Ice against ice... The sharp edge of an ice sword cut through a wall of ice, and a laugh colder than a glacier rang out.
"You think you can defeat the one who gave you power? The progenitor of all ice powers... The Goddess of Winter herself..."
The Snow Queen used her Frost Sword to cut easily through a skyscraper, sending it falling down the battered and bruised Snow Man. The Snow Man tried to escape, but his legs were crushed by the debris.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"Nobody will help you now. Because you see, nobody wants to touch a heart made of ice. That is a curse that I and all my descendants will carry for eternity."
Ymir Glace woke up in a cold sweat from that nightmare.
Or perhaps, it’s more accurate to call it a ’memory’. It really did happen, and now it haunts him in his sleep.
He was in a bed in The Golden Apple’s clinic, which was right next to the HR office. Besides Mr. Eirwyn Curacio, there were nurses and staff that had minor healing powers to help those who needed it.
Ymir felt hot, and tried to put the AC on at a lower temperature. But then he suddenly felt so cold that he had to raise it back up.
This has never been a problem for him before.
His body used to cool itself during hot weather, and the cold had never bothered him. But now he could not stand even the slight changes in temperature from what was acceptable for a regular human.
The thermometer stuck in his armpit confirmed his suspicions. His body temp has risen.
His eyes widened as the events prior to him going unconscious came rushing as if a dam had broken. His fist clenched as the face of that monster who attacked him appeared in flashes, like lightning strikes.
He did not know how Hermes managed to do it, but there’s only one explanation for his situation right now. That bastard stole his powers!
He remembered that icy beast that tackled him to the ground, and feasted on his blood. If he knew that he was a Voidling all along, he would have done a lot worse than just humiliating and degrading him.
But one thing does not make sense.
Why did he only attack now? If someone chose to suffer from an abusive workplace for 8 months, they either have to be plotting some convoluted scheme or they’re a masochist.
But someone as powerful as Hermes could have easily taken down The Golden Apple through a surprise attack.
Why just him? Did this Voidling really have no ill intent at first, and only snapped when things went too far?
Was his powers newly acquired?
That made more sense. After all, didn’t he cause the whole building to go silent after kissing Somner?
The gears in Ymir’s mind moved quickly. ’That must be how he absorbs other people’s abilities— Through his mouth! Just like how he has to eat to gain the traits of food!’
He was pretty close, but it seemed he only touched the tip of the iceberg.
"I need to inform them at once—"
He was distracted by a commotion outside his window. He went to check it out—
And sure enough, there was the thief who took his powers from him! Fighting another female hero who can summon glitter and... fossils?
He then recalled a power like that, belonging to the Ninth Department.
Then, his eyes fell upon a certain blond director...
"Somner! They’re... They’re training! Don’t tell me...." His eyes widened from realization.
Are they working together? Did Hermes hypnotize him to be taken under his wing and have his protection, moving him to the Ninth Department!?
"This can’t be... I can’t let that manipulative prick get away with this..." Ymir said to himself.
In his mind, Hermes was an infiltrator. An enemy that was moving slowly through careful moves in order to take over their guild...
And perhaps, even mankind!
"The Void has never made a tactical decision ... They’re usually too chaotic to properly join forces and work together."
Just in time, Magni— aka Magnarok— suddenly popped out of nowhere from behind him. Ymir was so shocked that he immediately tried to summon ice daggers with his eyes, but ended up just looking weird since nothing came out of them.
"How long have you been here, you brute!?" Ymir smacked his shoulder.
Magni just laughed, as the punch did not really hurt his rock-solid body. "Thank you for your heartfelt greeting, Your Iceness! I have been here for quite a while now, observing you in your slumber. You seem to be having such a wonderful dream that left you screaming in delight!"
Ymir was already used to this Voidling’s nonsense. So he had taken no offense that his nightmare was interpreted as a delightful dream.
Instead, he was more miffed about the title given to him. "Don’t call me that."
"Then what about the Great Prince of Frost! Or the Son of Snow? Or the Magnanimous Sovereign of the Frozen Veil and Descendant of the—"
"Stop!" Ymir covered his mouth. "Just call me Ymir or Cryoshift, damn it!"
Magni nodded, and licked Ymir’s hand. "Yes, Lord Ymir!"
Ymir made a disgusted face and slapped him. "You dare... Ugh. I hate you Voidlings and your bizarre view of affection and animosity."
Magni tilted his head to the side. "But affection and animosity are truly just the same sides of an obsidian glass. They represent the flames of passion that one feels for another. The opposite of love is indifference, not hate. So..."
He knelt down and kissed Ymir’s hand. "I love that you hate me, my prince! Let me bask in your hostility!"
Ymir stepped on his face. "As you wish then, Rockhead."
Magni started panting and howling. "Yes!!! Can I eat your toenails now?"
"No." Ymir rejected him without hesitation for the nth time.
Then he gave Magni a warning. "But you must not let anyone hear you call me a prince. I’m not a prince. I am a hero."
Magni gave a solemn bow, pressing his head against the floor.
"Of course, Your Highness. I have kept your secret for as long as we know each other. I promise that no one will know that you are the great great grandchild of the Void Goddess of Winter, Skadi."