FROSTBORN: Rise of the dark legend

Ch. 006 Obtaining healing attributes

Ragnar shook his head. No! He had to crush them completely. 

His finger pressed on the locket again, and he found himself inside the space. In the middle of the library was a huge stone monument, listing what the archive was and whom it was created for. 

The history of the timeless ice monarch was carefully narrated. Ragnar went slack jawed. “My ancestor was actually this awesome?”

The more he read, the harder his heart pounded, faster, excitement boiling in his veins. He wanted to engage in his own conquests too. He wanted to carve his name into history, creating a legacy which time could never wash away. 

“Just like my ancestor, I will become the most powerful being in existence. I'm the descendant of the immortal clan, with a dragon god maternal line. I cannot be mediocre.”

For the first time, he saw something other than revenge on his path. Sovereignty. 

He walked closer to the stone monument, and placed his palm on it, his eyes burning with a yearning so formidable. 

“I want power. I want dominion.” He muttered, resting his forehead against the stone monument. 

Instantly, he was sucked into it. Memories of the Timeless ice monarch began to play before him, as lucidly as if it was him experiencing them. 

His head pounded, heavy, like something was struggling, trying to break open. With all the willpower he could muster he pulled away, staggering back. 

His entire body was trembling, legs quivering. The things he saw left him shaken. Blood everywhere…gruesome battle scenes. 

Instead of terror he felt excitement and anticipation. He could clearly see it. This was the path he needed to take. 

Resolutely, he walked to the library section and muttered: “Talent exchange techniques used to siphon other people’s cultivation.”

A black box on the tenth floor of the massive library drifted down. On it was a glowing red seal, with words carved into it. 

“Records…of the forbidden arts?” 

He placed his palm on it, the box trembled for a bit but remained shut. He raised it up to get a clearer look, and a dash of light from his forehead fell on the box. 

A soft click was heard and the lid opened. Inside were three large old fashioned leather bound books, and two ancient scrolls tied with red cords. 

He opened the first one and began to read. The more he read the angrier he became. Turned out Mathilda has done the ritual seven times since his childhood to make it permanent and completely seal it. Yet he never noticed. How blind and gullible he was. He actually believed the witch saw him as her son. 

“The ritual doesn't affect spiritual energy, mental capacity and finance?” His brows furrowed in deep thoughts, lips pursed with desperation. “Does this mean I could focus on mental cultivation? Mental cultivation is exponentially harder than the normal cultivation path. People rarely choose this method. But for now, I will have to try.”

He placed the box in a corner where it could be easily retrieved and willed himself to exit. Ragnar opened his eyes to see himself back in his initial position. 

The records were quite voluminous, and couldn't be digested in a day or two. He had to carefully research things to avoid making mistakes. 

“The only useful thing I can do with my life is make money. For now, let me check for something suitable that can help me achieve that.”

Just as he was about to close his eyes and return to the space, his eyes drifted to his wrist watch. 

“Crap! It's been three hours. The night patrol squad!”

He jumped to his feet, clearing every trace of him. Their school’s night patrol squad was made up of very powerful seniors. Being seen alone without official passes in such a lonely place was a huge crime in imperial elite academy. 

He could get expelled even before he could start his revenge mission. Ragnar could only hurry to his lodge and pray he wouldn't get caught. 

*****

There was no such luck. The night patrols were already moving. Ragnar dived behind a hedge, his heart pounding. 

He already left the martial arts block and had gotten to Emerald Lake hostel, but entering was a problem. 

Emerald lake was the abode of many powerful young masters. It was the second most protected student lodge in the entire school. So the night patrol was always close by to help the tenants who were all heirs of powerful families. But the tight security also meant that they were stricter than the rest. 

Even Kelvin couldn't get in despite Mathilda’s lobbying. He was assigned to another hostel. 

Ragnar reached for his phone to call for help, but realized to his dismay that he had nothing. He hissed in frustration. “Damn! I only closed my eyes for a few minutes, how could time pass so fast?”

“Who's there?” A voice barked, flashlight flooding the entire courtyard. 

Ragnar froze, his heart pounding a mile a minute. He moved fast, and ran in a crouch to another hedge. 

He saw a shadow move from his side vision and focused on it. The person was waving at him. It was Vonn.

Ragnar hurried towards Vonn, and was pulled behind a wall, just in time for the patrol to land on his previous spot. 

There was nothing to be found. 

“I'm sure I smelled a human around.” The man muttered. 

Behind the wall, Ragnar exhaled in relief. Vonn gave him a cold glare, and led him to a rusty side entrance that was rarely used. He had procured the keys and kept it handy because of Ragnar's habit of running off. Who knew he would do the same after swearing he was a changed man? 

The door creaked and they entered, locking it behind them. Two minutes later, they found themselves in their room where Thane was already waiting. 

The moment the door shut, a fist came flying towards his face. Ragnar staggered to the side. He looked up in shock, his mouth slightly open, eyes wide with shock. It was Ryujin. 

“You…didn't you swear you wouldn't do something stupid again?” Ryujin's eyes were blazing with anger, and a hint of disappointment. 

He rushed Ragnar again and grabbed him by the collar. “If you're useless and want to ruin your future for a woman, do it alone. Why drag others to it?”

Ragnar's tongue turned heavy, and he gasped, angry. This feeling of being misunderstood wasn't nice. 

“I really didn't go to see her. I went somewhere else.”

Ryujin raised his hand again and Vonn grabbed it, pulling him back. Ragnar’s chest was boiling with rage, but he really couldn't hit back. 

His roommates always got into trouble because of him. Of course, Ryujin would treat him like this. 

He took a step towards Ryujin, his eyes cold with barely suppressed anger. 

“You have no right to raise your fist against me. The next time you try such, I won't let it slide. Who do you think you are?” 

Thane grabbed Ragnar by the arm and pulled him towards his corner, away from Ryujin whose chest was heaving with suppressed fury. 

Thane patted Ragnar's shoulder, calming him down. “Let it go, buddy.” Thane said gently, “He's agitated. There was a roll call tonight…”

Ragnar turned to Thane, his fists clenched. “I truly didn't go to see her. I was practicing a new technique I found and lost track of time.”

“I know.” Thane smiled softly. Aria blew up his phone with messages and calls all through the evening. If he truly went to her, she wouldn't have been calling him with so much frenzy. 

Vonn brought him two flasks of food, and set it down on his bedside table. 

“My family sent over some blood sea shark soup, I reserved some for you. The other flask is your dinner.”

Thane suddenly gasped, pointing at Ragnar's face. Vonn's gaze trailed his finger and his eyes went wide with shock. 

Ragnar turned to the mirror with furrowed brows. Then his mouth dropped open, disbelief visible on his face. 

His lips, which were previously split from Ryujin's punch, alongside his bruised cheek had completely healed, leaving his skin flawless. 

“Did you awaken a healing attribute? Why are you suddenly able to heal yourself?”

They stared at him like a specimen, ready to dissect him. Before, his body was draggy and wounds took a long time to heal. How come this injury healed in just seconds? Even the blood disappeared. 

What the hell was going on?