The Secret of the Ice Stone: A Journey Beyond Destiny

As the trio sat by the hearth, their minds still reeling from their recent encounter, Alex couldn't shake the lingering curiosity that had taken root in his heart. With a hesitant glance at Agatha, he cleared his throat, steeling himself for the question that burned on his lips.

"Agatha," he began, his voice tentative, "how does one acquire ice magic?"

Agatha regarded him with a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of amusement and understanding. "Ice magic," she mused, "along with speech magic and dark magic, are among the most powerful forms of magic known to our world."

She paused for a moment, her gaze drifting off into the flickering flames of the hearth before returning to meet Alex's earnest gaze. "But acquiring such magic is no small feat," she continued. "One must possess an extremely rare gift, a lineage that traces back to the ancient House of Winters, currently only 3 are known to be from such a lineage, one from each lineage."

Alex smiled, as only he knew he was from the House of Winters. Agatha leaned forward, her expression grave but determined. "There exists an artefact known as the Ice Stone," she explained. "It is said to contain the essence of ice magic itself, granting untold power to whoever possesses it."

"But acquiring the Ice Stone is no simple task," she continued. "It lies hidden within the depths of the Ice Dungeon, a treacherous labyrinth that appears only once every three years."

Alex's mind raced with possibilities, the allure of the Ice Stone beckoning to him like a siren's song. "When will the Ice Dungeon appear next?" he asked, his voice trembling with anticipation.

Agatha's gaze softened, a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "The next time the Ice Dungeon will manifest is six months from now," she replied. "But be warned, Alex. The journey to obtain the Ice Stone is fraught with danger, and many who have ventured into the dungeon never return."

"I know Agatha, but I'm not alone I have Ethan." Said Alex with a smile on his face.

"Huh, why the hell should I help you?" Replied Ethan.

"You are my best friend aren't you?" Said Alex, with absolutely no hesitation.

"Oi, cut it out, you are embarrassing me." Said Ethan, while hiding his smile.

But even as excitement and wonder swirled within him, Alex knew that he could not share this revelation with his friends. The knowledge of his lineage, his connection to the House of Winters, was a closely guarded secret—one that he could not risk revealing, not at the moment. 

As the conversation about their training plans came to a close, Jake's curiosity got the better of him. He turned to Agatha, his brow furrowed with intrigue.

"Agatha," he began tentatively, "I can't help but wonder about the boy who saved us from the monster. Where did he come from? What's his name?"

Agatha regarded Jake with a knowing smile, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "Ah, my grandson," she said, a note of pride evident in her voice. "He has always had a knack for showing up when he's needed most."

Jake's eyes widened in surprise. "Your grandson?" he echoed, his mind racing with questions. "But how… I mean, why didn't you mention him before?"

Agatha chuckled softly, a twinkle of amusement dancing in her eyes. "He has a way of making himself scarce," she explained. "But rest assured, he's always watching over us, ready to lend a helping hand when the need arises."

Jake nodded, a sense of awe washing over him as he processed Agatha's words. "What's his name?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Agatha's smile widened, a fond glimmer in her eyes. "His name," she said, her voice filled with pride, "is Aiden, Aiden Walbrough."

As the conversation about Agatha's grandson, Aiden, unfolded, both Ethan and Alex found themselves intrigued by the mysterious boy's sudden appearance and his connection to Agatha. With eager anticipation, they turned to her, their expressions filled with curiosity.

"Agatha," Ethan began, his voice tinged with excitement, "is there any way we could meet Aiden? He saved our lives, and we owe him our gratitude."

Alex nodded in agreement, his eyes alight with curiosity. "Yeah, Agatha," he added, "we'd really like to thank him properly for what he did."

Agatha regarded them both with a knowing smile, her gaze warm and affectionate. "I'm sure Aiden would appreciate your gratitude," she said, her voice gentle. "But Aiden has always been a bit of a wanderer. He comes and goes as he pleases, and it's rare to find him in one place for too long."

"But," she continued, "if you're truly determined to meet him, there may be a way. Aiden has a fondness for the ancient ruins scattered throughout the land. Perhaps if you were to search there, you might just cross paths with him."

Ethan and Alex exchanged a glance, a sense of determination burning bright in their eyes. "Thank you, Agatha," Ethan said, his voice filled with gratitude. "We'll do whatever it takes to find him."

Jake couldn't shake the feeling of awe and admiration for Aiden, Agatha's mysterious grandson. While Ethan and Alex discussed their plans to search for Aiden in the ancient ruins, Jake remained deep in thought, pondering the significance of their encounter.

"Jake, are you coming with us?" Ethan asked, breaking Jake out of his reverie.

Jake shook his head, a determined glint in his eyes. "No, I think I'll stay behind," he replied. "There's something I need to take care of here."

Ethan and Alex exchanged a curious glance, but they knew better than to question Jake's decision. With a nod of understanding, they bid him farewell and set off on their journey to find Aiden.

As Ethan and Alex ventured deeper into the dense forests, the silence between them was broken only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a distant bird. They were on a mission to find Aiden, Agatha's mysterious grandson, but the tranquility of the woods was shattered by the distant sound of distress.

Ethan's keen ears caught the faint cries for help first, his instincts kicking into overdrive. "Did you hear that?" he asked, his voice tense with urgency.

Alex nodded, his expression mirroring Ethan's concern. "Yeah, sounded like someone's going to get fucked up," he replied, his eyes scanning the surrounding foliage for any signs of movement.

Without another word, they broke into a sprint, following the sound of the cries as it grew louder with each passing moment. As they burst through the undergrowth, they stumbled upon a heart-wrenching scene: a young boy, barely older than themselves, stood bravely in front of his younger sister, fending off a trio of monstrous creatures.

The creatures, known as Wolvenpanthers, were a dangerous hybrid of wolves and cats, their feral snarls filling the air with an ominous sense of dread. But despite the odds stacked against him, the boy refused to back down, his determination shining brightly in his eyes.

Ethan's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword as he exchanged a glance with Alex, a silent agreement passing between them. "We have to help them," Ethan said, his voice firm with resolve.

Alex nodded, his jaw set in determination. "Fuck, let's go" he replied, his muscles tensing as he prepared to leap into action.

As they charged forward to engage the Wolvenpanthers, their minds focused solely on the task at hand, their bodies moved with a synchronicity born of years of friendship and shared experiences. But amidst the chaos of battle, their thoughts turned to their own safety, their worries for each other's well-being bubbling to the surface.

"Watch out, Ethan!" Alex shouted, his voice barely audible over the din of battle as he lunged forward to block an incoming attack.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he felt the rush of air as the Wolvenpanther's claws narrowly missed him. "Thanks, Alex," he called back, his voice tinged with relief.

Their movements were fluid and instinctive, each strike delivered with precision and purpose as they fought to protect the young boy and his sister. But as the battle raged on, their strength began to wane, the relentless onslaught of the Wolvenpanthers taking its toll on their bodies and minds.

"We can't keep this up forever," Ethan grunted, his breathing laboured as he parried another blow from the creatures.

Alex nodded in agreement, his muscles aching with exhaustion. "We need to find a way to end this," he replied, his voice tinged with determination.

With renewed resolve, they redoubled their efforts, their minds focused solely on the task at hand. And as the last of the Wolvenpanthers fell to the forest floor, defeated and vanquished, they allowed themselves a moment of relief, their chests heaving with exertion as they surveyed the aftermath of the battle.

As they turned to the boy and his sister, their expressions softened with empathy and compassion. "You're safe now," Ethan said, his voice gentle as he offered them a reassuring smile. "We won't let anyone harm you."

The boy's eyes widened in awe as he looked up at Ethan and Alex, a sense of gratitude shining brightly in his gaze. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. "Thank you for saving us." Ethan and Alex exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.

 NOTICE :- LEVEL UP 2↑(LEVEL 3)

HP:- 300↑(400)

MP:- 150↑(200)

PHY:- 15 ↑(25)

ATC:- 12 ↑(20)

SPE:- 12↑ (15)

DEF:- 15 ↑ (25)

Skill:-LV 2↑(3)

NOTICE:- You may go back in time(max 3 hour)

As Ethan and Alex caught their breath after the intense battle with the Wolvenpanther's, Alex felt a rush of exhilaration and pride swelling within him. His mind raced with the realisation of his newfound strength, but he knew he couldn't share this revelation with Ethan or anyone else. It was his secret, his power to wield and develop discreetly.

"What's got you grinning like a Cheshire cat?" Ethan asked, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Alex shrugged nonchalantly, trying to mask his excitement. "Just glad we made it out of that scrape in one piece," he replied, forcing a casual tone.

Ethan nodded in agreement, his attention momentarily diverted by the aftermath of the battle. Meanwhile, Alex's mind buzzed with thoughts of his hidden potential and the possibilities that lay ahead. He couldn't wait to continue honing his skills, to push his limits and see just how far he could go.

As they prepared to move on from the battleground, Alex made a silent vow to himself to keep his newfound abilities under wraps, to let them blossom in secret until the time was right to reveal them to Ethan and Agatha.