Shadow Slave: Immortal Ice

[Wake up, Eirwen! Your nightmare is over]

[Prepare for appraisal…]

Eirwen's eyes snapped open, his body paralyzed and his mind utterly blank. He knelt on nothing; there was no ground nor anything around him. Only dark void.

His wide eyes stared forward, devoid of thought, as his overwhelmed brain struggled to process what it had witnessed. It was as if his mind had short-circuited, unable to comprehend whatever has happened. His body was frozen and numb too.

'What… was that?' he finally managed to think, his mind escaping the paralysis. The creature he had seen wasn't even the most terrifying thing he'd read about or seen images of; Nightmare Creatures online or in books often looked far worse, something akin to the monsters Lovecraft writes about.

Yet there was something indescribable about it. Something beyond its appearance. Something that reached deep into his soul -not just his mind- and shook him with absolute, primal fear.

After a second, he finally managed to look around. He ignored the strange sensation of sitting on something solid, even though there was nothing but endless void stretching around him. It took all of his willpower to shove the memories of the creature away and concentrate on his surroundings.

At first, he saw nothing, but as his eyes adjusted, he began to make out countless stars drifting in the vast expanse of nothingness. They floated silently, distant and cold, yet bright and beautiful.

His admiration didn't last long, for the Nightmare Spell resonated once more all around him.

[You have received a Soul: Leviathan and Abaddon]

'I received a what...? Leviathan? Abaddon?' Eirwen raised an eyebrow, confusion clouding his thoughts. 'I've never heard of anyone receiving a Soul. Why does even the appraisal have to hurt my brain like this?!' He cursed under his breath as a sharp ache throbbed in his head. After a second thought, he decided to leave it for now and figure it out later, once he rested and his mind was clearer.

[Aspirant! Your trial is over.]

[A prince escaped the chains of his capturers and overcame death multiple times -now Death resents the prince. The Serpent of the Sea noticed the prince and his wrath and struck a Deal with him, escaping the Trial and regai-]

Suddenly the Spell cuts off without finishing the sentence, but before Eirwen could even make a sound it continues.

[You have defeated five dormant humans: names unknown]

[You have defeated an Awakened Beast: Infant Terror Bird of the Underworld]

[You have defeated an Awakened Monster: Column Elephant]

[You have defeated a Dormant Beast: Garden Gnome of Hell]

[You have defeated three dormant humans: names unknown]

[You have defeated an awakened human: Bernard, commander of the Red Cloak's]

[You have received the Serpent of the Sea's blessing and Soul]

[You have received Kazadiel's trust]

[Final appraisal: Fantastic. Your wrath is bottomless]

The more Eirwen listened, the more he felt his brain melt.

The more Eirwen listened, the more it felt like his brain was melting.

'Serpent of the Sea? Kazadiel? Just finish this already... I need a break so badly,' he groaned, massaging his temples to try and relieve his headache

[Dreamer Eirwen, receive your boon!]

Eirwen's focus on the Spell suddenly deepened.

[You have been bestowed a True Name: Archon of Wrath and Mercy]

His eyes widened instantly, the headache now the least of his concerns.

"A True Name?!" Eirwen's mind spun in chaos. The Spell seemed to be bombarding him with boons, strange blessings, and everything in between.

"I really am that special!" he chuckled proudly.

[Your Aspect is ready to evolve. Evolve Aspect?]

He grinned, bearing his fangs and pearly white teeth. The headache was long forgotten already, replaced by excitement and anticipation.

"Hell yes!" His voice was loud and impatient.

[Dormant Aspect Frosted Mirror is evolving…]

[New Aspect acquired.]

[Aspect Rank: Sacre-]

"Aspect Rank: Cursed and Sacred," the familiar sound of countless voices boomed everywhere around him. They were still ethereal, but somehow, they seemed to be more forceful and powerful.

His grin disappeared.

[Aspect Rank: Cursed and Sacred]

"Huh… Did someone just overwrite the Spell…? What happened?" Eirwen's brain nearly exploded.

[Aspect Name: Chained Ice]

---

"…"

Eirwen was speechless. Not only had he gained a double-ranked Aspect, but he had also just witnessed someone manipulating the Spell. 'Was it Leviathan? The voices sounded similar to his when they spoke in my mind…' Eirwen thought calmly.

Still, after a moment, he grinned once more. This proved to him further how much better and different he was compared to others.

With a flick of his wrist -something he did more for fun than necessity- he summoned the Runes and focused on the part describing his Aspect.

Aspect: [Chained Ice]

Aspect Rank: Cursed and Sacred

Aspect Description: Chains of frost whisper with stolen power, binding essence to eternal and immortal ice and reflections.

Innate Ability: [Ruler of Depths and bringer of Mercy]

Ability Description: [The Cursed powers dwell in you. Call upon them in moments of anger and pride. The Sacred powers pray for you to be forgiven. Call upon them in moments of yearning and sadness]

This was a lot for Eirwen to digest.

Even with his exhausted mind, he could make sense of his evolved Aspect. From what he understood, it was what allowed him to copy moves during the Trial. 'Did that strange connection with reflections deepen as well?' he thought, recalling the brief, unexplainable pull he had felt toward a mirror in the beginning of his Trial. 'I haven't experienced that odd sensation again since then...'

He shrugged off the speculative thoughts, making a mental note to test everything once he had rested. A proud, arrogant smile spread across his face as the Spell began speaking again.

[The First Seal is broken.]

[Awakening dormant powers…]