Frostfire Legacy

"Mm..."

Aster slowly opened his eyes—a simple action he had taken for granted before, but now it felt like a punishment sent from heaven itself.

"Huh?"

As he gazed at the ceiling above him, his eyes struggled to focus on the thatched, bamboo ribs holding up the grass-like roofing materials. He blinked in confusion. "This place is..." His voice came out hoarse, dry from an extended period without water.

Looking around, he found himself in a modest hut, its structure entirely made of bamboo, even the floor he lay on. The simplicity of the materials did not undermine the craftsmanship, however.

In fact, the hut reminded him of his childhood home—a humble dwelling hidden deep within the nearby forest where he would often go for solitary walks, escaping into the tranquility of nature. The air there was always so refreshing.

"Ugh...!"

Aster winced, forcing himself upright. As he did, he realized his entire body—from the neck down—was wrapped in bandages. The fabric didn't feel like cotton; it was rough around the edges and had a somewhat stiff texture.

"This... isn't the laboratory." His voice was barely above a whisper, the realization hitting him belatedly. "Did I..."

Before he could finish the thought, an unsettling question formed in his mind: Had he died? Was he in heaven, hell, or some other realm altogether?

And then, just as quickly as the uncertainty came, it was replaced by the faint presence of another being. Aster's senses stirred. He recognized the aura—a familiar presence he had felt before he lost consciousness. It belonged to the person who had taken down the men in overalls surrounding him.

'That means I'm not dead yet...' Aster reasoned to himself, releasing a short sigh of relief.

Despite still feeling weak and disoriented, there was a surprising sense of peace in him now. The despair that had plagued him while he was trapped in the sterile, white facility was gone. While the desire to escape his suffering still lingered, if anyone were to ask whether he wanted to live or die right now, his answer would be the former.

Footsteps echoed softly in the hut, stirring a mix of curiosity and wariness within him. After all, Aster had learned long ago that there was no such thing as a free lunch. Whoever had "saved" him surely had their own agenda.

Without even trying to knock, the door slid open, and the "intruder" entered. The woman stood tall, her figure clad in a skintight black leotard that covered her from her neck to her ankles, leaving only her hands, feet, and head exposed.

"..."

Aster quickly turned his gaze away after seeing her figure. The suit was so form-fitting that it left nothing to the imagination. Worse, a mere glance was enough for him to deduce that she wasn't wearing anything beneath it.

"Oh, you're awake," the woman said, her voice cheerful, with the cute pair of white, furry ears on top of her head flicking lightly.

She placed a tray she had been carrying onto a nearby table before continuing. "I was just about to change your bandages... Looks like I won't need to do that anymore." Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

"My... bandages?"

Aster's mind raced as he turned to look at his body once again. Indeed, the only thing covering him were the bandages, just as the woman's suit left little to the imagination. And from her actions, it was a no-brainer to see that this wasn't her "first time" trying to change his bandages.

In short...

'She saw my... everything...'

Realization dawned on Aster, making him terribly self-conscious of the current situation.

"A-Anyway," he cleared his throat, desperately trying to change the topic. "You are...?"

He was certain he wasn't familiar with this beauty. For one, he hadn't had any dealings with any white tiger demihumans previously.

"Right, I haven't introduced myself yet." The woman took a seat gracefully, folding her legs into a neat seiza pose. "I'm Byakko Kurenai, the sole heir of the noble White Tiger Clan. Though I'm still inexperienced, I hope for a good relationship with you."

"... Eh? Ah, I'm Aster Mistral. I-It's a pleasure...?"

Her greeting was so formal and respectful that Aster fumbled, unsure about what to say. Nevertheless, looking at the wide smile on Kurenai's face, he believed his awkward response did the job.

"Aster-sama, right? Since you've slept for three days now, you must be hungry. I'll have some light meal prepared for you immediately."

With another courteous bow, Kurenai stood up and headed for the door. Aster's gaze automatically tracked her figure, attracted by the lively, bouncy things dancing in front of his eyes, until he snapped himself back and immediately turned his face away.

"I must look like a creep right now..." he sighed, shaking his head, thoroughly frustrated with himself.

Once Kurenai had departed—the sound of her footsteps disappearing into the distance—Aster sat back against the wall of the hut and took a moment to examine his state. His body was heavy, but somehow pain-free. It was a feeling he hadn't known in what felt like an eternity.

"Phew..."

He breathed out, his body relaxing. The cool wind blew through the large windows, bringing the fragrance of bamboo and rustling leaves. The tranquility of this environment was so surreal. For a brief instant, he asked himself if the agony he had gone through several days before was but a nightmare.

But when he started to unwrap the bandage from his left arm, reality struck back. Underneath the coarse fabric was a deep incision scar—an unrelenting reminder of the suffering that he had been through. His fingers ran across the slight depression on his skin, assuring him that the nightmare had been all too real.

"... Crysta? Pyra?"

Aster softly called his two contracted spirits. In the lab, they had fallen quiet—not a peep or flutter of existence had come through. He had thought they'd been taken or destroyed by the laboratory personnel. Back then, no reply came no matter how much he called them for help.

Nevertheless, the Frostfire Legacy's imprint on his right hand still felt warm and cold at the same time, evidence that the spirits governing it must still be out there somewhere.

"..."

But like before, they didn't respond. It was as if they had disappeared without a word, leaving Aster to struggle with doubt and isolation.

"... No." Aster shook his head, changing his focus. "First, I need to recover enough to have the ability to fight back. After that..." He trailed off, turning to look at the door where Kurenai left. "... I also need to ask their purpose for helping me."

Although they saved Aster, it was way too early to tell whether they were friends or foes.