In the snow-covered Chalon Forest, Ryan and Veronica made their way to Teresa's wizard tower for a visit.
Unlike Veronica's typical solitary wizard tower, Teresa's construction resembled more of a small estate with the tower at its center. This place was a summer retreat, cool in the summer and cold in the winter. The hills shielded it from the southern warm winds, allowing the northern cold winds to flow freely. The estate already featured a dormitory building, and the wizard tower itself had reached six stories. Clearly, Teresa preferred not to live with her students, intending to use her tower primarily as a teaching facility and workshop.
In the freezing cold, a group of ice sorceress apprentices, dressed in blue and white robes, greeted Ryan and the others. The apprentices, mostly blonde with blue eyes, looked lively and eager in the winter season, when their magical powers were at their peak.
The interior of Teresa's tower was decorated in the typical Kislev style. Teresa used white stone and marble to construct the tower, with light beige tones as the base color. The floors and large partitions featured deep walnut and dark contrasts for a striking visual effect. Dark suede sofas and walnut furniture highlighted the texture, while natural post-modern decorations added a cultured and elegant atmosphere. Overall, the space felt calm and refined.
As they entered the tower, Ryan noticed the luxurious wooden interiors, meticulously crafted in every corner. Teresa's high standards were evident. One of Teresa's personal apprentices, Emma, approached them as they entered, "Mentor, you're back?"
"Yes, I'm back. You can take a break now." Teresa hung her white bear fur shawl on the coat rack, then pointed to a long sofa. "Sit down, Ryan. This is your home too, make yourself comfortable. Veronica... If you don't want to be encased in ice, keep your mouth shut."
"Hmph, we could have a duel right now. Let's see if our little princess of Garland has improved at all?" Veronica, though not in her best shape, didn't hesitate to issue a challenge. "Come on, take out your staff! Don't think being in your wizard tower gives you an edge over me… Hmm!"
Ryan quickly covered Veronica's mouth. The last thing he wanted was a fight right off the bat. "Alright, Veronica, enough. Teresa clearly has a problem she needs our help with."
Veronica, dressed in a cream-colored ruffled chiffon blouse and a black pencil skirt, gave Ryan a resentful look before glaring at Teresa. She knew that in this season, within Teresa's tower, her chances of winning were slim, but she wanted to assert her stance.
"Yes, I do need your help… Come this way, Ryan, and you too, Veronica." Teresa beckoned them to follow.
The three of them descended into the basement of the tower, equally lavishly decorated. Their footsteps echoed on the stairs—Teresa's high-heeled rhino leather boots, Ryan's boots, and Veronica's high heels clattering on the stone steps. Ryan asked in a low voice, "Teresa, what's the problem?"
"Take a look at this." Teresa pointed ahead.
In front of them stood an ice sculpture of a beautiful young woman.
Yes, an ice sculpture. A lovely girl in a sorceress apprentice's robe was encased in solid ice, her eyes closed, and she looked devoid of life.
"Pfft~ Is this what you wanted to show us? Oh my, Trovik, do you know how many failed sorcery apprentices end up like this each year? There are dozens of such ice sculptures in the Celestial Castle alone." Veronica mocked, her sweet face and pretty almond eyes filled with ridicule. "Don't tell me this is the first time you've encountered something like this."
Ryan nodded. As Veronica mentioned, mastering magic is an arduous and complex process for humans. Failure often results in dire consequences.
For example, a failed fire magic apprentice would explode into ashes, a light magic apprentice would disintegrate into bright light, a beast magic apprentice would transform into a beastman, and an alchemy apprentice would turn into a metal statue.
For ice magic, a failed apprentice would be turned into an ice sculpture as the cold consumed their body.
"But this ice sorceress apprentice didn't turn into an ice sculpture because of a failed spell." Teresa shook her head repeatedly, placing her hand on the surface of the ice sculpture and looking at the girl trapped inside. "She only had a dream."
"A dream?"
"She dreamt of Queen Miska, who was trying to tell her something, but Queen Miska's voice was drowned out by the laughter and curses of dark gods. Then, Queen Miska vanished into the darkness." Teresa frowned deeply. "Shortly after recounting this, the apprentice turned into this ice sculpture and died."
"Queen Miska…" Ryan's brow furrowed.
Queen Miska was the first Tsarina of Kislev and the most powerful ice sorceress in history, bar none.
Discussing Queen Miska inevitably involves recounting how she founded the Kingdom of Kislev. Originally from the Kurgan steppes, she led her people away from the encroaching chaos and corruption. Guided by a vision from the Bear God Ursun, she and her tribe crossed to the other side of the World's Edge Mountains. They eventually established the Kingdom of Kislev through a series of wars and alliances with the Ungols.
Known for her formidable combat prowess and fearsome ice magic, Queen Miska earned the titles of "Ice Queen" and "Ice Witch."
After founding Kislev, she claimed to have a great mission that required her departure. Allegedly foreseeing a terrifying future, she led her elite forces into the northern Chaos Wastes, vowing to return when her people needed her the most.
Terrifyingly, Queen Miska never fulfilled this promise. She did not appear even when Kislev faced near-destruction during the Great War Against Chaos and was forced to flee south.
So why would this apprentice claim to have heard Queen Miska's voice?
And why did she turn into an ice sculpture after hearing Queen Miska?
Ryan pondered for a moment but couldn't find an answer. He turned to Veronica, "What do you think, Veronica?"
"I'm not sure. Queen Miska's power is unquestionable, but the Chaos Wastes…" Veronica's expression grew serious as she delved into her knowledge. "Queen Miska founded Kislev nearly a thousand years ago. Records from that era are scarce due to the devastation of the Great War Against Chaos. Historians speculate that she led her forces into the Chaos Wastes, attempting to close the Old Ones' portals. Without a doubt, she failed."
"How could someone who failed to close the portal a millennium ago possibly communicate with an apprentice now through a dream?" Teresa added, her face filled with confusion. "Is this some kind of omen, or is it a complete hoax?"
The basement grew tense as Ryan gazed at the girl in the ice. He reached out to try and break the ice, but Teresa instinctively moved to stop him, only to be held back by Veronica.
"What are you doing? Even if Ryan melts the ice, the apprentice…" Teresa pushed Veronica's hand away angrily. Her cold and elegant face showed frustration, and her emotions stirred the surrounding frost, making it whirl around her.
"So what? Let him understand how fragile we are and how difficult it is to get here. Only then will he truly cherish us! We've all sacrificed so much to keep up with him. He needs to know that our sacrifices matter. Being selfless doesn't earn a man's gratitude. You might be moved by your own sacrifices, but if he doesn't understand, it's all for nothing!" Veronica countered sharply.
"…" Teresa's eyes dimmed, and she nodded in agreement.
Ryan, oblivious to their exchange, conjured platinum psychic flames in his hands, aiming to melt the ice and free the apprentice inside.
The ice gradually began to melt.
Ryan's expression shifted from serious to shocked and finally to pale.
As the ice melted, so did the apprentice within. Her beautiful form dissolved alongside the ice, leaving Ryan grasping at nothing but melting snow, slipping through his fingers.
The vision before him vanished like a fleeting dream, leaving only emptiness.
"Failed magic apprentices cannot be saved or resurrected." Veronica stepped behind Ryan, speaking softly. "Do you know why in the Celestial Castle those ice sculptures aren't stored away or melted and buried? Because they are the only evidence that those ice witches ever existed in this world."
"This might be the ultimate fate of a spellcaster. Stop practicing, and your body will slowly be consumed by magic. Continue to practice, and you might end up like this at any moment, or worse, succumb to Chaos corruption." Veronica continued, "So don't think our love for luxurious comforts is some unbearable indulgence. We could end up like what you see here, leaving nothing behind."
"...I'm sorry." Ryan felt a pang of sadness and hugged Veronica. "I didn't know… I mean, I'll cherish you all more, I promise~"
Ryan's reaction was exactly what Veronica wanted. She feigned a demure acceptance of his embrace, signaling her forgiveness.
Oh, men! Veronica's face lit up with a victorious smile as she subtly flashed a "V" sign behind Ryan's back towards Teresa: Mission accomplished! Affection level UP UP!
Teresa folded her arms, her eyes conveying her response to Veronica's challenge: Hurry up! Now it's my turn!
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