How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 701: Frozen Trials 11.5

Venturing into the forest had become nothing out of the ordinary for Celestine these days.

She didn't dwell on it much when she stepped out of the house.

After all, slipping into the woods to hone her magic had silently turned into a regular part of her everyday life.

"I ought to switch spots soon..."

She whispered to herself while trudging through the snow, her boots dipping a bit with each stride.

The woodland had always served as a handy location.

Dense foliage offered shelter from prying gazes, and ample clearings amid the trunks allowed her to unleash bigger spells securely without wrecking anything vital.

Yet that wasn't the sole cause for picking this spot.

Through the passing years, Celestine had uncovered an odd trait in the forest.

Though it appeared as a typical wintry woods on the surface, it held an inherent magical essence.

The very trees possessed a strong knack for soaking up mana.

It was understated, yet evident if you focused on it.

Each time she unleashed hefty quantities of mana in this place, the nearby trees gradually pulled it in, spreading the surplus power throughout the surroundings.

It was almost as if the forest inhaled it.

This rendered practice much more secure.

Incantations that could leave hazardous mana traces in other areas simply dissolved here gradually.

That stood as one of the numerous minor revelations she'd gained during her stay in this trial.

It was also why her mother had categorically banned her from venturing into the woods by herself.

From an everyday viewpoint, it was logical.

A enchanted woodland posed risks for a kid.

Savage creatures.

Concealed mana flows.

Treacherous ground.

But what her mother remained unaware of...

Was the extent of Celestine's already formidable strength.

In truth, training here benefited her.

Occasionally, the icy mana within her accumulated excessively.

During those instances, unleashing advanced spells and allowing the forest to gradually drain the residual mana brought... relief.

Similar to easing the tension from a buildup pressing on her chest.

Nevertheless, caution remained essential.

Should her mother discover her covert use of magic at such an intensity...

The reprimand from before would seem lenient by contrast.

Celestine lightly massaged the nape of her neck at the idea.

She truly had no desire to endure yet another lengthy sermon.

Another issue loomed as well.

The usual training ground had become... devastated.

Or at minimum, profoundly changed.

Extended periods of potent ice magic had etched their impact.

Tree stems encased in unyielding ice.

Sections of earth forever blanketed in sharp frost formations.

Even the atmosphere there bore a subtle persistent frigidity.

Locating a fresh practice area was growing imperative.

However, the forest lacked infinite expanse.

A boundary existed that she dared not breach.

An unseen restriction she'd encountered ages back in the trial.

Whenever she attempted to surpass that threshold, an unseen force halted her.

A subtle yet resolute shield.

Thus, the usable area within the woods proved rather confined.

Celestine let out a soft sigh.

"Looks like I'll venture a bit deeper today..."

She grumbled, pressing onward amid the snow-draped trunks.

With ample time remaining before her mother's return, Celestine took her time.

She strolled leisurely through the timberland, her footfalls hushed on the snow while her gaze drifted over the landscape encircling her.

The towering trees loomed motionless, their limbs weighed down by rime.

Dim illumination seeped through the overhead branches, gleaming gently on the snowy expanse.

From time to time, a chilly gust wafted by, bearing hints of pine and iced soil.

It felt serene.

Oddly serene.

In her prior existence as Snow, such instances were scarce.

As royalty—and subsequently amid endless duties, demands, and perils—she seldom found opportunity to wander nature aimlessly.

The sole occasions for truly savoring this were alongside Riley... and the rest.

Her pace eased a touch.

A subtle grin graced her mouth.

Those tranquil times.

Strolling as a group.

Chatting idly.

Chuckling at trifles.

Those recollections retained their warmth, even presently.

Though she embodied Celestine now, at her core she remained Snow.

And Snow longed for those she held dear.

Residing here over multiple years had brought an uneasy realization.

Initially, she thought she merely acted as Celestine.

Merely portraying the part until the trial concluded.

Yet gradually...

The distinctions began to fade.

Her routines.

Her responses.

Her musings.

At times, she'd notice herself reacting as Celestine might—not as Snow.

It crept in quietly, yet was detectable.

The dual personas were gradually intertwining.

Fusing.

And truthfully, that proved somewhat alarming.

Snow refused to let herself vanish.

Yet concurrently, she grasped a key truth.

To genuinely comprehend this trial... she couldn't merely watch from afar.

She needed to immerse herself in it.

She had to reason like Celestine.

Experience emotions as Celestine.

Only thus would the trial disclose its intent toward her.

Snow released a hushed breath and gently shook her head, dispelling the weighty reflections.

"Overthinking once more..."

She muttered.

For the present, she kept advancing.

And suddenly—

A sensation grazed her awareness.

Borne on the frigid breeze.

FOOOSHHH—

Celestine halted abruptly.

"...Mana?"

Her gaze sharpened a fraction.

It was delicate.

Faint enough that the average person would overlook it entirely.

But she perceived it distinctly.

An individual—or entity—was channeling mana farther within the woods.

She concentrated briefly, extending her perception outward.

And then it struck again.

Her features tensed immediately.

For that power...

It carried an unsettling familiarity.

Celestine’s mind snapped to attention.

That essence...

She knew it well.

Indisputably.

It stemmed from the same vile entities she'd confronted recently.

Demonic energy.

Implying just one possibility.

Demons lurked—

Or at minimum...

Demonic cultists.

Somewhere in the woodland.

Celestine’s eyes gradually iced over as she traced the mana’s path to its origin.

She glided soundlessly among the trees, her aura merging seamlessly with the forest’s chill.

And then—

They came into view.

The spectacle before her was unforeseen... and truly unwelcome.

Six cloaked figures.

All encircling a lone young girl.

They jeered.

Taunted.

Dabbled with her as if she were prey they'd freshly ensnared.

One delivered a kick.

Another seized her arm harshly.

The girl already bore wounds.

Tears flowed down her cheeks while she feebly resisted them.

Celestine remained rooted amid the trees, observing.

She'd long accepted that demons—and their devoted cultists—defied classification as ordinary folk.

Their deeds alone had forfeited any shared human privileges.

Even so...

Despite her prior grim encounters with them, a minor part of her had pondered if understanding was possible.

If deeper motives lay beneath their behavior.

Some justification.

But that notion evaporated in an instant.

For directly ahead—

One of the figures abruptly struck the girl’s face.

The crack resounded crisply through the hushed woods.

The child toppled sideways into the drifts.

And as another figure knelt, extending a hand in an evidently unhelpful manner—

Celestine’s mana surged forth before deliberate choice.

The frost erupted outward.

[Mid-Level Ice Magic]

[Frost Wave]

An unseen gale of freezing force blasted from her stance.

The atmosphere appeared to solidify.

Three cloaked figures were ensnared at once.

Their forms locked in place, ice spreading over their bodies prior to any response.

In one inhalation—

They transformed into frozen effigies.

The whole forest’s chill deepened noticeably.

Step.

Step.

Celestine emerged from the foliage.

The snow yielded softly beneath her soles as she advanced steadily.

Icy mana swirled about her frame like a subdued tempest.

"W-Who are you!?"

A surviving figure yelped in alarm.

Only then did they comprehend an intruder had neared undetected.

The apparent chief scowled, fixing his stare on the diminutive form approaching.

A youthful female.

Silver locks.

Composed demeanor.

She seemed no beyond a decade... perhaps thirteen tops.

Yet the incantation she'd unleashed...

That far exceeded a typical youth's capability.

Not remotely.

’This child is dangerous.’

Warning signals blared in the chief’s thoughts.

He summoned shadowy demonic power around himself without delay, bracing for action.

In the meantime—

The naive expression on Celestine’s countenance had vanished.

In its stead emerged a far icier visage.

The subdued intensity of one who had once towered over multitudes.

The presence of Princess Snow.

She offered no words.

Posed no queries.

Demanded no explanations for their conduct.

Her palm merely lifted.

A single digit aimed at them.

"E-Everyone call up the—!"

The chief attempted to alert his followers.

But delay had sealed it.

[Mid-Level Ice Magic]

[Ice Spears]

Scores of keen ice lances materialized behind Celestine in a flash.

They lingered poised in the sky momentarily—

Then launched ahead.