Aiz Wallenstein was a swordswoman. The one who had taught her to wield a blade once told her: "A sword is a swordsman's life. No matter the situation, never let go of your sword."
But now, she could only stare wide-eyed as her beloved weapon slipped from her grasp and clattered to the ground with a mournful ring.
Originally, it had just been an accident. As a member of the Loki Familia, she had participated in an expedition to the deep levels of the Dungeon. On the way back, they encountered a group of Minotaurs, and one of them had managed to escape.
Aiz had pursued it all the way to the ninth floor, and when the Minotaur tried to attack an unsuspecting adventurer, she acted immediately, striking it down.
Though it had been a mishap, Aiz had resolved it perfectly. And yet...
Why had this happened? That adventurer… Could he also be an elite from another familia?
If so, why was he forced into a corner by just one Minotaur?
If not, then how could she explain what had just happened? The man had actually grabbed the light of her sword. And in that instant—when her weapon was caught by his hand—a terrifying cold had traveled down the blade, freezing her delicate, nimble fingers until they felt completely numb, as if they had ceased to exist.
For a swordswoman, letting her weapon slip from her hands was, without question, a disgrace of the highest order.
What frustrated Aiz even more was that her hand still hadn't recovered. It appeared severely frostbitten—she couldn't even pick up her weapon.
Who exactly was this man?
Cautiously, Aiz kept her eyes on the dazed and confused Yoru as he bent down to pick up her sword. She bit her lower lip, looking a little wronged.
"Um..."
Yoru was still bewildered about what had just happened, but he was certain this girl had saved him.
Either way... I should apologize, right?
"Um... is this your weapon?"
But what puzzled Yoru was how the girl seemed almost afraid of him. As he approached, she cautiously backed away.
Aiz truly was afraid. That terrifying cold… she didn't want to experience it again.
Although the frostbite had dulled all sensation in her hand, Aiz could still remember the moment the chill entered her body—the stabbing pain that felt as though it had torn her very soul apart.
Thankfully, the numbness had come almost instantly, cutting the pain short.
She glanced down at her hand, frowning slightly. Though it looked normal at first glance, a thin layer of frost had covered her skin—like she was wearing a delicate crystal glove. It was beautiful, almost like a work of art.
Aiz knew how dangerous such frostbite could be. In just one moment, the nerves in her hand had been completely destroyed. She could confidently say her hand was now useless.
Hopefully Riveria would be able to heal it.
With that thought, Aiz raised her gaze and questioned Yoru.
"Who… exactly are you?"
Her tone was somewhat indifferent—not out of coldness, but because she wasn't good at talking to people.
While she stared at him, Yoru was also carefully observing the girl before him—one who looked almost like a goddess.
Her beauty rivaled even that of Hestia. Her slender frame was clad in a blue light armor. The supple limbs emerging from her outfit shimmered with breathtaking elegance.
Though her frame was delicate and lithe, her chest was unexpectedly full—almost self-assertively so. She wore a silver breastplate and matching vambraces, each adorned with a familia crest.
Golden hair, smooth and straight, flowed down to her waist, radiating a brilliance that rivaled the sun itself.
She had a doll-like face, the kind even other women would envy, paired with warm golden eyes that gazed directly into his.
"Uh... who am I?"
Yoru blinked, caught off guard by the question. He looked unsure how to respond.
He could feel a faint hostility from the girl, though he had no idea where it came from.
"Um, are you okay? Let me see your hand."
Noticing how unnaturally she held her hand, Yoru stepped forward and gently took it in his own.
Aiz flinched instinctively, nearly reflexively smacking him away.
Thankfully, she had no intention of harming him—otherwise, with her strength, Yoru's fragile body might not have survived the blow.
It's already numb… What's the point in looking at it...
Even as Yoru held her hand, Aiz felt nothing. Pouting slightly, she stared at him like she was sulking.
Fine, stare all you want. I'd like to see you fix it.
Gradually, her hostility faded. Aiz realized Yoru hadn't meant to hurt her, and he seemed just as unaware of what had happened as she was.
"Huh..."
But then something surprising happened. Aiz suddenly felt a faint chill in her frozen hand.
It wasn't cold. It was... pleasant.
Trying to move her fingers, she was shocked to discover she could once again feel her hand.
"How… did you do that?"
Aiz stared at him in disbelief. There had been no sign of healing magic, no chant, no glow—yet the frostbite was vanishing, just because he held her hand.
It was unbelievable.
Yoru blinked again, unsure how to answer. But he suspected it had something to do with that magic—Tainted Frost.