Dungeon of Niflheim

749  Chapter 749: No longer a girl

Duke Runak's smile stretched from ear to ear in a wild manner as he envisioned himself fighting against a being at the S-rank, the very peak of the mortal world.

He was so close to reaching that realm, his wounds, duties and lack of knowledge all held him back at the last step, a bottleneck.

A grand battle however, one that would really test his limits and endanger his life could be the spark he needed to shatter the wall and ascend.

Icethorne and the War Ursa Battalion were under great threat, the possibility of annihilation being very high yet at the same time it was an opportunity. People always improve the most while under unprecedented pressure.

C-ranks could climb to B-rank, Majors and Colonels to A-rank Generals and longstanding powerhouses like Katrina and Jessica could reach his level, the peak of A-rank.

This war was a catalyst, a gift that would see his Battalion rise to the very peak or fall in disgrace, there was no third option.

Frost couldn't help but be affected by the Duke's words and attitude. He yearned for battle, a true battle, a desire he himself knew all too well.

The rush, the euphoria that flowed throughout the entire body as one channelled every facet of their strength to win and to survive was unparalleled.

He envied Duke Runak in this moment, envied his opportunity to face against such a powerful foe. Something he would not get to see as his duties led him elsewhere.

The war between the War Ursa Battalion and the Glacial mountains Liberation Alliance would transpire and conclude without his interference.

He would visit the Primordial Ice King, Shivali in his God realm Niflheim, return the earth ranked ice flame oddity to him and then return to his Dungeon to prepare his defences for the upcoming onslaught of the Northrend Empire as well as the challenges of his siblings.

Frost was not beholden to the Empire and thus wasn't required to take part in their wars. Only if it benefited him and he had the time to do so would he then interfere.

Take this war for example he only took part because he just so happened to be staying here for a short period of time and wanted to experience something on a grander scale.

If he didn't need to visit the Primordial Ice King then he would have never travelled this far into the Glacial mountains during such tumultuous times.

Frost and Duke Runak discussed a few things in more depth. The Duke explained more about Icethorne's history as well as that of the War Ursa Battalion's while Frost spoke of his knowledge of the S-rank as well as his outside opinion of the Northrend Empire, a view which both Avira and Borris couldn't provide given their bias.

If he wasn't so close and loyal to the recently deceased Franz and saw hope in the young Avira then he would have seceded from the Empire the moment the civil war broke out.

Icethorne was in such a prime position -before the outbreak of the current war- that doing so would in fact be very beneficial to its economy and management.

Alas he was a loyal General, a proud citizen of Northrend as were most of his soldiers. They couldn't abandon the Empire in its time of need even if those in the Empire turned their backs on them.

Frost shared a meal with the Duke, partook in some delicious alcohol free wine and then returned to his quarters to rest. He would leave in the early hours of the morning alongside the contingent setting off for Karak Kanz. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

About an hour after he drifted off to sleep however he was awoken by a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" He asked in a frustrated manner.

"It's V" Avira's melodious voice replied. "Can I come in?" She boldly asked.

Such behaviour could be seen as uncouth, a young woman, a Princess even barging into a man's room in the dead of night.

Frost thought for a moment before giving permission. "Sure."

Avira thus opened the door and quickly closed it behind her.

She was dressed in a blue nightie, one that was specifically designed for the cold weather of the Glacial mountains yet at same time appearing quite mature, almost sexy even.

Of course Avira didn't have any such lingerie with her given her usual attire and quick departure from the Capital no this outfit was borrowed from a certain well known succubus in Icethorne. A woman who's carnal appetite was never sated despite her advanced age.

With a burst of determination and courage Avira clasped the lock on the door, took a deep breath, turned around and showed her enchanting appearance to the somewhat groggy Frost.

Unfortunately she didn't exactly get the reaction she was hoping for.

Frost with his vast experience in seeing both Maya and Daki in all sorts of provocative outfits and positions and being in a somewhat tired state barely registered the scene before him.

Avira certainly looked quite beautiful and rather cute given the growing blush on her cheeks but that was it. He wasn't flustered, didn't bleed from the nose and didn't have any obvious physical reaction. The last one being a supposed certainty according to Jesscia's promise.

This outfit had bagged her all manner of young studs over the years, just a single glance was all it took for them to start drooling in hunger. Alas unlike her Avira was rather lacking in the curves department.

 She wasn't flat by any means, but her oranges could never compete with the watermelons Frost was used to.

Frost liked his women older, flirtatious and even aggressive.

Avira was more like a meek and adorable lamb that had attempted something she wasn't used to.

He smiled gently towards her, his expression full of fondness and care but not an ounce of lust.

Such a look hit her hard.

'Am I really not attractive? Even with this kind of outfit he still doesn't see me as a woman.' At first she was shocked, her pride taking a significant blow but then she got angry, frustrated.

'Bastard!' She internally cursed determined to be seen as a mature and sexy woman like her mother.

Her parents were dead, her Empire in turmoil. She travelled through dangerous paths and even fought against deadly monsters just to reach here. The spoiled and pampered Princess that was the ample of everyone's eyes was gone, all that remained was the Empress to be. A young, vibrant woman filled with confidence and determination….she was no longer a girl.

Convincing herself of this her blush vanished and she appeared next to Frost on the bed, her shoulder resting against his as she took hold of his right hand and gave him a clear view of her little rabbits and the soft valley between.

She wanted to imprint herself on him, to be seen as a woman in his eyes, a target for his affection and longing rather than just a friend who he travelled alongside.

"V?" Frost muttered with confusion.

"Don't say anything or push me away, just let me sit here with you." Avira replied, refusing to budge as she relished in his smell, his aura and his current dishevelled appearance.

This was enough for now; she would ingrain his being into her memory while he would struggle to forget her.

Anything more would be too much and too forced. She still had her pride as a woman.

She could flirt and wear appealing attire, but she wouldn't sell her herself. Such an action was beneath her and unacceptable as an Empress to be.

The two thus sat in silence for a few minutes, one feeling very satisfied while the other feeling somewhat awkward.

Frost liked Avira but just not in that way, she was too different from Maya and Daki but at the same time he didn't really feel the urge to push her away. A strange contradiction.

"You're leaving in the morning?" Eventually the silence was broken by Avira.

"Yes, I'll be leaving with the envoy team set for Karak Kanz." Frost replied softly.

The small team would enter the catacombs and leave through an exit further removed from the battlefield.

If there was anyone waiting in the vicinity they'd work together to take them down before splitting up.

The hidden entrance to the realm of Niflheim was between the 1st and 2nd layer, northeast of their current position while Karak Kanz was in the 8th layer and more to the northwest.

"You're delivering something?" During their journey Frost spoke little about his task after they reached Icethorne, but V knew and could guess a few things.

"Yes, a friend of my father's lent me something. I need to return it to him." He didn't say anything further. It wasn't necessarily a good thing for him to reveal his origins.

If Avira knew that he was the son of the Dark God their relationship might change or rather she might change.

Her empire was in disarray, and she was in the weakest position amongst her siblings. If it was revealed that Frost was of an extremely powerful background then she may sacrifice everything to drag him into the turmoil, to use him as a tool rather than a friend.

Though he believed that the chances of her doing so were slim he didn't want to take the risk.

 "Mmm." Avira hummed lightly in reply, not daring to delve deeper into his mystery. She was fine with not knowing everything about him, at least for now.

There was silence once again.

"….Can you help?"

"….No, I need to return and take care of Niflheim. The longer I'm away the more dangerous it gets." The longer the master was away the easier it was for something to go wrong.

"..."

"..."

Avira knew the answer, but she asked anyway, hopeful somewhere deep down alas Frost had his own priorities.