Annan took out the mirror given to him by the Man in the Mirror and slowly lifted the curtain.
In the mirror, which was about the size of an adult head, nothing was reflected from it.
It merely shone with pale gold nihility brilliance.
After absorbing Annanās lifespan worth a day, Annanās mirror image finally appeared in the pale golden mirror. Besides that, there was still nothing else in the mirror. The frost runes of the Frost Tower behind Annan were still not reflected in the mirror.
āā[Reguetto].ā Annan called upon Old Grandmotherās real name in dragon language.
Calling the true name of any deity in front of this mirror could summon the other personās reflection in the mirror without consuming the corresponding occult knowledge.
After a delay of about three seconds, water waves visible to the naked eye appeared in the mirror. Annanās face slowly grew a pair of pure white, curved dragon horns like ice sculptures; fine silver dragon scales also appeared at the junction of his cheek and neck.
His hair turned snow-colored, and the short hair reaching his shoulders spread beyond the mirror. Then, his face turned into a mature and indifferent look at 27 years old.
The reflection was similar to Annan, Maria, and the Paper Princess. However, it did not match the āOld Grandmotherā moniker and looked like the Paper Princessā elder sister. Moreover, she did have a strong elder aura.
The Old Grandmother looked deeply into Annanās eyes. The corners of Her mouth rose for a moment and then flattened back immediately.
She said solemnly with a stern face, āIt seems that you have found something that you have to do in Noah.ā
āYes, Old Grandmother.ā Annan was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly, āItās for my friend. I need to defeat a strong foe.
āSo I need an Advanced Influence of the Lord of Frost to complete the āChill of the Winter Sunā ritual. Iām sorry to bother you.ā
It was only then that he knew what the Old Grandmother meant to him when he first met the Venerated Skeletonā¦ that time when he first heard Old Grandmotherās real name.
[āIf you have something to do in Noah, just deal with it and come back. Annan, you have grown up. Do what you have to do like a man. I support you.]
What She meant should be precisely what was happening in the current state.
It was not the challenge for Annan to fend off the Rotten Man.
Instead, it was to have Annan defeat āthe Purest Spiritual Mediumā Bernardino.
Old Grandmother did not have the ability related to prophesy but what She said was the problem Annan was facing now.
She had seen through Bernardinoās mind long enough to guess what Bernardino would do.
The Silver Sire was probably in the same shoe too.
After all, He had lived in the human world for thousands of years. He was not the kind of deity holding on to a supreme status beyond mortal affairs, but the deity blended in the human world. All in all, the twelve upright deities were ancient beings proficient in grasping human psychology, personalities, and desires.
What Mysterious Lady told Annan back then was that he might not be suitable for the ājusticeā sacred bone.
She should have seen through Annanās heart.
Since Old Grandmother would suggest Annan stay in Noah, does it mean that Annan would ignore these troubles and leave directly in the first life?
Then, I would rather be who I am now.
The reflection in the mirror seemed to notice what Annan realized.
Old Grandmother nodded slightly.
āYouāre still a child, so itās natural for me to take care of you. But I wonāt do everything for you. I wonāt be able to raise good children that way, but a spoon-fed kid. This is your destiny and your mission. You want to overcome it with your desires, set the path with your will, then get it done with your actions.ā
āI will.ā
āIāll give you the influence you want; Iāll give you blessings. But Iām not going to guarantee you from dying. Since youāve made up your mind to do it at the risk of dying, I wonāt depreciate the value of your self-awareness. In this world, awareness itself is a priceless treasure.
āListen clearly, Annan. If Silver Sire wants to protect you and save your life when you fail, donāt accept his kindness but remember to thank him.
āBe confident in yourself with what you have now. If used properly, it is enough to achieve your goals. Giving yourself leeway will only dull your sword at critical moments.
ā[The invincible, strong enemy] is a snow mountain, and the process of challenging it is a ritual; if you die at the hands of the Spiritual Monk, I will kill him to avenge you.ā
The Old Grandmother said sternly.
That was significantly different from the casual air between Silver Sire and Annan.
The Frostscale Dragon King had strict requirements for Annan.
She did not like Annanās use of the deitiesā power to fight with the guarantee of safety. It was not a battle but a skirmish or a duel.
āAre you determined?ā Annan pondered for a long time, then nodded slowly, āI probably understand a bit.ā
Iām still too weakā¦
So I can only pray for a miracle; So I can only seek protection.
For the first time, Annanās heart ignited a desire for stronger power and a higher rank.
It was not intense, but pure enough ā like the first light in a mirror.
As if seeing through Annanās mind, Old Grandmother nodded again.
āRemember this desire, Annan. Keep it firmly in your mind. When youāre trying to dye your soul, remember to recall it.ā The Old Grandmother uttered heavy and complex dragon words, āListen, Annan ā a strong enemy is wealth.
āA weak enemy is just a stumbling block. But an enemy who is too strong to defeat, it becomes a [Ritual] when his hostility is aimed at you.
āEvery life and death challenge is a rare experience. The flowers that bloom from Noah can never withstand the cold of Austere-Winter, but the flowers that grow on the land of Austere-Winter will not freeze to death. ā
Strong enemy. Ritual.
Old Grandmother kept repeating those two words.
Annan realized that it was a hint from Old Grandmother.
He suddenly froze and realized something.
āI will, Old Grandmother.ā Annan said earnestly, āI will do my best to fight the enemy fairly and will not seek retreat and leeways.ā
āGood boy.ā Old Grandmotherās tone gradually softened.
Her voice gradually softened, āAlso, call me grandma.
āFor you, Iām not the [Old Grandmother], but Iām your grandmother.ā Then, the image of the Old Grandmother disappeared into the mirror.
The next moment, two lines of prompts appeared in front of Annanās eyes:
[You are blessed with a new mark, āSupreme Advanced Influence: Winter Loveā]
[This effect does not reverberate and therefore does not disappear over time; while holding this influence, you will no longer receive any influence from the Lord of Frost.]
It was not [Advanced Influence: Remains of the Frost Deity].
It was the āMost Advanced Influenceā that Annan had never heard of, and it would not generate nightmares.
Is this the power that only belongs to the popes?
Annan vaguely guessed why even if the pope did not use transcended power, the power of the ritual was several fold that of other bishops.
There was the secret, āSupreme Advanced Influenceā!
This was a great power that only upright deities could bestow. It was a pity that Annan could only use it to complete a ritual.
But that was enough.
Immediately afterward, several new prompts appeared in front of Annanās eyes:
[You got the blessing of the Deity of Frost and Tradition āOld Grandmotherā.]
[Within seven days, it only triggers when you use the spell of Energy Falteration School. Your spellcasting level is increased by ten extra levels.]
[You got the secret about āAustere-Winterā, read it in Frostwhisperās language, and it will cause an unquenchable blizzard.]