The Crystal Palace's training yard shimmered under a pale morning sun, frost glinting off the ice-carved walls as Aelar Frostveil swung his sword in a slow arc, testing his wounded thigh. His dark blue frostweave armor bore the scars of yesterday, silver-white ponytail swaying as he moved. Kaelith lounged nearby, silver-streaked fur basking in the light, glacial eyes half-closed but watchful. The rune-stone rested in his pouch, its pulse a constant murmur—Theron's words about the Frost Depths echoed, urging preparation.
Elara Glintfrost stepped into the yard, her pale blue tunic crisp, staff twirling in her hands. As the daughter of High Mage Varis Glintfrost, a close friend of King Theron, she carried a noble grace, her silver hair tied back, sharpened by the Wraith and Leviathan cores. "You're late," she said, smirking. "Dreaming of glory?"
"Planning it," Aelar replied, sheathing his sword. "Staff sparring—let's push your agility."
She raised her staff. "Bring it, prince."
Torin Iceblade trudged in, his Frost Boar, Gruk, snorting beside him, icy spines gleaming from the core boost. "Gruk's ready to run," he grunted, spear in hand. "You two playing or training?"
"Both," Aelar said, grinning. "Run him—speed's your gap."
"Sylvara, recheck them," Aelar thought.
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Target: Elara Glintfrost
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 6)
Stats:
Strength: 40 (+2) Agility: 58 (+3) Intelligence: 64 (+2) Mana: 100 (+5)
Skills: Frost Weaving (Level 7): Advanced barriers and patterns. Mana Focus (Level 5) Staff Combat (Level 4)
Sylvara: Core's working—agility and strength drills to Grandmaster.
Target: Torin Iceblade
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 7)
Stats:
Strength: 64 (+2) Agility: 50 (+2) Intelligence: 43 (+1) Mana: 58 (+3)
Skills: Spear Mastery (Level 7) Beast Synergy (Level 5) Endurance (Level 5)
Companion: Gruk Stats: Strength 70 (+2), Agility 44 (+2)
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"Elara, dodge and strike," Aelar said, drawing his sword. "Torin, sprint laps with Gruk—go!"
Elara lunged, staff whistling—Aelar parried with Swordsmanship, stepping aside as she spun, Frost Weaving a thin ice shield to block his counter. "Fast enough?" she asked, dodging his thrust, staff cracking his arm—frost sparked.
"Getting there," he replied, Ice Crafting a small blade mid-air, hurling it—she ducked, agility shining. "Good—keep moving!"
Torin and Gruk pounded the yard's edge, Beast Synergy syncing their strides—Torin's spear jabbed at a dummy, snow flying. "Faster, you brute!" he barked, Gruk snorting as they sped up.
The Spy Revealed
A guard approached, his face pale—Jorin, a young recruit. "Prince Aelar," he stammered, "a message—urgent."
Aelar lowered his sword. "Speak."
Jorin hesitated, then lunged—dagger flashing, a veiled sigil glinting on his wrist. "For the Order!" he hissed.
"Sylvara, analyze!" Aelar thought, dodging.
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Target: Jorin (Order Spy)
Race: Ice Elf
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 3)
Stats:
Strength: 45 Agility: 55 Intelligence: 20 Mana: 30
Skills: Dagger Mastery (Level 4): Skilled knife combat. Stealth Step (Level 3): Quiet movement. Frost Sting (Level 2): Chilling dagger strikes.
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"Traitor!" Aelar roared, Glacial Chains snapping—ten tendrils spiraling, not to bind but to harry, slashing Jorin's arms—he yelped, Frost Sting grazing Aelar's side, frost biting. "Kaelith, pin!" The wolf's Blizzard Charge tackled Jorin, Ice Armor deflecting a stab—jaws snapped, missing as Jorin rolled free.
Elara spun, "You snake!" Her Frost Weaving conjured a frost cage, bars rising—Jorin ducked, but her staff swung with Staff Combat, cracking his shoulder. "Talk!" she snapped, Mana Focus launching ice shards—he dodged, one piercing his leg, blood dripping.
Torin charged, "Gruk, crush!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge rammed Jorin's side, spines grazing—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, pinning his cloak to the ground. "Coward!" he bellowed, Endurance shrugging off a wild stab, Gruk biting his boot.
Jorin laughed, ragged, "You're too late—the Depths stir!" Aelar's Frost Shroud cloaked him, mist slowing Jorin's Stealth Step—he darted in, Swordsmanship slashing his arm, Ice Crafting a spike mid-air to pierce his hand—dagger clattered free. "Who's with you?" Aelar demanded, Frost Bite snapping at his neck—mana surged back, Jorin gasping.
"More—among you!" Jorin spat, collapsing as chains pinned him. Kaelith growled, paw on his chest.
"Lock him up," Aelar ordered Torin. "We've got rats to flush."
Theron's Counsel
In the war room, Theron studied the stone, Ursok the Frostbear snoring nearby. "Depths are a maze," he said, voice low. "Legendary beasts—Chaos Dragons, maybe worse—sealed by ancients. This key's unstable—crack it wrong, they wake."
Elara frowned, leaning on her staff. "Order wants that chaos—why?"
"Distraction," Theron said. "Weaken us, strike the heart."
Aelar clenched his fist. "Then we strike first—find the Depths, seal them."
Torin grunted. "With spies in our ranks? Risky."
"Clean house," Aelar said. "Sylvara's scans—Elara, Torin, you're clear. We vet the rest."
Theron nodded, pride glinting. "Lead, Aelar. I'll muster the clans—Frostveil rides soon."
The Fight Unfolds
As dusk fell, a rumble shook the palace—Kaelith's howl split the air. Aelar rushed to the courtyard, Elara and Torin behind. "Sylvara, scan!"
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Target: Frost Stalker (Prime)
Race: Magical Beast
Beast Tier: Prime (Level 8)
Stats:
Strength: 60 Agility: 60 Intelligence: 10 Mana: 45
Skills: Shadow Pounce (Level 3): Stealthy, high-speed leap. Ice Claw (Level 3): Rending, chilling slashes. Mana Pulse (Level 2): Disrupts nearby mana.
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A Frost Stalker lunged from the shadows—sleek, panther-like, its ice-blue fur shimmering, eyes glowing red. "Another gift!" Aelar shouted. "Elara, disrupt! Torin, Gruk—flank! Kaelith, with me!"
The Stalker's Shadow Pounce hit, claws raking Aelar's chest—frost seared, but Mana Manipulation held his flow as Frost Shroud cloaked him. "Sneaky, huh?" he taunted, Ice Crafting a spiked net mid-air, hurling it—the beast dodged, net grazing its flank. He swung with Swordsmanship, blade clashing Ice Claw—sparks flew, frost-blood dripping.
Elara spun, "Not today!" Her Frost Weaving conjured a frost ring, Mana Focus sharpening ice shards to pepper its back—she dodged a Pounce, Staff Combat parrying a claw. "Faster than you look!" she snapped, agility shining.
Torin roared, "Gruk, go!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge slammed its side, spines cracking scales—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, Beast Synergy piercing its leg. "Claw me, will you?" he bellowed, Endurance soaking a slash, Gruk biting its tail.
Aelar's Glacial Chains lashed—not binding, but coiling its neck like a whip, pulling it off balance. "Kaelith, howl!" The wolf's Frost Howl stunned it, Blizzard Charge tearing its shoulder—Ice Armor deflected a counter. "Good boy!" Aelar yelled, Frost Bite sinking into its flank—mana surged back, fueling him.
The Stalker's Mana Pulse flared, Elara's ring flickering—she gritted, "No you don't!" weaving a frost spear to pierce its chest. Torin's spear followed, "Die quiet!" cracking its ribs—Gruk rammed again. Aelar crafted a massive blade, Swordsmanship slashing its neck—chains yanked, blood sprayed, and it fell, a teal core rolling free.
Aelar claimed it, mana tingling. "Sylvara, update."
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Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Grandmaster (Level 10)
Stats:
Strength: 95 Agility: 105 Intelligence: 78 Mana: 155
Skills: Frostborn Legacy (Innate, Level 6) Glacial Chains (Level 10) Frost Bite (Level 3) Frost Shroud (Level 6) Mana Manipulation (Level 10) Ice Crafting (Level 8) Swordsmanship (Level 10) Beast Taming (Level 5)
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Night's Plan
Aelar tossed the core to Elara. "Split it—Torin's half. Agility, both of you."
Elara caught it, grinning. "Still winning?"
"Always," Aelar said, wincing at his chest. "Theron's right—Depths first. Tomorrow, we hunt spies, then ride."
Torin nodded, Gruk snorting. "Clean sweep—then war."
The stone pulsed, shadows lengthening—a call to the deep unanswered, for now.