Cassandra, her golden aura flaring with intensity, charged at Aliana with incredible speed, ready to deliver the finishing blow."I'll put you to sleep for a while, Aliana. You can't seem to figure this out."

Aliana, on her knees, was filled with fear. "I had believed I was unmatched, untouchable," Aliana whispered to herself "But my mentors shattered that illusion. They taught me humility, discipline, and the endless depths of the sword…”

As Cassandra’s blade neared, Aliana Searched deep within herself. She asked, “When was I truly at my peak?”

Suddenly, it hit her. The first time she had used her sword magic, the transformation of her regular sword into Tengoku, coated in a silverish sheen, and the breathtaking ice formations she had created. It was so beautiful, so pure. It was from that day she had wielded her blade with extreme confidence, unlike now.

The realization dawned on Aliana like a wave of clarity.

"I see it now," Aliana thought. "Tengoku," she whispered, looking at her sword, which seemed to be crying. "I've been using you as a tool, a weapon. But you want something more from me, something different than what the Sword Gods demand."

In this introspective moment, Aliana was transported back to a memory that had haunted her—the day she had asked Kintovar to end her life. It was a moment of profound despair, a plea for revenge on behalf of the scientists she had been forced to kill with her own blade. Kintovar had aimed a gun at her, and Aliana had begged for death. But Kintovar had fired a blank, saying that she truly wanted to do it. In that moment, Aliana had realized that she was not only dead to Kintovar but also to Tengoku.

Aliana came to a profound understanding. She whispered, "I died once, Tengoku. I can't change that, but I can change how I live." She said.

Tengoku, similar to Aliana’s way of speaking but tinged with tears, responded, "Aliana... I've been waiting for you to see this. I've been waiting for you to understand...”

Aliana stood up and declared, "Cassandra is right. I don't deserve to win unless I put my whole heart into it, and put my full confidence into this fight all of those lessons… they can’t change who I truly am on the inside!"

In the sword realm, Aliana reached Tengoku, and all of the water dispersed. In reality, Aliana's aura began giving off intense vibrations. Cassandra was shocked. A gigantic wave of ice was unleashed from Aliana’s blade in order counter Cassandra’s. The wave sent Cassandra back, but she broke it with raw power to stop herself, looking with a weird sense of surprise but also pride.

Aliana wore a confident smile on her face. “Sorry it took so long. But this is who I wanted you to see."

Cassandra smiled briefly. Her blade began to glow with a golden energy, lengthening further as she chanted, "Namizuka Ladalias."

Aliana's eyes widened in shock. She had never seen Cassandra summon something with such power before. Watching her closely, Aliana prepared for whatever was coming next.

With a burst of speed, Cassandra dashed at Aliana, only to disappear as Aliana thrust her blade forward and sent a storm of ice spikes in her direction. Cassandra had jumped into the air. Her sword was pulled back. She thrust it forward, unleashing a golden, draconic-like energy that roared toward Aliana with murderous intent.

Despite the danger, Aliana remained confident. She decided to charge up all of her energy. "Tengoku won't be defeated here, not under my watch, because I am Aliana, the undefeatable Ice Princess," she declared to herself.

With conviction, Aliana shouted out her most powerful move, "Absolute Glacial Embrace!"

She slammed Tengoku down with tremendous force. The moment her blade connected with the ground, and explosion of ice was unleashed within the area which engulfed the battlefield in a blizzard. The temperature plummeted to an extreme low.

The clash of energies was titanic. The golden draconic energy from Cassandra met the swirling, freezing storm of Aliana's power. Ice and gold intertwined, the air crackling with the intensity of their confrontation. The ground beneath them trembled, unable to withstand the magnitude of their clash.

Cassandra's golden dragon roared against the freezing might of Aliana's storm, but Aliana's confidence held firm. "I won't back down," she shouted, pouring every ounce of her strength into her attack.” HAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!”

Cassandra’s face shifted while watching Aliana's unwavering resolve. The golden energy began to wane under the relentless assault of the glacial storm, and for the first time, Cassandra seemed genuinely impressed.

With one final surge of power, Aliana's Absolute Glacial Embrace overwhelmed the golden dragon, shattering it into sparkling fragments of energy. The icy storm surged forward, engulfing Cassandra entirely.

When the storm finally subsided, Cassandra was noticeably slowed and showed the first sign of fatigue since the fight began. She took a deep breath, her golden aura flickering.

Seizing the opportunity, Aliana charged in for a decisive slash. Cassandra, though exhausted, was still quick enough to raise her guard. However, she was surprised to find her sword magic now overpowered by Aliana's enhanced strength. The clash of their blades resonated through the battlefield, but Aliana's attack proved too powerful to be fully blocked.

Aliana's blade cut through, landing a strike across Cassandra's chest. The impact sent a shockwave through both combatants, and Aliana's eyes widened in realization.

"That's the first time I've ever landed a direct blow on you," Aliana said.

Cassandra winced, feeling the sting of the wound, but there was a hint of admiration in her eyes. "You've grown stronger, Aliana….I was actually planning to kill you with that attack.”

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Cassandra's admission hung heavily in the air, causing a shocked silence to envelop the garden. Gaiza's eyes widened in disbelief."You...you planned to kill her with that attack?"

Elena, equally surprised, added, "Cassandra, how could you even say such a thing?"

Cassandra didn’t seem surprised by their reactions. She held a stoic face. "In our world of Sword Magic, battles can be harsh and unforgiving. It's important to understand the reality we face. Aliana and I have both grown stronger through our experiences, and we have come to respect each other's resolve."

Gaiza and Elena exchanged glances, beginning to grasp the complexities of the battles they had just witnessed.

Elena nodded in acknowledgment. “I see, Cassandra. It's a different world out here, isn't it?"

Cassandra nodded in response. "Indeed, Sword Magic is a path that requires belif, growth, and the ability to face difficult truths."

Gaiza spoke next, "It's not just about power, is it? It's about understanding yourself and your place in this world."

Cassandra's eyes held a hint of approval while replying, "You're beginning to understand, Gaiza. In Sword Magic, power is just the beginning. It's what you do with it and the choices you make that truly define you."

Cassandra approached Aliana with calmness. She sheathed her sword. Aliana followed suit, returning to her regular form. While coming face to face, Cassandra spoke.

"Aliana, you have proven to me you have the potential to become even stronger," Cassandra said. "But true strength doesn't mean that one has power; it is about the bonds forged and the trials we are able to will ourselves through."

Still trying to catch her breath, Aliana gazed at Cassandra in curiosity. "What are you getting at?"

Cassandra closed her eyes momentarily. “To truly become a Sword God, you must seek out the approval of the other five Sword Gods and earn their seals of approval. Only then can you ascend to the rank of Queen of Ice, a title befitting your mastery of ice-affinity Sword Magic."

Aliana's eyes widened in surprise. "So, I have to go on a quest to seek out the other Sword Gods and earn their approval?"

Cassandra nodded firmly. "Yes, Aliana, this is a journey that will test your strength, your character, and your will. When you return with all five seals, you will be officially titled the Queen of Ice."

Aliana wore a confident smile. “I accept the quest, Cassandra, and I have no doubt in my mind that I will become the Queen of Ice."

Cassandra smiled. There was a rare display of warmth on her face. "I knew you would, Aliana. Your journey has just begun, and I have faith that you will succeed."

Bee stepped forward and declared, "I want to be your first student, Aliana."

Aliana, her heart warmed by Bee's words, chuckled softly. "You really think I have what it takes to teach you, even after you saw me lose that fight?"

Bee shook their head vigorously. "No, no, no, you didn't lose that fight! You won because you showed something important: willpower!"

The word "willpower" burst from Bee with such enthusiasm that it brought a smile to everyone's faces. Elena, Gaiza, and even Cassandra nodded in agreement.

Elena ruffled Bee's hair affectionately and said, "You're a cute kid, you know that?"

Gaiza added, "Yeah, Bee, you've got a lot of spirit."

Bee's face flushed a bright red, and they looked down, shuffling their feet."I just...I just wanted to say what I felt," they mumbled.

Cassandra, observing the scene with a rare smile, turned to Aliana and asked, "If the fight had continued, who you think would have won?"

Aliana smirked and replied, "Myself, obviously."

Cassandra chuckled. "Good answer. In that case, Aliana, you shouldn't count this as a loss."

Aliana nodded. "You're right. This isn't a loss. It's just another step in my journey."

Aliana knelt down and placed a hand on Bee's shoulder. "Bee, you still want me to train you? Understand this: it's going to be rough. I'll put you through hell. There will be many cold nights, and it will be gruesome with how much you'll have to train to improve."

Bee's eyes sparkled with excitement, completely undeterred by Aliana's warning. "I'm ready, Aliana! I want to start training right away!"

Aliana smirked. "You're not afraid, are you?"

Bee shook their head vigorously. "No way! I'm ready to do whatever it takes to get stronger!"

Cassandra turned her attention to Bee. She approached the young one and, without warning, grabbed Bee by the shirt collar, lifting them off the ground.

With a smile, Bee hung in the air and looked at Cassandra nervously from their rough handling.

Turning back to Aliana, Cassandra addressed her with a more serious tone. "I've been looking for someone to train this little runt," she said, referring to Bee. "But training also means taking care of them, and I won't be around all the time."

Cassandra then looked Aliana straight in the eye. "Are you ready to take on these responsibilities, Aliana? You have your own path to follow, meeting the Five Sword Gods and all. Are you truly up for carrying another responsibility on your shoulders?"

Aliana took a moment to consider this. She glanced at Bee, who was still suspended in the air with that nervous smile. Then, with a nod, Aliana replied.

"The road to success is never easy, Cassandra. What's another load? This will be a task I can take on confidently and be proud of when I succeed at it."

Cassandra studied Aliana's expression, searching for any sign of hesitation. Finding none, she nodded approvingly and gently set Bee back on the ground. Bee stumbled a little but quickly regained their footing.

"Good," Cassandra said, raising up a finger. "Remember, Aliana, this is not just about the training of a Bee. It is guiding, teaching, and being there when times get tough. It's a big responsibility."

Aliana straightened up. "I understand, Cassandra. I won't take this lightly. Bee will become stronger, and so will I."

Aliana's became curious. She leaned in and whispered in Cassandra’s ears. “By the by, I need to know what I'm working with here. What exactly is Bee?"

Cassandra hesitated for a moment. She glanced at Bee, who stood there with a curious, then, with a sigh, Cassandra finally spoke, "Bee is a special case. They are actually both."

Cassandra's cryptic response left Aliana puzzled. She looked at Bee, and then back at Cassandra.

"Bee is both?" Aliana repeated, trying to make sense of it. "Both what, Cassandra?"

Cassandra’s face hardened, "Both human and something else. That's all you need to know for now."

Cassandra's response left Aliana even more perplexed. She pressed further. "Both human and something else? You can’t just leave it like that, Cassandra…What do you really mean?”

Cassandra sighed again. "Bee is a unique individual. They possess qualities that go beyond our understanding of gender. It's as if they embody both male and female aspects. And that 'something else' part, well, it's something Bee needs to discover on their own as they grow and learn."

Aliana blinked in surprise. "So, Bee is...both male and female, and something more?"

Cassandra nodded. "Yes, Aliana. It's a part of who they are, and it's something that they'll come to understand as they continue their journey with you."

Aliana, though initially shocked, soon came to terms in the understanding of what this meant. She smiled and said, "Well, Bee, it doesn't matter what you are. You're my student now, and I'll do my best to help you grow and become even stronger."

Later, the group prepared to depart from Cassandra's house. Aliana shared their next destination to everyone. Bee, however, seemed to have a different idea in mind .They suddenly perked up and began to sniff the air. Their eyes widened, and with unbridled enthusiasm, they exclaimed, "Cookies!"

Before anyone could react, Bee was off like a shooting bullet.

Gaiza, watching Bee's sudden dash, chuckled and turned to Aliana. "Looks like we will have our hands full with this one, princess. Bee's got quite the sweet tooth."

Aliana sighed but couldn't help but smile at the turn of events. "Seems that way.”

Elena leaned on Gaiza’s shoulder. “Well, I guess we'll have to catch up with them and make sure they don't get into too much trouble."

(End of Aliana’s Arc. Up next: The Lost Fragments)