Frost.

—

[Thirty minutes later.]

Walking out of the academy lobby with provisions in his left hand and swords in his right, Richard then saw Moiraine weaving a spell in the air, creating a spectacle that intrigued onlookers. Translucent white threads came together, spinning and swirling slowly but surely, until the blue, transparent dinghy boat sailed out of existence.

It was then followed by a river of glittering dust in various colors flowing underneath the boat into the distance front, causing it to hover several feet above the ground, shimmering under the setting sun.

From time to time, this glittering dust splashed and scattered onto the surrounding people, causing those touched by it to daydream momentarily. After these brief daydreams, new glittering dust flowed from their minds into the transparent blue dinghy boat, making the particles under its hull become more chromatic and iridescent.

Placing the provisions into the bow storages of the ship, where he saw all kinds of items ranging from their clothes to the extra swords they needed, Richard then boarded this very small part of Skidbladnir that was created by Yennefer. Extending his hand to help Ciri jump aboard, he then turned around and moved toward the center of the boat to unfurl the blue translucent mainsails. After seeing Moiraine board as well and sit at the back stern with her hands already on the tiller, ready to helm the boat, Richard finally unfurled it.

Flap, Woosh!

Instantly, before everyone in the area finished gaping, the boat sailed above the ground and headed towards the distant gate of Oxenfurt, disappearing into the distance. The group sat comfortably in the hull seats, not feeling the bumpy and twisting Moiraine's way of cruising, suspended above the heads of common people without ever touching or crashing into any of them. Ciri even rose from her seat, standing and outstretching her hands to feel the colorful, glittering dust that surrounded them and the boat in a flowing cloudy manner.

After feeling the river of dreams for quite some time that Richard called Bifrost energy, Ciri then turned toward him, saying, "Let's hunt monsters along the way. I am still not yet accustomed to my first form."

Opening one of the storages of the boat and taking the polishing cloth made from the fiber of Yggdrasil, Richard simply said, "Sure," while unsheathing the Uru sword from its scabbard. He wiped the blade of the sword to make it more lethal and able to transfer mana efficiently. After sitting there in silence for some time, each lost in their own thoughts, Richard then heard Ciri's requests after noticing her observing the passing monsters one after another.

"There, that group of pixie-like monsters."

Turning his head and trying to see the monsters in question after Moiraine slowly changed from fast mode into relaxed ferrying river mode, Richard finally saw the group of monsters. More accurately, they were a group of mutated creatures that had transformed from normal mosquitoes into something magical that liked to taste living beings' brains. Standing up and taking Ciri's muscular yet gentle hand, Richard swung her onto his piggyback ride before launching himself into the air with a flaming propulsion.

Boom!

Gently landing on the ground outside the range of detection he had approximately calculated, Richard let the already freezing cold Ciri down from his back. Seeing her employ her first form of the White Frost Breathing technique, which dulls the senses of anyone touched by the chilling snowflakes, Richard remembered the motivation behind its creation. It was designed to freeze everything and everyone around her until she could reach his location, wherever he might be, ensuring she would never be late like last time, when she saw his mangled face and body.

Ciri, finally touching the ground, instantly started running towards the distant group of small monsters that were very hard for a sword to slash. But because their senses were dulled by her freezing breath, Ciri could easily slice these adorable yet revolting mosquito-shaped monsters in two. Slash, slash, slash—she finished off the tiny buggers before imagining herself stepping into the distant ground where swarms of insectoid monsters gathered. Realizing that she had not yet teleported to the location she imagined, Ciri let out a sigh of lament, similar to a signature of Richard's whenever he was stumped by something.

Not yet used to not having Elder Blood, she finally started to use her legs to run towards the distant monsters. At the same time, she refrained from using the Lightning Breath way of movement, following Richard's suggestion and advice to always utilize their own authority Breathing Technique. They knew clearly that in the Ethereal Realms, only their own signature moves could be displayed there. After finishing off all the mosquito monsters that were shaped like pixies, Ciri then turned around and ran to where Richard was standing, currently meditating with his eyes closed.

"Say, do you have an idea to make myself faster without changing the Breathing Technique?"

Thinking for a moment, Richard asked instead of answering, "Tell me, what are the properties of absolute zero temperature?"

Flipping the ashen-gray translucent watch on her wrist, which made the man she adored sigh in lamentation, Ciri answered while chuckling, "Zero Thermal Motion, Zero Entropy Change, No Heat Energy, Quantum Mechanical Effects, Superconductivity, and finally Superfluidity."

Seeing her use this terminology without batting an eye, clearly indicating she didn't want to deal with any of this, like a delinquent student, Richard simply informed her, "Focus on Superfluidity, or more accurately, on Zero Viscosity. Read about the definition and carefully ponder the sections on No Resistance and Shear Stress."

Seeing her mumble to herself, "Oh, it's like that. Is this basically skating?" and "No, this is something more," Richard stretched out his hands, wanting to give her a piggyback ride again after gazing at the distant transparent boat that was already very far. Swinging the contemplative and philosophical Ciri onto his back, Richard then once again activated his propulsion system all around him to jet-pack himself and the ashen-haired lady back to where Moiraine was.

Boom!

—