Chapter 374: Icy Endeavours

Luna moved like a ghost through the winter wonderland she had been sent to. It was a truly wonderous place for a being so attuned to the arctic and cold environments.

After her battle with that beast sovereign she had promptly made her way into the second zone of this trial ground.

It had not taken her long to reach that boundary that separated the zone, at least not when she focused on simply traveling as fast as she could once the battle was over.

The second zone of the trial was also a winter zone, this time it was of a forest in the depths of winter.

Tall trees either devoid of leaves for the deciduous types around, or still standing strong and proud for the numerous evergreen trees that populated this place.

The temperature was decidedly colder than what was found in the first zone, yet the lack of a severe wind and accompanying blizzard did mitigate the chill.

Or at least it would have for being not at home with cold temperatures. Luna, being a arctic leopard felt no issues with this drop in temperature.

If anything she revelled in the biting chill, it caused her beastial instincts to practically purr in delight. She never truly appreciated how much she had craved the cold, whilst she was comfortable in nearly any environment, now that she found herself in such a space that seemed so in line with her nature, Luna truly understood what it was that she had been missing for so long.

Having only spent a few months in cold environments when she was first born, and then only spending short amounts of time in similar Arctic environments within the elemental valleys, Luna had not had a true chance to experience a place like this.

As such, Luna took her time in this second zone.

She knew that she needed to defeat 3 more foes, either through combat or by simply forcing them to surrender. As such she simply worked in her long forgotten stealth skills to slowly but surely hunt down her prey.

It had been some time since she actively participated in an active hunt like this, taking her time to hide her presence and slowly stalking down her prey.

It sang to her more bestial nature in a similar way as the cold did.

Luna had always had some conflicting emotions over becoming a true beast. Not that she resented her choice to become one.

No it was the simple fact that she had had to come to terms with the fact that she had truly changed, from a relatively normal beastkin into a unique and long forgotten beast race.

Violets help and companionship during that time had been something that Luna truly appreciated, helping to keep her grounded and focused on the important things in life.

Now that she had the time to herself her thoughts had once again returned to the various woes and worries that had plagued her during her life.

She thought back on her village, her clan, her parents. She remembered the day of the attack as clearly as if it had happened only yesterday.

The screams filling the air, the sound of flesh being torn and blood splattering the ground. The smell of death and ash permitting the world and narrowing Luna’s attention to the arrow jutting out of her mother and her father being stuck down where he stood cradling his wife.

Of the desperate sprint through the dark woods, being cornered by that orc, then of the small and adorably fierce baby dragon leaping out to save her from certain death.

A wan smile adorned Luna’s lips at the bittersweet memory. Profound saddness over loosing all that she had known, mixed with the budding warmth of the connection that she now shared with that same dragon. Now bloomed into love and affection.

All these memories and more washed through Luna as she slowly stalked through the snow covered forest in silence.

Her movements causing no sound, her steps not disturbing the snow that covered the ground. Her domain ensuring that any and all traces of her passage being erased.

Luna spent the rest of the first day in the second zone.

Sure she could have undoubtedly rushed through it and quickly gathered the needed tokens to reach the third zone. Yet she was enjoying this almost literal walk down memory lane.

Her affinity with illusions and the nature of her domain of the Arctic Embrace almost enabling her to manifest her memories in the snowy landscape around her.

When Luna encountered a beast she simply appeared before them and unleashed her domain and presence. Then she would request that they surrender.

So far only a single beast had not accepted that request, to Luna’s amusement that beast had been a tier 3 bird of some kind.

She didn’t even remember its name it was such a disappointment. After appearing before it and requesting it to surrender the stupid bird had unhesitsntly charged straight at her with fury in its dull eyes.

Yet being so utterly weak and outclassed the silly bird charged headlong into Luna’s domain, once it entered her domain the bird was near instantly frozen solid as it was unable to even bare the passive influence of the cold within her arctic domain.

It was with some hesitation that Luna was truly begining to understand Violet’s unnatural dislike of birds as a whole. They were just so stupid most of the time.

Sure they had encountered a couple of smart birds in their time, such as the wind eagle from their time in the elemental valleys or the wind roc from the ruined city.

Still, now that Luna looked back on those two examples she realised that even their were still quite dumb. Sure compared to most other birds they could be considered genius’s, but compared to even the average beast they were still on the stupid side of the scale.

Luna shook her head at the thought, deciding to not get involved in the complex study of bird stupidity.

Regardless by the time day broke on the second day Luna had reached the barrier separating the third zone from the second.

With steady steps Luna walked through that etherial barrier and entered into the third zone, ready for whatever challenge this next area may present.