[Zanthrix's party has entered the premises of the Nora Clan]
As we stepped into the territory belonging to the Iceborns of the Nora Clan, the system notification showed up.
The location was as Zariel had spoken to us before—a separate area yet part of the central city (kingdom) of the heaven Elzoma.
It spanned almost one-tenth of the central city. While the central city was much bigger than I imagined it would be, this territory was as vast as a city too.
I never bothered exploring the other heavens much, nor did I check them thoroughly. This would be the first time I was exploring other than a tavern, localized guild, blacksmith shop, and item shop.
As I was walking alongside Shika, I could see other players wandering around as well. They were occupied with their own business and had a few seconds to even look at us. That was good for us, though.
Honestly speaking, it'd be great if I could say the same for the typical NPCs residing in this area. Most of them had their eyes fixed on us—as if we appeared to be some sort of inconvenience to them.
The Iceborns—appearing as much as typical humans, were looking at us; some with rage lingering in their eyes while others growling like wild beasts.
'Come on dude! We're not here to chew you alive.' I thought as I only paid a little attention to them. Shika, however, didn't look so well.
Of course, she was in human form. Yet, the indecisive look on her face could be seen even from afar.
"Is everything alright, Shika?" I asked, accompanying her as she was gradually slowing down. "You seem upset. Is there something that's troubling you?"
"It's… it's nothing, Zanthrix." She replied— denying me and, perhaps, herself too.
"Your expression says it otherwise. Come on, if there's something you want to talk about, I'm all ears."
She tried smiling forcibly only to prove my speculations correct. She was indeed having inward thoughts and struggling whether she should tell me or not. It seemed that way, at least anyway.
"If you want to step back now, I can take care of the rest myself."
"That's not it." She immediately responded. "I'm good and I can assist you on this mission. You can rely on my strength no matter what!" she insisted.
"Relying on your strength is one thing. However, relying on your mental will is a different matter entirely. I don't want to be rude but that half-confident look of yours won't do any good." I continued, deepening my tone as much as possible, "So I'm asking you again. What's troubling you?"
Unlike a 'Yes' or 'No' question, I asked her directly this time. If she continued acting that way, it might become a hindrance when I'd be relying on her. At the least, I didn't want her to have second thoughts about the whole situation anyway.
As beautiful and elegant as she was, she was wise too and didn't waste any time to catch what I was trying to say.
She sighed before saying…
"Even though we used to have verbal conflicts among the clans all the time, there wasn't a time when one of us felt discriminated against. After all, we were the followers of the same aspects—that is to worship the Seraphyll of Ice." She halted, so I, glanced at the other Iceborns who were continuously watching us but didn't interfere with whatever we were here to accomplish. "But now, it feels like I'm becoming the victim of their discrimination. Is it wrong to claim what is rightfully ours?"
"It's not." I strongly answered. Then an intrinsic thought—perhaps hiding deep within me, came out of my mouth deliberately, "The fallen are destined to rise again. If they remember who they are meant to be, then yes—they will surpass the limitations that bind them from their reclamation. After all, reclamation is not given; it is seized. If you wish to return to your rightful place and restore your clan to what it once was, you must face every adversary—not just as a successor, but as a prideful member too."
I might have said something odd based on my instinct. They sound unimaginably valid, though—and it wasn't where I stopped.
"The discrimination you spoke of—it's not discrimination at all. It's fear. They fear that you'll succeed in what you came here to do. And because of that fear, all they can offer is hostility. Don't let that make you hesitate. If you flinch, you're as good as dead. Be strong. That's the only way we'll retrieve the fragment from them."
Surely it took a moment, but my words seemed effective as her eyes sparkled. The indecisiveness she had a little while ago, gradually faded away too. Her face was quite confident—if anything, more than it used to be. Her appearance glowed with brilliance as she returned to her original form.
"I cannot express my gratitude, Zanthrix. I'm done feeling guilty. I will make them repent for the sins they had committed."
Few Iceborns were awestruck, seeing her that way. The online players who passed us by, halted briefly, stared at us while gossiping among themselves.
We didn't wait for any of that and continued walking until we reached…
The Shrine. Our destination.
Amidst the Nora Clan territory, there were stairs—that led the way to almost a sky-touching altitude.
Of course, each step was layered with snow as well—so was the entire heaven. Yet, it was entirely different than the ruined shrine of Shika's clan. This was enough to show how much they had been neglected as brethren of the same race—just how much they were abandoned by the rest of the world.
It infuriated me, and at the same time, I smiled, thinking very soon the situation would be reversed—not just to complete my Dynastic Singularity Quest, but to reclaim what rightfully belonged to Mavi Clan.
I was about to take the first step only to be halted by Shika soon after.
"Wait Zanthrix. We may face a tough battle and may get affected by the ice magic which is the core prowess of every Iceborn. Here, this will help you fight against that."
She then used the hilt to provide me the temporary blessing again, bestowing me with the Ice Resistance ability—it was quite a handful if I say so myself.
Then we began to climb the stairs—to where we'd get the fragment back.