Dungeon of Niflheim

"I understand." The hostess of the inn bowed her head in understanding before flashing a smile at Frost and handing him a similar token.

"Young sir this token will grant you access to all of our inn's facilities and allow you to skip most of the queues when using the mountain's lifts, specialty rides and unique services. Keep it on your person at all times." Khione's token was outlined with a blue crystal while Frost's had a golden rim. The degree of access granted by the tokens was the same but his wasn't unique, nor was it bound to his blood.

"Thank you." Frost tentatively took the token and placed it straight into his storage ring so it wouldn't get lost.

A moment later another member of staff appeared and led the two of them to snow equipment and changing stations.

"I'll go and get my stuff, the staff here will measure your height, weight and foot size for boots and skis and if you don't want to wreck your clothes they'll also measure you for trousers, gloves and a jacket." Khione abandoned him the moment they reached the equipment rental station.

"This way sir." The moment Khione left a large man, and two women surrounded Frost, dragging him to the backroom with measuring tapes in hand.

"2 metres, 100 kilograms, 12 inches, and it was for the basic set right?" The tall man remarked as he analysed Frost's physique from head to toe.

"Yes sir, the price is no obstacle but he's a newbie." One of the female assistants nodded her head and noted down the numbers stated.

"Alright then Tiffany go and get one of the higher quality sets for a beginner in these sizes. Sir do you wish to be fitted for apparel as well?"

"Call me Frost and might as well, I'd hate to wreck this suit."

"Very well sir Frost, Francessca help me out."

"Yes sir." While Tiffany went to get the skis and boots, Francessca helped her boss fit Frost for winter apparel.

Not 15 minutes later Frost who had been measured from head to toe with his dignity almost infringed upon left with a pair of bright yellow skis, similarly coloured boots, thick black trousers, a multi layered jacket and a set of gloves fitted with a rough texture on the palm side.

Thankfully despite being so thoroughly wrapped up he wasn't overheating, both the clothes and the natural weather on the mountain meant heat was never a problem.

"Hmm not bad but you look better in a suit." Khione appeared a moment later with a set of black skis, red boots and a more form hugging set of trousers and jacket on hand. Unlike his that were of high quality but rather neutral in style Khione's were very fashionable. She had badges, colourful stripes and all manner of decorations that made her clothes stand out.

"I could say the same about you." Though her clothes were better looking than his they really couldn't compared to what she had on before.

"I agree but if I damage even the slightest thread on the jumper my 5th mother will kill me." Khione visibly shivered as she imagined Skadi's wrath.

"Why the clothes in the first place? It's not like the cold can affect us." Given how resistant he and Khione were to the cold he failed to see much point in wearing such thick clothes.

"Several reasons actually, first they can protect your regular clothes from damage, second the higher you go up the mountains the colder it gets, even someone like me would struggle at the peak in standard gear let alone you. And thirdly they can function as durable and light armour, ideal for the climate and possible perils you'll encounter on the mountain." A person could wear metal armour or scaled armour, but they'd interfere with the body's natural movements and weigh them down heavily on difficult and long treks, not ideal for skiing.

"Perils?" From what he knew about skiing it was a simple winter sport, you used skis to ride across the snow, picking up speed and if skilled enough perform tricks. What kind of perils could there possibly be?

"Hehehe you'll find out in a few minutes." Khione didn't elaborate, wanting to keep it a surprise which irritated Frost, but she refused to budge.

When the two of them left the inn they were met with hundreds or rather thousands of people each with different coloured skis queuing for cabled lifts that travelled up the mountains.

"See the different colours in the skis and the coloured tags on the jackets and trousers." Khione pointed to several people in the distance who donned certain colours.

Frost nodded his head, understanding that from her tone it wasn't a simple fashion choice.

"Those like yourself who have bright yellow skis and yellow tags on the jacket are beginners, people who have never skied before or who's skills are very rough. You and they are recommend to the use only the yellow runs, the safest routes down the mountain." Khione then started to explain how the whole system worked.

"Above them are the red runs, then the green, the blue, the violet and finally you have the black runs which are further split into extreme, hell and underworld." She then tapped her black skis which had an additional red X in the centre.

"My skills are good enough for black extreme level runs, going any higher could prove dangerous." Though it'd been nearly six months since she last visited and she'd managed to improve her overall strength a great deal since then Khione still didn't think she was capable of challenging black hell runs. Only S-ranks and those who were extremely confident in their skiing skills could challenge them.

"So basically you'll be leaving me on my lonesome since I can't keep up with your skills." A yellow run wouldn't be any fun for someone as highly ranked as Khione.

"After I've taught you the basics then maybe, but we'll see how it goes, perhaps you'll have a natural gift and become capable of challenging red, green or even blue runs after a few attempts." Yellow and red runs would be far too lowkey, but she wouldn't mind joining him on a blue or green run, they weren't here just for her enjoyment after all.

"Alright, my fate is in your hands then I guess." Knowing nothing about how everything worked Frost had to leave his fate up to his diligent teacher, hoping that her that skills didn't lie solely in battle.

"Don't worry I'll have you skiing around like the pros in no time." Khione proudly thumped her chest causing her large breasts to jiggle, even her thick winter jacket failed to obscure their magnificent size and shape.

Unfortunately Frost wasn't able to enjoy the alluring sight as a nagging feeling itched at his heart. A strange irritating sensation that he struggled to ignore.

'What is it? Is Khione planning something or is it something else entirely.' He couldn't put a pin on the source, only knowing that something was not quite right.

A few hundred metres away a S-rank royal guard who was monitoring Frost and Khione from a distant almost gave away his position. Without any warning Shivali's voice echoed in his head causing him to immediately assume a respectful stance, his aura even involuntarily leaked out for a brief moment. Perhaps it was this that caused Frost's heart to shift or perhaps it was because of Khione's smile that grew more and more cunning as they walked towards the lifts.

Freyja and Skadi's little peeping operation had caught Shivali's attention. Being who he was, a king, a God and a father he wanted to both put a stop to this operation and at the same he desperately wanted to take part, curious to see the interactions between his youngest daughter and the son of his oldest friend. In the end he lacked the courage to stop it and was too embarrassed to join his family in their activities, he dreaded the aftermath that would come down on his head if Khione ever caught wind so instead he piggybacked the tailing royal guards having them send a second signal to his personal chambers, a private and more discreet viewing.

As this was going on in the background Khione dragged Frost across thick blankets of snow to the nearest yellow run lift. They used their status to access a special fast passed one, skipping the long queues much to the chagrin of the other guests. When they went to complain however they saw their beautiful appearances and found their words stuck in their throats. Looking good tended to open a lot of doors. Of course a few also recognised Khione and quickly stopped their disgruntled companions. Who would dare argue with the Princess and a woman known far and wide as the Raging Valkyrie.

"When the lift comes round behind us allow it to scoop you up otherwise you'll simply fall over." By this point she'd shown him how put on the skis, resulting in Frost awkwardly waddling his way forward.

"Got it." He was a bit unsteady but was getting his bearings. When the lift came round he did as instructed and allowed it scoop him up and carry both him and Khione quickly up the mountain.

Their destination 2 kilometres up, the beginning of the yellow runs also known as both the newbie zone and the children's play area. Here Frost would finally learn how to ski.