Step by step, she climbed the steep slope. Now and then, Sylutia had to brace a hand against a boulder to get over it, then continue upward.
After more than half an hour of climbing, Sylutia finally reached the last colored bubble. The grass here held a faint, fresh green, unlike the withered weeds that remained frozen and unchanged in the gray-white world.
The wind had eroded the rocks on the mountain, and a little dust had crumbled away. The view here was open, with nowhere for monsters to hide and no distorted places in sight.
Overall, this was a good spot. Sylutia felt a quiet satisfaction, then turned her gaze to a sword embedded in the mountain cliff.
Its blade was made of gray iron, like weathered stone. Some words had once been carved into it, but they were now too blurred to make out.
Sylutia walked slowly over and grasped the hilt. The solidified Aspect Power of Castle within it instantly spread, sweeping through the area once more and forcing the gray-white world back a little.
So this was how the colored bubble here had formed. It was all thanks to this sword. Sylutia studied it intently.
[Weathered Iron Sword] (Castle): An ancient stone sword. In ages past, a king drove it into stone and swore an oath. Wherever its cold light shines is the kingdom's land. (Solidifies the environment and repels other Aspect Powers.)
As her palm rested on the hilt, the Castle Aspect Power within spread from time to time, making Sylutia feel as if she were bathing in the wind. It swept away her earlier fatigue, and she slowly came to understand and memorize the strange way the sword's power flowed.
About forty minutes later, Sylutia slowly released the hilt. A sudden understanding surfaced in