They had stepped out of the auction house; it had been a little underwhelming. But Jazmel wasn’t unhappy with what he had gained, Tango and Baek both hadn't bought anything. But Sadé had bought a tome on fire and flame. She was trying to raise her understanding of it, in hopes of evolving her skills.

Jazmel thought it interesting, but as she had kitsune tails, she should be already skilled with flame. But she told him; her thunder core was far more developed than her fire one. It was lagging behind, and she needed to force it to catch up. Everyone was hard at work, hard at training and pushing to dominance. It wasn’t easy to grow quickly in the labyrinth, it cost money to advance through tiers. Either money or the dangers of the labyrinth.

There weren’t many people outside the auction house, but those that were there. Were stock still and watching something, Jazmel stood at the front and tried to see what was happening.

A group of men were hastily trying to retreat down the road, while a single girl; a young woman. Was following them and casting skills and strikes against them.

The woman was beautiful, she was pale as snow and her cheeks were rosy and pink. Her lips were plump and reddened too. She had a cute button nose; she was maybe around five foot six inches tall. Her hair was long and platinum blonde, flowing straight down her back. She wore a dress; she looked like she was going out to a party. It was a cocktail dress, and she was wearing heels to match it. she wore a shawl that she held around her back and through her arms. But it wasn’t being used to cover her.

When she entered Jazmel’s view, he felt the temperature drop sharply. She was doing something to the air, it got cold very quickly. He could see his breath and he was wearing his favoured aviator jacket. But suddenly wasn’t doing well to keep out the cold.

Blizzard storm!

She raised her hand and a shower of snow formed into icicles. She dropped her hand, and they shot across the air and peppered the men as they tried to escape her wrath. Some were wounded, some managed to shield themselves. None fought back, what Jazmel found interesting. But everyone else was simply watching.

Frigid fjord!

She cast another skill, from the snowstorm she had already invoked, human sized snow men appeared, forming from her snow. She sent them after her victims and rushed forward to the wounded, who cried out and pleased for help.

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But everyone watched on, Jazmel was about to step forward. But Tango stopped him.

“Wait.”

He said and Jazmel did.

The woman’s summoned snow guards. Grabbed the wounded and brought them before her.

“Mila, we are sorry.” One spoke, but she didn’t even look at him. No, her eyes were focused on a single man.

“No, Niko. The words need to come from Birkov.” She said for a while and Jazmel could hear she had an accent.

“Not only do you still from me, but you try to kill me inside a gate? Me? I have survived a tier IV beast tide with nothing but my wit and grit. But you fools think you are enough try and kill me?” she said, Jazmel felt worried for the men, the woman was just like her abilities. Cold.

“Mila, it wasn’t meant to go like that. We didn’t even know it was yours to steal. You wouldn’t let us explain.” The man called Birkov said.

“So if it was a misunderstanding. Why did you run?” she asked, and this stumped the men.

“I thought as much, for the incident, I would’ve taken a hand just from one of you. But you doubled down and then turned traitors. You know what happens to traitors who fall away from me.” She told them and Jazmel felt his heart thumping for the men.

“We know, but it is my fault.” Birkov admitted and Jazmel admired that man in that moment.

“Well, I respect you for the integrity you hold in this last moment.” She reached over, and simply kissed his cheek. Breathing a little on him, her snowmen guards had stepped back and taken the other men aside.

Birkov, stayed kneeled in front of her. The kiss on his cheek was beginning to spread across his body. He was being frozen slowly, and within minutes. His entire body was frozen solid, and she then flicked his forehead and shattered his body. She stared down at the ice remains and then rooted around and picked up the man’s rings.

She looked up and around before speaking.

“Nobody can get away from stealing from the Baronovich clan. I will come and I will collect.” She said, nobody said anything. A lot of people were already trying to disappear and not lock eyes with the woman of cold and ice.

Her and Jazmel locked eyes, she eyed him, and he simply looked back her. Calm and his hand tucked into his belt atop his sword. she smirked and then he noticed that Sadé was there looking at her, all five Mana tails already unfurled and flaring Mana.

“He is yours young lady?” she called over to Sadé.

“What do you want with him?” she didn’t answer her, but she clearly was feeling protective. Jazmel fought with everything he had, to hide a smile.

“When you are done with him, let me know. He is cute. He looks strong.” She said and she turned and headed back down the street, her snow men following her.

“We should get out of here. Are we going into the labyrinth or are we returning home?” Tango said and Jazmel was about to respond. But then an origami swan appeared.

I need your help! We are trapped! – Tera Nema.

“We need to return to the outpost now.” He said and they hurried to find a gate.