At the center of an open field of perfectly smooth ice, there was a crystal formation shaped like a lotus—delicate, radiant, and translucent. Each petal glimmered faintly with flowing patterns of silver and pale blue, releasing threads of frost energy that seemed to breathe in rhythm with the world itself. The air around it was so cold that even time seemed to slow down.
Max stopped and stared at it for a long moment. "What is this?" he muttered quietly, stepping closer.
The energy radiating from it was unlike anything he had felt before. It wasn't aggressive or forceful. It didn't burn or freeze. It simply existed—quiet, unshakable, and perfect. It felt like the embodiment of purity itself, untouched by emotion or conflict.
'So this is… an essence?' Max thought, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed it more carefully.
