After Jon managed to summon Schwarz Eis, the faint tension throughout the camp returned, albeit with a slightly different flavour to it. The fact that Jon had managed to obtain another powerful ability was one thing but considering that the summon in question he had manifested was a beautiful humanoid caused Wilheim to wag his eyebrows at him suggestively.

The eighteen-year-old felt his cheeks flush, merely rolling his eyes in response to Wilheim's playful banter.

Avahni seemed to have quite the curious expression on her face, while both Sariel and Shamael stared at him with an interesting combination of respect and fear in their eyes. The lutin sat down beside him, gesturing for him to bring Schwarz Eis out into the open.

Jon glanced towards the three other System Introduction participants, all of whom nodded in response to Avahni's question. He was not even sure if Sariel and Shamael understood the lutin's words, just opting to go along with the conversation.

Letting out a small sigh, Jon turned his gaze towards Ashvattha Rana, noticing that Ru Luan Di was still leaning against the bodhi tree.

Jon focused on the link between himself as his Fragment Of Tree, before hearing the voice of Schwarz Eis interrupt his connection.

"Oh? How scandalous. My own master talking to another woman right in front of me. An immature sapling from the Nine Mountain Realm," said Schwarz Eis, peering at the form of Ashvattha Rana through Jon's own eyes. The human could feel his Minerva-Sagacity Eyes blur for several seconds, his vision dyed white for a moment, forcing him to blink, clearing out the ice natured spiritual energy from them.

"A Fragment Of Eyes too? You are quite the interesting master. Quite the number of Mutations as well. Let's see. Heart. Marrow. Shadow. Eyes. Spirit, and Prana too?! You've been busy haven't you Jonathan." Schwarz Eis spoke in a teasing manner. Her voice would have sent shivers down Jon's spine if he hadn't prepared himself beforehand.

"Please stop peering into my Mana Cores," he asked, earning a soft feminine giggle in response.

"Oh my dear little master. I was just dipping my feet in the water. Quite a bit different to the other Mana Cores I had before I became a summon. You do not know just how lucky you are, obtaining the Fragment Of Summon which contained the essence of my [Right-Hand Of Winter], while simultaneously being placed in a System Introduction," Jon heard the sound of splashing emanating from his Sea Of Knowledge.

Peering into the mental construct, Jon could see Schwarz Eis buxom form sitting atop one of the larger glaciers that littered his Sea Of Knowledge. Her clothing had changed, this time adorned in a pure white modern sundress, one that he had seen a beautiful woman wear in a film during his youth.

She smiled, his eyes drawn to the faint beauty mark beneath her eye. It was perhaps the only thing of colour on her, except the black-coloured gauntlet and pauldron adorning her right arm.

Even within his own Sea Of Knowledge, Jon felt himself unable to influence the waters beneath this winter demon spirit. The faint smile marring her face widening, as the glacier beneath her started to expand, freezing more and more sections of his Sea Of Knowledge.

"A child playing as an adult. Both in mind and in body. You are far too young to be messing around with mental constructs and the manipulation of spiritual energy little Jonathan. Although I admit, being able to suppress certain emotions and experiences after just a couple months, is quite impressive all things considered."

"No proper education. No practical experiences. No theoretical knowledge. What a ghastly excuse for a master I have. Still, you have done quite well being able to integrate a complete set of universal fragments in such a short time span, no doubt thanks to that little bodhi tree sapling. But now that I am here, you need no longer rely on the Earthen Treasury Womb," Schwarz Eis arrogantly declared, tilting her head back a smiling.

Jon furrowed his brows, gazing at his newest summon while shaking his head.

"I trust Ashvattha Rana. Regardless of your experience, age or wisdom, I do not know you Schwarz Eis. Why should I trust you over something that has not led me astray thus far?" the human asked, crossing his mental arms over his chest.

The White Lady Of The Winter Castle hummed, nodding a couple of times. Standing up and taking a step forward across Jon's Sea Of Knowledge, the human could see small platforms if ice move towards the soles of her feet, creating a series of platforms for her to walk on.

Dipping her hand into the waters of his mental construct, Jon watched as Schwarz Eis retrieved a small flower from within it. The moment Schwarz Eis brought up to Jon, numerous experiences and memories regarding flowers arose from the depths of his subconscious mind. The waters of his Sea Of Knowledge growing turbulent within a matter of moments.

"Touche. Trust is an important component between the one summoning and the one being summoned. I had my own handful of summons when I still possessed my own form, so despite all the fanfare and extravagance, I understand the need for understanding between two parties. I am not so arrogant as to think I am above the System, but I am arrogant enough to think I am better than that little bodhi tree… Oh wait let me reword myself."

"I know I am better than that little bodhi tree," Schwarz Eis narrowed her eyes, drawing upon the ice natured spiritual energy within Jon's Ice Mana Core to expand the glacier beneath her feet. Jon felt the environment of his Sea Of Knowledge shift, forcing him to manipulate his own Knowledge Mana Core in retaliation.

Stolen story; please report.

Despite the three-millimetre growth in the bottom of his Knowledge Mana Core, Jon was still able increase its rotation to release knowledge natured spiritual energy. Jon manipulated [Mine Is The Sea Of Knowledge] manifesting a surging current beneath his feet, preventing the White Lady Of The Winter Castle from further changing his Sea Of Knowledge. He could see a flash of surprise appear on the face of Schwarz Eis, seeing the winter demon spirit smile before shrugging its shoulders.

"More surprises. To think that you have even discovered rudimentary methods of Mana Core shaping. Despite you immaturity, it seems that you have come quite far since the beginning of your universes System Introduction. If you do not mind me asking, just how many days have passed since the beginning of the 37th universes integration?", asked the winter demon spirit.

Jon hesitated for a moment but heard Ashvattha Rana's voice emanate from beyond his Sea Of Knowledge. The human turned towards Schwarz Eis, who just continued to grin, no longer preventing the connection between Jon and the little bodhi tree.

"Jon! Jon! Can you hear me!" the human nodded from within his mental construct, allowing the Earthen Treasury Womb to let out a sigh of relief.

"Schwarz Eis obscured the connection between your Fragment Of Tree and your Knowledge Mana Core. Although quite an uncommon technique, not impossible for someone who once exceeded the Rank Of Baron. I do suspect that the White Lady Of The Winter Castle was once quite the influential figure within the White Heavens," said Rana, speaking to both Jon and Schwarz Eis.

Although Ashvattha Rana had not told Jon the Rank she once before she became his summoned companion, Jon knew that it was at least one single Rank above Barony. From the naming conventions that each Rank took, Jon was able to guess some of the following Ranks, although was unsure of their order or if he was missing some of them.

Mortals possessed Mortality, constrained without spiritual energy to enhance themselves. Trapped within forms that were too weak, imperfect and chaotic without structure and intent to form the foundations.

Knights possessed Knighthood. Although Jon was unsure of the differences between Mortals and Knights, it was a qualitive enhancement. Other than that single ashen-skinned creature that had seen chasing Sariel and Shamael, Jon did not have any other sources of information to draw upon.

Lords possessed a Lordship.

Barons possessed a Barony.

Theoretically speaking, Viscounts possessed Viscounties. And a Marquis possessed their Marquess. Perhaps the following Ranks also followed this nobility naming scheme, although Jon knew that Ashvattha Rana refused to comment on things that she did not understand.

"Lady Schwarz Eis. I would be honoured if you were willing to impart Jon with any suggestions of advice regarding the development of his build or the manipulation of certain abilities and spiritual energies," Rana lowered her trees and branches, causing Jon to peer at the bodhi tree with a strange expression on his face.

"What are you doing Rana?! She wants to get rid of you!? Why would you think for a single second that I would- ".

Jon found himself being cut off, feeling a pair of hands wrap around his chest. The eighteen-year-old unconsciously stiffened, feeling Schwarz Eis' hands playfully embrace his torso, her head propped up on his shoulder, her figure practically melting into Jon's.

The human felt his face turn red, uncomfortable with the sudden level of closeness between himself and Schwarz Eis.

"Do not worry little bodhi tree. I am not as spiteful as my appearance might suggest. I am Jonathan's summon, and as such, our lives our intrinsically tied together. Nothing, not fate, karma, destiny or even death may tear us apart."

"As my first lesson, understand what manner of abilities you wish to possess. Rectifying them can come later. If you wish to be strong, integrate a Fragment Of Strength or a Fragment Of Might. If you wish to control fire, wind or lightning, integrate a Fragment Of Fire or a Fragment Of Lightning. If you wish to become a mighty beast, then integrate a Fragment Of Dragon or a Fragment Of Behemoth."

Schwarz Eis gently blew into Jon's ear, causing the eighteen-year-old to jump, throwing the winter demon spirit off his back and retreating several steps in the opposite direction. Jon could see the sweet smile on her face, watching as she licked her lips playfully.

"If you wish to revel in sin, integrate a Fragment Of Gula or a Fragment Of Superbia. If you wish to resist ten thousand afflictions then integrate an Incarnation Mana Core. If you play your cards right, there is nothing that ascension cannot change or alter. It might take several decades, or a few hundred years, but you will get there in the end," Schwarz Eis placed her hands behind her back, a gentle breeze ruffling her hair and sundress.

Jon did not know where such a wind had come from, but steadied his Seir-Glacial Heart, taking a deep breath before responding.

"You took a look inside my Sea Of Knowledge? So you experienced all the conversations and thoughts I had with Ashvattha Rana regarding Mana Core and fragment integration?" Jon adjusted his tone, making his words sound closer to a question rather than a statement.

Once again Schwarz Eis shrugged her shoulders, leapfrogging across a patch of frozen experiences.

"You think too much about somethings and then do not think enough about others. If you desire something than you should do it for no other reason than that you desire to do so," the winter demon spirit admitted.

"And what if that is not the right decision? What if integrating one fragment over the other results in someone dying, or me losing a fight that- ", Jon found himself being silenced, watching as Schwarz Eis closed the gap between them in an instant, placing a single finger over his lips.

All movements within his Sea Of Knowledge came to a complete and utter halt. The gentle lapping of water around him. The subtle expansion of the glaciers littering his Sea Of Knowledge. The faint trickling of water in minute whirlpools scattered to the farthest reaches of his mental construct.

Jon felt all of them froze, feeling the cold breath of Schwarz Eis on his lips.

Her white-silver eyes piercing into his soul, an expression of disgust appearing on her face.

"If you lose than it means you were weaker than your opponent! Do not mistake your own flaws as an incorrect decision as if you are an imbecile! If you lose then you are weak! If you fail it means you are not strong enough. If you make the incorrect decision, it is because you did so of your own volition, not through the influence of others!".

"Hear me this, Jonathan Randall Guilliman. Cease your mindless lingering on what could have been and focus on what might be. The integrated universes have no time for regrets. You act. You fight. And you win".

"Otherwise, you die".

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