FROST
Chapter 31: Disappearing Glow

Chapter 31: Disappearing Glow

Adeline’s gaze remained fixed on the floor, her small feet dangling just above the surface as she sat on the edge of her bed. She had not moved for hours, perhaps even longer—time felt distorted.

Since Silvermist had lost control, the memory of that day had been playing on an endless loop in her mind, suffocating her.

Her breaths grew heavier each time the scene replayed. The shattered arena. The crystallized spear. Frost’s blood staining the ground. Amethyst writhing in pain. The chaos, the fear, the realization that none of them had been able to stop it.

IfonlyIhad looked intoSilvermist’sfuture...

The thought plagued at her, relentless and cruel. Perhaps, had she made the effort, she might have seen something—some hint, some warning—that could have changed everything. But she had hesitated. She was scared.

She might have the soul of an eighteen-year-old, but at the end of the day, she was still just a child. An eight-year-old girl who, despite her composure and wisdom beyond her years, had no real power to change fate.

The sound of the door creaking open barely registered in her mind. Mila’s voice echoed through the dimly lit room.

"Yes, she’s here."

Footsteps followed, measured yet urgent. She did not lift her head. Not even when they stopped right in front of her.

Not until one of them knelt down.

"Adeline."

The voice was soft, careful. It was Ezekiel. Behind him stood Sebastian, Mila, and West.

"Adeline, it’s been three days," Ezekiel murmured, his expression unreadable. "You’ll get sick if you keep refusing to eat."

His tone was coaxing but firm, like he had rehearsed these words several times before entering. "Training will start again tonight—"

"When will Silvermist be back?"

Adeline cut him off sharply, finally lifting her gaze to meet his. Her purple eyes, usually unreadable, now brimmed with something Ezekiel couldn’t quite place—anger, fear, desperation. "They’re not going to harm her, right?"

Ezekiel hesitated.

He had no answer.

None of them did.

Everyone had witnessed what transpired in the arena, but no one knew what came after.

The moment the Time Guardian, Tim, had appeared, everything had changed. In a blink, he had taken Silvermist away. Not just her—the other Guardians had vanished as well. The Lunar King, Amethyst, Silvermist... all of them, gone.

And in the aftermath, all that remained was silence. Only the professors did the initiative to gather everyone back into their dorms.

The competition reached its abrupt and terrifying conclusion the moment Frost arrived, shattering the force field woven by the God of War as though it were nothing more than fragile glass.

The sheer impossibility of his actions sent ripples of unease through the spectators. How had he done it? Was it even within the realm of his abilities? No one dared to question it aloud. The horror of what they had just witnessed silenced any inclination to seek answers.

Even before Frost’s arrival, the damage had already been done—damage inflicted not by an external force but by Silvermist herself. Like a force of nature untethered from restraint, she had single-handedly begun tearing apart the very foundations of the octagonal stage, leaving deep fissures in the once-sturdy platform.

It was as if an uncontainable storm had been unleashed within her, one that threatened to consume everything in its wake.

The severity of the situation became evident when all of the guardians struggled against the octagonal stage force field that they’re supposed to break since the force Silvermist has been charging from within is far greater than theirs. Their combined efforts, had barely held against her relentless onslaught.

There was a moment—brief but terrifying—when the cracks in their shield, Cay and Zephyr casted, spread like veins of lightning, a sign that even their mastery might not be enough to contain the chaos she’s releasing.

And then, just as the worst seemed inevitable, Frost arrived. Yet, even with his intervention, the weight of what had transpired lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating. The stage lay in ruins. The barrier had nearly been compromised.

The apprentices, who had once been eager competitors, now stood paralyzed, their faces ghostly pale as they tried to process the carnage left in Silvermist’s wake.

Whatever had taken hold of her was not merely rage. It was something deeper, something darker—something that none of them could yet comprehend.

Ezekiel clenched his fists. Where was she now? What was happening to her? Would she ever come back?

Behind him, West remained quiet. Unlike the others, he had been directly involved in the battle. He had stepped in, disguising himself as Frost to contain the situation long enough for Tim to intervene. And though he had succeeded, it had come at a price.

West had barely recovered.

Even now, he stood slightly hunched, his usual sharp presence dulled by exhaustion. Two days of rest had not been enough, and yet, here he was. Still standing. Still waiting. Just like the rest of them.

"I don’t know," Ezekiel finally admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "Since that day, East hasn’t stepped foot in the grandmaster’s office. No one knows what he’s planning." He turned his sharp gaze toward West. "But I do believe you have something to say?"

West, who had been staring blankly like a malfunctioning owl, sighed heavily and straightened up. He blinked a few times, as if trying to clear his vision, before finally speaking.

"East didn’t want anyone to know this yet, but I suppose I have no choice," he began, his tone unusually serious. Then, just as the tension in the room thickened, he paused, eyes widening slightly. "But only if you promise to eat, Adeline."

The abrupt shift in tone caught everyone off guard.

West inhaled deeply, as if preparing to reveal a profound truth. "I had a little sister back in the human realm," he said solemnly, "She kind of looked like you... and she died from a peptic ulcer."

A beat of silence.

Ezekiel, Mila, and Sebastian all grimaced in unison, their expressions contorting as if they had collectively bitten into something unbearably sour.

Mila pinched the bridge of her nose. "Did you seriously just use your dead sister as an attempt at emotional blackmail?"

Sebastian crossed his arms, unimpressed. "And why does every tragic backstory of yours somehow end up being about Adeline?"

Ezekiel exhaled, rubbing his temples. "Also... a peptic ulcer? Really? You’re acting like she’s going to drop dead any second if she skips another meal."

West lifted his hands defensively. "She has not eaten anything for the past three days. You have no idea how terrifying it is to watch someone slowly waste away because they refuse to eat. First, they skip breakfast. Then lunch. Then—bam! Tragic backstory."

West looked back at Adeline, his expression unusually soft. "So? Can you promise to eat if I tell you?"

Without hesitation, Adeline nodded.

West glanced at the others before exhaling deeply. "East didn’t say much, but he was clear about one thing—Silvermist will be gone for a while. She’s undergoing purification."

Mila, who had been stewing in curiosity for the past three days, immediately stepped forward. "Purification? What, like she’s some kind of evil spirit?"

Sebastian turned to her with a questioning look. "You mean you really don’t know?"

Mila’s lips quivered slightly. "I mean, I kinda pieced it together recently... but I don’t get it. Why does she need purification? What exactly is wrong with her?"

Ezekiel sighed, crossing his arms. "You saw what happened in the arena." His tone was grim. "Let’s just say that Frost and Silvermist have... unresolved master-apprentice issues. They need to settle them before they can truly be one."

Adeline’s fingers clenched around the fabric of her Victorian night gown. "This purification," she hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper, "Th-This won’t kill Silvermist, right?"

"No, of course not." West stepped closer and placed a reassuring hand on her head. "Don’t worry. Silvermist is Frost’s apprentice. She should be strong."

Adeline sniffled, quickly wiping at the tears forming in her eyes. "Y-Yeah. Of course, she’s strong."

"Shh, don’t cry now," West hushed, gently patting her head like an older brother comforting his younger sister. A small, satisfied smile curled at his lips—until he suddenly felt an intense burning sensation on his ribs.

Like daggers. Sharp, invisible daggers.

He turned his head slightly, his instincts screaming danger, and sure enough—Mila, Sebastian, and Ezekiel were staring at him. Not just staring, but glaring with the sheer force of judgment itself.

Mila gasped dramatically before yanking Adeline into a protective hug. "SHE’S JUST A CHILD, WEST! FOR THE LOVE OF A MILLION DREAMS!"

"What the fuck!?" West reeled back, eyes wide.

Sebastian shook his head disapprovingly. "You cannot just go around patting heads like that. That’s illegal."

Ezekiel crossed his arms. "She’s eight, West."

West threw up his hands, exasperated. "Oh, I’M SORRY! I forgot that head pats were a crime punishable by death! Should I have asked for consent first?!"

Mila narrowed her eyes. "You should have known better!"

Adeline, still pressed into Mila’s chest, blinked up at them in confusion. "I... I didn’t mind it, though?"

"Stockholm Syndrome," Sebastian muttered under his breath. "This is unacceptable, West. Get out!"

As promised, Adeline went down with Mila to eat her first meal after three days. But while she expected a quiet and uneventful meal, the loud voices echoing from inside the cafeteria quickly shattered that hope.

"Oh really?! Then why are you still coming at us when you already know we have nothing to do against that Evermore?!" Matilda’s voice rang through the large room, sharp and defiant.

"How are we supposed to know she’s the Winter Guardian apprentice?! We barely even know each other!" Candace’s frustration was evident in her tone.

Adeline and Mila exchanged glances before stepping closer. In the middle of the cafeteria, Matilda and Candace stood rigid, surrounded by a group of female apprentices who looked far too amused at their distress. The mess of food on the floor told them everything—the girls had been humiliated, their meals thrown to the ground like garbage.

One of the bullies, a tall girl with striking violet eyes, sneered. "Oh, admit it! Sphene apprentices are just a bunch of weirdos!" She let out a cruel laugh, her voice grating like a broken CD player.

"Yeah! Imagine being in a room with a murderer?! That Evermore dared to hurt Frost! She’s even the reason why the Guardians were not around these past few days!" Another girl chimed in, her words dripping with mockery.

"If the human realm falls into danger, I’m killing that Evermore myself, including you!" A third apprentice snarled, stepping forward aggressively, her face contorted with misplaced rage as she pressed against Matilda and Candace.

Matilda gritted her teeth, and for a moment, it looked like she might retaliate, but Candace gripped her wrist in warning.

Before the situation could escalate further, the moment Mila and Adeline stepped inside, the entire cafeteria’s attention snapped toward them. Whispers erupted, and their mere presence seemed to fuel the apprentices’ hostility.

Adeline barely had time to react before a firm grip yanked her back. She stumbled slightly, only to realize it was Gail.

"Come on!" Gail hissed, pulling both her and Mila away before the crowd could converge on them.

She led them through the corridors, putting as much distance as possible between them and the chaos. Finally, after what felt like minutes of sprinting, they stopped at a secluded hallway.

All three girls gasped for air, hands on their knees.

"T-Thanks, Gail," Mila panted, placing a hand on Gail’s arm.

"Don’t mention it..." Gail took a deep breath, still recovering.

Adeline, now catching her breath, studied Gail with cautious curiosity. Why had she helped them?

As if sensing the silent question, Gail averted her gaze. "I-I was harassed earlier, too," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "Candace and Matilda were just unfortunate that a lot of apprentices were already in the cafeteria when they arrived."

She swallowed hard before straightening. "Everyone is wondering where Silvermist went after the chaos she caused..." She hesitated, then added, "Perhaps, do you have any idea?"

Mila stiffened beside Adeline, and before she could respond, Adeline faked a cough.

"We don’t," she answered smoothly, cutting Mila off before she could reveal anything.

Mila caught on quickly, nodding. "But maybe the professors will have some news later in class."

Gail observed them for a moment before smiling, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Of course."

Adeline exhaled internally. The last thing they needed was more attention drawn to Silvermist’s disappearance.

"And I believe it’s about time for class, right?" Adeline turned to Mila. "I’ll just eat tomorrow."

Mila waved her off. "Oh, don’t worry. I have snacks in my cabinet."

They then turned to Gail. "Let’s just go to our room?"

Gail nodded but hesitated. "Sure... But you two go ahead. I have something to check first."

"Alright, thanks again."

Mila and Adeline waved as they walked off. Once they were out of sight, Gail turned slightly to her right, her posture stiffening.

From the lingering mist, Cullen emerged.

Gail crossed her arms. "They know something."

Cullen didn’t answer immediately. He walked past her, pausing briefly before glancing up at the sky. The once luminous sky, always aglow with its mysterious light, had been growing dim over the past three days.

A deep frown settled on Cullen’s face. His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Where are you, Sil?"