FROST
Chapter 67: What Silver Hides, What Darkness Reveals

Chapter 67: What Silver Hides, What Darkness Reveals

"Ezekiel and West did what?!" East’s voice cracked the air, his eyes wide and spinning, as though he’d just been hit with a powerful wave.

His hands trembled slightly, almost making him drop the crimson orb he’d been holding—a delicate artifact that was essential for their next critical training session. It was as if the entire world around him had shifted with those words.

Before Sebastian could even utter another word, East raised a hand to stop him, his gaze darting around the room with a quickness that suggested he feared the very walls had ears. He checked every corner, every shadow, as though expecting someone to jump out and confirm that what he’d just heard was a cruel joke.

Only once he was satisfied that the room was safe did he step forward, his strides purposeful and heavy, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Where are they now?"

Sebastian hesitated, his lips slightly parted, unsure of how to continue, but East’s growing impatience left him with little choice. "West... West opened a portal," he stammered, tugging at his collar, clearly uncomfortable under East’s penetrating gaze. "An... ancient one."

East froze. For a long moment, he said nothing. His fingers tightened around the orb, and his chest rose with a heavy sigh that threatened to crack his composure.

The words "ancient portal" reverberated in his mind, but the reality of it hadn’t fully settled. His thoughts began to race as he closed his eyes, biting the inside of his cheek hard enough to taste blood.

When East finally opened his eyes, he raised one finger, pointing between them like a warning shot. "Who else knows about this? Any of my brothers?"

Sebastian’s shoulders sagged, his relief almost obvious as he shook his head. "None of them yet, just you."

"Good. And you’d better keep this between our circle," East’s voice dropped to a whisper. He placed the crimson orb back onto its pedestal, securing it carefully before straightening his coat.

His mind flashed to the countless hours they’d spent training, to the secret lessons West had snuck behind his back, muttering spells meant for those far beyond their reach.

If West had truly found a way to breach the barrier he described... East couldn’t even fathom the consequences that would be placed on him once the gods finds out. The very thought twisted in his mind like a poisonous vine.

If West had truly found a way to breach the barrier, East didn’t want to imagine the consequences especially if the gods finds out about it. Using it for someone who could potentially corrupt a god, would be disastrous. The gods might purify her, or worse, freeze Frost in time, waiting for a new apprentice which is simply impossible to happen.

Frost would never end up hibernating for his own apprentice only to let her be vanished and replaced. With the Earth’s seasons already unstable and the threat of Periwinkle looming, East, as Grandmaster, had to keep his apprentices safe. But how could he when their magic was still so far from perfect? It’s too complicated, East could collapse while thinking.

"I’m quite sure West hasn’t mastered those damned spells yet," East continued, his words clipped, "so they should be in the barren right now."

Sebastian blinked. "T-The barren? The floating world within the void of multiple realms?" His voice trembled slightly. "B-But that world was a myth, right?"

"Well, surprise. It’s real," East shrugged. "Don’t ask more, and stay back. We have to find them before West figures out how to reverse the spell and went straight to Frost’s sealed chamber."

Sebastian opened his mouth, no doubt to argue, but East’s cold stare silenced him in an instant. There was no room for discussion now. West had made a decision, and it was a reckless one—one that could spiral out of control with the slightest misstep.

East took a step back, his mind now racing with scenarios of what could go wrong, what dangers lay in the barren, in that space between realms. It wasn’t a place for the unprepared, let alone someone who hadn’t fully mastered the power they were messing with.

"Stay close," East muttered, more to himself than to Sebastian. "We can’t afford to let this get any worse."

East flicked a hand in the air to end the conversation. They have an urgent thing to do. East lifted a hand in the air with purpose, tracing arcs and symbols in the space before him. Sebastian could only stand frozen, his eyes wide as East’s magic began to take form.

The symbols twisted in the air like serpents, ancient and unfathomable, lighting up with a deep, golden glow that vibrated with power. With a final sweep of his hand, the symbols converged, and a shimmering portal appeared before them. It was a doorway, much like the one West had opened earlier, but East’s was more precise, more controlled—a reflection of his mastery over the arts.

Sebastian’s breath caught in his throat as the door grew wider, the air around them crackling with energy. He’d never seen anyone perform the spell so smoothly before, not to this extent that he became so overwhelmed. Sebastian had always thought he’s already a pro in magic, but when compared to a Guardian, he’s definitely just an adept.

The magic East casted was dangerous, uncharted, but his command over it was undeniable. There was no hesitation in his movements, no sign of doubt.

East didn’t spare a second glance at Sebastian as he walked toward the glowing portal. He didn’t need to. His mind was already focused on one thing: finding Ezekiel, finding West, and stopping whatever chaos they had unleashed.

"We move now," East ordered sharply, and without another word, he stepped into the portal.

Sebastian scrambled to follow, his heart pounding as the world around him shifted violently. The air grew heavier with each passing second, and the familiar sights of the chamber they are in began to blur.

When they emerged on the other side, the barren landscape stretched out before them—an endless expanse of fractured earth, floating in the void between realms. The sky was a swirling storm of dark clouds and ethereal lightning, casting an eerie glow over everything. The air here felt thicker than that of the mist island.

And there, in the distance, East’s sharp eyes locked onto a chaotic scene. Ezekiel and West were locked in combat with a colossal creature—a centipede-like monstrosity with the head of a snake and limbs like those of a scorpion. The creature’s movements were jerky but fast, and it hissed and clicked its pincers as it lashed out at the two men. Its long, segmented body coiled in on itself, snapping at them from every angle.

"Well... this is quite... unsightly," East muttered, almost sounded amused.

Sebastian barely had time to process the situation before he spotted a figure looming far behind the two struggling combatants. His eyes sharpened, instantly recognizing Levi, who was cradling Silvermist in his arms. Her face was even paler than when he’d last seen her, but to his relief, he could feel the faint pulse of her mana stabilizing. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to tell him that she might be out of immediate danger.

But the scene ahead was far from reassuring. Ezekiel, visibly drained of mana, barely dodged the massive, writhing tendrils of the creature as they whipped toward him. The creature seemed to move faster with each strike, its venomous limbs scything through the air. And just as Ezekiel had feared, West’s mana had become unstable after he casted a forbidden spell, and now they were stuck in a fight they couldn’t win.

Sebastian’s instincts screamed at him to rush in and help, but before he could make a move, East’s arm shot out, blocking him with an iron grip.

"What are you doing?!" Sebastian groaned as he turned to East. He saw his cold eyes locked on the battle ahead.

"Let them be. Let them feel the consequences of their actions..." East murmured.

"B-But—" Sebastian began to protest, his eyes wide with concern, when the creature’s massive tail slammed into the ground, creating a shockwave that rattled the entire barren landscape. He could hear the thundering impact and Ezekiel’s grunt of pain.

"EAST!!" The shout came from West, barely able to hold off the monster as Ezekiel collapsed to the ground, panting for breath.

"BE STILL, SEBASTIAN!" East growled, his voice turning into a harsh command. His eyes didn’t leave the scene, a dark shadow passing over his face. "You called for my help, now this is the help I could give them. They must learn their lesson." His jaw tightened as he observed the two apprentices, who were struggling to regain control.

Sebastian’s frustration boiled over. "But they’re going to die!" he spat, his fists clenched.

East turned his head slowly, his gaze sharp. "If they cannot defeat that creature, then they do not deserve to be apprentices... and..." He trailed off, his attention shifting toward Levi once more, who was standing at the back, cradling Silvermist, his focus entirely on the fight. "I suppose... I also want to see what Fall’s apprentice is capable of."

Sebastian blinked, confused for a moment before he realized what East was implying. East had heard about Levi’s gravity magic from Professor Redbourne—an ancient, near-forgotten power that had only survived in legends. He wasn’t even interested in just saving the apprentices anymore; East had an entirely agenda shift. He wanted to see Levi push his abilities to their limit, to prove whether the stories of his power were true.

But the question is, will he? Now that they’re in a life-threating situation and he’s still just new, will he take the initiative as the only man with stable mana?

The ground shook again, this time with an even greater force. Ezekiel had barely managed to regain his footing, but West was still locked in a desperate struggle, his energy flickering dangerously low.

Sebastian couldn’t help it; his eyes darted between East’s cold, calculating gaze and the chaos unfolding before them. He knew this was a test—one that Ezekiel and West anticipated when they decided to help Silvermist.

But could they really afford to let them fight alone?

The monstrous creature, relentless in its assault, lunged forward once again with a guttural hiss. Its scorpion limbs cracked like thunder against the rocky floor as it swept them toward Ezekiel and West. The two apprentices had no time to react.

Ezekiel, already drained from the battle, was struck with such force that his body slammed into the ground with a sickening thud. He gritted his teeth, struggling to push himself up, but the pain in his chest from the impact and his weakened mana made it impossible.

West wasn’t faring much better. His legs buckled beneath him as the creature’s serpent-like head snapped forward, aiming for his throat. His shaky hands barely conjured a shield in time, but it shattered upon contact, sending him tumbling back to the floor, gasping for air as his energy drained with every failed spell.

East’s sharp eyes, narrowing at the scene, felt a sudden surge of impatience. He couldn’t wait any longer. The two apprentices were in way over their heads. And Levi, who could’ve helped, was doing nothing. Without another moment’s hesitation, East disappeared from beside Sebastian and reappeared in an instant, standing right between the beast and the helpless apprentices.

The moment East’s feet touched the ground, the air around him seemed to come alive. A violent gust of wind swirled violently, kicking up dust and debris in all directions as the force of his movement disturbed the very atmosphere itself. His eyes were cold with determination as he raised his hand, and with a single, fluid motion, he struck.

The impact was immediate and devastating. The monstrous creature, taken completely off guard by the force of East’s attack, was thrown backward with a shriek. Its massive, scorpion-like limbs recoiled as though struck by a battering ram, and its snakelike head jerked back violently, twisting and thrashing in the air.

East’s fist had met the creature with the raw power of an ancient, primal force, and as his hand withdrew, a shockwave of air blasted through the area. The ground trembled beneath him, sending ripples through the terrain as the creature struggled to regain its balance. The sheer magnitude of the attack left a cloud of dust swirling, obscuring the battlefield for a moment before it settled.

Ezekiel and West, still on the ground, blinked in disbelief as they watched the creature stagger back, clearly stunned from the blow. East’s hands were still raised, the power of his attack rippling through the air like a storm that had just passed. His expression remained impassive, though his eyes glinted with something like relief.

"Get your asses up," East commanded. His sharp gaze swept over the fallen forms of Ezekiel and West, assessing their battered states. Then his eyes landed on Silvermist, still unconscious in Levi’s arms, but showing signs of life as she stirred slightly, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.

He had half-expected to see her in worse condition, but seeing her regaining consciousness brought a flicker of relief—one he quickly masked. Still, the sight of her silver hair slowly overtaking her usual brown locks hit him harder than he was willing to admit.

This wasn’t the time for distractions. He swallowed hard, pushing the thoughts down.

Ezekiel and West, still shaky from their injuries, slowly pushed themselves to their feet, their bodies battered and bruised, but alive... at the very least, yet after realizing East was the one who saved them, they almost considered faking their deaths. Before they could speak, East raised his hand. A gust of wind swirled around it with an unmistakable magic of dominance.

The very air seemed to bend around him, charged and ready.

"Hand her over," East commanded firm decree that left no room for argument. His eyes bore into Levi, unwavering, an invisible force pushing against the man who hesitated only a beat before meeting East’s gaze.

"O-Or what?" Ezekiel groaned. "You’ll strike us all dead here?"

"No," East replied, feigning a gasp of mock surprise. "That would be a bit dramatic, wouldn’t it?" He gestured lazily at the swirling magic around him. "This is just a precaution in case that creature decides to charge again."

Before West could even open his mouth to protest, Sebastian materialized beside East. His eyes flicked between the two, his hands twitching as if he wanted to do something, anything, to fix the situation. But he held himself back, swallowing hard as he finally spoke.

"West! Kiel!" Sebastian’s voice cracked with urgency. "Just give Silvermist already!" He planted his feet firmly on the ground, but his gaze softened, trying to convey the gravity of the situation. "We do not need to fight for this. We’re trying to help her!"

"J-Just let her see Frost! Please!" Ezekiel groaned.

"How many times do we have to make this clear, Kiel?!" East groaned. "They should not be seeing each other now that both of them are already corrupted!"

Everyone’s attention snapped to Silvermist as she gasped, her body twitching in the air as consciousness slowly returned to her. "K-Kiel? What’s going on—?" she winced, trying to push herself up, but then froze when she noticed the presence holding her.

Silvermist turned to her side, vision still blurry, but her breath caught when her eyes landed on the figure holding her. "L-Levi..."

Levi opened his mouth to answer, but before a word could form, she had already looked away—eyes scanning the battered figures of West and Ezekiel. Her lips trembled as she whispered, "W-What’s happening here?"

Ezekiel, limping heavily with blood staining the side of his coat, forced a small, reassuring smile as he staggered closer. "I-It’s okay," he said softly, wincing as he spoke. "You’ll see Frost soon."

"EZEKIEL RAVENCREST!"

The name slammed through the space like thunder.

Everyone flinched. Even the Barren itself seemed to retreat in silence as East’s voice rumbled through the void, the sheer weight of it making the realm itself pulse. For a second, no one dared to move. Even Levi’s grip around Silvermist subtly tensed.

Silvermist’s eyes darted in panic. "K-Kiel, what’s going on?" she asked, voice cracking with confusion and worry. She tried to take a step toward him but her legs buckled under her own weight, and she collapsed forward.

Ezekiel moved on instinct, catching her just in time—but the effort cost him. His knees gave way and the two of them crumpled to the ground. He hissed sharply, his hand immediately clutching at the open wound on his shoulder. Blood soaked his sleeve, dripping between his fingers.

Silvermist gasped, her own hands trembling as she tried to steady him. Her gaze fell on the crimson blooming across his arm and chest. "D-Did I do this to y-you?" she whispered, horrified.

Ezekiel’s lips parted, ready to speak—but another voice cut through the moment.

"I did," East said coldly, stepping forward, his boots echoing with finality as his wind magic flicked and coiled in the air like a living serpent. "Because these two—" he gestured sharply toward Ezekiel and West, the latter clutching his side and barely holding himself upright—"are moments away from making a historical mess. A universal record, if you will. Toppling every realm in existence in three easy, reckless steps—just to help you meet your precious master, Frost."

His words weren’t loud now, but they carried some sort of, let’s say, mockery. Each syllable, sharp and dangerous. Silvermist’s lips parted in disbelief, looking between them all. West refused to meet her eyes, his jaw clenched tight. Ezekiel, despite the pain, only looked at her with guilt and fierce determination.

Levi still hadn’t spoken, but his gaze never left Silvermist—watchful, quiet, as though trying to memorize every inch of her face in case he lost her again. East, meanwhile, had taken control of the space. His anger, though restrained, hung thick in the air still. This wasn’t wrath for show—it was fury born of burden, of knowing too much and feeling too deeply, and having no choice but to carry the weight.

Silvermist clutched Ezekiel’s hand, her fingers trembling as her gaze flicked toward West, guilt knotting her expression. Then back to Ezekiel, who met her with a look that had no blame—only worry.

"I... I’m so sorry for dragging all of you into my mess again," she said, her voice cracking around the words like they were too heavy for her chest when she remembered telling Ezekiel that she needed to see Frost. "I-I didn’t mean for it to go this far. I-It’s me. I asked them to take me to Frost out of desperation to..." Her throat tightened, and she had to pause to swallow the dryness choking her. Her tongue wet her pale lips, and her breaths turned shallow and uneven once again.

"To make sure he’s okay," she whispered, "after... everything."

East didn’t hesitate. At the first signs of her instability, he stepped forward. His magic instinctively softened around him, dissipating with a low hum as he knelt in front of her and Ezekiel.

"Sil," East said, voice quieter, but no less intense. "Is there something you’re not telling us? Something that happened between you and Frost... and this." He reached out and gently, pointedly, gestured to her hair.

Silvermist blinked, confused—until she followed the motion. Her fingers shakily gathered a lock of her hair and pulled it forward.

Her breath has been caught in her throat.

The strands glimmered faintly, pale and ethereal. Silver now swallowed most of the brown, cascading down her shoulders. When had it spread this far? Her brows drew in, overwhelmed, until—

"Frost had the same," East said just enough for everyone to hear.

The words dropped like ice in the room. Everyone stilled. Even Levi finally moved.

East looked up, meeting the stunned gazes of everyone around him. "His hair started turning black. Slowly. Almost like it was leeching color just as yours was losing it."

Silvermist’s eyes widened. She looked back at East, her own hair now gripped in her fist as though she could strangle the truth out of it. But it didn’t speak—just shimmered.

"So, Sil..." East said gently, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. His tone, though calm, held urgency underneath it—a quiet pressure, the ticking of a clock they could no longer ignore. "If there’s anything we need to know—anything that could explain this—you have to tell us now. Before it’s too late."