mana Reserves: Critically Depleted
Physical Condition: Minor bruising, muscle strain, cold exposure
Active Effects: Heat Resistance, Heat Aura
Recovery Status: In Progress
---
Arcanis studied the display.
"Hmm."
He drifted closer.
"She pushed herself too far."
His voice held none of its usual teasing amusement.
Maira had survived a volcanic wasteland, crossed a desert, defeated an Ancient Sand Golem, and now killed an adult Frost Wyrm.
All within a relatively short period.
Her progress was extraordinar but her body had limits, and her mana was not infinite.
"She understands that intellectually," he murmured. "Unfortunately, her preferred method of learning is to discover precisely how much punishment she can endure before collapsing."
From beneath the blanket came a muffled voice.
"…I can hear you."
Arcanis froze.
Slowly, he turned toward her.
Maira hadn't opened her eyes.
"You're supposed to be asleep," he said.
"I was."
"Then how did you hear me?"
"You're talking."
"That is a remarkably unhelpful answer."
She shifted beneath the blanket.
"Go back to being a book."
"I have always been a book."
"Then be a quieter one."
Arcanis stared at her.
"...Your recovery appears to be proceeding well. Your ability to be insufferable has returned."
"Good."
She pulled the blanket over her head.
"Wake me when breakfast is ready."
Arcanis's pages fluttered.
"Master, you have already eaten."
"Then wake me when second breakfast is ready."
"That isn't a real meal."
"It is now."
And with that, Maira fell silent.
Arcanis remained motionless for several seconds.
"...I have created a monster."
Several hours later, Maira finally woke up properly.
She sat up, rubbed her eyes, and immediately reached for the bowl beside her.
Empty.
She stared at it.
Then she looked at Arcanis.
"Where's my stew?"
"You ate it."
"All of it?"
"Every last drop."
Maira looked genuinely offended.
"I was unconscious. How could you let me do that?"
Arcanis's pages stopped turning.
"...You were conscious enough to demand more bread."
"Oh."
She considered this.
"Fair."
Maira stretched, wincing slightly as soreness spread through her shoulders. Her body felt heavy, and her muscles complained about every movement.
Still, she felt considerably better than before.
She raised her hand.
A tiny flame flickered above her palm.
Then she tried to gather mana around her fingers.
The flame sputtered.
It vanished.
Maira blinked.
She tried again.
Nothing.
"...Huh."
Arcanis immediately turned toward her.
"What are you doing?"
"Testing something."
"Your mana reserves are still recovering."
"I know. I just wanted to see how much I had."
She concentrated again.
A weak spark appeared between her fingers before disappearing.
Maira's expression became thoughtful.
"So, if I keep using magic while my mana is recovering, I can probably make the recovery take longer."
"Correct."
"And if I don't use magic, it'll recover faster."
"Correct."
She nodded solemnly.
"Then I shall perform the most difficult task known to humanity."
Arcanis waited.
Maira lay back down.
"I'm doing absolutely nothing."
"...You make it sound like a heroic undertaking."
"It is. Please respect my sacrifice."
Arcanis let out a long, theatrical sigh.
"Very well. But no training until your reserves have recovered."
Maira peeked at him from beneath the blanket.
"What about light exercise?"
"No."
"Stretching?"
"Yes, within reason."
"Daggers?"
"No."
"Just holding them?"
"No."
"Looking at them?"
Arcanis paused.
"...You may look at your daggers."
Maira smiled triumphantly.
"Ha! Victory!"
"Your standards for victory are deeply concerning."
She reached into her pack, retrieved one of her Stonefang Daggers, and examined its edge.
Then she put it away.
A moment later, she retrieved the other one.
Arcanis watched her.
"Master."
"What?"
"You are doing exactly what I told you not to do."
"I'm looking at them."
"...I regret granting you permission."
Eventually, Maira settled against the cave wall, the blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
For a while, she simply watched the fire. The dancing flames reflected in her eyes.
"Arcanis?"
"Yes, Master?"
"How long until my mana comes back?"
"Assuming you rest properly, your reserves should recover substantially over the next several hours. Your body may require longer to recover completely from the strain."
"Several hours..."
She lowered her gaze to her hands.
"I hate waiting."
"I know."
"I mean, I really hate it."
"I am also aware of that."
Maira frowned.
"Every time I get stronger, something else appears that makes me feel weak again. I learned to use wind properly, then the volcanic floor nearly cooked me. I survived that, learned fire, and then the desert tried to bury me alive."
She paused.
"And now I finally have something that can pierce ridiculously tough armor, and the first thing I do is use nearly all my mana on one attack."
Arcanis drifted closer.
"Would you prefer to have lost?"
"No!"
"Then perhaps the result was acceptable."
Maira puffed out her cheeks.
"That's not the point."
"Then explain the point to me."
She fell quiet.
Her fingers tightened around the blanket.
"...I don't want to keep barely surviving."
For once, Arcanis didn't respond immediately.
Maira continued, her voice quieter.
"I know I'm stronger than I was when I entered this dungeon. I know that. But I keep finding things that can kill me, and sometimes the only reason I'm still alive is because I happen to figure something out before it's too late."
She looked toward the cave entrance.
"What happens when I meet something I can't figure out?"
The fire crackled between them.
Arcanis's pages moved gently in the warm air.
"Then you retreat, if retreat is possible. You adapt, if adaptation is possible. You seek another solution, if one exists."
Maira looked at him.
"And if none of those work?"
"Then you do everything within your power to survive."
"That's not very reassuring."
"It was not intended to be."
She gave him a flat look.
"You're terrible at this."
"Would you prefer a comforting lie?"
"No."
"Then I shall offer you an uncomfortable truth."
Arcanis floated directly in front of her.
"You cannot guarantee that you will always be stronger than whatever stands before you. Neither can I promise that every challenge will have a clever solution waiting for you to discover it."
Maira's expression grew serious.
"But you can improve your chances. You can learn to recognize danger earlier, conserve your mana, understand your opponents, and master the abilities you already possess instead of constantly seeking new ones."
He gestured toward her bracers.
"Crystalline Shift is powerful. But its true value isn't merely that it can create a weapon capable of piercing a Frost Wyrm's hide. Its value lies in the possibilities it offers you."
Maira glanced down at the golden bracers.
"Possibilities?"
"You shaped a spear because you wanted to pierce armor. But what if you needed a shield? A hook? A blunt weapon capable of shattering an opponent's defenses without piercing them? What if you could alter the weapon's shape during an attack?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"...I can do that?"
"I said possibilities, Master. Not guarantees."
"You're ruining the exciting part."
"I'm preventing you from attempting to transform your bracers into an entire arsenal while you can barely produce a fireball."
Maira opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then pointed at him.
"That sounds suspiciously reasonable."
"I occasionally achieve that."
She looked at her bracers again.
This time, her expression was different.
Not frustration.
Curiosity.
"So I don't necessarily need more power."
"Not immediately."
"I need to use what I already have better."
"Precisely."
Maira leaned back against the wall.
"...Fine. I'll train smarter."
Arcanis's pages fluttered.
"A promising declaration."
"After I finish recovering."
"Of course."
"And after I eat."
"Naturally."
"And after I sleep some more."
"Master."
"What?"
"You have just negotiated yourself into spending the entire day doing nothing."
Maira grinned.
"See? I'm learning strategy."
Arcanis waited until Maira had eaten again—a proper meal this time, not just broth—before he brought up the subject.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"There is something we need to discuss."
Maira looked up from her bowl.
"That sounds ominous."
"It is not ominous. It is... informative."
"That's what people say right before something ominous happens."
Arcanis ignored her.
He floated to her side and opened his pages wide.
"[STATUS ANALYSIS — DETAILED REPORT]."
The translucent projection reappeared, but this time it was far more extensive.
---
Name: Maira
Current Rank: C-Rank Mage
Mana Capacity: C-Rank (Recovering)
Elements Acquired: Wind, Forest, Flame (Branch), Sand (Golem Core)
NEW ACQUISITIONS DETECTED
ICE MAGIC — ACQUIRED
The Frost Wyrm's essence has been absorbed into your mana network. You have gained a foundational affinity for Ice Magic.
New Skills Obtained:
• Frost Nova — Releases a burst of freezing energy in all directions. Enemies caught in the blast have their movement slowed and their mana gradually drained. Effectiveness increases against targets already affected by ice magic.
• Frost Resistance — Passive ability. Cold environmental conditions no longer affect you. You cannot be frozen in place by ice-based attacks or effects.
• ⭐ Unique Skill: Frozen Domain — Temporarily transforms the surrounding area into a field of absolute cold. Within this domain, Ice Magic is enhanced, enemy movement is hindered, and your mana recovery rate increases significantly. Duration and size scale with mana invested. Cannot be used simultaneously with Self Ignition.
WEAPON OBTAINED
Frost Wyrm Shield
Forged from the crystallized scales of the Frost Wyrm you defeated. The scales retain their natural resilience and ice-aligned properties.
Classification: Extra-Level Equipment
Material: Frost Wyrm Scales (Adult)
Current Status: Unrefined — Requires forging to unlock full potential
Innate Properties:
• Exceptional physical durability
• Natural ice mana conductivity
• Self-repairing when exposed to cold environments
• Can absorb a portion of ice-based attacks and convert them into mana
Enchantment Slots: 1 (Empty)
---
RECOMMENDATION
The Frost Wyrm Shield is currently in its raw form. To unlock its full capabilities, it should be processed through the Original Forge.
As the recognized Successor of the Original Forge, you possess the authority to refine this material and apply an enchantment suited to your combat style.
Suggested Enchantment Paths:
• Thermal Absorption — Shield absorbs heat-based attacks and converts them into ice mana
• Frozen Retaliation — Shield releases a Frost Nova when struck by a powerful attack
• Glacial Fortress — Shield expands into a temporary barrier of ice when activated
Final enchantment will depend on materials available and the wielder's intent.
Maira stared at the projection.
Then she stared at it some more.
"...I got all of that?"
"You defeated an adult Frost Wyrm. Its essence was absorbed into your mana network upon death."
"I have ice magic now."
"Correct."
"And a shield."
"Correct."
"And a unique skill."
"Correct."
Maira was quiet for a moment.
Then she smiled.
"...Okay. That's actually incredible."
Arcanis's pages rustled with satisfaction.
"I thought you might appreciate the development."
She looked at her hands, then at the Golem Bracers on her forearms.
"Ice and fire. Sand and wind. Forest and..."
She trailed off.
"Arcanis, how many elements do I have now?"
"Four primary affinities—Wind, Forest, Flame, and Ice—plus the Sand Arts derived from the Golem Core. That is a significant arsenal for a C-Rank mage."
"And I'm supposed to master all of them?"
"Eventually. For now, focus on integrating them. Your Frost Nova synergizes well with your existing abilities—imagine freezing an enemy in place, then striking with Crystalline Shift."
Maira's eyes lit up.
"...That's terrifying."
"You are welcome."
She laughed, then looked toward the cave entrance.
"So where's the shield?"
Arcanis's pages turned.
"The Frost Wyrm's scales have been collected and stored within my inventory system. I can materialize them when you are ready to forge."
Maira nodded slowly.
"The Original Forge..."
"You have a connection to it. When you are prepared, we can attempt to access its power and refine the shield."
She looked at her bracers.
"Can I do it now?"
"Your mana is still recovering. Forging requires focus and energy."
"Right." She sighed. "Rest first. Then forge."
"A wise decision."
She leaned back against the wall.
"...Hey, Arcanis?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Thank you."
Arcanis paused.
"For what?"
"For... everything. Keeping watch. Cooking. Yelling at me when I'm being stupid."
"I do not yell."
"You absolutely yell."
"I raise my voice in a concerned and supportive manner."
"That's yelling."
"...Perhaps."
Maira smiled.
"Anyway. Thanks."
Arcanis's pages fluttered softly.
"...You are welcome, Master."
Later that afternoon, Arcanis detected something unusual.
At first, it was barely noticeable: a faint fluctuation in the mana beneath the frozen plain.
He adjusted his perception, the signal vanished.
He waited.
Then it returned.
A pulse.
Slow. Deep. Almost imperceptible.
Arcanis's pages opened wider.
"[UNIVERSAL DETECT]."
His perception spread beneath the snow, passing through layers of ice and frozen earth.
There.
Something was moving far beneath the surface.
Not a monster wandering through a tunnel. Not an ordinary creature burrowing through the ground.
It was too large.
And the mana surrounding it was strangely difficult to interpret. Arcanis narrowed his focus.
The signal disappeared again.
"...What?"
He scanned the area a second time.
Nothing.
His pages turned faster.
"That is exceedingly unusual."
From the other side of the cave, Maira raised her head.
"What's unusual?"
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with."
She stared at him.
Then slowly sat upright.
"Arcanis."
"Yes?"
"You have never said that when it actually meant nothing."
"...I dislike how observant you are becoming."
"What did you find?"
He hesitated.
That alone was enough to make her expression sharpen.
"Arcanis."
"I detected an unusual mana fluctuation beneath the ice. It disappeared before I could determine its source."
Maira glanced toward the cave entrance.
"Is it a monster?"
"I cannot confirm that."
"Is it dangerous?"
"I cannot confirm that either."
"Can you confirm anything?"
"Yes."
She waited.
"I can confirm that I dislike this development."
Maira stared at him for a moment.
Then she slowly pulled the blanket back over herself.
"Nope."
Arcanis turned toward her.
"Master?"
"I'm recovering."
"...I am aware."
"My mana is still low."
"Yes."
"My muscles hurt."
"Indeed."
"And you just said you don't even know what the thing is."
She closed her eyes.
"So unless it comes in here and personally asks to eat me, I'm pretending it doesn't exist."
Arcanis was silent.
Then, despite himself, he laughed.
"An astonishingly sophisticated survival strategy."
"Thank you."
"That was sarcasm."
"I accept your gratitude."
Another faint pulse travelled beneath the frozen plain.
This time, Arcanis felt it clearly.
For a fraction of a second, something brushed against his detection field.
Not an attack.
Not even a deliberate intrusion.
It felt more like something had noticed his attention and turned toward him. Arcanis's amusement vanished, his pages snapped shut.
The cave fell silent.
Maira opened one eye.
"...Arcanis?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he drifted toward the entrance, his voice carefully controlled.
"Remain inside, Master."
Maira sat up.
"Why?"
"I am going to reinforce our concealment."
"That's not an answer."
"It is the answer you are receiving."
She stared at him, then looked at her bracers.
For once, she didn't argue.
"...Fine."
Arcanis floated to the entrance and strengthened the magical barriers around the cave. Wind gathered along the opening, rearranging loose snow until the cave became almost indistinguishable from the surrounding hillside.
He then resumed Universal Detect, this time carefully limiting the depth of his search.
Nothing.
No signal.
No movement.
Only the frozen world stretching into the distance.
And yet, somewhere beneath the ice, the strange presence remained.
Arcanis knew one thing with certainty.
Whatever it was, it had not behaved like an ordinary monster.
He glanced back at Maira.
She had already fallen asleep again, her silver hair spread across the blanket.
"...You had better recover quickly, Master."
His voice softened.
"Something tells me this floor will not allow us to rest forever."
Outside, snow drifted across the cave entrance.
Far beneath the frozen plain, a pale blue light flickered once.
Then vanished.
FLOOR STATUS: IN PROGRESS
MANA RECOVERY: ONGOING
UNKNOWN PRESENCE: UNRESOLVED
ORIGINAL FORGE: READY FOR ACTIVATION
FROST WYRM SHIELD: AWAITING REFINEMENT
---
And for the first time since entering the frozen floor, Arcanis wondered whether the thing beneath the ice was waiting for Maira...
Or whether it had been waiting for him all along.