FROSTBORN: Rise of the dark legend

Ch. 005 Awakening the Void Ice archive

Ragnar hurried through the academy's streets which were paved with runic obsidian slabs. 

If the light would explode like before, he had the perfect place for it, where no one would see it. 

Imperial elite academy was Vaelon's most important magic academy. Every powerful family in the country wants their kids to attend Imperial elite magic academy—even if they didn't have a shred of magical talent. 

The Imperial elite differs in the sense that it built a structure where every smart student could be influential after school. 

From middle school, the mage professors examine students yearly to check for awakened talents. Those with magical abilities were sent to the Mage faculty, and were trained to be powerful combat masters capable of leading interspace battles. 

For those without magical abilities, they're left in the finance faculty, with an option to divert to sports and entertainment. There, they're trained to be powerful businessmen and super stars. So that even without magic, they could still live a fulfilling life. 

As long as one had money and talent, the academy was a good place. The school fees weren't cheap. 

Ragnar’s destination was the bamboo grove at the southernmost part of the mage faculty. 

People from the mage faculty rarely hung around at night, except when they had training sessions with their professors which were all done in the appropriate facility. 

It was the most secluded spot he could think of. He went deeper into the grove, till he found a well dried spot, surrounded by tall bamboos. 

Ragnar quickly sat cross legged, and inhaled deeply. Once his nerves settled down, he carefully thought about it. 

“My heart's blood activated it the last time.”

He slowly unbuttoned his shirt, ready to stab his chest to draw blood. Another thought occurred to him and he clicked his tongue, directing the needle to his finger instead. Stabbing the heart could be fatal. 

The moment he pressed the bleeding finger to the locket, it snapped open, revealing the jade inside. Instantly, golden light shot into the sky, and the cry of a dragon was heard. 

Ragnar’s blue eyes changed to a frightening silver and gold, forming a vortex which swirled endlessly. 

His body was bathed in golden light, and his short black hair suddenly straightened out, getting longer. An even more amazing thing happened: out of nowhere, snow and ice covered his hair, forming dazzling locs. On the floor where he sat, a golden arcane circle formed, creating a powerful array which totally encased him. 

The cry of an ancient creature echoed in the bamboo forest and a white dragon flew out of the pendant, encircling him in a resplendent display of power. 

The dragon had shimmering scales which seemed to have been carved from ice, and its eyes shone like the purest sapphire. 

The golden light enveloped Ragnar, sucking him into another space. Back to the Frostfang abyss. 

Pain pierced through him, like being buried under shards of glass. He could see everything clearly, from the perspective of an omniscient. 

A powerful voice echoed in his head, crystal clear, as if the master stood before him.

"I, Orkryos Frostheart, the timeless ice monarch, have traversed the nine worlds, undefeated through the ages. I am the master of space, time, and ice – the origin of all that stirs within the sea."

The voice paused, heavy with restrained fury. "Alas, my descendants have sunk to such depths of indignity, unable to hold their heads high. You have brought shame to my name. Yet, I recall the vow I made to my wife, and thus I offer you another chance: reclaim your honor and erase the shame you've brought upon my lineage."

Thousands of miles away, a white haired old man sitting cross legged in the middle of a lake absorbing ice essence opened his eyes. He had felt the powerful aura from the pendant, and it felt awfully familiar. ‘The Void Ice archive has appeared. I must get to it before anyone else snatches this treasure.’

Back in the bamboo grove, Ragnar gripped his thighs tightly, trembling uncontrollably. The voice faded, but the presence remained. Inside his head, a series of information flowed in, cataloguing into a series of complicated patterns. 

Things became clearer, and his heart felt this kind of confidence he had never experienced in both lifetimes. 

His eyes opened and the ice dragon disappeared back into the locket. 

Ragnar's hand went to the locket, caressing it like the biggest treasure. He had been carelessly walking around with this huge treasure all along, and he only thought it to be a mere ornament. 

“Void Ice archive?” He muttered, trying to process the long stream of information. 

The pendant actually hid the void ice archive, a powerful artifact which had the essence of the timeless ice monarch's cultivation and powers. Even shards of his memories were stored in there, but could only be unlocked when certain triggers or milestones were achieved. 

The timeless ice monarch’s powers and inheritance was also inside the archive. It was a huge storage space, which seemed like a world of its own. Inside was a giant library which contained millions of ancient scrolls and texts, recording techniques, healing arts, cultivation methods, and countless other things. 

Any knowledge one could think of was inside the library. Then came the room where weapons and artifacts were stored. There were also herbs, ancient maps, and elixirs. 

A blue panel appeared before him, and he squinted, trying to read the words. 

“Timeless. Boundless.”

A question appeared in his mind. “Do you want to fuse with the archive now and imbibe all the abilities the master left for you? He also left energy cores which would rapidly increase the cultivation base. Are you interested?”

“No thanks.” Ragnar replied. He didn't know who was talking, but he figured that a miniature world such as this must have a moderator present. 

“Fuse the abilities?” He scoffed. “Increase cultivation so that Kelvin will suck it right off and strut like a peacock playing genius? Absolutely not.”

He closed his eyes, trying to analyse his body. He would have loved to completely fuse with the pendant, but didn't dare to. What if it goes to Kelvin again? 

This was really a huge obstacle to tear down. Did this mean that he would have to remain mediocre to prevent Kelvin from gaining benefits?