Ultear stared at Ulu, stunned disbelief in her eyes!
Ulu covered her forehead, feeling utterly drained.
After a moment of silence, Ulu raised her head and glanced at Ren. Then she turned her full attention to Ultear. "Tia... there are things I didn't want to tell you. But now I have no choice!
"I sent you to the research institute only to get you treated! I had no idea that place was so dark. If I had known, I never would have sent you there! Still, it was my fault. I'm sorry!
"As for where you came from, I can tell you plainly: my blood runs through your veins. You are my daughter, my own daughter!
"But Tia, your birth was different! You weren't like other children. You weren't carried for nine months. You were nurtured in ice and born under the power of time!"
Ultear took a few unsteady steps back. "How is that possible? I'm different from other children?"
Tia could hardly believe it. Ren was puzzled too. He looked at Ulu and asked, "Nurtured in ice and born under the power of time? What does that mean?"
Ulu shook her head and sighed. "It began several years ago. Back then, I wandered alone through the glaciers, hoping the cold would strengthen my Ice-Make Magic. But my talent had reached its limit. I couldn't grow any stronger!
"I fell into despair. I even began thinking about death. I pushed deeper into the glaciers, hoping the bitter cold would freeze my body—and my life!
"I kept going deeper. My body grew colder, and my consciousness began to fade. I could feel my life about to freeze away!
"But just as that happened, I felt a chill flow into my body. Suddenly, I could stand amid the ice without feeling