Chapter 2: A Grim Change (VI)

The dawn is always presented by the dawn's chorus is the harbinger of a new day. The chorus is very simple. It starts with a serene and serenading balladeer— usually the dawningale.

The serenade is smooth and melodious, often taking breaks that appeal no different than the real melody. Soon other birds, such as Wooyataki joins with a fluty, sharp melody while the rest of the creatures such as the crickets and fireflies could softly hum off in the background.

I such, awoke to the dawn's melody with a driving motivation to accomplish something great. However, I quickly noticed that there was the azure butterfly on my shoulder resting docilely. Slowly standing up slowly, I gently scooped the azure creature and placed it on a cracked twig— letting it rest in silence.

The first would be to get rid of the dead body which reeked of a tang of death. The hum of ghastly bugs and critters fluttered and buzzed around the grim corpse as it gave off a pungent odor.

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 2: 𝕬 𝕲𝖗𝖎𝖒 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊 - END

Almost gagging, I placed my blood-stained hands on the body and prepared to toss it into the lake but thought of the pollution that would succumb to the water.

It was the only source of freshwater besides the brook and should not be tainted by the source of rotting of flesh.

In the irritating state of quandary, I dragged the limp cadaver around the lake. Nearing another flurry of enormous oak trees, the cliffs slumped greatly as there were only jagged cliffs below.

With minimum effort, I heaved the cadaver over the macabre cliffs and down the jagged rocks that poked precariously out of the cliffs. Thumping and piercing, the body hit more rocks before finally ending its odyssey by landing oddly on the ground— limbs crooked and twisted.

Smiling, I walked back to the lake with my mind clear of any thoughts of sadness or horror.

"Hmm…"

I started this part of the day by stretching my ability as it appeared that my mana reserves were at an all-time at this part of the day. My goal today was to try to increase my usage of my ability. I had tried many ways to expand the time limit of my mana but it felt mechanical as if I had been missing something.

In the mornings, I would dedicate time to train my mana, and then I switched to sword training. After a short rest, then I switched back to mana and found my limit.

Even that wasn't the most irritating problem out of them all. If anything it was, that the ice was so weak it couldn't even be used in combat.

At most, I could only freeze a still body of water that caused my opponent to slip and slam his head onto the ground— but even that could only cause a slight concussion to some and to most, just a bruise.

The placements test housed many powerful people but were a place where blood could be shed appropriately. I was in no such condition to enter and leaving there alive could only seem like a distant goal.

Sighing, I decided to continue my routine day. Placing my hands on the cold lake, only soft ripples responded.

Channeling, I could feel the pulsating mana fluctuate in my mana channels as I began to channel the mana downwards to my fingertips. That of course was the first step.

As most of the mana moved towards my fingertips, a portion began to condense into the air and form what we know today as "gifts." Mine was a seemingly subpar version of ice that slowly began to freeze the water.

Tiny particles of mana floated downwards on the edge as the area around my fingertips became wintry and frigid. Parts of the water had been frozen as a tiny layer of permafrost and glacial ice had sprung up around the areas where my hands lay pressed against the serene surface.

Soon these tiny areas of frost began to expand outwards. With a heavenly glow, the consumed water became a layer of frigid frost that never subsided. A cold aura emerged as the ice further solidified as I had trouble maintaining the ice as the radiant heat from the summer's sun waged a battle.

Silent minutes ticked away, as my hands began to ache and tremble. Shaking, I could feel my mana channels and reverses emptying. I Pushing out the last drops of mana, I collapsed and laid on my back in a sigh of accomplishment. Wiping the beads of sweat that had gathered on my forehead.

"Phewph."

I couldn't really gauge how long I lasted but it didn't take a genius to realize that I had improved.

The lake was bordered by a large threshold of dense oak trees that acted perpetually. The lake itself was quite large and emitted a subtle and tender aura unlike any other aspect of nature that made his ability more everlasting.

It had a clear tint to it as it almost appeared to be like a crystal teardrop, one that could perfectly reflect in what cast in. Only the silent cacophony of the orchestra could be heard on this side as shimmered with the light and emptiness above the lake. The oak trees that stood like fortresses of flora, surrounded the lake creating a vanilla tang in the air that wafted towards the lake

All of this made my ability appeasable and allowed an atmosphere where I could train in serene peace.

Honestly, it was hard to say how much I had improved but now I felt that it was enough to have 'noticeable' differences— which was unusually faster than the progress from the last few days.

As a result, I also somewhat motivated myself to try harder.

Getting back up, I went to the nearby bushes where I grabbed my blade which was lay out in the open.

Grabbing it, I flicked and spun it around the tips of my fingertips before slashing a nearby tree. Splintering under the pressure, chips of bark scathed and peeled away to reveal more of the same.

With an ominous smile, I continue to train, while incorporating everything I had learned in the past 6 years of my training. Oftentimes, performing a sword technique that could only wedge more of the dreary tree to a humble pole.

The blaring heat caused me to drip droplets of sweat that ran coldly down my skin as I slashed the tree for more to come. Twisting, sliding, and turning, I continue to train with resilience for a few more hours even as the sun had reached its peak as towers of rays of sunlight began to bend the wills.

The summers were awful and in the end, I would finish in a dreadful soaking mess.

With a last slash to the tree and me procrastinating the end for a little more as I pushed myself harder to the limit— I finally stopped short and collapsed to the ground soaked with sweat. The shade of the oak tree would only provide as much as a scarce amount of shade, though even that didn't make me feel any better.

Though surprisingly, I felt a little weird. No, like an emptiness. I felt as if a weight that pummeled my shoulders and chest had been lifted to reveal emptiness.

I felt free. Not just that just a little bit more cold-blooded? Whatever the azure butterfly and my ability guided me towards, I will follow at heed.