As Kaizen approached the cave, he could see the wide, majestic opening, with ice stalactites hanging from the glittering ceiling. The dim sunlight reflected off the crystal walls, creating an ethereal glow. And as Kaizen entered the cave he was enveloped by pure cold air, which seemed to freeze his breath. The floor was covered with a thin layer of ice, creating a slippery surface.
Kaizen could feel the ground beneath his feet moving a little all the time, with Glacius' breathing.
Carefully, he moved forward, admiring the beauty of the ice formations that stretched along the walls.
As he went deeper, Kaizen noticed that the cave widened by many more feet, revealing a series of interconnected chambers. Stalactites and stalagmites of ice were fusing together, forming majestic pillars that extended to a ceiling more than ten meters high. The light filtered in from the entrance created a show of iridescent colors, bathing the ice formations in blues and silvers.
Frozen water dripped softly, echoing down the silent corridors. The sound was soft and melodic, like a symphony created by nature. Kaizen marveled at the harmony of the environment, feeling immersed in a magical atmosphere.
As he explored, Kaizen noticed small ice animals, like living crystals, gliding gracefully across the floor and walls. They emitted a soft glow, illuminating Kaizen's path as he went along, and seemed totally harmless. These mystical creatures seemed to live in perfect harmony with Glacius' cave, adding a touch of magic to the place.
As he entered the inner chambers of the cave, Kaizen discovered a small frozen lake, with small islands of earth, and in the center of one of these islands, several, several pale blue flowers were delicately blooming. They were the Tears of Isara, the flowers Kaizen had been searching for.
The sight of the flowers was breathtaking. Their petals seemed to be made of crystal, reflecting the ambient light and creating an ethereal glow. Each flower exuded a soft, fresh fragrance, filling the air with a delicate perfume.
Kaizen approached with reverence, admiring the perfection and fragility of Isara's Tears. Carefully, he removed his helmet to better observe the flowers and their brief existence before they faded completely. It was an ephemeral moment, but one of incomparable beauty. So he reached out cautiously and gently touched one of the petals. It was cool to the touch, conveying a sense of purity and serenity. Kaizen felt a special connection with this flower, as if it held a unique and powerful energy.
As he contemplated Isara's Tears, Kaizen felt an icy breeze caress his face. It was as if the cave itself was speaking to him, revealing a history lost in time. At that moment, he laughed wryly, because if he had not risked sparing the giants, it would probably take him longer to find these flowers.
"It seems that the fact that my luck attribute is high really means something." Kaizen whispered to himself.
Kaizen knew that that moment was precious and that the mission that awaited him in Niflheim from this moment on would be much more complicated than simply looking for flowers. Still, he was looking forward to it, because with 500,000 XP he could go up many levels if he took a potion made with Isara's Tear.
With gratitude in his heart, Kaizen picked some Tears of Isara and put them away in his inventory as quickly as he could. He knew that these flowers were valuable not only for their beauty, but also for their effects.
After a moment of contemplation, Kaizen stood up, ready to return to the surface.
As he walked away from the remaining Tears of Isara, Kaizen felt invigorated and inspired.
"Thank you so much, Glacius!" He thanked as he jumped off the giant's back. "I took enough for myself and left some still in case something happens. These flowers are rare, so be careful and protect them."
Glacius stood up and smiled. "Rest assured, little one. You are only the second ice dwarf to come in climbing on my back."
"Second?"
"Yes, the first one accidentally walked in while I was sleeping and woke me up because he made a fire. I destroyed him with a single slap." Glacius stated, still smiling.
Grognar laughed out loud and said:
"That day, I almost beat you because you were so angry! BUAHAHAHAHA!"
*
After a few more exchanges with Glacius and Grognar, Kaizen thanked them and warned that he would soon contact them again, but this time it would be when he found some clue about the whereabouts of the other ice giants. In addition, he asked them to keep a low profile and act normally for a while so as not to arouse suspicion. They don't have to fight to the death, but a confrontation was necessary to serve as a smokescreen for him to act.
Glacius and Grognar agreed to continue and said that they would also try to find out where their brothers went.
Finally, Kaizen returned to Xisrith and the other Descendants, and as soon as he set foot on the icy ground, the Descendants approached him, eager to hear about his journey and the encounter with the ice giants.
Kaizen smiled and began to share his experiences.
He told in detail about the majestic fight against the giants, then about the story of the duel between them, as well as about Glacius' cave, the glistening ice formations, the mystical animals that inhabited the place, and, of course, the precious flowers he so desperately sought. With every word, the Descragons listened attentively, fascinated by the wonders of Niflheim.
Soon, he was greeted by a flurry of questions, especially if he had managed to find out anything about the whereabouts of their friends. But of course Kaizen had no good news, and, afraid to say he had nothing new, he told them about what he 'suspected' was happening in Niflheim, the over-exploitation of the world and disruption of the natural order of things because of this Emperor. He revealed that there was a possibility that if he solved the problem in Niflheim, Ratatosk would reward him with some information, but this was still only a possibility.
This was not very comforting news for the Descendants, but at least now they could return home with some spark of hope.