Emma listened patiently, without interrupting, placing her empty cup beside her. Once Diana had finished, a heavy silence hung between them. Emma broke it with a voice that was soft but firm.
Emma:
— Yes, I understand. A nightmare can seem more real than reality. But you must anchor yourself in what you know to be true. You are in no way responsible for Ashley's death. She was a warrior; she made a choice. And as for Johan... he is nothing more than a bad memory. You know he perished at the hands of Duck Bum Darly. He can no longer harm you.
Emma's words taught her nothing new, but hearing them articulated so calmly and definitively by her mentor had a soothing effect. It was one thing to know the monster was dead; it was another to *feel* that the threat was truly gone. The irrational fear left by the dream finally began to dissipate.
As Diana let this sense of tranquility settle in, a slight noise caught her attention.
Right beside her, on the wooden floor of the dojo, a small green sprout had just broken through the ground. In a few seconds, it grew, blossoming into a magnificent white flower with luminous petals. The flower opened slowly, revealing a small, rolled-up scroll at its heart, sealed with the symbol of the Stellar Zenith.
Emma smiled.
Emma:
— Ah. It seems you finally have a new mission.
Diana set down her cup and delicately took the scroll, her heart quickening with a new energy—no longer of fear, but of anticipation.
Diana:
— Yes... and it's been a long time since I've had one.
She broke the seal and unrolled the scroll, her eyes quickly scanning the lines.
Emma:
— And what does it say?
Diana's face grew serious, her determination returning to the forefront.
Diana:
— Scouts have sensed a strong Blood Burn presence in the city of Goma. I am among the Astroforges selected to carry out this mission.
A combative smile appeared on Emma's lips. She placed a hand on Diana's shoulder, her gaze full of pride and encouragement.
Emma:
— Then go, what are you waiting for? Go kick the asses of those wretched Blood Burns and come back safe and sound.
An hour later, Diana was ready. Her travel bag on her back, her combat gear fitted, she stood at the edge of the forest, ready to take the path that would lead her to the nearest teleportation gate. The whole group had come to see her off.
Emma: (handing her a small pouch)
— Take this. There are some medicinal herbs and enough to feed you. Be careful, Diana.
Diana: (bowing)
— Thank you, Master Emma. For everything.
She turned to her comrades.
Adley:
— Take care of yourself, Diana!
Raley:
— And don't hesitate to kick their butts for us!
Diana gave them a sincere smile, then her gaze met Yan's and Carless's.
Diana:
— See you soon, you two. Train well.
With those words, she turned and walked into the forest, her figure quickly disappearing among the trees.
The four apprentices stood there for a moment, watching her leave.
Yan: (with a sigh)
— I hope we get promoted soon too. I'm tired of making trees bloom.
Carless: (his gaze still fixed on the path where Diana had disappeared)
— Yes, I hope so too. I have to admit, she is sublime, that Diana.
Adley, who was right next to him, turned abruptly, her eyebrows furrowed.
Adley:
— What? What did you say??
Carless jumped, realizing he had thought out loud. He began to cough awkwardly, his face red.
Carless:
— No, nothing! I... I coughed. Just like now. Cough, cough.
Yan burst out laughing, while the twins looked at him with a suspicious air.
(Transition – Night, City of Goma)
Night had fallen on Goma. Far from the bustle of the festival, the alleys of the eastern district were dark, silent, and labyrinthine. The only light came from the distant glow of lanterns and the moon, which struggled to break through the clouds.
The silence was suddenly torn by the sound of hurried footsteps and panting breaths.
A man, dressed in a local law enforcement uniform, stumbled around a corner, his face sweaty and twisted with panic.
The Man:
— Help! Help me!
He held a pistol in his hand, which he pointed behind him, firing blindly. The shots echoed brutally in the narrow alley but had no effect.
Three figures pursued him, moving with supernatural speed and agility. Blood Burns. They dodged the bullets with disconcerting ease, their cruel smiles widening with every step that brought them closer to their prey.
[...]
The man stumbled, fell, and crawled backward, his weapon now empty. The three Blood Burns stopped in front of him, savoring his terror. One of them crouched down, his hand outstretched, ready to grab him.
Suddenly, a calm and cold female voice echoed from the rooftops overlooking the alley.
???:
— Celestial Kara: Frostfall.
At the same moment, a multitude of small projectiles of green, icy light descended from the sky, as fast as arrows. One of them grazed a Blood Burn on the ground.
And he froze instantly.
A thick layer of frost covered his body, his face frozen in an expression of eternal panic. He had become a statue of ice.
The three Blood Burns straightened up abruptly, their gazes scanning the dark rooftops, searching for the source of the attack.
Blood Burn 1:
— Who's there?! Show yourself!
For all response, a figure dropped from the roof. She didn't land heavily but slid down the wall like a shadow, her feet touching the ground without a sound.
It was a young woman with long black hair, dressed in dark combat attire. Her face was calm, but her eyes shone with a cold, determined light. It was Diana Kurogami.
Blood Burn 2: (sneering)
— A Zenith? All alone? This is going to be fun.
He lunged at her, a Black Kara dagger in his hand. Diana didn't back down. She took a step to the side, dodging the attack with disconcerting fluidity. Her hand passed near her opponent's arm, and a thin layer of ice instantly formed on his glove, stiffening it.
Taking advantage of his surprise, Diana pivoted. Her movement was not a strike, but a dance. She placed a hand on the alley floor.
Diana:
— Elemental Kara: Slippery Ground.
The cobblestone floor beneath the three Blood Burns' feet was instantly covered with a film of black ice, smooth and incredibly slippery. The two who were further back lost their balance, their feet sliding uncontrollably.
The first attacker, destabilized, tried to correct his posture. It was the opening Diana had been waiting for.
She projected herself forward, but not by running. She slid on her own ice, her speed multiplied. She reached him in a fraction of a second.
Diana:
— Internal Kara: Frosting Palm.
Her open palm struck the Blood Burn's chest. There was no violent impact, just contact. But a wave of intense cold spread from the point of contact, freezing his internal organs. His eyes widened in shock, and he collapsed, a lifeless statue.
The other two, having barely regained their balance, looked at her with a mixture of fury and fear.
Blood Burn 3:
— She controls ice! Attack her from a distance!
They raised their hands, concentrating their Black Kara to launch energy projectiles.
Diana didn't give them time. She stomped her foot on the frozen ground.
Diana:
— Elemental Kara: Ice Pikes.
From the ground, dozens of sharp ice lances shot up, heading toward the two Blood Burns. One of them was impaled on the spot, his scream muffled by the cold that consumed him.
The last survivor, the leader, managed to dodge by jumping against a wall. He clung to it, looking down at her with pure hatred.
— You bitch! You'll pay for this!
He propelled himself from the wall, his Kara sword raised, aiming for Diana's head in a diving attack.
Diana didn't move. She simply raised a hand toward him. The air around her became visibly colder.
Diana:
— Celestial Kara: Prison of Eternal Ice.
Instead of an attack, a cage of translucent and beautifully sculpted ice materialized in the air, right in the Blood Burn's path. He hit it head-on and found himself trapped inside, his movements slowed as if in a dream.
He struck the ice walls, but they didn't even crack. He was trapped.
Diana slowly approached the ice prison, her face impassive. She placed her hand on the icy surface. The Blood Burn inside looked at her in terror as the cold began to seep in, slowly paralyzing him.
Diana: (in a voice devoid of all emotion)
— This mission is off to a pretty good start.
She closed her fist.
End of Chapter 32