Frost's Lament (Part 1)

Ace suddenly felt his heart fill with peace. This legendary king seemed so trustworthy. Was this also the effect of some extraordinary power? he wondered.

Rhonamuth watched his people gradually quiet down and said warmly:

"Since the ninetieth year after the city-state was founded, you have rarely seen me. Grandson Tedius has managed the city-state's affairs on my behalf. Over the past ten years, he has done well: repelling the harassment of the southern fishmen, sweeping away the Barbarian Tribes within our borders, and vigorously attracting immigrants from civilized nations. The city-state's population has greatly increased, and it has grown more prosperous with each passing day. Tonight, here, I offer my respect to our Grandson Tedius."

Grandson Tedius stepped forward and gave a slight bow. Rhonamuth then said:

"A city-state is a collective. Nobles, citizens, freemen, and even slaves must each fulfill their duties for the city-state to prosper and endure. Here, I thank every Divine Noble. With the extraordinary power bestowed upon you by the gods, you have defeated monsters and protected the city-state."

The nobles in white robes and purple sashes leaned forward with reserved composure in return.

"I also thank every esteemed citizen. You are the city-state's administrators and governors. It is with your assistance that the entire city-state has become ever more prosperous," Rhonamuth continued.

The citizens in white robes and red sashes wore solemn expressions as they bent deeply forward and held the pose. Romon, meanwhile, looked conflicted, both proud and ashamed.

"I am even more grateful to every freeman. You fill every trade and profession in the city-state, providing it with food, clothing, shelter, and transport. You are the foundation of the city-state."

"The Founder is great!"

"The Founder is great!"

Cheers rose and fell in waves, carrying for miles.

Ace's father, Romon, shouted himself hoarse. Ace followed along weakly.

At the same time, he keenly sensed that this Founder seemed to be preparing to hand over power. Was this gradual buildup meant to unite the people's hearts? Or to build momentum for the Grandson?

After roughly ten minutes, the waves of cheers gradually faded. Rhonamuth pressed both hands down in the air, and everyone fell silent.

"Tonight, I am honored to tell you all that Goddess Meng has summoned me. Before long, I will depart for Mount Kaya, the Dwelling of Gods. Before I leave, I hope to recall with all of you the great journey of our city's founding."

With that, he raised his right hand. Brilliant seven-colored light bloomed from it. It was so dazzling that Ace shielded his eyes with a hand. When he opened them again, the scene around him had completely changed.

City Hall Plaza, the bustling residents of the city-state, and the temples had all vanished. Ace stood at the entrance of a resplendent, gilded hall, where a smiling attendant guided him inside.

He looked up at the hall's vaulted ceiling, which was painted with scene after scene from myths and epics. He could recognize only a few of them.

A massive curtain directly ahead was slowly drawing open. At the center of the stage, a brilliant seven-colored vortex slowly spun, mysterious and alluring.

Then Rhonamuth's deep, magnetic voice rang out.

"My people, welcome to your king's treasure—Rhonamuth's Dream Theater! Please follow the attendants through the hall's seats, enter the center of the stage, and step into the seven-colored vortex!"

A treasure? It seemed to be another mysterious extraordinary object. As Ace pondered this, he followed the attendant into the seven-colored vortex at the center of the stage.

The moment Ace entered the seven-colored vortex, a blinding light erupted before his eyes. When it faded, he found himself inside a palace.

The palace resembled Medimous Palace somewhat. In the main hall along the central axis, a handsome young man stood on the second floor. He wore white robes and a purple sash, with a golden olive-branch crown upon his head, silently gazing at the setting sun.

Ace tried to approach him, only to find that he could not move beyond a certain distance. So he found a bench, sat down, and seriously watched this fully immersive otherworldly movie.

He did not have to wait long. As the sun slowly sank and dusk gave way to dawn, a gentle silver-white radiance brushed across the young king before him. Like lovers reunited after a long separation, it caressed him; like a soft voice, it whispered to him.

"Aleias, this is our child. Mortals cannot remain on Mount Kaya for long, so I can only entrust you with his care."

A pair of white hands extended from within the light. She handed the infant to the young king.

At that moment, the entire city seemed to whisper, "Rhonamuth, Rhonamuth."

"Media, my goddess. How I wish I could cast everything aside and go to the Dwelling of Gods to serve you forever. Unfortunately, I am not a Legendary Hero. I cannot enter the unseen Mount Kaya in the flesh. I will take good care of our child. He will become the future king of the Rona City-State."

Aleias carefully took the infant and spoke gently.

A Legendary Hero? It was probably a qualification or level of extraordinary power. Once one reached it, one would have the qualifications or ability to reside permanently on Mount Kaya. Ace watched and analyzed at the same time.

"Aleias, everyone has their own responsibilities. From the moment I became the Elegant Goddess, it became difficult for us to remain together for life like ordinary lovers."

"But death is merely another great adventure. When your life reaches its end, I will take you to my kingdom. There, we will remain together until the end of the world."

Her white hand stroked the king's face. Slowly, the light faded, and she vanished as well.

It seemed gods also had certain restrictions and could not remain in the mortal world for long. And the living beings of this world likely possessed souls. Seizing this rare opportunity, Ace earnestly summarized and analyzed the various possibilities of this extraordinary world.

At that moment, the scene suddenly changed.

Clang!

Clang, clang, clang!

Clang!

This was a spacious courtyard. Middle-aged Aleias was sparring with a young boy whose face resembled his own.

The boy looked around eleven or twelve years old. His shortsword had already been knocked away. Supporting himself against the ground, he panted heavily as sweat dripped from his hair and cheeks, making a "drip, drip" sound as it hit the ground.

"Rhonamuth, you improved greatly today. Once you awaken your Divine Bloodline, you will grow more and more powerful."

As Aleias spoke, he took a woolen towel from a young attendant standing nearby and gently wiped Rhonamuth's sweat.

"Father, I can do it myself. When will I become as strong as you?"

Rhonamuth snatched the woolen towel away and wiped his sweat haphazardly, asking Aleias eagerly.

"Rhonamuth, my son. Do you know what a noble is? And what a hero is?"

Aleias looked into Rhonamuth's gem-red eyes, as brilliant as stars and so like his own, and asked gently.

"Nobles are the descendants of gods. Heroes are the strongest among nobles."

Rhonamuth answered without hesitation.

"My son, that is not entirely wrong, but it is not accurate. Nobles are descendants of gods who have awakened the potential in their bloodline. Though they are stronger than ordinary people, they are not truly extraordinary. Heroes undergo an all-around sublimation; the essence of their lives is already different from that of mortals. Look!"

Aleias raised his right hand toward the sky. His bearing abruptly changed, and the temperature around them plummeted. Even Ace, an onlooker, felt the cold. A forty-meter Greatsword of Ice rapidly grew from Aleias's right hand.

The blazing sun hung high overhead, yet snow began to fall all around them. Aleias shouted and swung the forty-meter Greatsword of Ice at the gate.

Boom! The courtyard gate vanished outright. The straight stone-paved road beyond it was gone as well, leaving behind only a deep fissure hundreds of meters long and nearly dozens of meters deep.

Ace's pupils contracted instantly. Heroes were actually this powerful—far beyond mortal limits. They were practically no longer the same species.