FROST
Chapter 77: The Simulation

Chapter 77: The Simulation

Silvermist swilled, her fingertips brushing the rim of the cup filled water as her eyes remained pinned on the floor. The muffled conversations around her faded into the background, as if the world had been dipped underwater.

"The realm that reflects your fears," she mumbled, gaze flickering to the faint, almost invisible traces of Ezekiel and Frost’s magic still etched along her skin—remnants of their marks, like ghostly fingerprints. Her jaw tightened.

"This is bad, Mila," she whispered, finally turning toward the Mila in front of her, arms folding tight across her chest.

Mila raised an eyebrow. "Why? Are you worried you might go berserk again?"

Silvermist didn’t even try to deny it. "Might," she admitted with a slow, grim nod. "East lifted the seal on my mana. Not because he trusts me, but because they need to see something. I think this whole simulation is designed to provoke whatever’s buried inside me. When they kept me under observation, they kept circling back to one question: the mana I’m supposedly hiding."

"They still don’t believe you’re unaware of it?" Mila asked, incredulous.

"No," Silvermist muttered. "They don’t. And I can’t really blame them. I don’t even understand it myself."

And yet, Silvermist knew about it. Until now, she had not told a soul. Her plans remained the same. It’s either she’d meet Frost in that safe space or find a way to finally reach him in person before she tells anyone about the other her and her sinister mana.

Adeline scooted closer, placing her elbows on the table. "You mean the mana Theo was talking about... the foreign one?"

Silvermist nodded. "Yeah. The same one that East kept hinting at. The same one they think might be demonic in origin—or worse. They didn’t tell much about it."

Mila gave a low whistle and leaned back, draping an arm over her chair. "Ahhh, I knew it. Damn it! We’re going to be thrown into a simulation that reflects our worst nightmares just because of you again, huh? Silvermistttt," she groaned dramatically, playfully bumping her shoulder against Silvermist’s.

Silvermist didn’t smile. Her lips pressed into a thin, uneasy line as her gaze flicked across the room.

The cafeteria was beginning to thin out, but a handful of apprentices from their section lingered at the far side—most pretending not to notice her, some outright staring. She could feel the sharpness of their eyes, she could feel something cut her skin.

She looked to the seats behind her—where Cullen, Levi, Gail used to sit.

"I don’t think it’s just me," she said suddenly, her voice quieter now, laced with a thread of suspicion.

"What do you mean?" Adeline asked.

Silvermist leaned forward, lowering her voice. "I could be wrong. But something’s not right. I don’t know if you could feel it too, but I felt something off with Cullen. Perhaps, did you hear something about him?"

Mila and Adeline only blinked.

"Something off?" Mila echoed and groaned. "Ahh I don’t really like listening to gossips these days, but I did hear something about the peony incident while we were at the Mist Island. Barrier breach something like that and Cullen having weird magic..." she blinked when she realized she actually shared another tea she didn’t even realize she heard somewhere.

"Omg did I just say that?" Mila turned to Adeline and Silvermist who only nodded in surprise.

Silvermist scooted closer. "So, what is this weird magic Cullen had? Continue to that part, please."

Mila shrugged, flicking her flamingo hair back. "Now when I tried remembering what I heard, I forgot."

Silvermist grimaced. "Tsk my goodness, Mila," she muttered.

Mila only grinned and for some reason, a memory dragged Silvermist back to her and Gail’s supposed fight—the strange, crushing weight of gravity magic when Levi had intervened. The way even East had stopped. The way Cloud had gone dead quiet.

"Anyway, Levi also. I can’t be sure but I think he’s hiding something," Silvermist said finally. "I don’t think he knows what it is either. But whatever it is... the Guardians noticed. Just like they noticed mine and probably Cullen’s as well."

Mila gave a low sigh and stretched her legs. "So basically, we’re all trapped in a simulation designed to poke our deepest, most dangerous secrets with a stick... Fantastic."

Adeline grimaced. "Do you think we’ll be separated?"

"Probably," Silvermist said. "If they really want to test us, they’ll isolate us. Put us with people we don’t trust—or worse, people we care about."

Mila exhaled loudly. "They’re going to try and break us."

"Exactly." Silvermist looked down at her hands. "And if we’re not careful... they might succeed."

The apprentices were called out of the cafeteria one by one, their names echoing through the intercoms like a summons from fate itself. They weren’t even briefed what would really happen, they’re just lucky Amethyst decided to be an angel—a hypocrite one.

Mila groaned again when her name was called, but even she couldn’t hide the edge of nerves beneath her laughter.

Silvermist stood silently when her name followed. Her stomach twisted in knots.

They were led through winding corridors that hummed with faint arcane energy. The walls grew colder, darker, as if even the Academy walls sensed where they were headed.

Eventually, they arrived at a massive obsidian gate inscribed with ancient runes—older than the Academy, maybe even older than the Guardians themselves. At the center of the gate was a glowing emblem—a distorted mirror rimmed in gold and silver, its surface swirling like liquid glass.

Cloud stood in front of it, arms crossed, expression blank. Beside him was Theo, fingers twitching nervously. He’s not even sure why he has been included in the test, but since it was a request from the Guardians, he didn’t have the luxury to say no.

East stood near the side, his gaze already locked on Silvermist.

"This is the entrance," Cloud said, voice calm but commanding. "You’ll be going in as individuals, but the realm will shape itself based on who you fear, who you trust, and who you are. The realm is made for this very test, so it will know."

"What does it mean by reflect our fears?" Mila asked, frowning.

East finally spoke. "The simulation taps into your subconscious—traumas, doubts, unspoken truths. It pulls out the version of yourself you try to hide, and it forces you to face it. If you lose control, the realm will feed off of you. If you resist too much, it will push harder."

"Sounds like a lovely vacation," Cullen muttered out of nowhere. There are a lot of apprentices around, but Silvermist knew it was him who talked. It sounded too arrogant, she could barf.

Levi said nothing, arms crossed tight across his chest, eyes flicking between the instructors and the gate. He was only standing beside Cullen. Of course, he saw Silvermist right away.

"Remember," East added, "this isn’t just about combat. This is about who you become when no one is watching."

Silvermist swallowed hard. She’s damn right, okay. This simulation is truly meant for her and the others who might have the same hidden magic as her.

Then, without warning, the gate began to glow, the mirror distorting. Names began to float in midair—pairings and groupings shifting like puzzle pieces. Silvermist felt her breath hitch when she saw her name.

Group Three: Silvermist, Cullen, Levi.

Silvermist almost gagged her internal organs just by her name written beside the names of the two individual she’d rather become enemies with than be partnered with.

But can she object? No, Your Honor!

Silvermist turned slowly, looking for the sons of bitches and there, behind her Cullen arched an eyebrow at her like this was some kind of joke. Levi’s jaw tightened.

Mila let out a whistle from the side. "Ooooh, they’re throwing the chaos trio into the pit together. Bold move."

Another grouping shimmered:

Group Two: Mila, Adeline, Sebastian

Silvermist looked around to find Sebastian and he’s already standing on the other side of the space and beside him are no other than Ezekiel, who waved at her, smiling... and West who didn’t even spare her a look.

He even purposely hid himself behind the other apprentices, but since he’s taller than the rest, his head is still sticking out.

Silvermist rolled her eyes and looked at another names showing.

Group Four: Amethyst, West, Gail

Silvermist blinked at the last name. Gail? But she was...

"She was brought back," East said, answering the question on her face before she could speak. "Not as an apprentice. As a test subject."

"What the hell does that mean?" Mila asked sharply.

"You’ll find out," Cloud said flatly, as the mirror began to pulse.

"Step through," East commanded. "The moment you do, the realm will begin molding your environment. It might look familiar. It might not. Don’t assume anything is real—but also, don’t assume anything is not real. The line between the two will blur quickly."

Silvermist took a deep breath. "Sure, thanks for the advise."

Beside her, Levi shifted on his feet. His hands flexed once, then again. She caught the flicker of guilt in his eyes before he turned away. Cullen gave her a shrug and strolled forward like this was just another Tuesday.

The mirror shimmered as Cullen stepped through. Then Levi. Then—

Silvermist stepped into the gate. Names are still showing for pairings as they entered followed by whispers. Inside, Silvermist stumbled as her boots landed on stone.

Cold.

Wet.

Fog stretched across the ground like a living thing, whispering with each step. They were in what looked like a ruined garden—thorns and withered peonies sprawled like veins, and trees grew too tall, their branches curving unnaturally toward the sky.

The sky above them was completely black, yet full of stars. Time didn’t exist here. It watched instead.

Cullen stood already surveying the area, his posture oddly tense for someone usually sarcastic. Levi hadn’t moved much at all, his hands twitching slightly as if sensing something wrong.

"This isn’t just a fear realm," Silvermist said quietly. "This place... it’s connected to us."

Cullen turned to her. "You don’t say? East really made it clear back there about some fears and traumas, of course it’s connected to us."

Silvermist glared at him. "I really hate you goddamn it! Of all apprentices out there, I’d really get the two of you? Really?!" She glanced at Levi and back to Cullen who is already cocking a brow at her.

Levi was not even given a chance to talk when a low growl echoed through the garden.

Then they saw it—at the far end of the garden, a gate began to form, built from shadow and light. Behind it, shifting figures emerged—three silhouettes.

Silvermist squinted. Her blood ran cold.

One of them was her—only... it wasn’t. The figure wore her face, but her eyes glowed a violent crimson, her mouth curled in a feral grin.

Silvermist blinked and moved a step closer to inspect the other her. "It’s not that other me," she muttered and Cullen who heard looked at her in confusion.

"I can’t even stand looking at one Silvermist and now I’m seeing two?!" Cullen groaned and groaned louder when Silvermist elbowed his stomach.

Beside the twisted Silvermist stood a version of Levi—his body consumed in a pulsing sphere of gravity, eyes vacant like a marionette. His movements twitched unnaturally, like he was being controlled.

And the third... Cullen’s shadow version, who was entirely silent but bathed in that same burgundy and black magic East had warned about.

Cullen exhaled, still wincing from Silvermist’s attack. "Well... I’d like to have that magic," he said, gesturing to his shadow.

The world inside the realm twisted slowly, subtly.

The fog grew thicker, curling around their ankles. The garden no longer felt like a ruined place. It felt hungry.

Silvermist could feel the pulse underneath her feet. Like a heartbeat. Not hers. Not theirs. The realm’s.

Suddenly, everything stilled.

The ghostly doppelgängers at the edge of the clearing hadn’t moved—but the air had shifted. Something unseen pressed down on them, invading their thoughts without permission.

Cullen blinked. He staggered.

"Cullen?" Silvermist stepped toward him, but he raised a hand.

His eyes flicked around as if seeing something none of them could.

Then he laughed—but it was hollow, bitter. "There it is," he muttered.

"What?" Levi asked cautiously.

Cullen pointed.

In the distance, the garden bent and twisted, shaping into a narrow corridor of broken mirrors—each one reflecting a different version of him. Not the charming, cocky Cullen they knew. But other Cullens.

One was bloodied, hunched over with clawed hands and red-rimmed eyes—his mouth curled in a scream he couldn’t voice.

One was shackled, chained to a desk, dozens of scrolls and tomes piled around him, his lips moving as he repeated spells and lines over and over until his mouth bled.

And another... this Cullen was smiling.

He stood on a mountain of ashes.

Silvermist’s stomach turned. That one looked far too at peace.

"That’s not me," Cullen said quietly, then swallowed hard. "But it could’ve been. If I hadn’t run."

"Run from what?" Levi asked.

Cullen didn’t answer. He turned away, his hands trembling, his usual sarcasm gone. "Just like what the Guardians said, this place... it knows."

The mirrors vanished, dissolving like mist. The realm wasn’t done.

Now it was Levi.

The air grew heavier—crushingly heavy. A dark gravitational pressure dragged at Levi’s shoulders. He doubled over with a gasp as shimmering orbs of mana floated up from the ground around him.

Silvermist tried to approach, but couldn’t move. It was as if the realm held her still—forcing her to watch.

One of the orbs shimmered to life, playing a memory like a hologram.

A much younger Levi stood on a scorched battlefield, surrounded by collapsed figures—some familiar, some not. His hands were coated in something black and sticky, and his eyes were wide with horror.

"I didn’t mean to," the younger Levi whispered. "I just—I couldn’t stop it—"

A second orb lit up.

This time, Levi stood in front of a crowd of robed elders. Their faces were hidden, but their voices were cruel.

"You are a danger. A mistake. What lies in you should never have existed."

"Contain him."

"Or end him."

Silvermist’s breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t understand what are these that were shown to them. Did something like this ever happened to Levi before?

Silvermist turned to him and the way her eyes wobbled, she already knew. Levi was trembling now, his expression is blank. His hands clenched into fists so tight they bled.

He didn’t speak. But Silvermist didn’t need him to.

The realm had shown her enough to understand: his fear wasn’t losing control—it was realizing he never had it to begin with.

And then it was her turn.

Silvermist staggered back as the fog pulled her toward the edge of the ruined garden. Her legs moved on their own. She heard Mila call her name faintly, but it felt far away—like a dream being torn apart.

A mirror rose in front of her.

But this one didn’t reflect her.

It reflected them.

Frost, East, Sun, and Fall.

They were speaking to each other—but no sound came through the glass. Only their expressions were clear: disappointment, weariness, caution.

Then another reflection joined them.

It was her—but older. Harsher. Her hair glowed white like starlight, and her eyes burned blue. She wasn’t angry. She wasn’t cruel. She just... didn’t care. Cold. Emotionless. Unreachable.

Behind her were ruins.

The Academy in flames. Friends gone. The world cracked open by her own hand.

Silvermist’s chest tightened. She tried to look away, but the realm held her chin, metaphorically and psychologically, forcing her to see.

She was alone in that vision.

And she chose it.

That was the fear the realm was showing her—not losing her powers.

But losing everything else.

Suddenly, the fog broke again, dispersing like ash in the wind. The garden returned. The warped, darker versions of them now stood in the center of the arena-like space.

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