I can hear some music. Some drums and a horn-like instrument are playing a festive music. I should see it soon.

It's beautiful. Some childrens are flying blue dragon-looking kites. I can see the band on a small stage next to tens of tables covered in fancy tableware. I can smell food but it seems they haven't brough it to the tables yet. Most of the iceborns and our little group of guest are in a garden in the middle of wich is a towering ice statue.

A statue of a tall woman in some sort of large fur cloak that hides everything aside from her face and hand. Her face is forgetable, not ugly but not beautiful, just bland, which is quite unexpected from a witch. Though in truth I only ever met one other witch. In the statue's hand is a gigantic version of the staff Sylm showed us in the vault. The posture show her plunging her staff into the snow under and chanting. Not that a statue could cast a spell right?

"Oh man that statue bring back so much memories, Lydie was one of the best ice magic user we had."

… could you tell me when you are listening you damn witch?

"Nah it's funnier when I come uninvited."

Is it the right staff at least?

"Yes, as I said Lydie, one of my best pupils, was the best ice magic user of her times. She could easily freeze a dragon alive."

A dragon?

"Yep."

As in the half divine ancestor of drakes that could siege a nation's capital alone?

"Yes."

Were those still alive in your times?

"They are now too, just not to keen on human contact. They live in an island out of all maps."

You do know scholar would sacrifice their whole familie to know where to find them right?

"Too bad they didn't knew the solution was to reincarnate as a cat."

I wouldn't blame them.

Aside from that can you tell me what you know about Lein being a witch, the queen of the iceborns said she's one.

"I won't spoil the surprise."

What a great help you can be.

"You want help? Alright. When everything with the royal assasination is done look for a trapdor under the statue's staff. The place under is perfect for training."

Why?

…

Did she just leave?

I hate that witch.

Wait the sound, the sound! Something's happening. Sylm is leading Lein toward the statue. Everyone is staring at Lein and it's making her visibly uncomfortable. She's staring at the ground and her hands are shaking. It seems Sylm gave her ceremonial clothes, Lein is wearing a frilly skyblue dress and a pair of deep blue boots. Her hairs were tied in a ponytail and someone had put bluish make up on her eyes mouth and cheeks. Those made her green eyes even more noticeable and overall she looked pretty good.

Once in front of the statue, Sylm grabbed Lein's hand and led her to the staff. I was too far to hear what she told her but could understand she was just telling her what to do. They both walked until Lein was in arm reach of the statue's staff and Sylm walked back.

Then everyone went silent, even the band stoped. Lein grabbed the staff with both hands. Nothing happened, some peoples even started to laugh and poke fun at her, Sylm gestured to make them shut up. Seconds went by in a heavy silence and just as another man was about to speak up mana started erupting from under the statue. The amount was so big and concentrated that you could see it with the naked eye. Several chunk separated from the mass of magic and turned in small circle around the staff. They rose to the top then slowly came down until they touched Lein.

The mana coated Lein as if it was trying to monopolize every single centimeter of free space around her, pushing away Sylm and the others. You could see water condensating then freezing around Lein, the ice reflecting the light in a beautiful light show. The ice started to move and gather around the staff. Once enough was here, a piece of the staff shatered and fel in the middle of the pile of ice shards. They suddenly shifted around the piece of the staff to make a dome like shape above it. My magic sight detected some intricate spell giving shape to what looked like a giant ice diamond.

Your skill has leveld up: Magic sight is level 2!

Nice.

Lein was still staring at this unexpected show when the ice suddenly shrunk and fell on her finger. Some of the remaining ice turned into a ring around her middle left finger and the pure ice gem was encrusted in her new ring. It barely lasted a minute but felt like ages. Lein was approved by the progenitor. All the audience loudly cheered at that, aside from a few grumpy old men. The band played a ceremonial tune and Sylm officialy welcomed Lein as an esteemed guest of the iceborns.

Lein was given a seat right next to Sylm and the festivities went on. Peoples drank, cheered and ate in unhealthy quatities as child had to go to sleep. When it was the elder's turn to excuse themselves, Sylm took Lein and a few of the Ervadiel with her. I followed them to the vault and jumped in Lein's arms.

When we came in front of the large metal door, Sylm and Erith stepped in front of the crowd and spoke in a loud, solemn tone:

"I, Sylm Ervadiel, queen of the iceborns stand here as the progeny of the great winter witch."

"I, Erith Ervadiel, third daughter of Ermaus Ervadiel stand here as the delegate of the Ervadiel, guardians of the winter witch's legacy."

"We both agree upon our pledge that Lein Ardegarde, daughter of man, has proven worthy of the legacy and shall be given the staff of the winter witch, for her legacy is to be used by who is chosen by her magic."

The guards bowed and opened the door. Lein's sweaty hands stroked nervously my back as she took out what remaining bravery she had to walk elegantly inside. The two other followed, Sylm being naturally good at formal procedures and Erith not caring in the slightest, even yawning as she went inside.

She even looked at me and smiled, though not that much when I smiled back.

Once inside I didn't even bother to look around, I know what was going to happen, and even if I don't it is impossible to kill Sylm in one strike without the poison.

Sylm walked in front of us and put her hand on the protection around the staff. The ice shone gently, she removed her hand and Erith slashed her own with a knife before doing the same, her blood staining the translucent ice that started to absorb it.

"You know you could do it without my help right? We both have the blood of the Ervadiel." Erith complained.

"Doesn't hurt to stick by the procedure."

"How can you guys be so calm? Isn't that an important event?" Lein interupted them.

"I am a queen, formalities like this are common in my job. I am excited to see what you'll be able to do with it though."

"I just don't care" Erith's answer was simple.

The blood finished merging with the ice and it melted. Sylm gestured toward Lein and they both walked toward the staff. The large piece of white wood ended in a small set of rib like shapes with occasional ice spike erupting from them covering a saphire. Not ice, an actual saphire the size of my head. As Sylm looked with curiosity, Lein was getting closer to grab the staff.

Then Erith stabbed her sister.

She barely pierced her thigh as I deflected the blow with telekinesis. Sylm didn't even let pain show on her face and unsheathed then stared at her sister in disbelief. That's the reason I didn't do anything to prevent the assasination attempt. No one would have believed me if I told her the sister would stab the queen.

But now it was done. I poured as much mana as I could into a wound reduction on Sylm who gave me a nod as thanks and took a battle stance. She didn't have to fight though.

Behind us Lein picked up the staff and pointed it at Erith in a burst of protective instinct toward me and her iceborn friend. She didn't even have to do anything as the staff just threw a simple ice spike toward Erith.

Our cunning little assasin didn't flinch though, she looked at the wound and smiled. Sylm stood strong and changed to a more offensive stance as Lein prepared an ice somain twice as fast as she would have without the staff. The smile slightly faded away. Sylm asked:

"Why would you betray me? Didn't you say you weren't interested in politics."

"Oh please spare me the surprise, you knew I was shunned as a illegitimate and decided not to care. I want the throne like anyone would. I just played dumb so that none of the elders would murder me to avoid a succession war."

Sylm face darkened. Erith smile came back.

"Hurt, doesn't it? Are your veins on fire or your limbs failing to follow commands?"

"No my heart hurts. I can't believe you betrayed me."

Erith smile dissapeared again. She must have noticed now that the poison didn't work. She probably wanted to wait for Sylm to die then call for help so that Lein would be branded as the murderer. I didn't work and Lein froze her feets before she could run.

Sylm is alive and Lein has the staff. I won.

The guards took Erith into custody under the shocked stares of the crowd. Sylm told the guards she would do the interogation herself and went on with the festival.

We came back to the banquet and Lein used her new staff to put on a show of animal like ice creations that walked and flew around and amazed the iceborns. Some other cryomancers even joined her. Then after drinking themselves silly everyone gradually went home, even I was getting sleepy. In the end I followed Veria and Albius, leaving behind Lein and Sylm, still drinking.