Dungeon of Niflheim

Frost thought about the options suggested by Khione, mulling over which would be best for his current situation.

The spear, an alternative weapon to his glaive. Different but also similar, both were bladed pole weapons, and both were suitable for the Niflheim royal spear arts.

And according to Khione mastery over other similar weapons could make the learning of her family's arts a little easier.

'Learning the spear from Khione might be too good to pass up.' Frost found her offer quite intriguing. Maya's talent was solely focused on the hammer, she was not much help even when it came to him learning the glaive. All she could do was fight him, point out his weaknesses and shore up his physical foundations.

Khione however could guide him with firsthand knowledge, accurately mend his stance, his form and his understanding of the spear. A talented teacher could polish even the roughest of stones let alone a gem like Frost.

He could save a lot of time, days, weeks perhaps even months of effort crawling in the dark in search of the right path.

Her other suggestion, chakra refinement, another key component to the Niflheim royal spear arts. His internal mana needed to be thoroughly controlled; its fineness sometimes reduced to a width narrower than a human hair while having the same level of flexibility. To bend and curve multiple times within a very short distance, following a convoluted path, like an intricate rune.

Refining his chakra was a must, without it he'd never be able to safely establish and maintain the full effects of the lunar eyes let alone the stances involved in the later sections.

Both would help his progression in the spear arts, the latter likely being more beneficial but at the same time could be trained with the same efficiency regardless of whether he was with Khione or with Maya.

Frost was thus more inclined to learning how to wield the spear from the grandmaster standing before him, but could he really pass up the chance to ruin her fun once again.

He'd seen how Duke Runak trained his aura back in Icethorne and was tempted to try it himself and promised to acquire a similar functioning device for his Dungeon even if it cost him an arm and a leg.

"Trying my hand with the spear sounds good but the smile on your lips makes me believe you'd prefer that I choose the third option, testing the strength of my aura."

"Tch you're imagining it Frost you're free to choose whatever you want." Khione replied in a grumpy manner, her hands quickly covering her lips, annoyed that she had become so easy to read. Or perhaps she was always easy to read and just that her people chose to let her live in ignorance.

"So if I choose the spear or chakra you won't sulk?" He asked playfully.

Khione's immediately emitted a strong bloodlust, the ground beneath her feet shaking as her aura exploded in a threatening manner.

"No I won't SULK Frost, but I'll certainly think less of you." She replied, her tone filled with a mix of playfulness, mocking and outright threat.

Her voice was so chilling and her presence so overwhelming that Frost felt the sudden urge to kneel and pray for forgiveness, like a rabbit trembling before a ravenous wolf.

It had been sometime since he felt that instinctual urge, a natural fear in which he was ushered not to fight but to negotiate, to bargain for his life.

'She really is like Maya in many ways.' Strangely a smile grew on his lips as he compared the two women. His gaze grew heated, filling with desire and lust, a look that caused Khione to shiver. She was confused by the meaning behind his gaze but found it warm, comforting and even desirable. Without her knowing a pink blush formed across her cheeks and her mind started to wander, conjuring provocative thoughts.

Frost immediately noticed his own behaviour and quickly forced himself to look away from Khione, guilt plaguing his heart. His passion was directed to another, he merely superimposed Maya's image over Khione, a grave disrespect to the young woman.

"Sorry that was inappropriate." Frost apologised, realising the depth of his longing, he missed home, he missed Maya, Daki and the kids.

"Ah… urgh… it's fine." Khione didn't know how to properly react towards his guilt filled apology; her emotions being quite divided. At least she didn't have the immediate urge pummel him, a fairly positive outcome given her history.

There was a brief and awkward silence between the two before Frost shook his head. "I would be in true despair if you came to think any less of me Khione especially after we've put in so much work to reach our current relationship. So let's have at, give me your worst." As he spoke Frost smiled at Khione, eager to experience the mischief she had in store.

"Wa..wa What RELATIONSHIP!!!!" Unfortunately Frost's poor choice in words resulted in quite a dramatic outburst from Khione. Her blushing that had previously receded during the silence came back with a vengeance. Her entire skin took on a slightly red tinge as her heart started to madly thump. Her mind racing as she fixated on the word 'relationship'.

Frost earlier teasing successfully left a seed of corruption in Khione's mind or perhaps acted as a catalyst for something that was long overdue. It is rumoured that both the quietest people and those that seem the most innocent are actually the most depraved at heart..

"Huh?" Frost really didn't expect such a reaction from her, his word choice holding no other intentions. Luckily he was quick on the uptake -Khione's building aggression and sudden eruption of aura certainly helped speed things up.

"The one of teacher and student, and maybe even friends." He said calmly and genuinely. Sure Khione may have a crude vocabulary, a short fuse and a lofty arrogance but she was also hardworking, determined and even patient when it came to her own training and also when teaching him, a complete newbie/weakling.

Once you broke past that tough exterior or rather when she accepted you she was quite innocent, naïve and even adorable at times, at least that's how he saw her.

Frost saw a lot of himself in Khione, they were quite similar if you took away her spoiled attitude, a trait in which Maya did her best to make sure never surfaced in him despite his inborn advantages and status.

Of course also being who he was he couldn't ignore the perfect opportunity to tease such a woman. "What kind of relationship did you think I meant Khione?" Frost had the presence of a Cheshire cat, unable to resist toying with his supposed prey.

"Ah!!" Khione was caught by surprise, blood rushing to her head as she found herself speechless and embarrassed to the high heavens. Those provocative images surfacing once again, overwhelming her thoughts. At one point it even looked like steam was about to blow out of her ears. Khione was a pink dyed incoherent mess, and Frost enjoyed every second of it, finding her absolutely adorable.

His smile and playful expression grew as he stepped closer towards Khione, wanting to memorise her current appearance in his mind for blackm…for nostalgic purposes.

It took Khione a good few seconds to escape from her own delusions and by that time she could clearly see Frost's playful expression and knew that she'd been had.

"Asshole!" She cursed wanting knock him six feet under, but Frost was prepared.

"What's the point of being friends if we can't mess with one another." He joshed, reminiscing about his own time being teased by those he called friend.

Khione's anger deflated by at least half at the word 'Friend'. Such a foreign title to the young woman but one she innately craved.

"….Friends….yes that sounds good, friends." She smiled from ear to ear, her heart bursting with joy. A moment later however Frost received a solid blow to his chest causing him to tip forward and violently cough.

"You're still an asshole Frost." Though she was happy to gain a friend that didn't change Frost's behaviour towards her, he needed to be put in his place, or she wasn't Khione, the Raging Valkyrie.

"I won't deny that."

"….."

"…."

""Hahahaha"" Eventually the two of them both laughed, their relationship becoming closer.

After laughing until tears threatened to spill from their eyes Khione and Frost moved towards the western wall, ready to test the strength of Frost's aura.

Khione was even more eager to see him squirm in duress, to see his straight back bend under the unrelenting pressure and most of all his face warping from the pain and the physical strain. Such a sight would be the perfect form of revenge, the ideal payment for his nasty, perverted teasing.

Her intentions were as clear as day, but Frost had already made a move once, to do so again would only invite her wrath. He thus bravely took his stand in front of the large rune covered obelisk and nodded his head, giving Khione permission to begin.

"Five minutes, if you can remain standing for a full five minutes I'll retrieve you a weapon from our storage vault." The youngest daughter of the Primordial Ice king wanted to make the upcoming event a little more enjoyable thus she offered a small reward. It wouldn't do if Frost simply gave up his resistance the moment things got difficult, she wanted to relish in his expression of pain.

"Oh a reward." Frost had to admit he was quite intrigued by her offer; his current main weapon was unusable as was the majority of his armour.

"Only if you last five minutes." She reiterated.

"And if I fail?" Frost asked knowing that Khione wouldn't simply offer a reward without a little risk.

"Heheheh well let's just say you'll owe me one."