Located to the northwest of the Protos Empire, the Aetherland Kingdom's Northern Land had its royal capital, Gedalia.
The sunset glow filtered through the dense canopy, dancing with the cooking smoke drifting through the air and coating the twilight of the forest city in a soft sheen. As the stars slowly lit up along the horizon, the city-state began to welcome the night.
At the end of February, the short day was drawing to a close.
In the heart of the city, beside a clear lake surrounded by woods, stood a magnificent temple.
Deep within the temple was a grand hall formed from pure white jade and dark gray stone pillars.
The Ice Witch sat elegantly on the sofa. She gently lifted a delicate porcelain cup, while pale green tea leaves slowly unfurled in the transparent hot water, releasing a pleasant fragrance.
She closed her eyes and savored the tranquility of the moment.
However, the tranquility did not last long.
In an invisible corner of the air, Hughberlian, concealed from sight, watched with a firm, icy gaze—or perhaps she was preparing.
As long as she could touch the Ice Witch, she would pass the Ice Witch's special training.
The sound of her breathing had long since been erased. Like a ghost, she silently and swiftly closed in on the Ice Witch.
Yet the Ice Witch remained seated peacefully, without moving an inch, as if she had no idea Hughberlian was approaching.
Just as Hughberlian's dagger was about to reach the Ice Witch's back, she suddenly felt cold around her feet.
An invisible chill rapidly spread from the floor to her ankles, freezing both feet and locking her firmly in place.
Hughberlian struggled to break free, but the power of the cold was impossible to resist. It spread all the way