Christmas 2024 Special Chapter Pt. 1

Christmas 2024 Special Chapter Pt. 1

It was that time of the year again.

Or so Frost wanted to believe. The 500-day years of Elysia meant that it took a long time for holidays to return. But when they did, they were celebrated in an extraordinary fashion.

Case and point – the Last Solstice to mark the beginning of the new year.

But what about Christmas? Of course, this was an Earth-bound holiday, so the mention of Christmas would only result in variation of: “Eh?”, “What’s that?”, “Is it tasty?” and so on.

So, now that the war in Grandis was over – Frost wanted to give back to her friends for everything they’ve done for her. She felt like a grandma reminiscing about the past as she sat on a rocking chair before a small fire.

Her legs were still out of commission, and her blood hardening could barely keep her upright compared to just days ago against Iscario. One can liken it to how the body becomes sore and fatigued just days after exercising after a long break. You felt fine for the first day or two. Then, it was hell on the third day and so forth.

The road to recovery thankfully wouldn’t be long. Frost was at her most vulnerable right now, but she was in a place where no one could hurt her anymore. Held in her bare hands was a steaming cup of coca.

It was snowing outside tonight. Normally, it didn’t snow at all in their area of the Floor of Amalgamation. So how was it snowing?

This was one of the Tides of the Moon; a set of Skill referring to a Moon’s primary area of effect powers. This effect was like a miniature Corrupted Zone as it reflected a piece of a Moon. For the triplets for instance, their Tides of the Moon were their [Ultraelectric Field] (Cer), [Supercharged Field] (Ber), and the [Hypercharged Field] (Res).

The [Charged Blood Tether] also counted as a Tide of the Moon. Typically, they had a range limit of 30 – 50 meters. Cer was exempt from this as an Awakened, of course. But this did not explain how a Tide of the Moon power affected kilometers worth of land.

The reason was simple.

Giant chunks of ice and a shredder pointed at the sky. Nothing more and nothing less. Since Blessed could not use magical circles to create weather-changing magic, despite technically being able to since their magic was considered Tier Eight (of the Colors and Moons), whereas whether-manipulating magic was of the Seventh Tier (Level 120 – 139).

This magic was reserved for the Supreme Magus who was second only to Thelma – The founder of the Golden Dawn Association, who were a large enough to be a Kingdom in of itself.

“Nothing that [Amplification] won’t fix once I get it into a mass producible form. It’ll be my gift to the Moons and my personnel. I wonder if the Black Wings will want them. They’ve been looking into using Atelier Tech. Iscario was able to use Atelier technology freely.”

Frost mulled as she drank the piping hot cup of coca. She pursed her lips as a marshmallow fell from her Dimensional Storage and plopped into the cup.

“I know some Healers have an aptitude for it – like the Black Wings. Now that I think about it’s strange that they can utilize the Gravity Cores so easily. Doesn’t it take years to reach that proficiency among Caldera Industries’ Footsoldiers and Protectorates?”

She was supposed to be thinking of what sort of gifts to get her friends, but her mind naturally found itself pondering on business. It was finally her time to rest. However, how could she rest when there was still so much to do?

The only reason why she hadn’t begun tinkering with the White Light Apparatus was because of her legs.

“Mmn. Decisions. Decisions. Haaaah. What to do? Nav. Help me out here.”

Nav didn’t respond to her. Her sapient machine friend hadn’t been responding to her for a short while now. She found it suspicious but chalked it up to Nav wanting a moment of respite.

Suddenly, many footsteps bustled through the front doors. She didn’t need to turn to see the many faces of her friends due to her omniscience.

“Frooost~! Here!” Jury was the first to greet her. “I got this for you while shopping around the Common Hub!”

A beautiful, black, red and yellow scarf was wrapped around her neck. Then, the rocking chair she sat upon was turned to face the others.

“Really? Thank you. It’s warm. It has your scent too.” Frost smiled, eagerly nuzzling her face against it.

Then, her eyes drooped ever so slightly. But it was enough for the triplets, Ignis and Snap to notice this. Their ears and tails jolted up as a high-pitched “Brrrr!?” rung out.

“What’s with that face Frost? You don’t look too happy. See Jury?” Cer shrugged. “I told you a scarf isn’t going to cut it. If you were going to get Frost something, then it’d be this!”

Suddenly, a wave of fluff engulfed Frost. The tails of Cer, Ber, Res and Ignis brushed all over her, some petting her head whilst others tapped on her stomach. Snap joined in, poking Frost along the shoulders. To them, it must have looked like they were pampering Frost.

But to Frost? It was like they were conducting some sort of arcane ritual.

Or, as Nav put it:

“You’re not going to get snow out of shaving Frost down like this.” She joked in a deadpan tone as she wandered over to Frost, holding out an object. “For you. I thought it’d suit you.”

Nav turned her face away. But not in time to hide the slight red on her cheeks.

“A music box? Aww. Thank you Nav~! Can I play it right now?”

“… Please do.”

Frost winded the little crank and set the music box down on a small coffee table in front of her. After a short moment of bliss, she was suddenly brought back to reality.

“Wait – What’s with everyone getting me gifts all of a sudden!?”

“Your near-death celebration. It’s like brining a gift to a funeral, only that the recipient is actually alive.” Cer reasoned matter of factly.

“The recipient is usually dead though.” Res sighed. “Not like they can take it from beyond the grave.”

“Yeah, well you don’t know that. Mom had her clothes and everything when we met.” Cer argued. “What this means is that if I were to keel over and die, then I want to be buried with a stash of Healers.”

“She’s Awakened, right? Why’s her mind still screwed up?” Res genuinely asked.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re saying that now, but you’ll quickly change your mind once I start haunting you.”

Res couldn’t disagree with that. The mere thought of Cer’s ghost haunting her for all eternity caused her to shiver.

Ber cleared her throat before speaking.

“It was Nav’s idea. Or rather, Nav snitched on you, then Jury spread the news to us.” She hummed pleasantly. “A little too late, since we came up empty handed. So we thought giving you a fluff shower would help you~”

“I’m just happy to see you all here.” Frost softly spoke. “Yeah. I was supposed to give you all gifts, but I couldn’t really do it on my own. Ahem, I tried relying on a friend who I hoped would help me out.”

“But you’re happy. Isn’t that what matters?” Nav flicked one of Frost’s bangs aside, right as Jury threw her arms and head onto Frost’s lap.

“Right?” She beamed.

Those eyes were irresistible.

“… Yeah. Haaaaaah. I can’t keep secrets from you all, huh.” Frost surrendered, patting Jury’s head like a cat.

She took her ear flaps into her hands and gave them a gentle rub, causing her lover to squirm with delight.

“Mn. Impossible. You’re too readable. Like a book.” Ignis nodded to herself.

“R-Really?”

“It’s a compliment.”

“Aha… In short, you’re all worried about me?”

“Naturally?” Res blankly blinked, like Frost was speaking nonsense.

“There’s the selfless Frost I know. And you wonder why we worry about you.” Cer clicked her tongue.

“Let us take care of you once. We’re not children, you know!” Ber came up to squeeze one of Frost’s cheeks.

“Not anymore they’re not.” Nav squeezed the other.

“Mn. I want to take care of my sick mo- Of Frost too.” Ignis pushed them aside, plopping right onto Jury’s head who squeaked an: “Ow~?”

“Bzzt! (Let us take care of you!).” Snap also insisted.

“… Are you all going to quiet down?” The Sleepy Frost muttered from a distant sofa. She had stuffed herself inside of a pillowcase, making her indistinguishable from the rest until she popped her head out. “No one comes to me when I’m lazing around. Hmph… Better call a Mother. Hehehe~”

She pretended that the Sleepy Frost wasn’t there.

“Mhm.” Frost wriggled in her seat, her heart melting at their words. “… I mean… It’s not like I’m not going to walk again. It’s just a matter of time. Besides, you’ve all been helping a lot for these few days already. Thank you. All of you. For worrying.”

Indeed. These last few days saw Jury carrying Frost everywhere in a bridal carry. When asked if she was preparing her carrying technique for a certain upcoming event, she’d reply with: “You’ll see for yourself~”

Ber was always there to cook for her, and Nav did her best to feed Frost (even though she was already able to feed herself). But Frost didn’t want to get in the way of a Nav who wanted to try her best.

Then, there was Snap who ensured Frost was able to get the best possible sleep in its fur. Cer was responsible for relaying anything Frost had for their tightknit community in the Floor of Amalgamation, whilst Ignis never let Frost get bored as she recounted everything she had learned thus far.

Res did all of Frost’s administrative work in the Floor of the Head. She was the most reliable and analytical of the triplets, although Ber was able to point out some key discrepancies.

Nothing was a better gift than having people look out for her. In the past, she didn’t even know the names of people who took over her shift during handover. But here, every single person was a part of her family – and nothing could ever change that.

Frost teared up. It wasn’t because she thought of the hardships that eventually led her to this place. Rather, she was just genuinely happy that they loved her as much as she did.

“Anyway… I’m still not giving up on giving you all a gift. Ask away! Since I’m already sitting down, I might as well be Santa Claus.”

“Sana’s Claws?” Cer raised a brow. “As in, the claws of Sana?”

“No, you moron. She’ talking about a clause. There’s a caveat to giving us a gift.” Ber corrected.

“Idiots. She’s obviously not talking about either!” Res sighed.

Jury gave a quick summary of what Frost meant, resulting in the triplets having an: “Aaaaaah.” moment of realization.

“Council meeting. Right now. Code Red.” Cer raised a hand suddenly.

“Coming~!” Jury swiftly followed Cer towards the same corner where the Sleepy Frost resided. The others joined them immediately.

Frost had to wonder just what they were colluding about. Whatever it was, it caused the Sleepy Frost to flip over and begin walking away whilst the pillowcase was still on her.

It looked like a pillow was walking on its own.

“Code Red was for Scarlet Logic. Red. Santa. What the hell am I thinking?” Frost mumbled to herself.

Then, the group returned with smiles plastered on their faces. They had arrived at an approrpate gift to demand from Frost.

“Ahem… Would it be alright if you dressed up for a bit?” Jury politely asked.

“… Hmm –!?”

Suddenly, Jury dropped onto Frost’s lap in a pathetic attempt to get her to reconsider.

“Please! Please! Frost! Please! If you really, really hate it then I understand! But…!”

“Calm down Jury. I haven’t even responded yet. It’s not like it’s the end of the world if I refuse.”

The others wore a blank expression as Frost said this.

“Right?”

“It is, and I’m tired of pretending that it’s not.” Jury muffledly squealed into her sweatpants.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

There is no way they’re this eager to see me dress up. Then again, it’s not like I have anything against it. They’ve seen me naked before, so what’s the issue? Besides, it’s the least I can do. And it’s not like I can say no when they’re looking at me so desperately.

“Haaah. At least throw me some alternatives first.” Frost wanted to hear what else they had in mind.

Of course, just to see if it wasn’t a case of a collective delusion.

“Frost. You’ve always been wearing the same kind clothes. If it weren’t for [Cleanse], then you’d be stinky. More than how Cer used to smell.” Nav casually hurled an insult rather than giving her an alternative.

“That grime would’ve just meant that she’s good at her job.” Cer argued. “And Jury can vouch that it’s actually better if she’s –!”

“Are you morons going to answer or what!?” Res shouted, smacking Cer in the back of the head.

However, Cer shrugged off the attack like a fly had just landed on her head. She didn’t even notice it at all.

Ignis then spoke up.

Finally. A voice of reason.

“Mn. Ok. If you really don’t want to then – 300 million Nex wouldn’t be so bad.”

“I-IGNIS!?” Frost blurted out.

“Ah. Is it too low? Ok. You’re so kind. One billion Nex.”

“I can’t just give out Nex from our reserves like they’re pocket change!”

“Why not?” Ignis tilted her head innocently.

It was super effective.

“Ugh… I can’t tell if you’re joking or not. This isn’t like you. Wait… That’s Nav’s way of working me up. Nav…” Frost immediately figured it out.

There was no way Ignis was this cheeky.

“The Ignis-Frost Guarantee Plan didn’t work. Tch.” Nav clicked her tongue. “If you want a reasonable request, then come bobsledding with me for 600 hours a day for the next 4 days.”

“End your sentences with ‘meow’ for the next few days.” Cer suggested.

“Oooh! I’d like that a lot!” Jury’s eyes glistened. “Would, you Frost!?”

Frost, now at the brink of losing her mind, sighed and clasped at the crook of her sweater.

“Just get me the clothes.”