17. A snowflake tattoo

"My cultivation hall." Asterion answered before going to the centre.

Ether just looked at the place wide eyed, completely in awe.

There were many weapons hanging on the walls, some even she couldn't recognize. But the most fascinating part was the energy in the hall.

It was similar to that of fire energy that her father used to pass her whenever she used to feel low, the last one being the day before yesterday, when they both were standing at the end of the aisle.

But the energy instead of the usual warmth of fire energy, was a little different. It was cool and fresh, which meant it must be the water energy.

"Nobody has ever been to this place. You are the first person stepping inside this hall." Asterion explained.

"I developed this technique on my own. Nobody knows that something like a cultivation hall exists." He said before sitting cross legged in the centre of the hall, where a structure similar to a snowflake was engraved on the floor.

"This snowflake depicts something?" Ether was curious to know about what Asterion was actually doing.

"I was young when some royal priest visited me. We talked for sometime when I asked him about elemental powers out of interest. I was barely level one cultivator at that time. 

The priest had said that each element has a specific symbol. He just superficially mentioned the four symbols before leaving. 

A fire symbol for fire element, snowflake for water element, leaf for earth element and lightning symbol for wind.

I just memorised them as a child and then forgot. However while growing up, I noticed the same symbol in my father's crown. So one day, I drew the same symbol on paper and wore it as a crown.

Initially nothing happened, but after concentrating, I noticed a mild energy flow from the paper. It was minute, barely noticeable. 

But I had the basic theory now. So I ordered to leave this hall vacant and engraved this symbol myself. Just as an experiment, I even used water weapons to cut this out, and the final results were shocking!

This engraved snowflake could actually emit water energy, and not just mildly but strong enough for anyone to feel. 

Hence I meditate and practise my skills only when I am standing on this symbol. I feel a higher flow of water energy through my body after practising on this instead of doing it normally." Asterion finally concluded his theory.

"That's unbelievable! But you are truly a genius." Ether said in awe.

"I was thinking about something." Asterion said while getting up from his position.

"What is it?" Ether said while marvelking the engraved snowflake.

"Sit on this." Asterion said.

"But, I don't have.. any powers. It would be a waste." Ether said.

"Let it go to waste then. But just sit on it and meditate for sometime. Let me know if you feel any discomfort." Asterion walked towards Ether and held her hand, bringing her in front of the snowflake.

"But your.. Asterion, you also have to practise." Ether said in a concerned tone.

"I can practise anywhere. It would be a little slower but I can manage." Asterion said before giving her a confirmatory nod.

Ether hesitated, looking at Asterion, who just looked at her with a comforting gaze.

Finally she walked to the centre and stood on top of the snowflake. Initially she didn't feel anything, but as she started concentrating on that space, she could feel something cool flowing through her body.

She closed her eyes before sitting cross legged on the snowflake, feeling better bit by bit.

Asterion just watched for some more time, confirming that nothing wrong was happening to Ether before resuming with his meditation and practice.

Soon the sun was out and Asterion stood in front of Ether who was still sitting there. He waited for some more time before Ether slowly opened her eyes.

She looked at Asterion before looking at her left wrist which felt cooler, a faint bluish snowflake now visible there.

"Asterion look!" She screamed who ran towards her, his heart rate speeding.

Asterion observed her wrist, shocked from what he was watching. He had been practising on the snowflake for years now, but nothing like this had ever happened.

All the people with elemental powers would have a bead bracelet in their right hand which would become visible after reaching level three. Initially the beads would be faint in colour which would deepen after reaching higher levels. 

Blue colour for water, red for fire, green for earth and yellow for wind. The ones with level seven cultivation would have the brightest shades of their respective colour beads.

However the owner could hide those bracelets whenever they wanted, hence people only used them when a necessary situation called for.

But the forming of a tattoo was never heard of, not to mention it had the symbol of snowflake i.e water element in it.

"Do you feel any discomfort?" Asterion asked cautiously.

"No, I don't. In fact I feel a weird power coming from this." She pointed to the snowflake tattoo.

"Try concentrating and hiding it." Asterion suggested.

"How do I do that?" Ether asked with confusion.

"When we have to hide our bracelets, we just concentrate on the bracelet which then disappears. Try doing the same for this." He explained.

Ether nodded before closing her eyes, frowning a little but nothing happened even after she tried it three times in a row. 

"Ether, I suggest you wear some ornament and hide this for the time being. We should return to our chamber now. We will discuss this in the evening." Asterion said, his thoughts a little distorted.

The couple got ready in silence before having breakfast together in their chamber.

"I will have to visit the Royal Palace. They will be sending a search team today. I need to go with them." Asterion notified before leaving as Ether sat all by herself.

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- Kizy