683. Mother Frost

683. Mother Frost

“… You’re from the Nexus…?” Gerina’s voice shuddered.

She was in the presence of the equivalent of Gods.

“It’s not important right now, but it’s something like that. You’ll learn in time.” Frost winked.

Cer silently pouted with jealousy, as did Lurnaria.

“Speaking of Serums, were Inflow Direct preparing bombs in those canisters?” Abadona questioned. “I recognized the shape, since shortly after I attained this body, I was tasked with dismantling Serum and old Infusion canisters.”

He boasted about his resilience before the Amalgam, further angering Lunaria who chipped off a part of his shoulder with her tail.

“Lunaria is the only one listening to the Amalgam. She should be promoted to the Maid of The Head for restoring order.”

“What is this bitch talking about?” Cer barked.

“She is talking about being useful to the Amalgam.” She nonchalantly barked back.

Cer and Lunaria didn’t have a history prior to this. In fact, the first time they met was during the recent Summit. Lunaria couldn’t accept that Cer was so close to Frost, and she stroked her tail, her eyes saying, “My tail is way fluffier.”.

Cer did the same and poked Frost’s back with it and grinned.

“Nah, mine’s better. And did you hear that, Frost? She wants to be the Maid of the Head. Tsk.”

“Lunaria doesn’t see what’s wrong.”

“Neither do I.” Abadona said.

“You don’t?” Teardrop uttered in shock.

“You should. This is why she is the Fang of The Head.” Devoid said, causing Frost to blink multiple times.

Eh? Did everyone suddenly lose braincells?

“Wanting to be a maid implies that there is filth to clean in the upper sanctums of the Nexus. Of course it’d be a fox to think that everything’s filthy.” Cer pointed accusingly at Lunaria.

“Precisely.” Devoid nodded in agreement. “Convey your messages better, Lunaria.”

“L-Lunaria… admits that she worded it wrongly. What she meant was to clean the filth that is the Fang.”

Haaaah. What’s wrong with these two?

“Did you hear that –!?”

“Enough.”

They ceased entirely. Time seemed to have frozen. The winds disappeared, and the rustling of leaves died out.

She wanted to say these words but felt like there was a better way to make them stop.

However, she didn’t have to anymore for some reason. All eyes unexpectedly fell on her as if she did say this out loud.

“Is something wrong?” She asked.

A mixture of fear and marvel filled their eyes.

“No, Amalgam. Lunaria apologizes for angering her greatness.” Lunaria knelt before her, her body shaking with sudden reverence.

Nav… Did I activate something?

“The voice… reached me. Like the Voice From Beyond the Void.” Anpu said.

“Kinda like… when I faintly heard it before.” Cara added. “Nothing like that but. Fuck. How much scarier are you going to get?”

Frost’s voice had resonated withing their hearts.

They clearly heard her voice, but her lips did not move. It was unintentional, and she didn’t even know how it happened.

But somehow, her Will was imposed on them.

Could it be because of the Cognition Interrogator Ability?

//////// ////////

The slightest doubts in their hearts were cleansed by this alone, solidifying Frost as the absolute.

“I don’t know what’s scarier. You or they who shall not be named speaking to us like that.” Cer mumbled but seemed happy for some reason. “Heh~ Makes me wanna get… something something. Not the time right now, like you said. Alright. Are we done?”

“No.” Now that all eyes were back on Frost, she continued with the plan. “Gerina. You will take my friends to D-13. We will meet with you soon to give her the Healing she needs. In the chance that I cannot be there…”

The Black Wing erected her posture like a highly disciplined soldier, for she knew her name would be called.

And she was correct.

“Lucy. Take care of her.”

“As you wish, Mother.”

The Black Wing that accompanied them was no ordinary Black Wing.

Seven golden feathers ran down her coat. She was one of the only seven Black Wings with black hair. Not a single strand of white remained, and her sky-blue eyes pierced all that dared to gaze back.

Her coat was worn like a mantle, her arms hidden within as well as a deadly assortment of weaponry. Strapped to her back beneath that coat was a living bag designed to aid her in mobility as well as to kill all foreseen threats. If someone intended to harm her, then barb-tipped tentacles would emerge. A single slash from of them was capable of splitting a boulder and lacerating a Moon.

She wore a peaked cap like what the Hired Arm wore. It carried the symbol of a black feather. Her legs were wrapped with black tights made from high-quality Cloth, and she wore shorts that terminated mid-thigh. Her hair was tied into a short ponytail. The hairpin that held it was a red, sentient knife able to swap forms; an object created by non-other than Ignis.

Mother was the term these Black Wings – the Ravens – called their Black Dove, for she was the one who nurtured them underneath her wings. They were Black Wings that went beyond the wings of a bird, growing their own to represent their total autonomy outside of Frost’s influence.

It was a name that spawned envy amongst the regular Black Wings. Unfortunately for them, ‘Mother’ belonged to the Ravens. It wouldn’t surprise Frost if there were Black Wings aspiring to become Ravens just for the privilege to call her Mother.

In reality, one required at least 4 or 5 golden feathers to call her Mother.

It still doesn’t feel right, but it’s not like I hate it. The highest-ranking Healers are called Mothers too. I kind of wish they also came along to the Nexus.

Gerina was confused once again. There were more black-haired Healers? It was enough to make her dizzy as she questioned what was happening to the rest of the world.

“It’s best if you don’t know till you find your slice of paradise first.” Cara coldly said. “That’s why Frost is here. She’s going to freeze hell all over. Do your job right, and things will go smoothly.”

“A week is our estimated timeframe. Galia suspects that they plan something during the upcoming Perigean Night. By then I should already be at the north, and no Impuritas should be left standing.”

“10 days for an operation that removes the Impuritas is possible… But without killing citizens and without alerting them will be difficult.” Abadona said.

The others agreed. Frost did so too. But it still was in their best interest to do it silently.

“That’s why we need information.” Frost reminded them. “The Hearts of the City for one, and what the Major Arcana Towers will be used for. There are five in the Bellum Empire. Four along the borders of the Grand Wetlands, and in the Capital itself. I will need you all near one. We’ll decide whether to destroy them or not later.”

Frost tapped the metal cuff on her ear. She plucked one from her Dimensional Storage and fitted it onto Gerina.

“We can communicate over large distances now. The Tear Retrievers will be installing Conduits where necessary. I’ll leave the rest between you all. Also, immediately report any sightings of the Red Baron.”

Her eyes burned with enough heat to cause their souls to catch alight. They dared not imagine the fate of the Red Baron.

“Do not touch him. I will personally deal with him… And I’ll drag him like a dog straight to his master.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om