Spirit Taming

Chapter 401: The Snowy Garden

The group was unsure at first what Clark was doing. That was until they saw that he was speaking to a beast wrapped around the icy rafters above them in the hallway. The frozen river serpent clearly saw and heard Clark though.

As the group waited watching Clark who had moved ahead, the frozen river serpent slowly lowered its large body toward Clark without falling to the ground. With a few flicks of its tongue, the frozen rover serpent memorized their scents before looking at Clark dead in the eyes.

The feeling between them portrayed the absolute fact that this beast would not hesitate to end them if even the slightest issue was to occur.

When the frozen river serpent moved away, it closed its eyes and returned to its resting state making Clark know that they were able to move forward. The rest of the group saw Clark ushering them onward and they did not hesitate to move with him. They had also felt the same invisible pressure and understanding that they needed to be on their best behavior or else their lives were forfeit.

Besides the castle changing in appearance, there was the fact that when they made it to the end of the corridor, the door had already been opened for them. There were no biting winds or an incredibly hostile environment. Just a slow and invading cold that radiated calmly around them.

If anyone were to ask where they were, it would be hard to admit that they were in a dungeon and not somewhere on a still and silent mountain enjoying the ice covered world of winter.

The scene before them was also unlike what they had expected. Various herbs and trees were in bloom which also added to the icy energy around the massive courtyard. The castle had been made all around it, a clear and cut way to protect this garden. Furthermore, there were spaces that had been made for sitting and resting. It was easily one of the most wondrous places one could find within a dungeon.

"Mountain lilies, icicle vines, frost spore mushrooms, winter birch, snow cradle lilies, and there's even more that I don't even know." Isa was completely lost in this. She had never seen so many materials and herbs that held so much value. It would be one thing to see them being traded at a massive auction, but here in a dungeon? It was stunning.

"I like the plants but I still liked the paintings from before more." Grace was quick to add in her thoughts. She was stuck with this thought since they had come in and seen so many things.

"Oh? A human child enjoys the paintings of a beast. A vicious and evil dragon? How adorable." the rumbling voice was somewhere unseen. It shook them all to their very cores. "Calm yourselves children.

Those I have entrusted the northern mountains to should be delivering my decree well. The dangerous and evil ice dragon that slumbers within their lands." The rumbling voice calmed and slowly seemed to become soft like falling snow on a calm night.

"Down those steps and follow the frozen granite path. You may be allowed to view my garden as you walk. But do not tread slowly." The warning was not to make the voice wait. It may have changed and become soft, however, that was greatly more terrifying.

"Clark?" Maria asked the simple question just by saying Clark's name. It was on everyone's mind.

"Yes, I would say that is the owner of this dungeon. We can't let them wait.' Clark took a deep breath and found a stairway with many of the icicle vines that Isa had seen on it.

'Icicle vine- ultra rare

The icicle vine is an extremely valuable herb known for being able to both greatly increase ice type elemental affinity for ice type beasts and also to help awaken secondary typings in certain beasts. Some beasts will go their entire life searching for this as they require it for their growth. Others will be able to find it and step on to an entirely new level.

It is a well known herb that is worth massive sums of gold.'

It was an immediate understanding of why Isa had spotted it and kept her eyes on it. But she was not stupid. Isa dared not touch it even though she desired it for her ice maiden. This would be an amazing catalyst for her ice maiden.

"I have watched every single entrant that I allowed in from the moment you came. Yet they all avoided the mountain. Even the arrogant ones that found the carved caves. Now you, the youngest came here. Arrogance? Or necessity?" the soft voice made it to all of their ears as they walked along a blue shimmering granite path.

The frozen granite path that the voice had said to follow.

The herbs were grown in a way that they looked perfect at all angles. Even the bushes with fruits were grown so well that every angel the group looked at them showed off the care it took to grow it. The perfect quality and the ideal environment.

'Plumb of frozen wonder- rare

This named fruit was aptly named because it can increase the speed of ice type energy gain for a single beast and tamer by splitting it between them. It can also be used in a way that helps a powerful beast control their own energy. It takes ten years to grow a single plumb.'

These fruits were so many in number that it amazed them. Isa didn't appear to know these even though they were not as rare as the other herbs that she had listed. "Nearly three hundred years since I created this place as my nest. And here I still see new visitors that surprise me.

Unique body that can meld with elemental energies, a genius of their race that memorizes what they see, a healer with poisoned blades, armor and the ability to hide, poisoned and molten metal, a pure sword, bloody iron, a free spirit, and the greatest mystery to walk human lands in the last hundred years, so very amusing."

The entire group knew who the voice referred to. They were seen through as if they were books written in complete form there and then to be seen. Even Clark was wondering what he could do to block such a knowing gaze in the future. But that was something he could do nothing for right now.

In front of them, a large open space was set up along with large platform of ice. Upon the platform was a massive deep blue throne of ice. It did not sit unused though, sitting on it was a woman with blues scales along her neck and arms. The deep blue scales matched the ice around along with the ice they had seen throughout the castle.

The long deep blue ice horns that came from the woman's head did not do anything to deter the group. For whatever reason, it made them think she was just that much more amazing. When they saw she also had wings it was as if they were being shown a being brand new to them yet again. A stunning appearance.

'Elder ice dragon (Injured)- Legendary

The long lifespan of a dragon is one that often lets them live through centuries. The great power that comes from gathering constant energy of their affinity ensures that they will always rise higher. Specifically, this ice dragon is able to manipulate ice on a scale larger than many other beasts in existence currently.

Unfortunately, the injury that this ice dragon suffers from has been plaguing it for over one hundred and twenty five years. The injury when assisting in sealing away the remaining consciousness of the ruler of ice. The very being that the dungeon this ice dragon created this dungeo to suppress. As a cost, the ice dragon is bound to the dungeon for eternity.

The best way to allow the ice dragon freedom is to allow the use of a specially carved eternal ice totem made using the highest possible craftsmanship. Unique tools and energies along with crafting skills are needed. The final material would also be the blood of an ice burned stead, an incredibly rare beast similar to a unicorn.

The ice dragon is…'

"It is our honor to meet the wondrous ice dragon that rules over this grand castle. I apologize for the sudden visit. We are honored to even be able to stand in your dungeon. Thank you for all your hard work by maintaining the incredible position you hold within this dungeon." Clark hunted a little that he might know more. It was blunt but it was hidden from the group a little more.

However, the eyes of the ice dragon narrowed.

"You were welcomed by me. It has been years so I allowed the little girl from the Nebula family to send some in to entertain me. How would I have known that the entertainment would come to give me a show directly? Especially one with high tastes like the free spirit there." Grace felt isolated by the look of the ice dragon but clearly the ice dragon cared for the paintings as well.

"You say interesting things, little mystery, I can see many things with my dragon eyes, yet not you." the ice rumbles slightly around them. "Ah, my children found something to play with. They must enjoy the space they have after that pesky snow owl is gone. Can you believe it tried to steal food from them? So foolish.

But if it behaved I would have let it stay." This was a clear warning to maintain the proper actions right now no matter what.