Dungeon of Niflheim

As Frost's consciousness struggled to stay awake during the last 45 seconds his mind drifted back to his lessons with Maya.

"Aura? It's hard to explain its intricacies. It's a personal power that is unique to each and every individual. It's your presence the literal manifestation of your strength. As you grow in strength so does this manifestation. At C-rank you can sense it and begin to coalesce it into a loose form. At B-rank you can control this loose form to enhance your body, add strength to your attacks and even intimidate others." Maya gave many lessons, and not all were physical. Sometimes she'd have to explain the logic and reasons behind his training.

Frost was a studious and hardworking student but sometimes he failed to grasp the deeper meaning within her explanations until he experienced a random moment of clarity, of enlightenment.

"At A-rank your aura takes on a more tangible quality, increasing its effects and granting a substantial flexibility in how it can be used." Maya demonstrated this by conjuring weapons formed solely of her aura. She also showed the difference between the body enhancement of B-rank aura and an A-rank aura, emphasizing the vast gap between the two.

"When it come to S-rank aura transitions into something even more intricate and complicated. The power that comes from within, the manifestation of personal strength reaches a level in which it can interfere and even alter the laws of the world, allowing an individual to form a domain." Maya didn't go into too much detail in regards to domains because Frost was not strong enough to learn about them yet. She did however explain how one can train and improve their aura.

"Aura will develop naturally once you reach the B-rank and as long as you continue to grow your strength it will grow alongside you. However you can accelerate and improve the potential of your aura by interacting with it and manipulating it. Doing so allows you to develop a greater connection with your aura, improving your control over it as well as your senses and understanding of it." The more you know about a power and the more you understand it the better you can train it.

"Once you have a good feel for your own aura you'll understand how best to put it under strain and further develop it. You may also come across aura resistors, naturally or artificially formed crystals that either inhibit the summoning and manipulation of aura or induce a pressure akin to aura that puts strain on the body and one's own aura. These artifacts can help you feel that strain, allowing you to effectively train your aura like lifting weights." Frost hadn't reached the level yet where he could accurately feel his aura being under strain but through his repeated usage he was getting better at applying it to his weapon and body.

While under the assault of this aura resistor however he was starting to feel something, his aura wanted to move in a certain way, to coalesce, to refine itself under the pressure.

Although his body was screaming in pain threatening to buckle from the pressure Frost did his best to remain calm. He closed his eyes and focused on his aura that had been forced deep inside his body, its ability to flow freely heavily restricted.

This once loose, gas like energy had begun to change. Instead of pointlessly fighting against the pressure it receded further and further into Frost's body, shrinking or rather tightening its structure.

Under the effect of the aura resistor Frost's aura started to lose volume but in return it became denser and very, very slowly the inert energy found itself able to move once again.

Frost felt the subtle changes and instead of fighting against the pressure he allowed it to delve deeper, going with the flow rather than against it.

For ten seconds or so he had to endure a pain so excruciating that his vision became completely black. His veins burned as though his blood had become lava and his legs that were already showing signs of breaking, groaned and even cracked as they bent further and further.

Frost was now in a very ineffectual horse stance, his backside hovering no more than 20 centimetres from the ground. His arms were resting on his knees, pushing against them with what little remained of his strength, determined to prevent the final fall. He may not be ramrod straight but as long as his feet remained flat and steady he would not fail this little gamble. His will was unwavering and one worthy of respect but at this moment he was not focused on winning but rather his connection with his aura.

After the ten seconds of agony his aura that had slowly been refining itself under the pressure, becoming denser or rather purer was no longer quite so restricted. Narrow slivers of aura were now able to once again enter his blood stream and travel through his veins, repelling some of the effects brought on by the aura resistor.

Although only slightly Frost felt a small amount of his strength return, just enough to help him rise to a more normal horse stance. Rising anymore was beyond his means, even trying made him feel as if he'd instantly collapse.

The pain and pressure were still evident but Frost just like he had done many times before smiled from ear to ear in the face of it. He always felt such immense satisfaction after gaining something through suffering. The pain and difficulty made the reward feel all the more valuable.

With less than 30 seconds to go Frost felt elated, his body was reaching its physical limit, but his soul was on fire. Even now despite the pain his aura was still refining itself piece by piece, slowly becoming purer. He could not give up such a rare opportunity.

Injuries be damned he didn't care whether his bones shattered, or his organs burst as a result of his defiance he opened his eyes wide, his gaze fervent as he let loose a triumphant roar.

Khione who had been lost in her own world, thinking of what she could request of Frost once she won her little bet was taken aback by his roar. She didn't think he still had such intensity left inside him. What kind of prey would stand their ground and even aggressively shout in the face of their superior predator. Such things went against the natural order, against their baser instincts….but it was also a hallmark for greatness. A will so strong that it refused to be caged and or dominated by another. To defy nature, to surpass it and write your own rules was that not what it meant to be a God.

Khione quickly looked at the hourglass in her hand, the sand in the top half was nearly empty, just 20 seconds left. As long as Frost stayed on his feet for another 20 seconds he'd win their little gamble and earn himself a mighty weapon from the Niflheim weapon vault. She'd also lose her right to a guaranteed favour.

Such a loss was quite disheartening, but Khione instead found herself staring at Frost, mesmerised by his determination and the joy on his face despite the pain he was enduring. She found such a scene beautiful and unconsciously her heart started to thump. Frost at this very moment regardless of his weaker strength was incredibly hot in her eyes. For someone who held no interest in romance nor much in Frost for that matter she strangely found herself unable to look away.

Entranced by the image of a man filled with sex appeal Khione didn't even notice the last grain of sand fall to the bottom of the hourglass nor the ringing sound it elicited when that happened, her entire focus was on him.

She only managed to regain her faculties when she saw that handsome young man fall to the floor with a loud thud.

"FROST!!!" Extremely worried about him Khione loudly called out his name as she charged to his side. In a rough manner she slammed her fist against the aura resistor forcing it off before -without caring for intimacy- gently picked up Frost and placed him on her lap as she examined his state.

"Phew he's just unconscious." After running a few basic checks Khione breathed out a sigh of relief, her heart that was madly thumping from anxiety calming down to a more steady rhythm.

Despite knowing that he was fine she didn't move him off her lap, unconsciously wanting to keep him close at hand. She even found herself staring at his handsome face and watching his chest rise and fall as he breathed.

She'd never shown such care to someone that wasn't a member of her family before, even the soldiers that she'd known for years wouldn't draw out such panic in her when they were injured.

Frost was different somehow, but she couldn't exactly put her finger on it.

'Is it because he calls me teacher?' She silently asked herself. Usually Khione was the student thus this was the first time she had taken on the responsibility of teaching someone else. A role which she had come to enjoy and even appreciate but that didn't feel like the reason for her distress.

"It must be….friends, yes this must be what it feels like to worry about a friend." Eventually she concluded that it was because she and Frost were friends despite it also not feeling quite right. Unfortunately that was the only other possibility she could think of.