How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 701: Frozen Trials 11.5

Venturing into the forest no longer felt out of the ordinary for Celestine.

She gave it scant consideration upon stepping out from her home.

In truth, slipping away to the woods for magic training had stealthily woven itself into her regular schedule.

"I should probably switch spots soon..."

She murmured softly to herself while traversing the snowy path, her boots dipping lightly with each stride.

The woods had always offered a handy spot.

Dense foliage shielded her from prying gazes, and ample clearings amid the trunks allowed for unleashing potent spells without wrecking vital surroundings.

Yet that wasn't the sole draw for selecting this location.

Through the passing years, Celestine had uncovered an odd trait in the forest.

Though it appeared as a typical wintry woodland at a glance, its essence pulsed with enchantment.

The very trees possessed a strong knack for soaking up mana.

It was understated, yet evident upon closer observation.

Each time she unleashed vast mana quantities in this place, nearby trees would gradually pull it in, scattering the surplus into the surroundings.

As if the forest itself were inhaling the essence.

This rendered training much more secure.

Spells that could leave hazardous mana traces in other areas simply dissolved here after a while.

Such was among the numerous minor revelations she had gained during her time in this ordeal.

And it stood as one key cause for her mother's firm ban on her solitary forest visits.

From an everyday viewpoint, it held logic.

A enchanted woodland posed risks to a young one.

Feral creatures.

Concealed mana flows.

Treacherous ground.

But what escaped her mother's awareness...

Was the extent of Celestine's already formidable strength.

Truth be told, sessions here benefited her greatly.

Occasionally, the icy mana within her accumulated excessively.

In those instances, unleashing advanced spells and allowing the woods to gradually drain the residual mana brought... solace.

Like easing tension from a buildup pressing in her core.

Nevertheless, caution remained essential.

Should her mother ever uncover her covert use of such potent magic...

The prior reprimand would seem lenient by contrast.

Celestine lightly massaged the nape of her neck at the notion.

She truly dreaded enduring yet another drawn-out sermon.

Yet another issue loomed.

Her usual training ground had become... devastated.

Or rather, profoundly transformed.

The relentless barrage of devastating ice spells across the years had etched deep scars.

Trunks encased in unyielding ice.

Patches of earth eternally sheathed in sharp frost.

Even the atmosphere there lingered with a subtle icy bite.

Securing a fresh area for practice grew increasingly urgent.

However, the forest stretched not infinitely.

A limit existed that she dared not breach.

An unseen boundary uncovered ages past in the trial.

Attempts to venture further always met resistance.

A subtle yet resolute wall.

Thus, the usable expanse within the woods proved rather confined.

Celestine let out a soft sigh.

"Guess I’ll just walk a bit deeper today..."

She whispered, pressing onward amid the snow-draped trunks.

With ample time remaining before her mother's arrival, Celestine proceeded unhurriedly.

She strolled leisurely through the timberland, her footfalls hushed on the snow as her gaze drifted over the landscape.

The towering trees loomed motionless, laden branches glistening with rime.

Soft, silvery illumination pierced the overhead boughs, bouncing gently from the blanketed earth.

Occasional gusts of chill wind swept by, bearing hints of pine and iced soil.

It felt serene.

Unusually serene.

In her prior existence as Snow, such instances were scarce.

As royalty—and subsequently amid endless duties, pressures, and perils—she seldom found opportunity to wander natural realms aimlessly.

The rare joys of such tranquility came only alongside Riley... and the rest.

Her pace eased a touch.

A subtle grin graced her mouth.

Those tranquil interludes.

Strolling as a group.

Chatting idly.

Giggling at trifles.

Those recollections retained their heartfelt glow, even presently.

Though she embodied Celestine now, at her core lingered Snow.

And Snow yearned for those she held dear.

Years spent in this realm had unveiled an uneasy truth.

Initially, she deemed herself merely enacting Celestine.

Portraying the part till the trial concluded.

But gradually...

The distinctions began to fade.

Her mannerisms.

Her responses.

Her musings.

At times, she noticed herself reacting as Celestine might— not as Snow.

It crept in quietly, yet unmistakably.

The dual selves started to intertwine.

Blend.

And that prospect truly unnerved her a bit.

Snow refused to surrender her essence.

Yet concurrently, she grasped a vital point.

To fully grasp this trial... mere external watching wouldn't suffice.

She must inhabit it fully.

She must reason as Celestine.

Emote as Celestine.

Only thus would the trial disclose its intent.

Snow exhaled softly and gave a gentle head shake, banishing the weighty reflections.

"Overthinking once more..."

She uttered quietly.

For the present, she pressed on with her walk.

And suddenly—

A sensation grazed her awareness.

Borne on the frosty gale.

FOOOSHHH—

Celestine halted abruptly.

"...Mana?"

Her gaze sharpened marginally.

It registered as weak.

So understated that ordinary folk would overlook it entirely.

But she perceived it distinctly.

Someone—or perchance something—wielded mana farther within the depths.

She concentrated briefly, extending her perceptions outward.

And soon, it struck again.

Her features hardened at once.

For that aura...

It resonated with eerie familiarity.

Celestine’s mind snapped to vigilance.

That mark...

She knew it well.

Indisputably.

It stemmed from the vile entities she had confronted recently.

Demonic energy.

Which pointed to but a single conclusion.

Demons lurked—

Or at minimum...

Adherents of demonic cults.

Hidden somewhere in the woods.

Celestine’s eyes chilled gradually as she traced the mana’s path to its origin.

She glided soundlessly among the trees, her essence merging seamlessly with the woodland’s frost.

And then—

They came into view.

The spectacle before her proved unforeseen... and utterly unwelcome.

Six cloaked figures.

All encircling one lone young girl.

They jeered.

Taunted.

Dallied with her as if she were prey freshly snared.

One delivered a kick.

Another seized her arm with brutality.

The girl bore wounds already.

Tears traced her cheeks amid feeble resistance.

Celestine remained rooted amid the trunks, observing.

She had long recognized that demons—and their cultish devotees—defied classification as ordinary folk.

Their deeds alone had forfeited any shared human claims.

Even so...

Despite her prior grim clashes with them, a sliver of curiosity had once lingered in her, pondering if comprehension was possible.

If deeper motives fueled their cruelty.

Some justification.

But that notion evaporated in an instant.

For directly ahead—

One figure abruptly struck the girl’s cheek.

The crack resounded crisply through the hushed woods.

The child toppled laterally into the drifts.

And as yet another figure knelt, extending a hand in unmistakable malice—

Celestine’s mana stirred prior to deliberate intent.

The chill erupted forth.

[Mid-Level Ice Magic]

[Frost Wave]

An unseen gale of gelid force blasted from her stance.

The very atmosphere appeared to solidify.

Three cloaked assailants fell prey at once.

Their forms locked in frost mid-act, rime surging over their frames ere reaction dawned.

In one swift instant—

They transformed into frozen effigies.

The woodland’s chill deepened noticeably.

Step.

Step.

Celestine emerged from the tree line.

The snow yielded a faint crunch beneath her as she advanced measuredly.

Icy mana swirled about her form akin to a subdued tempest.

"W-Who are you!?"

One surviving figure bellowed in alarm.

Only then did they grasp that an intruder had neared undetected.

The apparent chief scowled, fixing his stare on the diminutive form approaching.

A youthful lass.

Silver tresses.

Serene visage.

She seemed scarcely past ten... perhaps thirteen utmost.

Yet the incantation she unleashed...

No ordinary youth could muster such.

Not remotely.

’This child is dangerous.’

Urgent warnings clamored in the chief’s thoughts.

Without pause, shadowy demonic power coalesced around him as he readied.

Meanwhile—

The guileless demeanor on Celestine’s countenance had vanished.

In its stead arose a far icier resolve.

The subdued might of one who had once towered over multitudes.

The presence of Princess Snow.

She offered no words.

No inquiries.

No probes into their deeds.

Her palm merely lifted.

A single digit aimed their way.

"E-Everyone call up the—!"

The chief attempted to cry out to his followers.

But delay had sealed their fate.

[Mid-Level Ice Magic]

[Ice Spears]

Dozens of keen ice lances materialized behind Celestine in a flash.

They lingered poised in the ether momentarily—

Then hurtled ahead.