Rowen composed herself and used her abilities once again. Ice fragments formed in her hand.
The floating ice fragments collided with each other, their edges sharply chiseling.
Unlike Tiel's light fragments, which always floated up smoothly without sharp edges, Rowen's ice pieces were the complete opposite.
But the next moment.
Ssshhh...
The ice fragments that had floated in Rowen's hand collided and produced a faint light.
It was weak, but it was definitely light.
Within Rowen's ice fragments, a tiny light and vast darkness clashed, causing the ice to turn ashen.
Unlike Tiel's light, which never mixed with darkness and could defeat it with just a single fragment, Rowen's light seemed to merge with the darkness, as if it had always been a part of it.
But even so, this was a great achievement for Rowen.
Finally, a smile appeared on Rowen's face.
'It's working!'
For the past eight years, Rowen had been taking lessons from a man named "Jay," who had suddenly appeared in Nestian.
Though they were called lessons, from Rowen's perspective, they were more like dreadful experiments.
Jay fed Rowen black orbs he had obtained from somewhere.
On days when Rowen ate those orbs, she was haunted by nightmares all week.
And when Rowen had stopped having nightmares, Jay would feed her strange fragments.
Rowen had never wanted to eat those fragments, but she endured and swallowed them.
She remembered Chender's words.
'If you want to inherit the leadership of Nestian, prove your abilities.'
Chender had not yet handed over the leadership of Nestian to her mother, Cornelia.
Even though, in the current situation, only Cornelia could inherit the position, it was still the case.
Rowen knew better than anyone why Chender hadn't passed on the leadership to Cornelia.
'Because Mom is weak.'
Cornelia's abilities were weak. So weak that she could be overshadowed by the shadow of the long-dead Lena Nestian.
Cornelia knew this too, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Cornelia's abilities were clearly far weaker than Lena's, and there was no denying it.
So, when Chender brought Jay in, Rowen didn't refuse.
Chender had said that if Rowen followed Jay's teachings, her abilities would become much stronger than they were now.
She would have abilities stronger than Tiel Asterian, who the entire Crassion Empire praised.
Rowen believed those words.
Eight years had passed.
Jay had begun teaching Rowen, promising that he would make her "frost" abilities even stronger.
'In just ten years, young lady, you will become the strongest Beastkin on this continent.'
But now, Rowen's abilities were a little different from frost abilities.
Her abilities, well, if she had to describe them, were somewhat similar to Tiel's.
Rowen had been puzzled by this and once asked Jay about it.
'It's strange, my abilities aren't like Grandpa's frost abilities. Grandpa's ice wasn't this color.'
The ice that Chender created was a deep blue. However, after meeting Jay, Rowen's ice was closer to black.
Rowen thought something was wrong with her ice and blamed Jay for it.
But Jay, instead of being flustered, smiled and gently took Rowen's hand.
'Of course, the power Rowen is accepting isn't just frost abilities, it's the 'power of light'...'
'Even if my ice is black?'
'Yes, light can only be created when darkness is involved.'
Jay whispered unbelievable things to Rowen.
In fact, the light abilities that Tiel possessed were fake, and the only real light was the one Rowen was now creating.
And in time, Tiel's light would disappear entirely, and Rowen's light would become the only light in the Empire...
To the young girl, Jay's words were so sweet.
So Rowen stopped asking such questions after that.
In Rowen's hands, like Tiel's fish, smaller, rougher ice fish endlessly appeared. They bumped into each other, emitting faint light.
Though grotesque in appearance, Jay praised Rowen for the achievement.
He also insisted she use her abilities more like Tiel's.
Like Tiel, she should fold her hands, close her eyes, and create small ice fragments that 'looked' like light.
Rowen followed his instructions without hesitation.
Because Chender and Cornelia wanted her to obey Jay's wishes.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
And Rowen, too, wanted to have stronger abilities than Tiel.
Perhaps, just as Jay had said, she could become the only "light" in the Empire.
So now.
Rowen looked down at the ice fish floating in her hands and then clenched both fists tightly.
Crack!
The ice shattered into pieces, and the fragments scattered everywhere.
The sparkling ice seemed to spread like light fragments.
This was...
'This is what Jay wanted.'
'This is all I have to do.'
Rowen laughed triumphantly.
After harsh training, Rowen had finally learned to use her abilities in the way Jay wanted, but she couldn't always control them perfectly.
Sometimes, Rowen's fish were created without heads or with fins half cut off, in grotesque shapes.
Instead of shining, deep, dark shadows would ooze from her hands, as if they were as dark as the nightmares she had once endured.
When that happened, Jay would scold Rowen. She must never release that kind of power...
So Rowen had been working tirelessly to use her abilities without releasing that dark force.
And today, she had finally succeeded.
Rowen was overjoyed.
Then, someone knocked on her door.
"Who is it? I told you not to let anyone in!"
Rowen shouted sharply.
The maid standing outside cautiously spoke.
"Master Jay is here. Should I tell him to leave?"
"Master?"
Rowen's face lit up, and she rushed to the door.
Before the maid could even open it, Rowen threw it open herself.
Standing in front of the open door was Jay, his pale face hidden behind a welcoming mask.
"Master!"
"Young lady, have you been practicing your abilities diligently?"
Jay looked around at Rowen's # Nоvеlight # room, which was a mess with ice fragments scattered everywhere. He rubbed his chin, pleased.
"Hmm, it looks like you've been working hard."
"Yes, I've been working hard. Want to see? I can show you! Now, I have abilities far stronger than Mom!"
Rowen said confidently. Jay only smiled, not denying it.
"Perhaps soon, I will have stronger abilities than Grandpa..."
"Hmm? Chender's abilities are stronger than you think, Rowen. He's the third strongest Beastkin in this Empire."
"But my abilities are strong enough!"
Rowen shouted, and the ice fragments floating around her quickly transformed into sharp spear shapes.
However, the spears did not aim at Jay. They spun around, pointing toward Rowen herself, as though ready to pierce her body if she yelled again.
Jay, who had been quietly observing, narrowed his eyes.
'Is it breaking down?'
It would be problematic if their carefully built plans started to fall apart before they could be realized.
Jay thought he needed to move their plan up a bit and placed his hand on Rowen's shoulder.
"Of course, Rowen's abilities are strong enough. There's no need to rush."
"...Yes."
"And soon, there will be an opportunity to show Rowen's abilities to everyone in the Crassion Empire. When that time comes, everyone will know."
Jay whispered.
"Who truly possesses the strongest abilities. Who will bring light to this Empire..."