OBS Chapter 3595 The Fate of Ice and Snow
Chapter 3595 The Fate of Ice and Snow
Chapter 3595 The Fate of Ice and Snow
“Larsson ended up following the witch, which no one expected, but I’m glad that the young people of the tribe have a bright future. Although she didn’t become a member of the choir and sing hymns with us on the ice plains in the winter when winter was over, things are not bad now.”
The sorceress, dressed in a dark blue dress, did not shy away from discussing what happened back then:
"Although Larson was expelled from the tribe for violating the rules by participating in the winter procession and touching the sacred objects without permission, so many years have passed that if she is willing to repent, the tribe can allow her to return. Of course, she may not want to go back herself, but she must have missed her parents and family."
Stella didn't actually harbor much resentment about being driven out of the tribe. She knew what she had done, and a few weeks earlier, when Daniste talked about it, she also mentioned that what happened back then had caused an extreme weather event in the far north.
Therefore, her expulsion was the punishment she deserved, and she was actually quite happy to be allowed to return.
"I'll go home and visit once things are settled on Fatummester Island."
She lowered her head and said softly, and Miss Asperger then asked:
“Larsen, I've noticed that the problems you had when you touched the sacred relic are still present in your body. Miss Reinhardt, didn't you help her expel that chill?”
Before Claire could speak, Stella interjected:
"It was me. I stopped the teacher from disposing of it. I wanted to keep it."
Miss Asperger didn't ask whether it was for atonement or to exploit that power. She simply nodded and then began talking to Shad about the island.
The choir was invited by the church and the Prophet's Association to participate in the Great Symphony of Destiny ceremony. Although not the entire organization had crossed the Old World to attend, it would be fair to say that most of the elite members had come.
However, they did not live in the city, but instead set up camp at the foot of the snow-capped mountains between Time Wheel City and Kel-Todd Town. Next, they would prepare according to the requirements of the Prophet's Association until the "Great Symphony of Destiny" was completed.
"I will probably stay on the island until everything is finished, so if you need my help in the meantime, you can send someone to the camp to deliver a message."
Miss Asperger said to Shad:
"As for Larson, Daniste said she's a candidate this time. On behalf of the Winter Choir, I promise we will do our best to support her. So this time, we're on the same side as the Witch Council."
"I will tell His Excellency the Speaker that His Excellency is also pleased to cooperate with the followers of the God of Winter."
Claire responded that as long as Stella wasn't kidnapped, she certainly wouldn't object to having more help.
Then, Shad gave a brief overview of the island's situation from his perspective. Miss Asperger, knowing that Shad had secured a core musician position for Stella, inquired whether they had prepared suitable instruments.
"We brought some good musical instruments with us this time, and the Prophet's Association is checking which ones can be used."
Shad then mentioned the "stone piano" that had just been found, and Miss Asperger thought for a moment:
"May I take a look at that violin?"
"of course."
The group went up to the third floor, where the sorceress carefully examined the hollow but still quite heavy stone before finally saying:
“I might know what this is. It’s normal that you don’t recognize it, after all, this instrument wasn’t originally like this. A long, long time ago, the choir had it for a period of time, and now it’s in a state of ‘self-containment’.”
"Self-containment" is a rather rare relic state, referring to a relic's own characteristics suppressing itself, thus causing the relic to fall into a state of "being unable to exert its characteristics" without human intervention. In a loose sense, the destruction of the [Sword Heir Nest] due to the clash between the last two swords could also be considered a form of "self-containment."
Miss Asperger then introduced the information about this relic:
"This relic was never recorded in the Sixth Era. According to the classification system of the Fifth Era, it should now be equivalent to a Sage-level relic, and its name is [Frostmourne]."
"Ok?"
The outsider was shocked and quickly looked at the stone again, only feeling relieved after confirming that it was a zither rather than a sword.
The others didn't notice Shad's strange expression, and Miss Asperger continued:
"There is a story related to this relic, but whether it is true or not cannot be verified."
That was a long, long time ago, when the earth was covered in ice and snow, and the long, harsh winter never ended. It was a year even more terrible than the summerless year of the previous year.
People tried countless ways to drive away the cold winter, but none succeeded. In that era, a natural spirit born from snowflakes fell in love with a human female bard—the embodiment of ice and snow, a special being that could no longer be found in this day and age, closer to the rules of the world than elemental life.
Knowing the secrets of the world, the ice and snow elf wanted to do something for the intelligent races of the material world. So she jumped into the crevice of the earth and activated the flames in the earth's core with her own body. In the end, she ignited the geothermal heat, melted the snow and ice, and dispelled the long, harsh winter.
Her human lover then sadly played his lute on the glacier, hoping that the terrible age would return and the nature spirits born from the snowflakes would come back. She later disappeared, leaving only this lute. Therefore, besides 'Frostmourne,' this lute is also known as 'Winter's Fate.'
This story sounds like a fairy tale, not a true story.
Ms. Asperger put down the stone with a sigh:
"The relic's effect is to summon winter and bring snowstorms when playing and singing, which can change the celestial phenomena on a huge scale. At the same time, it is also a spellcasting catalyst. Yes, similar to the staff, holy bell, and ritual sword, it can enhance the spellcasting effect in specific aspects."
So, its current self-containment is...
"Once it is used by someone, no one else can use it until the user dies. After the owner passes away, it will turn into a stone like this, waiting for the true winter to come before it can be used by the next user."
Although it is winter now, and the weather this year is terrible, it is still not the kind of harsh winter it was hoping for.
Of course, besides waiting for that difficult era to arrive to activate it, if the user has exceptional talent in ice and snow, understands the meaning of winter, and has the instinct to use the power of ice and snow like that original spirit of nature, then it can also be unsealed.
This means it acknowledges two kinds of masters: one like a female bard, and the other like a nature spirit from a story. It is said that if a second nature spirit born from the ice and snow could play this harp, it would be freed from its self-curse and become even stronger, but I think that opportunity is unlikely.”
It's certainly not worth triggering a world-wide winter disaster just to get Stella to use the relic. Therefore, the only way to release the relic from its self-containment state is to start with Stella herself.
Miss Elsa Asperger, the "Winter Singer," naturally fulfilled the requirements for using the relic; she only needed to let her spirit touch it, and the relic would naturally reveal its appearance. However, the relic only recognized one owner, so she did not do so:
“I think this relic certainly meets the requirements of the Prophet’s Association, Mr. Hamilton. I mean, Mr. Watson. I’m afraid you’ll have to find a way to get Larson to make progress faster.”
The requirements for using the relic aren't necessarily high enough in level, and the requirements Miss Asperger described are difficult to quantify with concrete metrics. However, she will still offer assistance; the followers of the Winter God are certainly very skilled at manipulating ice and snow.
"In that sense, Larson's decision to retain the 'Frozen Punishment Mark' was indeed the right one. Although it was a punishment given to offenders by a sacred object, it also allowed the punished to more deeply understand the meaning of winter and ice and snow. Without bearing the weight of ice and snow, one cannot understand winter."
This was the first time Shad had learned the specific name of the chill within Stella's body. He became curious about what the "sacred object" that had been touched was, and perhaps it was another divine artifact that Shad was unaware of.
Miss Asperger left at 4:30 p.m. After seeing her off, Claire stood at the entrance of the Snow Mountain Hall, gazing at the town, and after a long while, suddenly said:
"I made a decision."
"What's been decided? You'll be playing in Stella's place?"
"of course not."
She turned to look at her apprentice, scrutinized her carefully, and then slowly nodded:
“Stella hasn’t actually learned all my skills; she’s still too young. I’m not saying I’m not young. I mean, I’m skilled in three areas: the sun, ice and snow, and gems. I’ve come a long way on the path of ice and snow, and now I’m going to pass on some real skills to Stella.”
The young, white-haired girl looked at her expectantly; no apprentice could refuse such a thing.
"So, teacher, what will you teach me?"
"It's not about teaching you anything specific, but about using secret techniques and rituals to unleash your potential. The Fatu people are a tribe at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, while you are a tribe on the far north ice plains. I know you didn't show your talent at home, and after showing it, you were driven out. So, you certainly didn't receive such a ritual on the ice plains."
"Since this is your first time coming back with me, my grandfather and I have discussed it and will use our Fatu people's secret method to let you experience the power of the snow mountain. This is not the legacy of the Witch Council, but the legacy of our Fatu people. You must promise me that if my grandfather and the others agree, from now on, if the Fatu people encounter any difficulties, you must lend a helping hand."
The white-haired girl nodded quickly, and hearing that Claire had a solution, Shad was relieved.
"In this way, once the 'Winter's Fate' is released from its self-containment state, the fourth act of the story will simply wait for the prophets' arrangements to be completed."
But isn't it called "Frostmourne"?
"She" asked gently, "Shad hates that name and thinks it's very unlucky."
(End of this chapter)