Frostforge Mine was an eerie and frigid place hidden deep within the Fey Realm. The Mine's entrance was a yawning cavern, its walls adorned with sparkling icicles that glistened like diamonds in the faint glow of magical crystals. The air inside was chilly, causing one's breath to fog up with each exhale.
The Mine was an intricate maze of tunnels and chambers. All carved into the icy rock by skilled hands. The walls shimmered with soft blue light, reflecting off the icy surfaces and creating an otherworldly ambiance. Small, glowing crystals dotted the ceilings, illuminating the way for adventurers.
Occasionally, the sound of dripping water echoed through the passages as if nature itself was weeping within the frozen depths. The ground was often slippery, covered with a thin layer of frost, making every step treacherous.
The deeper Ren and Isolde ventured into the Mine, the colder and darker it became. The light from the entrance faded, and they had to rely on their own sources of illumination to navigate the chilling darkness.
The Mine was not devoid of life, though. Some resilient and mystical creatures called this place home. Their icy bodies adapted to the extreme temperatures. Frost sprites danced in the shadows, their ethereal beauty captivating anyone who caught a glimpse of them.
The miners who once toiled in this frozen domain had long disappeared, leaving behind remnants of their work. Abandoned pickaxes, carts filled with glimmering crystals, and old, weathered tools were scattered throughout the Mine, a silent testament to the labor that once took place.
Frostforge Mine was as beautiful as it was perilous. One wrong turn could lead adventurers into the clutches of dangerous ice creatures or treacherous icy traps. Yet, for those seeking rare and valuable resources, braving the icy labyrinth of Frostforge Mine was a challenge worth taking.
Ren didn't have time to explore the Mine, and he let out Pii to look for the Cold Iron to save time. He could just come back in here in the future after he was done.
Deep within the icy corridors of Frostforge Mine, Ren, and Isolde found themselves face to face with a group of fearsome ice creatures.
The creatures were known as Frost Hounds, massive, wolf-like beings covered in glistening, ice-blue fur. Their sharp, icy claws gleamed dangerously in the dim light, and their piercing blue eyes were fixed on the intruders.
The air was filled with tension as Ren and Isolde readied themselves for the impending battle. Isolde tightly gripped her gun while Ren chanted under his breath, his staff crackling with magical energy.
Pii hovered above them, ready to lend its aid.
The Frost Hounds let out bone-chilling howls that echoed through the Mine, sending shivers down Ren and Isolde's spines. With a sudden burst of speed, the creatures lunged at them, their jaws snapping hungrily.
Isolde reacted swiftly, firing a barrage of fire bullets from her rattling gun. The bullets hit the Frost Hounds with a resounding impact, causing shards of ice to fly in all directions.
Some of the creatures were momentarily staggered, giving Ren the opportunity to unleash a powerful spell.
With a sweeping motion of his staff, Ren conjured fire and wind, enveloping the area in an infernal cyclone.
The flame exploded on impact, engulfing the creature in flames. The Frost Hound let out a howl of pain and rolled on the ground, trying to extinguish the fire.
Isolde took advantage of the distraction and aimed her shots at the injured Frost Hound, finishing most of them.
The Frost hounds attacked in large pact, and any group of adventurers would find themselves cornered with their numbers. But they didn't pose any problem to Ren and Isolde.
Seeing the effectiveness of the fire spell, Ren continued to unleash waves of fire at the other Frost Hounds. The creatures howled in agony as the flames consumed their icy bodies. The ice began to melt, and the once formidable Frost Hounds were now weakened.
Isolde kept firing her gun, targeting the vulnerable spots exposed by the melting ice. With each shot, the Frost Hounds' strength diminished, and their movements became sluggish.
The combination of Ren's fiery magic and Isolde's precise shots proved to be a winning strategy. One by one, the Frost Hounds succumbed to the onslaught of fire and bullets. The Mine was filled with the smell of burning ice and the sound of crackling flames.
In the end, the once fearsome creatures lay defeated, reduced to smoldering piles of melted ice.
Ren and Isolde stood amidst the aftermath of the battle, picking up drops on the ground.
In the silence, Isolde's voice rang out.
"So, what's been going on between you and the princess?" she questioned out of the blue.
"What do you mean?" Ren played ignorant.
"Don't play dumb. It's that obvious that even I noticed." Isolde captured Ren's gaze, scrutinizing him.
Ren felt like he had already experienced the greatest edge in his life with Evie. Who knew that right now, he would feel another bone-chilling and gut-wrenching feeling under Isolde's gaze?
"I won't tell Evie," she said.
And that made it worse because Ren felt like he was cheating even though he wasn't.
Ren took a deep breath and said, "I kind of . . . max my relationship level with her by accident."
". . ." Isolde blinked. She kind of guessed that it was the case, but having it heard from Ren's mouth made her stunned.
Isolde grasped for words after a short second of silence. "So you mean . . . you're married to her right now?"
"Of course not!" Ren denied almost jumping on his toes. "I didn't do the quest related to that."
"So you're saying is . . . She's your fiancée?"
That sounded even worse. "No. There's no relationship between us," Ren said with a voice that broke no argument.
"It was just an accident," Ren repeated.
Isolde took a deep breath and sighed. Leave it to Ren to accidentally max his relationship level with a Princess while most didn't even get their Relationship Level to [Acquaintance].
