A normal day

It’s been a few months since Verdandi had found herself at the end of an adventure that would ultimately give her the power of the frost element. A potential had been awakened inside her that would roar echoes of it’s use within the borders of Yuki no Kuni and even past them into the whole shinobi world. She was at home in her own new dojo, created by the hands of her friends, in a castle that had been repaired to a state of beautiful power. The rooms of the castle were yet to be made use of. Many had already found a purpose. But those were all close to the gate. The more important things as the library and intel storage. The infirmary. The guards headquarter. The bank of Heidel and many storage rooms that kept the most necessary items for the villagers close at hand. But deep down in the more bottom corners of the unreasonably large depths of the castle. Verd had built up her own study. Her most precious one was her first room of Elements. The room of frost.

She personally helped the carpenters to seal those rooms completely off. The walls were reinforced by the thickest of materials available. They layered the rooms also with various seals and imbued chakra to make sure they could withstand even the fiercest damage, all specifically to one element each. Due to the nature of the Yuki Clan, the first element rooms to be built would be Ice, Water and Wind. But out of a sense for planning ahead, the other common elements such as lightning, earth and fire had been commissioned too and were about to be finished by the end of the week. To test their actual safety, they would need ninja with those elements to get the final seal of approval for them. But for now, this was not necessarily of Verdandi’s concern.

Verd was spending hours in the room of ice. She’d practice her meditation as she learned it from the great sage at the Aisu temple. Her furious steps through the room would cause echoes within the castle walls. But she had chosen the deepest rooms for a reason. Down here all the ruckus, noises and shatters would not make it to the upper levels. Allowing her to do as she pleased. Verd would bring the water barrels in position and then start to move it around with her palms as if she had telekinesis by nature. As soon as she started to meld it within the purpose of frost. The water would instantly become cold and within the still fluid chakra, ice crystals form. Verd was very intrigued by this new power she had obtained. Using her element to throw it forth against the training dummies. Coat them slowly in frost and then crush them under the sheer willpower she could command her ice with. This was her legacy. This was her unique power and she was certainly content with it so far.


510

The Lotus

Verdandi would step into the rooms of wind and water. Throwing her techniques against the walls. Even though she could use a myriad of water techniques. They seemed to certainly lack in power and depth. No fun to behold. She scratched the back of her head and was certain that she should be able to pull much more from the depths of her chakra. But compared to what her abilities would hold on to within wind and water, with the frost she was throwing in the previous room, it made her realise that she was far from being a sage with those elements. It was around that moment when Verdandi made her decision. To change this and make sure her powers with wind and water would someday be equally feared as her frost. Content with finding a new task and purpose she yet had to find a place where she had to begin. Someone to teach her the very essence of those elements alike the sage from the Aisu temple.

Verd would instantly get giddy and extremely over motivated at the idea and prospect of a new adventure alike the previous one. She’d quickly make her way to her father who had tipped her off on the Aisu temple last time. Asking him about teachers within wind and water made him furrow his brows and force him to think deeply. He knew that the ice sage wasn’t the only one of his kind. There was a full order of people very talented within the powers of nature. But in the end, he had to admit that he had no idea where they would hide themselves nowadays. He yet was able to give her something anyway. A name. The name. The name of the very organization that was once behind the deep teachings of each element. In the days where sages would roam the earth and there was exceptional ninja, some that were even rumoured to be able to control all the common elements.

Verd got huge glassy eyes at the idea of such overwhelming power. She was yet content that she didn’t have to reach that kind of power level. Mastering the three elements given to her would already satisfy the curious kunoichi within. The name of the secret organization was ‘Lotus’ and despite it not giving a clear picture in her head, Verd was sure she had heard of that before…. Like in some sort of children’s tale about a bender of elements and stuff. Making her way to the archives, she’d stumble into Urd and question her thoroughly about that weird Lotus Order and if she ever had heard about that one before. Urd seemed perplex to hear of such an old and wonderful tale from Verdandi. Pretty sure that, within the sisters she didn’t tend to be the super smart one. Verdandi felt deeply insulted by her sister ongoing surprised reactions and told her to shut up and get to a point!


505 / 1015

Pai Sho

Urd fetched a book from one of the many shelfs after browsing through the titles. Coming back to Verd she’d use it to thwack her younger sister once on the head for using bad language. While Dandi rubbed her poor head in awe for being scolded. Urd would open the book and slowly browse through the pages. The prospect of her having read the majority of these huge old books made Verd shiver. A person with so much knowledge shouldn’t exist. She was a monster! The very moment she was thinking of that she could see her big sis staring at her ready to thwack her again. At last Verd was certain her sister could read her mind and ducked quickly to avoid another thwack. Instead Urd turned the book around and showed it to the crouching and hiding little sister. Verd got back up to grab the frame of the book and slowly read her way past the pages. There were images too. Good. She hated books without images. Boring stuff. Eventually she would read her way through without falling asleep. The texts briefly mentioned a secret order of old masters that could be found within all elements. There was yet not a single notion as to where those people life. Verd was already about to get frustrated about it as she moved on to the next page where there was an inscription about a very specific game that they used to play back in the days. A chess like game called, Pai Sho.

Urd had already left the library as Verd suddenly got interested, she liked games. Especially if it was described in such detail with a lot of pictures drawn to the pages. It would turn dawn and night while Verd remained in the library. At last she had browsed through the various pages for Pai Sho a third time and seemed to understand the ideals and tactics behind the game. There was one last tiny sentence at the end of the instruction that implied, that for unmentionable reasons, a lot of the veteran sages would always favour the white lotus stone. It didn’t take a genius to see the connection between the white lotus and the organization of elemental sages with the same name.

Verdandi had her lead. It was like standing on thin ice but she had something and technically nothing better to do. Making her way to bed and getting a good night’s rest to brood over her findings and possibly dream of cake, booze, handsome men and old sages playing a weird board game with a deeper meaning behind it. Her dreams would turn into weirdo nightmares of the old men hunting her down trying to extract her aisu element from her while she was forced to slap them all one by one with big sister’s heavy book. It was an odd dream. But hey. We all have those from time to time now. Don’t we?


500 / 1515

A simple board game

Verdandi studied the books thoroughly once more and by late afternoon she would find herself sitting in the local bar of Heidel. She was searching for Pai Sho board earlier and after rummaging through the multitude of weird storage rooms in the abandoned castle parts she did find a complete set. Sitting in the bar on a table she would run the various pieces around and battle a theoretical play against herself using two different strategies she had read about and was trying to see which of the two had a better play style to it. After several hours an old man would sit down on the other side of the table and ask her if she minded if he’d simply join in for a round or two. Verd nodded softly and kept losing pretty hard as his strategies were exceedingly more intelligent than the ones from the book. “You are using techniques of old, young girl. Where did you learn those?” he would chitter towards her as if he was making fun of her of sorts. Verd kept silent. She wanted to remain mysterious about it and successfully kept him in the shadows.

After this night Verd would go home and try to learn the techniques he had shown in practice. Quickly adapting to them she went back the next evening to shadow-play herself once more and clearly seeing the advantage of the play. A new old man would offer her a challenge and she accepted. Beating him on two out of five games and learning once more new tricks to the game itself. She’d probably continue this for at least a week until she was starting to doubt that it’d lead to anything. One night, the person that would challenge her this time. Was someone that had already been waiting on her table the moment she entered the bar. The man in simple clothes looked like he was a hundred years old. Verd got a tingly sensation about this one. It was obviously no ordinary old geezer.

The style he used was weak. She would easily defeat him to her surprise. Multiple times. But she would figure out that he always tried to push the Lotus figure past the field. Whenever Verd killed that stone from him. He’d seem disappointed but remained curious. In a sudden move out of simple curiosity, Verd started to mimic his play style and at the chance of defeating his figure once more she instead just moved her own lotus forth as well. The closer this came to the finale of both lotus figures reaching the end of the play table, he would stand up and look at her. “You don’t really know what that means now, do you?” he would imply, seemingly certain that a kid like herself would have no chances of the deeper knowledge required to understand the lotus order. But Verdandi remained vigil about it and stood up as well. Picking the lotus stone, she faked her confidence and stared at him. “I know exactly what you are. But do YOU know what this means?”


525 / 2040

Secret lair of lotus

Verdandi was playing her cards. She had studied this game and the mysterious order connected to it. Most of the people she had played with so far were old and only liked it cause it used to be a popular and fun strategy game. The man could yet see through Verdandi’s ruse. She didn’t act like a lotus member. But he was still intrigues to see someone actually go along with the practices of old. Intrigued by the prospect of something interesting he tapped her lightly on the shoulder. Verd could feel something softly burn up on her skin as he did. But it vanished immediately afterwards. “I shall see you at the docks tomorrow night. Be sure to cloak yourself.” He’d mention and nod, bow and take his leave.

Verdandi prepared the next day. But she couldn’t help but feel something was off here. Wasting time with assumptions didn’t really calm her and she eventually felt like going crazy over this. In the evening, at last. She would move forth to the docks and find the old man cloaked. He seemed unusually agile and healthy for his obvious old age. Nodding as towards Verdandi’s appearance he pulled forth his white lotus chip. Placed it carefully against a wall a bit further off the docks and voila. A secret door opened its path for them to enter.

Verd would get continuously more nervous over all of this. Something creepy was going on here. But this had been her goal. To find the order and know what it is about. Arriving deeper inside abandoned parts of caves within the mountainside of Heidel, Verd would find herself soon surrounded by a myriad of old people. All cloaked. None showing face. They would sit down into a ring of stone craved seats while Verd had been pushed to stand in the middle. The one that had lead her here removed the cloak hood and looked at her.

“Verdandi Yuki, sixteen years old. Prodigy of ice, bearer of the storm sigil, niece to the Mizukage and potential heir to the Lords seat of Yuki no Kuni… also student of Master Aoki…” Verd listened. They had been following her. The knew who she was and even knew who Aoki was. Dandi felt like she was supposed to be more surprised but then again… old people probably know each other in what remained of this once powerful country. She nodded straight forward. “Yes, that is me.” And waited for their reaction. The old man tapped his lotus stone forth and tossed it towards Verdandi’s feet. “How would you know about the lotus, child? I know Aoki certainly didn’t tell you about it. So, who spilled the beans about all of this?” he said in a stern voice. Almost angry of sorts, certainly intimidating the young kunoichi in her tracks. She was surrounded by strange figures and now felt like she was being interrogated here…. Not good.


500 / 2540

Wisdom of old

Verdandi sighed. It was no sense in trying to act the know-it-all here. So, without further delay she nodded and agreed. Explaining her story. Her path to become the one true protector of the north. Her desire to become strong for her country and her wishes to learn the paths of the sages. However, the elder didn’t seem very impressed about it. As she explained how she found about the knowledge from the lotus however. He got more intrigued. “So, you are saying you spent almost a month to study an old board game so you could meet a bunch of old men that might or might not help you in your cause?”. The group of geezers would softly laugh away at that statement, but their laughs were silenced as Verdandi casually answered with. “Yes.” And acted all smug about it in an attitude one could easily interpret as “What you going to do about it?”.

One of the elders at the side removed his hood. He was visible more fragile and the ages had not been as kind to him as they were for the high elder. “We haven’t seen a willing youngster among our midst since over fifty years! And you all act like she doesn’t deserve to be here.” He gruntled forth, very much to Verdandi’s pleasure. “No one dared to seek us out or find us. Our line is dying slowly away. More than half of our order has already passed on and you geezers dare to laugh about her resolve? I say we test her!” and as he said so, one after the other they would stand up. Cheer for the proposition until they would yell in a chorus “Test! Test! Test!”. But the high elder seemed to be continuously annoyed by this all and stood from his chair. “SILENCE!” he yelled and the others would slowly take their seats. “We are supposed to be the sages of the north… not a bunch of school kids… please my friends, behave accordingly…” and yet many of them couldn’t help but laugh a little.

The high elder would stand up and slowly make his way into the circle. “Alright Verdandi, you managed to come here and Master Seto vouched for you despite having no real reason to do so… other that he’s probably bored of us all. So, we shall grant you the chance to prove yourself and be recognizes as a Lotus. What do you say?” Verd stared up at him. She heavily considered saying no just to mess with him and let him stay back and wallow in his own arrogance. But well. At some point she had to admit that she kind of stepped into a turf that wasn’t hers to control anymore. So, anything that would allow her to prove herself in a way that could potential put her back in control was a very exciting idea.


500 / 3040

Voice of my blade

In one of those nights where a full moon could be seen even in the usually snow heavy Yuki no Kuni, Verd would step deeper into the hidden cave of the sages. The moonlight would casually shine through a myriad of window-like cracks in the ceiling. Painting the cave in a somewhat blueish light. Verd was stepping forth. She wouldn’t allow herself to be taken for a weakling this time. After all she had trained a lot to reach the point she was at now. It required a harsh amount of willpower and dedication. The place she was lead to was some sort of duel ring. A large sphere cut into the stone. The many window like cracks in the ceiling would lighten up the place with the blue hue of the moon. As Verd would step into the ring, one of the elders that have remained cloaked so far would step forward. He seemed frail and not really armed with anything else than his walking stick.

Verd wouldn’t think for long she was here to fight her way into being right. So, she would draw her sword and quickly launch for her opponent. At first, she tried to punch and kick him. Because she thought he might really just be an old frail man and a slice of her sword would end up killing the poor guy. Of course, it didn’t end up that easy. Her hits would be quickly avoided and in a way of mocking her he would slightly knock her on the head with his stick. Verdandi gasped in slight pain for a second and instantly would loose her wishes to restrain herself. Jolting forth with her blade to slice him. He would stop in his path and parry it with his stick. Despite him being able to do so, his facial expressions showed clearly that this was less easy on him now. Verd quickly sliced against him from left and right, making him stagger backwards while parrying. Until he would almost be forced to drop from the edge of the duel ring, in which response he formed a quick seal, one handed and used a gale palm like wind technique that would push Verdandi backwards harshly, almost falling out of the ring on the opposite side instead.

The sages were showing mixed feelings about this, somewhat impressed that she was able to keep up but also disappointed to see her fall in the end. Eventually she would wrap herself back up and blast back forward. Coating her skin in an armor of ice that would glisten under the moonlight. Their eyes would widen as they could glance upon the marvellous beauty of the ice element. They heard about her training with Aoki the ice Master but they had not seen any scholar of his techniques in years. Verd’s blade would activate its hidden mechanism and on a soft click turn into a saw instead of a normal blade. Swinging forth her attack to the elder’s stick would saw a large ripple into his ‘weapon’ and after a series of strikes, well aimed at the same spot, his poor walking stick would be sawn in half. Allowing Verd to blast her own gale palm right at him and catapult the man past the ring.


560 / 3600

Fight must go on

While the elder mourned the loss of his beautiful walking stick. He had admitted to his loss quickly and chuckled. It seemed obvious that he was far from having gone all out but Verd’s surprising tactics had paid off in the end. The next elder was quick to step inside. Uncloaking himself to reveal that he was wielding a staff of sorts. Whirling it around it was obviously made of steel and not of wood for once. Rapidly he would charge Verdandi who would welcome him by spitting a large pool of water onto the floor. Stomping with her foot to turn a bunch of the new water into thin ice and actually making him slip as he glided over the floor. Her attempt to slice him in his fall was yet returned by a quick twirl of the staff and after a short infuse of chakra he would use the supernatural walking technique to steady his feet before he came threateningly close to the corner of the ring.

Verd would not relent and speed forth. Her blade easily parried by the twirling staff she knew she would have to step up her game. Lifting her fingers, ice spikes would rise from the already icy surface, spearing into air and threatening the elder to impale his feet in the process. He would jump about and twirl his staff to destroy the spikes as quick as they emerged from the ground. But as he was forced to avoid them he would soon walk into Verdandi’s trap and as he set his next foot on the ground the ice prison technique would grip his foot. Unexpected to see this high-level technique he tried to destroy the ice but was quickly engulfed by it.

Before Verd could activate the grave tech however, he would break free from the prison with his bare strength. Bowing to Verd before he seemed to willingly leave and step off the platform. At last, the high elder would move on himself. With no weapons but a very strong sense upon his body. As Verd launched forth she would find herself surprised to see that he actually parried her very attack with his bare arms and yet it would create a sound as if her sword was hitting metal. His skin seemed to be reinforced by some genetic trait or whatever. Verd wouldn’t bother long with the semantics to it and keep slicing down at him until he would catch her sword in his very own hand and pull on it. Sending his elbow straight into Verdandi’s stomach who almost puked at the powerful impact and obviously lost instant grip over her own weapon.


450 / 4050

Promising pupil

He tossed her weapon, carefully aside and proceeded to punch Verd in her chest and send her flying backwards. She could wrap herself back up once more before losing to the corner of the ring. Bare handed launching forward as she exploded the archerfish technique into his face. Forcing the two of them to become temporarily submerged. The water would quickly turn to ice and trying to freeze the both of them within. Even as this succeeded, the ice was quickly broken, once more just through brute strength. Leaving the exhausted Verd to sit on the floor. Panting hard as she had exhausted her chakra pool.

Just as the high elder walked up to her. A water clone would appear out of his dead corner of sight and attack him. The punch would land into his rib and force him to cough before he single handedly grabbed the clone and planted it to the floor as it splat into a broken puddle of water. As he stood before Verdandi, she could have sworn that he was going to give her that final punch she deserved and at last cast her out from this exclusive group of skilled men. But surprisingly enough, he didn’t. Instead he would lean down and offer his hand to Verdandi to pull her up back on her feet.

Verd would accept the offer and as she did. The elders around them would clap softly in approval. Showing her that they were, but deeply impressed despite her loss in the end. “Fine.” He would say with a cheeky grin to his face now. “I think you’ve proven your point young one. Excuse us for judging you too quickly. We expected you to be but another swordsman that just likes to brag about their skills without the actual talent to back it up at all… but you really are of the Yuki Clan without doubt. Your parents should be proud of your progress. However, you have been promised to be heard if we can test your abilities. Since you did fulfil your end of the bargain it would only seem fair that you may now reap your price. What is it that you wish and desire? Why did you come to seek us out in the first place, hmm?”

Verd wouldn’t be able to hide that she was breathing hard but in the sake of not allowing herself to be seen as a weak fool now. She bit her own lip and wrapped herself back into a firm stance. Bowing to the high elder and shrugging her shoulders yet towards his question. “My only wish is to become stronger, to learn about my elements and learn about the frost within me. Master Aoki has shown me the potential behind my attacks but I feel like I have barely touched the surface towards all of this.” She would then proceed to kneel and lower her head in the usual way one would beg. “Please, teach me to become the prodigy I desire to be and that I’m expected to turn into… I can’t stand being weak any moment longer… Please…”


530 / 4580

Shame of the sages

As the high elder nodded. The remaining cloaked ones would slowly disperse into the darkness of the caves. Leaving the two of them alone. Verd would sit back on her butt. Now more visibly exhausted from spamming chakra so quickly. High elder would introduce himself as Maxon. Offering once more a hand to pull Verd up and take her along towards a room aside of the sparing ring. She would, on the way, pick up her sword and sheath it. Offered a comfy looking chair he would sit into one himself as the room seemed to resemble some sort of office for him. He poured her a tea and sipped on his own one quickly. "You know well that you aren't weak." He said while looking at Verd. "You might be young and still in need to make your own experiences. But being weak is something else." He added. "But I understand your… slightly overly dramatic request young one. The others were right. It has been too long since we allowed a next generation to join us."

"Who is us?" asked Verdandi, reminding the elder that, despite her being her. Verd was not really aware what the Lotus was. "We formed many hundred years ago. All of us were once younglings as yourself. The Lotus used to protect the lands of Yuki no Kuni but… as you can see we failed in our task. Horribly so. None of us had expected Hao's wrath. His destructive power has laid waste to most of what was dear to us before we could even act. Many of us were able to save their tribe, their village and their family. But all of us lost our country that day. We secured many thousand civilians in the aftermath. We brought them to Heidel, we brought them from Heidel to Kiri as the castle was burnt as well. But while most of them left, we would stay behind and start to rebuild. After all, it was our responsibility to do so. Especially after we already failed our country." He sighed deeply. The regret in his voice was something one could hear and feel.

Verdandi gazed at Maxon for a while. She tried to understand what he and his men had gone through. They were supposed to be the strongest and wisest of their folk but in the end, the timing and surprise of Hao's intense powerful attack had proven all of them useless in the act of trying and keeping their people safe. Verd could definitely relate to his emotional pain. They had done their best and it wasn't enough. Yet after years of supposed succumbing to their shame, they yet remained loyal to their country and put all of their hope back into the few shards that remained of Yuki no Kuni and that was nothing else but Heidel.


480 / 5060

One with the Lotus

Verdandi kept conversing with Maxon for many hours. Contemplating the war against Hao's wrath and the many souls that could be saved and the many souls that simply could not. The ideal of reviving Yukigakure and eventually Yuki no Kuni as a whole, would be a dream to remain and linger into the future. A goal and desire Verdandi would adapt into her own mind. Now filled with more than just national pride, the wish to create something the sages have lived and died for. To show them, that the ones they saved would return and not all had been for naught. It was a burden to carry such a wish, but then again, Verd was someone with little goals set aside her wish to become powerful. Adding an aspiration like this would give her something to work forward to. After all it was in perfect sync with what her family had been trying to do since years anyhow.

Dandi wouldn't go as far as to try and do some kind of cheesy promise on how she's going to save the country and return it to it's former glory. Having it as a goal wouldn't mean she turned into a delusional kid. This would require a lot of work and powers that were certainly beyond a single person.

Maxon however cherished Verdandi's motivation and placed a blue glowing lotus tile into her palm. "Well it doesn't matter what the will bring to you, young princess. But in any case. You have our support. For now. The best thing we can do is help you find what you were looking for now, can't we? So, tell me again, what is it that you were looking for?"

Verdandi contemplated. She knew this was all about learning wind and water elementals. But then again, her powers had already grown overall while she had been here. "I want to advance my training with Aoki and even with water and wind sages if possible." She would reply but Maxon would slowly shake his head. "There is nothing the sages can teach you anymore about those elements. You can, of course keep sparing with them to figure it all out and eventually discover some secret techniques you haven't fully mastered yet. But what you need, is a deeper insight into your own strength. Go to Aoki, I'm certain he wishes to talk with you and knows exactly where you have to go." With that being said, Maxon smiled and stood up, giving a last friendly bow to the young student before vanishing into his own room.

Now that was simple. Verd began to understand. Even while she was away from home doing her casual mission. Verd had already grown in power, the same power she had been aching for and yet she was already shown a new level of knowledge far beyond her primal intentions. At last it'd be time to figure what adventure would be ahead of her this time.


510 / 5570

Masters of Elements

Verd would end up spending days training with the elders. Even Maxon graced her studies with his powerful presence and knowledge from time to time. The duels would help her brush up her wind and water skill. There even was a bunch of Kenjutsu Masters among them, ready to keep her feeble skills with the sword and raise it to a more professional level. But at last. Her audience with Aoki would come to pass. Meeting the old grumpy ice user face to face again was always a pleasure.

Verd would spend days with him. Ask him all about how he made his way from the throat of the world to the village of Heidel. How he experienced it to return to civilization and reconcile himself back with the living and even back with his order. He would gladly share his stories. Facing the burned village once again. Securing the Aisu temple so his guardians would safe-keep it while he wasn't home. How he totally stole Verd's idea and enjoyed himself a good long ride of ice-skating. Even coming past a very special grave of a certain polar bear mum. But all the stories, they were just build up to something far bigger. He knew exactly where Verd had to go. And yet he was unsure as to if she was ready.

Verd kept teasing him for days if not weeks about his inability to share or spill the beans. So, especially since he couldn't really say no to her much, Aoki would invite her once again to his own study. Within their long talk he started to explain where most of the elders had learned about their elements. Where the true Masters were created. Where the first of their kind would go to in order to seek wisdom. Where even the strongest sages would seek out for knowledge and guidance and that without doubt was kind of an extremely odd explanation.

Aoki implied, that within Yuki no Kuni, there were old relics of time, hidden, completely unaffected by Hao's destruction. Far out of reach from normal human interaction. The Masters of Elements. But while he explained it. He made clear that those Masters were not human. Not the same kind of sage that Aoki was. Pure manifestations of their element. Pure raw and wild power. They were titans. They could be as large as a whole village, or as tiny as mouse if desired. So, finding them could prove of being either very easy, or extremely difficult and if Verd wished to obtain their blessings, she would have to find all three of them.

"I guess you should start with the easiest one. Oceanus. At least that’s how the villagers call him. He is not the god that the myths talk about. Never the less he is insanely powerful. I suggest you be extremely careful when trying to converse with him. It's been quite a few years since our last suiton sage had contact with him." Aoki explained. Handing Verd a map of the last sightings of the titan and giving his honest blessings to her humble quest.


530 / 6100

Preparing for the ocean

Verdandi would leave the sages. Too many days had she spent in their secret base of operations. But she left with a first goal as to what she desired to do. Moving past the empty streets at night, the same moonlight that had illuminated her first battle with the elders would now accompany her on her way home. Once again it was made painfully clear to her that those people were basically living at her doorstep. Disguised as simple elderly people. Having normal lives. Family or friends. As being part of the lotus was their passion, not necessarily what defined them as a whole. Except for Maxon maybe… or Aoki, that old Hyouton Monk just had nothing better to do than lecture young people about their daily mistakes.

Verdandi chuckled. She would go home and enjoy some dinner time with her sisters. Telling them about the adventures of the lotus. Especially Urd seemed to get almost obsessed about the concept of powerful elders, living in the village, wielding potential knowledge about many things that were not properly documented in the archives of her library. Or even missing entirely. Verd hadn't thought of it. So, she placed a normal Lotus tile into Urd's palm and told her where she could find Maxon. In case she wanted to get to know him, the facial expression Urd would give off at the sheer possibility to come in contact with such knowledge made her giddy. Giving Verd a huge snuggly before they all went to bed.

The next morning Dandi would visit her sisters and even mum and dad at work. Giving each of them a proper goodbye hug as she had packed all the things she needed. Fetching Avalanche who was lazily spending time in the new castle's garden. Pretty sure she could use a companion on her travels. Getting one last big meal at her favourite Inn, the Mammoth Skull. A nice sweet plum wine and then heading to the eastern fishing docks. She had already arranged a boat from a fisher, not wishing to put any of the royal boats on the line for this personal adventure. Verd would make her way east to Heidel enjoying her time with Avalanche as the growing bear was visibly excited to get some action.

Ava had become quite large. He had been fed an intense amount of meat over the past months. His natural growth was an admirable feat but his continuous contact with chakra seemed to influence this a lot. His size was way beyond that of a normal polar bear of his age. Verd was unfamiliar with anyone that had been trying to tame one of them before. So, she didn't really have much chance to compare knowledge about this process. Anyhow. She couldn't wait for the day he would be fully grown. To see what a gorgeous beast of the north he would become.


490 / 6590

Dancing with the fishes

After many hours of traveling along the simple snow-covered pathway, they would arrive at the fisher's village. It was small. Many of the buildings were built on the remains of the former village. As it was still day Verd wouldn't bother with resting. She had a job to do. Quickly moving down to the docks to meet the fisherman that she had a deal with. He wasn't around but his wife would sit by the docks and work on the fisher nets. Avalanche would sniff around the docks. The smell of fresh fish was a wonderful concept for the young bear. Dandi sighed and asked the fisher's wife if she could take a fishing rod along with the boat.

Verd paid the extra cash in coin and slowly moved on to jump into the small boat. Avalanche made sure to show his displeasure over both, having not eaten fish yet and moving onto the weird wooden platform that was supposed to float in the water. The boat was big and long enough to carry their combined weight. Still, the bear would push the boat further into the water surface than Verdandi expected. With a compass at hand she would ask the fishers woman if they had seen glimpse of Oceanus lately and the woman nodded. Pointing out that the titan had been visiting their fisher's village not too long ago. Verd was confused. Wasn't this supposed to be a difficult adventure? She wondered why the people went so casually along with the whole titan story.

Dandi moved on. Pulling the rudders and lowering the sails. Slowly drifting off into the direction of the islands she had been pointed towards. While they were in calm waters, Verd would leave the sailing to the wind and just made sure the general direction was fine. Pulling in the rudders to fish a little bit with quite some success. Feeding her hungry bear with most of the produce and munching into some of the raw fish by herself.

After an hour they would move closely in between the smaller islands. The beautiful ice structures and small mountains and hills on the islands were a beautiful sight to behold. Some seemingly untouched by men in thousands of years. Some of them yet, would show remains of fishing encampments or abandoned lighthouse towers. But Verd didn't have the time to reminisce in the memories of the good old days. A seemingly large blob of water was moving above surface level not far from her. If anything. It had to be the titan. Verd had never seen one in her life. She did hear stories about their glory. About the intense power they had within them and so Verd would not become disappointed when the very blob of water would recognize the fact that someone was following. It stopped in it's path. Turned around and with a large body of water it'd simply grab for the whole boat and lift the princess along with her bear up into the air far above surface.


520 / 7110

The gentle giant

Verdandi stared at the large formation of water that the arm extended from. It seemed to slowly grow from its normal blob sized pillar. Stretching itself upward into the air. The body would slowly follow. Making Verd realize that she had only seen a fraction of the giant creature before. Staring at it in disbelief while it extended itself larger and larger. The body remaining simple and yet showing various features until at last the titan revealed its full size, worthy of its name. Verd was sitting idly in it's palm. Soon feeling how the other palm of the giant came closer and it started to poke against Verd with it's finger. Seemingly annoyed by this the titan would understand that his current form was not very useful. Placing Verd down along with her boat and little Avalanche inside, the titan would slowly aim with it's head towards the boat and slowly splat his intensely giant body into a small condensed version barely human size into the boat.

Verdandi gazed at the blobby creature. She wasn't sure to feel threatened or not but the smile on his… face or at least the lines implying such a thing was somewhat comforting. If it wasn't for the fact that the body remained clearly as water, Verd would have guessed this could be a Hozuki of sorts, like her friend Chigetsu. "What do you seek, human?" the creature asked and slowly sat down inside the boat. Verd followed suit. Avalanche casually licked at the stranger's palm and realized he was indeed drinkable. The resized titan used his liquid palm to pat over the polar bears head.

Avalanche visible enjoyed it, showing no signs of feeling threatened at all. Interestingly enough. Verd gazed at the creature and asked. "Are you Oceanus the great titan?" she wondered. The blob laughed. "Do I look like a god to you?" he implied and snickered. Seemingly enjoying this. "I'm Sui…" he added and his shadow layered smile would widen in a somewhat creepy way. "But you are a titan?" added Verd slightly confused about the whole Oceanus part. "I can make myself larger, if that turns me into a titan, then yes, I'm a titan. We all are if you wish to see us that way." He added, continuously amused. "You all are?" Verd asked with a newfound curiosity raising inside her. "We, titans… I have a feeling you are looking for more than just one hmm?" Verd nodded quickly. "Well there's a few in your beloved snow country. Which ones do you seek?" Dandi stared at Sui spooked by the overly helpful input. "Wind, Water and Ice." She answered casually. Sui nodded. "Ice lives here for good. But Wind is all over the place. Obviously so. Catching her while she is in your beloved country will be hard." He added and laughed further.


490 / 7600

An unusual creature

Verd spent many hours talking to sui. Eventually she started to row slowly back towards the fisher's village. As they arrived. Verd sat down at the docks. Sui joined her as they both put their feet into the water. Sui's feet would disappear whenever his legs touched the surface. Implying time and time again what exactly he was. "So, you are the avatar of water, did I understand that correctly?" Sui nodded. "And you titans are immortal correct?" Verd added with a certain disbelief. "We can be defeated, but not destroyed. Have you ever tried to get rid of all water in the ocean?" he asked and laughed to himself. Verd could clearly sense a chakra-based spirit from within Sui's body. The concept of him being alive like that was odd and defied most logic that she had been thought with so far.

"What is that you truly search child?" he added "People generally don't seek us out or disturb us. We just do what we were created to do and eventually annoy each other. Do you have any idea how often your ice buddy comes along and freezes my cute waves? He's a prick I can tell you." Sui laughed away. Joyfully sarcastic in his ways. Verd kept bothering him until he finally gave away what she wanted to hear. "You wish to be blessed by the elements you possess, is that it kid?" Verd quickly nodded. Finding this to be potential the best description of what she had heard about he quest so far. Sui shrugged. Pulling forth a little sea clam shell as he exhaled his fishy breath onto the object. Quickly handing it to Verd.

"If you have found my siblings that you see. Blow into the shell nearby a body of water and I shall come to be with you as well. Until then. Good luck little human." He snickered and was about to drop his frame into the water. "Wait!" screamed Verd and Sui's head slowly poked back out of the surface, staring at her. "What is it child?" he asked warmly. "Where should I seek for your sister, wind?" she asked with a worried expression remembering how he mentioned that it'd be a hard task to catch her. "You have to cause a very very large concentration of wind. Fuu has to appear whenever those formations are created. She gives life to the wind. As much as I give life to the water. Simple as that kid. We are no gods. We are just part of your world as much as you are kid. Good luck." He blubbered away quickly afterwards. Verd couldn't really grasp the concept of elementals or avatars or however they called themselves just yet. But the elders of Lotus had given her a specific goal and she would certainly not give up just yet.


490 / 8090

Travel to the valley

Verd sat in the fisher's hut and dunked down a few glasses of plum wine. Contemplating about the existence of titans while she was trying to figure out how to get that nasty bugger of a wind titan into view. She sighed and drowned herself in another few glasses until she passed out and slept her buzz off while sitting in the very same chair. Waking up, seemingly uncomfortable the next morning. Verd would feel the ache in her head. The first thing she saw was Avalanche casually swimming about and munching some fish. Somehow. Somewhat had brought a sudden intense amount of fish to this shore. Verd wondered how the heck those titans worked things like this but it seemed to be a funny parting gift from Sui of sorts.

Strong and filled with fish in his belly, Ava would give Verd a hand and pulled her on out of the village. He seemed to have somewhat of a godlike inspiration all of a sudden and Verd had no idea what to do anyway. As both situations seemed to work out perfectly his way. Verd stumbled forth and would fall on Avalanche's back. The young bear first stopping in his trail would then recognize that Verdandi's weight was pretty feathery light as compared to how he remembered it. He was aware that she wasn't able to carry him anymore for a while but him being able to carry her? That was new.

Verd cuddled her drunk self against his furry back and Avalanche made sure his owner was properly hanging on to him. As he slowly and casually walked off past the village into the mist of the snow filled mountains. Verd would doze and dream about hunting gods that turned out to be elementals and stuff like that. The confusion about those beings was obviously getting to her and she was tired of trying to process it all. As she actually woke from her weird dozy nap, snuggled into Ava's fur. Verd ruffled herself up, sitting on his back and realizing that she was riding her polar bear. With deep amazement towards what was happening, the young bear seemed to have visibly grown in size after consuming the mountain of fish from sui. Verd wasn't quite sure what was really going on but she could see that the two of them had arrived at the top of a mountain path. Verd gazed up towards the peak of said mountain and down into the valley below. Dandi instantly recognized the place. It was unique corner within the land of Yuki no Kuni. The valley of the wind. There was no kid in Yuki that didn't know about Nausicaa's tale. Such a beautiful story. One about wind and evil… titans. Verd scratched her head. Not sure where Avalanche was actually inspired from but she wouldn't question it at this point. Giving his hips a little squeeze with her legs as she suddenly shuddered within the depth of needy inspiration. Wishing to ride her beautiful beast for real, for the very first time.


520 / 8610

Valley of the Wind

Verd how depression was quickly rising up her spine again. The valley seemed empty. Despite that Hao's flame never touched this place it seemed completely abandoned. Hints of wood, logs and carpenter materials were at the shore. It didn't take long for Verd to see that those people fled while the rest of their country was burning. Verd didn't blame them. She would have told them to do the very same thing if she had been here that day. To save themselves. Not like any of them could have done anything to fight the black flames. Verd sighed to herself and stepped off Ava's back whenever, moving into the empty houses and also proceeded to investigate the castle. The old run-down stone house was barely worth being called castle and Verd had seen Heidel in its most pitiful times. Exploring into the building, finding rotten food storages. Beautiful gardens gone wild after the years of abandonment, weapons and armor and a myriad of cute looking little fox squirrels.

It was indeed a pitiful sight but strangely enough, most of the windmills were still working, rotating and milling away into the day. Verd was impressed. Some of these building must be running since years on their own, without any human looking out or caring for them. Making it clear that the carpenters who created those buildings were of skill that could be barely compared with the very little and few things she had seen in her lifetime. Verd gazed around town, eventually a little shiny glimpse far up the hillside would catch her eye. Verd swung her frame onto Avalanches back and quickly rode her way up the mountain side. Approaching a lone hut built halfway into the stone of the mountain wall. A funny looking construction of large sturdy logs and various little wind calculation devices.

Smoke was coming from the chimney of the place. Verd moved forth to shortly knock at the door. Said door would be opened quickly, a tiny man with large beard would come forth and stare up at Verd, proceeding with a simple. "I'm not buying anything." Before he turned around and slammed the door. Verd was probably as surprised as the old man. He suddenly froze in his steps and turned around to return to the door. Carefully opening it with her palm tugging on it. Squinting his eyes while he gazed upon Verdandi's frame with his tiny little button eyes. "W… who are you?" he asked suddenly. Making it quite clear that his previous attempts to show his hospitality were mere blocked by muscle memory. Having somewhat forgotten that he was completely alone in this valley for over six years. Staring up at the gentle smiling woman and her odd bear companion as he would recognize the Yuki family crest on her clothing. "You are an ice user aren't you… Aisu… a very suspicious lot aren't you!" he claimed but laughed hysterically. Verd slowly got the feeling that, whoever this guy was, sanity was probably not one of his strong suits.


520 / 9130

Dancing with the wind

Verd got tired of this. She thwacked the old man on his head who proceeded to yell for oppression as she entered the house. The place was filled with weird mushrooms that somewhat gave away a nasty look. In the backroom dozens of weird looking liqueurs would be hoarded in coloured flasks. Verd could relate to the joy of collecting shiny objects, but he didn't seem to do it for the sake of artistic value, but rather just to get a feel what kind of substance would be hiding in which flask. The more she examined the place the more she would come to the clear understanding, that pretty much everything in here was either a drug in itself, or a substance, say component, to create said drugs. The old geezer grinned suddenly. His previous paranoid behaviour suddenly replaced by an almost creepy joyful glare. Without even budging for a second, he'd grab the closest mushroom and quickly munch it down, giving off a disturbingly joyful noise as the stuff apparently kicked in pretty fast and hard.

Verd admitted to herself that she had not seen this one coming. A lone druggie grandpa somewhere in the mountains. Sniffing on various funny substances and munching a whole compendium of joy makers. Verd grabbed him by the shoulder. The sudden physical contact seemed to bring even more joy to the man. Slightly reminding him that it might have been a few years since he last spoke with an actual person. Then again, he was so hammered that he generally just expected all humans he met were just figments of his mind and parts of the hallucinations he was currently going through. Verd spent about an hour slapping the guys face, force feeding him water, trying to sober the old geezer far enough so he might actually give away a useful reply to her questions.

Patience would be the key. After what seemed like an eternity of watching the man go through various of pretty neat stages of what must have been a pretty crazy trip, he dozed off into nap time. Verd once heard that it was unhealthy to sleep while drugs of that level were roaming in your system. But health didn't seem to be an issue for this guy at this point anymore. While he napped, Verd searched through his nasty hut. Finding a myriad of flasks, some containing interesting looking liquids. Other looking like they were the next pathogen to the largest viral infection the shinobi world had ever seen.

Verd yet somehow doubted that this guy was an evil genius mastermind. Set on to destroy life. He seemed pretty funky actually. After a very long nap and Verd doing what she could do best when bored, sharpening her knife and actually cleaning the place up. She would go outside to check on Avalanche. She didn't really wish to have him in the hut. In case the little fella would end up snooping his nose into powders not meant for him. Or anyone else at all…


510 / 9640

Funky Grandpa

Verdandi returned to the hut after making sure that Ava was well busy hunting some hares without leaving her immediate premises. Keeping at least half an eye on the little monster seemed like a good idea. Basically, always did. As Verd stepped back into the hut, the madman she had left in there was suddenly gone. Instead, a somewhat well-dressed scientist had appeared. Dandi had to rub her own eyes a few times to get the picture. The old geezer had changed his clothes and washed his face. And his beard. And his glasses. Placing this guy in the organized and cleaned up room. He was busy moving his flasks around from one container to another, obviously inspired by the sudden breath of organization and now idly motivated to see where this was going.

Within no time all equally coloured flasks were in the same container. Closed, put away. The multitude of wild growing mushrooms was plucked from the walls and boxed up. The other weird leaves and plants moved into actual plant pots, aligned next to each other as soon to be watered. Verd didn't wish to disturb him and instead watched how he was slowly doing his thing. Interestingly enough he seemed completely sober, which was pretty much impossible considering how high he had been but just like half an hour ago.

At last he turned around and nearly got an infarct as he saw Verdandi. "Good Lord, Susanoo!" he'd scream holding a palm to his chest as if Verdandi had just committed a crime comparable to genocide. He slowly let himself sink into an awkwardly well cleaned looking chair and took a few deep breaths. "Well you aren't an imagination after all are you?" he spoke lightly while laughing to himself. "And I could have sworn that ice princesses belonged solely to the fantasy world…" he added with a certain emphasis to imply that he knew well who she was while she seemed to have not the slightest idea whom he could be. He certainly wasn't the wind goddess.

Verd glared at him in utter disbelief. "Weren't you just reeaaally high about a moment ago?" she asked with a somewhat judgmental tone to her voice. Moving further into the hut while giving another quick stare past the window to check if Avalanche was still in peripheral visibility. She urged herself to find a nice place to sit but the only good-looking chair had already been claimed. Somewhat awkwardly she would seat her fine buttocks onto the table next to him. Leaving him to smile even brighter and obviously entertained by the whole situation. "You seem to know who I am Sir, but I think I've missed your own name? Could you enlighten me please?"


470 / 10110

Figment of the mind

The old man didn't seem very willing to respond right away. He apparently enjoyed the confusion that was taking hold of Verd. But at some point, he might have admitted to himself that it was just selfish if not even arrogant behaviour, hence his amusement would eventually turn into self-loathing judgement. "Fine fine, we might not have met before. But I was just recently informed of your arrival in our lands, kid. The problem you seem to have is probably this…" he spoke as he slowly tugged on his robe and pulled forth a hood over his head. Grey in colour and a lotus symbol imprinted on it. Verd gasped, finding one of them so far out here again so quickly wasn't expected. The lotus seemed to have spread throughout the lands pretty far and wide. Leaving much to be desired within manners he yet seemed to be part of the very same group of ancient sages that had taken her in as one of their own. Verd pulled forth her silver lotus coin and placed it on the table.

He was obviously not very impressed as he already stated that he knew who she was. "So, what does this thing do for me now?" asked Verd as she poked the silvery coin. "Nothing." Replied the old man and laughed, starting to cough pretty hard as he probably inhaled too much and his lungs were far from being healthy at this age. He grabbed on a root not far off his table and munched it down as his cough slowly faded. "You ok grandpa?" Verd added a bit cheeky now. The very way they had been introduced to each other left little space for politeness of deeper levels of respect. They both just desired to get on with this and hopefully come to a wisdom enriched conclusion.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked, obviously not impressed by the heavy number of drugs that roamed his whole… study. If you could even call it like that. "I'm doing science kid, nothing that should concern you. It would escape your young mind anyway…" he escaped. Leaving Verd to simply smirk an awkward grin as she stared at him. "Oh yeah? Why don't you try me?" she giggled to herself and made sure that he could clearly hear the cocky noise along way her tease. "Well you know, if you wish to control your enemy it is best, to… well… to know your enemy. Inside out. To understand them better than they even understand themselves! And well… one of our enemies are obviously drugs. Especially those mushrooms… I mean I have to tell you, HELLO those are some crazy… unhealthy… well…" he stopped in his tracks while ranting about cause Verd couldn't keep it together and burst in laughter already. Much to the missing amusement of the old sage. She made a fool out of him within mere second. "Well I guess I deserved that. Fine. I'm testing drugs, cause it's fun and my studies actually help some people. If you reach my age and find a job that is both, meaningful to yourself and helpful to others, you stick with it ok?"


540 / 10650

Temo the guardian

Verd would spend quite a few hours in that hut. Avalanche had become tired of running around. Already having feasted on a sheer endless amount of fish, the ever-growing bear would squeeze himself somehow past the door without breaking it. Sitting on his large butt and placing his head into Verdandi's lap. The ice princess would caress her loyal little friend. Well, not little. But then again, he was just an oversized dog in his behaviour after all. Much to the disagreement of the sage that was visibly concerned with the potential destruction of his hut and probably also his life's work. Verd could feel how he was more and more in distress and ensured him that Avalanche was a good boy.

While the bear napped away in Verd's lap. The sage seemed it to be a fitting moment to reveal his name. Probably also because he was tired of Dandi calling him a crazy man or a weird old geezer. Temo, the guardian. Such lyric name. Then again Verd wondered what he was guarding, considering the fact that the whole valley of the wind was empty. Seemingly completely devoid of human life. Temo agreed, starting to explain what Verd had already suspected. During Hao's wrath, when the flames followed east. The people in the valley of the wind would move towards the shore. The wind itself yet moved like a protector on its own. Blowing the flames away from the canyon and back towards where they came from.

Verd accepted the premise, that this was a special place and probably even blessed. Then again thinking things through, she did come here to face the wind goddess. If the village was indeed blessed by the spirit of the winds, then she was already on track. Verd proceeded to question Temo about all he could give her concerning wind spirits and the potential show of a Titan. Temo was indeed sure to have seen the goddess but never in her titan form. Unlike Sui whom enjoyed it to scare the living hell out of people. Fuu seemed to prefer remaining hidden. Concealed by her natural invisibility. Verd claimed that she was in grave need to speak with Fuu but as to Temo's continuous requests why she had to do it, Verd simply couldn't answer. Explaining herself to be doing all of this in a simple mere selfish act of trying to obtain power was just… sad. Sort of. But sugar coating it with making things really look like she was doing this all just for the greater good… that also didn't fit her persona. Verd sighed. Patting her cute little monster on his snout as she started to explain how she felt about Yuki no Kuni and about the wishes of its rebirth and apparently her deep need of power to achieve those very goals.


480 / 11130

Windmaker

Temo watched Verd's self-tortured expression while she explained herself. He strokes down over his long beard. Wondered why she was being so coy with the whole topic. "Wishing for strength is nothing bad you know ice princess." He added seemingly to comfort her while Verd was obviously ashamed of her seemingly selfish wishes. Temo didn't seem to mind at all. Reminding himself of his own youth and the days he searched for enlightenment and power. Unlike most of the sages, he actually fulfilled his very duty. Having no lost lives within the valley he could potentially complain about. Hence, he agreed as to Verd's plead to help her in her undertaking. He moved his palms through various shelves of old looking books. Rubbed his finger over a particularly dusty bunch and pulled one forth at last. Slamming it on the table he would quickly skip through the pages. While doing so he put his favourite pipe to his own lip and turned it lit. The herbs inside would smell funny like most odours that Verd had come past in this place. But it seemed to have some sweetness to it as well.

As he was puffing away at his pipe. He would skip the pages until finding the image he was looking for. A large horn, built into the high tower of the valley's castle. He pointed at it and ensured Verd that he had found what she had been looking for. "This thing here, is what we used to summon the wind and protect our valley. It is nothing but the very embodiment of a windmaker machine." He skipped another few pages. Trying to explain the deeper mechanism. Apparently if one could blow enough wind into each of the horns, their stream would be directed upwards away from the valley and create some sort of tornado or wind hose. Depending on the amount of wind power used, the stronger the effect would be.

Considering that the system used to be powered by mere humans, raised hope in Verd as to her being able to put her own wind element to good use at last. Temo nodded. Seemingly thinking that he had already occupied the princess long enough he would run his fingers through a myriad of flasks and pull forth a few very tiny vials. "Here, use this, the villagers called it Wind's blessing. If anything in here could help you, it's probably this one." He laughed, somehow Verd wasn't so sure if it was a good idea to just drink from a vial a potential madman had given her. But such was life for her at the moment. Living in a rather strange surrounding of odd conditions. But at least she had found what she came here for. The valley's secret device to call upon the wind goddess. Now all se had to do is figure out how to properly time her attack and how to split herself often enough to achieve the desired result.


510 / 11640

Blowing the horns

Verd thanked elder Temo for his valuable insights and proceeded to escape from his hut. Pulling her bear along way. Avalanche had been growing in size basically every day since they embarked on this journey. The powers of the elementals seemed to influence him more than Verdandi so far. Verd didn't mind to see her cub grow stronger. Clinging onto his back and putting her palms to tightly grip the fur on his neck as she whispers him to go on. The bear would quickly jump forth, making his way down the hill again and back to the castle. On their way Verd would rub her face into his fur and basically nap a bit against him. She didn't really fall asleep but the prospect of moving while she was relaxing for herself was something she could get used to for certain.

Arriving at the castle. Avalanche would shake his back to inform his Mistress that it was time to let go in grip and slide off the fuzzy warm creature. Verd yawned and dropped to the ground before she jumped the stairs, entering the castle by an open window and using its inner stairs to climb much deeper into the complex. Once she arrived at the top the strange looking horn device seemed rusty and dirty. She instantly started to doubt that any part of this plan would actually still work the way she had initially intended. Avalanche growled as he ran off again, seemingly spotting some hares again or alike. Verd would carefully climb the horn and get to the very top of it. Admittingly, it was a very very large structure. Impressive craftsmanship of sorts. Leaving Verd to wonder what she potential had to do with this thing and where to aim the airflow towards. She tried to compare the machine with what she had seen in the drafted pictures.

After some time, she'd figure that the horn itself wasn't aimed correctly yet for tornado mode. It had been used to directly blow against the valley's entrance and push the flames back. Verd nodded and started to adjust her vision angle. She could see two of the other three horns and within seeing the pattern she had an idea where the last one of them should be at. Dandi left a shadow clone here and moved on to the missing horns location. As she arrived there, she could make out a pretty large horn visibly flat planted on the ground. The tower that it originally manifested against too had been broken to pieces. Shattered she would seemingly also find her dreams seeing this. But if there would be no way to improvise here she wouldn't call herself a Yuki. Verd could see that the very bottom part of the horn was still connected to the ruins of the tower. Seeing how the other two were designed, she did indeed have an idea what to do.


500 / 12140

Tornado in making

Verdandi was pretty confident in her ice shaping techniques. The part of the shattered tower that she required was basically just one wall side so she could reattach the horn against it. Under a deep chakra strain, she would slowly lift the horn with a growing ice pillar coming from one side and raising the ice that would one by one re-attach the horns linked copper fuses back into a straight line. The whole thing didn't look very sturdy but Verd was content it could work just long enough. She added some more ice to the tower wall side to give the whole improvised construction a proper weight. With the horns all erected from earth. Seeming all aimed correctly into the centre between them. Verd would send her remaining two clones towards the last airflow stations.

As soon as they were in proper position. They started to test each horn and unclog potential dirt within them. Simply blowing it out with a primary short wind gust. At last, it was time to test if her plans would finally come to blossom. Each of the clones inhaled for Verd's strongest known Wind technique and then continued to blow the very same into each of the horns. The mechanism would lead the wind of each clone and the original Verd, forth towards the centre of the valley. Where it would blow into open holes from an even larger mechanism Verd hadn't even seen before. The mechanism was covered in grass and dirt but the incoming wind quickly changed that. Swallowing the incoming wind flow, it would quickly mix in the midst of the mechanism. A spiralling set of pipes sending all the combined wind flow upwards and colliding in sphere like shape. Eventually starting to cause the wind hose Verdandi had been looking for.

Excited by the prospect of actually achieving what she had been looking for. Verd and her clones kept blowing more and more wind chakra into the pipes, watching as the wind hose started to grow further and further in size. For quite a while she celebrated her progress and would keep going as long as her clones reserves still had some chakra to tap into. At the very last, the wind hose would finally grow into the very tornado she had been hoping for. Shivering slightly as she started to realize what she had actually done here.

Verdandi would find herself basically at the foot very close to a gigantic tornado. She could literally see how her clones were pulled into the airflow and quickly perished into puffed thin air. Avalanche hid himself behind the fabric of the ice wall but he was visibly disturbed by the fact that the wind flow was trying to pull and suck him away. While the bear vigilantly resisted. Verd could swear to hear the voice of Sui in her head as the tornado screeched it's sound into the valley. At last she decided. The only way to find out is to… let go.


510 / 12650