Taking off her helmet, Shiro looked at Mount Fuji with mild surprise. It had been a while since she had last come to this place and in just a short one month, the mountain itself had experienced a big change.

The side of the mountain had been completely removed to reveal an ice city ruin of sorts. Even from this distance, she could see a few of the larger ice beasts roaming around.

'Seems like the queen has left but she hadn't patched up the hole where she dug the base.' Shiro thought with a sigh.

Putting her motorbike away, she walked towards the city in hopes of finding a place to rest for now.

While she did this, she looked up on some information about the celestial trials and when it'll be open.

With only 10 hours left till the opening, there were several parties recruiting for members near the entrance of the city.

Activating her disguise once more, she entered the city without much hassle.

Finding a place to stay, Shiro paid extra for a window room that gave her direct view to the mountain.

"Hmm… this is quite a nice view. Even with half of the mountain missing, the inclusion of an ice city is quite charming in a way. I should get the girls to come visit as well." Shiro muttered with a smile while sitting down.

Taking out a teacup, she filled it with some juice and decided to pass some time charging up the Crystal Lotus.

After charging up the lotus every chance she got, it was close to reaching 100 billion MP charge. Hopefully, the lotus would activate at that threshold so that she could use it during the trials.

{I doubt they'll have the time to enjoy such a view. With a grim future so close, hardly anyone would be in the mood to enjoy a scenery no? The only reason you're enjoying it is because you have some time to spare.} Nimue shook her head.

'Indeed… Oh also, since we've got another half a day to waste, I'm going to try out a little experiment.'

{Oh? What kind of experiment?} Nimue asked curiously.

'One that would hopefully speed up the fire spirit's growth.' Shiro smiled.

Closing her eyes, she sent her mind to the mana realm.

Arriving at the fire island, she watched as the fire 'woke up' the moment she arrived.

"Heh~ Seems like it likes you a lot more than it does with us." Iziuel called out with a smile as she was currently laying on the forest island.

"It seems like it doesn't it?" Shiro chuckled while petting the flame.

"So what's the experiment then?" Nimue asked.

"I'm thinking that the life fire might be able to act as nourishment of sorts since the world tree had wanted the same no?" Shiro smiled.

Using her spare hand, she snapped her fingers and created a spark of life fire.

Holding it near the flame, it seemed to hesitate while dancing around this foreign flame.

Examining it for a moment, it seemed to look back at Shiro as if asking for permission.

"Sure, go for it, it's part of my skill after all." Shiro nodded and urged it to do what it wanted.

After receiving her permission, the flame expanded in size and wrapped around the life fire.

[Ancient Spirit Fire is attempting to fuse with the Fire of Life. Will you allow this fusion?]

Seeing the notification, Shiro only raised an eyebrow before pressing the yes button.

Just as she pressed the button, she could feel her mana rapidly drain as the fire in her hands grew in size.

Seeing this, Nimue quickly dashed over to Shiro's side and waved her hand.

*BOOM!!!

Giant tidal waves erupted out as it surrounded the flame but it was evaporated in an instant.

*TSSSS!!!!

Quickly pulling Shiro back, Nimue narrowed her eyes at the rapidly expanding flame.

Even Iziuel made a move despite her usual habit of just observing from the side.

Flicking her wrist, tree roots started to surround the fire island.

Thankfully however, the fire didn't attack them at all. After a moment, it slowly condensed itself back down to a small spark.

[Mystic Life Fire (Spirit) received. Please give it a name.]

Raising her eyebrow, Shiro walked up to the fire.

"Shiro!" Nimue called out.

"It's fine." Shiro waved her hand.

Crouching down, she smiled at the fire and opened her palm.

Allowing it to move onto her hand, she petted it with her spare hand.

"Do you have a humanoid form like these elder sisters here?" Shiro asked.

Flickering for a moment before shifting towards the duo's direction, it shifted back to Shiro and jumped up and down.

"Are you able to take that form then?"

Jumping up and down once more, the fire hopped off Shiro's hand and made some distance between the two of them.

Expanding in size, it slowly took the form of a young boy, fire covering his parts of his body as if it were pieces of clothing.

With blazing red hair and a set of ruby eyes, the boy looked towards Shiro and started to waddle over to her.

'Aww… How cute.' Shiro thought with a smile and picked him up gently.

"What shall I call you?" She muttered before turning to the two girls watching the situation.

"Do you two want to suggest anything?"

"Us?" Nimue raised an eyebrow.

"Well yeah, since he's going to be spending more time with you two in here, you'll be his elder sisters no?" Shiro nodded.

Iziuel floated around both Shiro and the boy before reaching her finger out.

Seeing the boy grab her finger with a cute smile, Iziuel's eyes brightened in joy.

"Why don't we call him Atesh? And Attie as a nickname?" Iziuel suggested with a smile.

"Hmm… Atesh… I like that. System, give him the name Atesh."

[Atesh – Mystic Life Fire (Spirit)]

A young spirit created from the fusion of the Ancient Spirit Fire and the Fire of Life. Due to the circ.u.mstances around his birth, he is deeply connected with entity: Shiro and won't leave her side unless an unforeseen situation happens to her and breaks this connection.

Current State: Baby Spirit

Upon hearing his name, Atesh giggled in joy and tried to say it himself. Unfortunately, all that they could hear were incoherent sounds that came from his mouth.

 "Nimue, Iziuel, can I trouble you to teach him how to speak? The celestial trials are opening soon so I can't take him out." Shiro asked.

"Sure, it shouldn't be too hard." Nimue nodded.

While she was replying to Shiro, Iziuel was still playing around with Atesh.

"Iziuel, can you focus please." Nimue sighed as Iziuel only stuck her tongue out.

"Aw… but Attie is so cute though. I mean just look at him." Iziuel smiled and gestured for Nimue to play around with Attie as well.

Handing him to Iziuel, Shiro was about to leave when she felt a little hand tug at her sleeve.

Looking back, she saw Atesh wanting to be held by her again.

"Sorry Attie, I need to do a trial to class up so I'm a little busy. I promise to stay with you after I finish this ok?" Shiro smiled since she understood that Atesh knew what she was saying. It was just that he couldn't speak.

Tilting his head for a moment, Atesh nodded and let go of her sleeve.

"Look after Attie ok?"

"Go it, we'll be watching you from in here so make sure to put up a good show for Atesh." Nimue nodded.

"Alright, I'll tone down the violence a little since I don't want him to be surrounded by blood and gore this early." Shiro nodded before disappearing.

"Hmm… she seems to be quite relaxed and calm with Atesh huh?" Nimue said while glancing over at Iziuel.

"Maybe motherly instincts? Yin went from a bird to a young child and Lisandra was adopted. Attie is the only one that started as a baby so do you think that's the cause?" Iziuel replied while keeping her eye on Atesh.

"Shiro with motherly instincts? Hmm… now that I think of it, somewhat. Despite being a v.i.r.g.i.n maiden, she likes to be a mother as well huh." Nimue muttered.

"Oi, I can still hear you ya know? And what's wrong with me having a motherly instinct? They're cute so naturally I'll pamper them." Shiro retorted.

"There is nothing wrong o mighty queen. Now focus on the task at hand please, you have a lotus to charge and a trial to complete." Nimue chuckled.

Rolling her eyes, Shiro shook her head. There was still some time before the trial opened so she was going to charge up the lotus and make her way there around an hour before opening. 

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