Chapter 20: Ability Assessment - Memories Of A Distant Summer

Chapter 20: Ability Assessment - Memories Of A Distant Summer

Mu Xue didn't care for the spotlight, but her every move was so elegant and beautiful that the crowd became enthralled with her.

She jumped onto the arena, her body gliding like a feather dropped from a window. Landing with a soft sigh, she glistened like an aquamarine in the sunlight.

Small shards of ice wrapped around her body, causing her amethyst eyes to glow ice blue before stepping into her spot and holding her katana.

Lucretia began to hype her up and danced on the spot.

In reality, Mu Xue might not seem amazing now that she is in her thirties, but she reached the second stage at the young age of nineteen and has since seemed trapped at the threshold of stage three.

Normally, a person would reach stage one before turning twenty and then stage two before turning thirty, but geniuses always existed, as did those who started fast and then crumbled.

Maybe they believed her to be the latter.

However.

***

Inside the king's VIP box and watching the arena.

"Come on, everyone, look at her beauty, those lovely eyes that glisten a new colour! Her soft curves and wonderful swordsmanship!"

"Give some support to Mu Xue!"

Lorem was sitting quietly, no longer in the stands, as she was meant to protect the royal family during events like this. But suddenly, when she saw the current Mu Xue, a strange smile reached her lips as she tapped the table.

"Oh~ it seems the girl finally stepped into the third stage."

Her words caused the king's fingers to tremble, and the prince narrowed his eyes and watched as the male opponent was summoned.

"A woman of that level at the side of a useless earl with no mana core." The prince made his voice loud enough for the kind to hear as if to sow seeds of discord as the king stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Maybe I should have words with the head of the Fenix family..."

***

Mu Xue didn't move her gaze and stood silently, watching in the opposite direction because her master was watching her across the seat.

He waved with a gentle smile, letting her feel at ease as the blue shards of ice danced around her more beautifully. Some even formed pretty little roses and flowers.

"Oh! Look at the beautiful display of Mu Xue's mastery over the ice element!"

"Now~ let's summon her opponent!"

Some seemed to think she was putting on a display, but Mu Xue simply felt her heart racing as Asura watched her and didn't remove his eyes.

"Listen up, folks! Her opponent from the Lebora Territory, a handsome and powerful Second Rank Mage! Darim Lebora! Please head to the main arena.1"

The crowd began to scream, but this time, it was only the women as the males didn't want to cheer for some handsome lady-killer who was known to put his hand out too many of the women in his territory and leave them as single mothers.

He stepped onto the stage gracefully, trying to show the same grace as Mu Xue, but his wind magic was weaker and less stable to the eye.

Mu Xue's ice wasn't done forcefully but was as natural to her as breathing.

This wasn't a high-level skill as anyone could do this; even warriors who lacked talent with magic and the elements could do so. It was called Atmos Weaving, literally translated as Weaving the magic of the atmosphere.

The caster would lower the total potency of their mana and magic by a small amount, allowing it to flow around their body, constantly reducing their spell cast time and recovery time by an equal amount.

"Everyone! The match is about to begin! Please prepare for some wonderful entertainment!"

Lucretia shouted as her skirt flipped, causing some boys to rush to the toilet as she left the stage to the edge and sat on an umpire seat.

"Fight whenever you are ready."

She cut.

"Help..."

She stabbed.

"I'm sorry!"

And she slashed the boy's flesh without emotion.

"Please..."

Her blade sliced through the air with a beautiful shimmer of ice, her face serene without emotion as the crowd and stands were shocked. Lucretia was about to stop the fight, but her arm was held back by Lorem, causing this scene to continue.

A brutal but elegant execution of a lesser noble. Mu Xue's attacks were precise and methodical, removing Darim's limbs, ears, nose, tongue, and finally, his manhood.

Finally, her blade pointed towards his throat, but she looked not at him but towards Asura. Seeing his glowing eyes watching her and the smile on his lips, she felt her body burning despite being encased in the storm of ice.

'Master is smiling... Xue'er... Xue'er loves you; anyone who insults or hurts you, I will kill them!'

It was then that Asura's lips moved with a simple sentence that caused her body to tremble with pleasure.

Your dance was beautiful, Xue'er.

Mu Xue didn't know why, but she disliked how her father and brothers used their family martial arts from a young age.

It was too stiff and ugly... So, over years and years, she formed this beautiful, deadly dancing style with her ice shards and magic particles dancing around, making her seem like a beautiful princess of ice.

Even when they beat her, saying it was wrong for a mere woman to change their family martial arts... In secret, she hid away until her feet bled and her body was covered in bruises. She trained in this style...

Only when she met Asura... did her style gain any form of appreciation.

'Master, you said I was like a princess of ice come to save you...'

'So I will become your princess knight... hehe, Xue'er remembers, but maybe Master forgot such a thing long ago.'

Mu Xue thrust her sword through Darim's throat, ending the battle with cheers and applause. She was beautiful, elegant, brutal, and ruthless to her enemies but also kind, gentle, and loving to Asura.

Instead of waiting to be interviewed, she dashed forward, darting faster than when she fought Darim, more than twice the speed before jumping into the open arms of Asura.

"Master! I fought my best!"

Asura smiled as they twirled together; he told her to act how she wished, to discard etiquette and follow her heart, and even if he looked stupid, so what?

He was a pathetic man with no core, then why not use that to see this wonderful smile of his future wife?

Mu Xue felt her heart racing, feeling that since that day a week ago, her master had changed so much. She worried one day, she might wake up and fall back into the lonely life where he didn't care about her anymore and become an introvert in pain.

"You were beautiful, my ice princess."

"Will you forever protect me as my knight?"

Those words...

"The Winner, by complete devastation. Mu Xue, the Third Rank Blade Knight!" Lorem's voice echoed, stealing the attention of the crowd, while Mu Xue stared into Asura's eyes, the dazzling light glowing as his words registered.

'!!!'

Tears fell down Mu Xue's cheeks, happy tears of joy as she nodded, her soft lips pressing against Asura's cheek, "Yes... master, Xue'er will always protect you. Xue'er loves master... please... never leave me again."

Asura laughed, kissing her forehead as he whispered, "I promise... Xue'er. You're my knight and little Ice Princess. But let me protect you, too, sometimes."

Always in a world of their own, the tournament continued as the jealous masses tried to avoid looking towards the lap of Asura, where Mu Xue proudly sat.

She made him stop pushing her away and wouldn't take no for an answer.