Chapter 14: The Shy Snow Sprite

Although the simulator didn't mention this abnormal phenomenon during the last simulation, Rhett understood that the simulator wasn't omniscient. The future could change at any moment, depending on every action taken in the past and present. After all, every time he simulated, his actions differed from the pre-simulation trajectory. The past future wasn't necessarily the current future.

Just as Rhett was about to initiate the simulation and select "Yes," an unexpected change occurred.

In the center of the icy snowflakes above, a small vortex formed, about half a meter wide. At the heart of the vortex, a highly condensed, exceptionally pure water element appeared—different in essence from ordinary water elements.

Yet, Rhett couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly made it different.

He paused the simulation and chose "No," opting to observe the changes in the sky instead.

Tadel hesitated as he watched the new development in the sky, deep in thought. After a moment, his eyes flashed with shock. Pointing to the sky with a trembling hand, he stammered, "A Snow Sprite... could it be a Snow Sprite?"

Upon hearing the words "Snow Sprite," everyone's expressions changed drastically. The mention of "sprite" brought to mind faint memories.

Sprites aren't a specific race or group but rather beings born of the world's laws, possessing miraculous abilities.

Legends describe sprites as taking countless forms, appearing in many mysterious ways. Even in the Kingdom of Gillon, no one is known to have witnessed the birth of a sprite, let alone understood the mysteries behind them.

The essence of sprites is the subject of much speculation—some believe they are evolved from certain magical plants or beasts, while others think they are elemental beings. Theories abound, with no consensus.

In their hearts, sprites symbolize mystery and extreme rarity.

As they gazed up at the sky, disbelief filled their eyes.

Tadel turned to Rhett, excitement evident in his voice. "My lord, during my travels, I once heard a story from a powerful mercenary. He claimed to have witnessed the birth of a Bear Sprite with his own eyes.

According to this veteran, sprites are extraordinary beings that always manifest with strange phenomena during their birth. However, this phenomenon requires a medium—perhaps a plant, animal, or even a human. Only when the medium appears will the sprite fully materialize and choose its master."

Upon hearing this, the group was visibly astonished.

Tadel continued his tale, "The Bear Sprite was born in the Thunder Bear branch of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, located between the Rem Kingdom and the Beastmen territories.

During a battle between the Rem Kingdom's army and the Beastmen at Thunder Bear Ridge, all the bear-like magical beasts in the area went berserk. Ultimately, a small bear, no larger than an infant, was born and attached itself to a chieftain of one of the bear tribes. The Beastman chieftain not only broke through at that moment but also boosted his tribe's morale, leading them to win the war."

Looking up at the sky, Tadel sighed in awe, "The Rem Kingdom is far from the Kingdom of Gillon. I used to doubt the authenticity of the mercenary's story, thinking it was just bar talk. But now, seeing this, it seems it might have been true. This situation undoubtedly aligns with the birth of a sprite, and it appears to have taken an interest in us."

Rhett glanced at the sky. The vortex continued to spin, brewing the sprite.

He found some truth in Tadel's words and asked, "How did that mercenary know about the events at Thunder Bear Ridge, given the distance?"

"He said he was a deserter from that war."

"..."

Rhett raised an eyebrow. Well, desertion was disgraceful no matter where it occurred. No kingdom would tolerate such behavior without severe punishment, often leading to execution.

Rhett's thoughts churned. He didn't know much about sprites either, but he did remember hearing in the military that sprites had a unique quality: singularity.

What did this mean?

It meant that once a sprite was born, no second identical sprite could appear. Only after the sprite's death could a similar sprite be born again.

Rhett figured that while a Snow Sprite and a Bear Sprite could exist simultaneously, there would never be a second Snow Sprite or Bear Sprite at the same time.

Having understood Tadel's explanation, Tucker looked up at the sky with anticipation, dreaming of encountering such a rare creature.

Sprites couldn't be forcibly subdued; they had to choose their master. It seemed like a matter of luck.

However, Rhett didn't believe it was purely random. As he watched the water element in the sky condense into a shape, he waved his hand and shouted, "Let's spread out and let Riley stand in the center."

The group obeyed without hesitation and dispersed.

Riley glanced at his father but said nothing. After hearing the explanation earlier, he had a hunch about what was happening.

A few minutes later, another gust of cold wind swept through.

This wind was even colder, barely kept at bay by Rhett's fully powered earth shield.

The others had already retreated dozens of meters away, beyond the wind's reach.

The icy snowflakes in the sky suddenly paused mid-air. Then, they began to rush toward the vortex's center, accelerating the final stages of the sprite's formation.

A mysterious aura filled the air.

One minute later...

A spherical being descended from the sky, landing right in front of Riley.

"Just as I thought," Rhett murmured, a faint smile playing on his lips.

If Tadel's story were accurate, then just as the Bear Sprite chose a chieftain from the bear tribe, it suggested that the "medium" was a crucial factor. Not everyone could attract a sprite—there had to be some connection or prerequisite.

As the only water-element mage among them, Riley was the obvious choice to attract a Snow Sprite.

The others, including Rhett himself, probably weren't that fortunate.

The group watched as the Snow Sprite descended. There was a mix of envy and happiness in their eyes as they looked at Riley.

"Congratulations, Second Young Master, on receiving the Snow Sprite! This is a legendary being—there can't be many of these in the whole kingdom," Tadel marveled. He had already resigned himself to the idea that Riley, the water-element mage, was the chosen one.

"Sprites come in countless forms, and each one has extraordinary abilities. It's truly awe-inspiring."

Riley, the fortunate recipient of the Snow Sprite, had his eyes closed. The sprite's initial bonding process also enhanced his spiritual power.

Perched atop his head was a snowman made of two round snowballs, completely white. The snowman lay flat on Riley's head, making it impossible for the others to see its face.

Rhett didn't know much about sprites either, only that they were magical creatures born from the elements, unable to reproduce naturally. They could only manifest in the world through condensation.

Seeing Riley's state, it seemed that the sprite was helping him break through. This was undoubtedly good news.

Two minutes later, Riley opened his eyes and smiled softly.

Under everyone's gaze, Riley didn't say much. Instead, he extended his left hand and mentally communicated with the Snow Sprite, which had just bonded with him. The sprite's name, Nina, had been chosen during their connection.

Gradually, the Snow Sprite stood up, briefly glancing at the others before quickly lowering its head in shyness.

Then, it hopped onto Riley's hand and lay down again.

Embarrassed, Riley said, "This little one is shy since it was just born. We'll have plenty of time to get to know it better in the future."