Dungeon of Niflheim

While the Generals shuffled off to handle their regular duties or rest until their next shift Frost was escorted to a large spacious hall by Duke Runak.

The dimensions of the hall were at least 30 metres in height and 300 metres both in length and width, a sizeable chamber.

Several Large cuboid stones and intricate crystal figurines stood at the far end of the hall, their utility a complete mystery to Frost.

Along one of the side walls was an arrangement of training weapons, facilitating the ability to practise differing styles whereas another contained weights that clearly weren't designed for a normal person.

Duke Runak walked into the centre of the hall and with a simple flick of his wrist the doors sealed shut, locking Frost and himself inside.

"Welcome to my personal training hall young Frost. It may be simple perhaps even a bit crude in your eyes, but it gets the job done plus it does very well in isolating my strength from those dwelling outside."

I.e. no one would be able to hear his screams.

Frost couldn't help but shiver when his eyes took in the malicious grin plastered across the Duke's face. Memories of Maya in her demon drill sergeant mode flashed through his mind, the resemblance was uncanny.

After gazing at the Duke's arrangement he bravely replied, "It's magnificent, I have a similar set up back home, simple, clean and… very isolated." He chose to take on a bold approach, showing that he wasn't so easily intimidated. His words however only caused the Duke's grin to grow.

"Those large stone blocks and crystal figurines, What's their purpose?" He continued to ask, curious about their functions.

"Them? The stone blocks are strength inhibitors while the crystals ones are aura resisters. You never tried one?" Duke Runak was quite surprised, though these items were of very high quality and out of reach for the common man he assumed Frost would posses several given the rumours about his guardian. The mystery surrounding him only grew deeper.

"Strength inhibitors and aura resisters!" Frost's gaze immediately filled with desire, just a single common strength inhibitor or aura resister could set you back hundreds of gold coins, a true luxury. He'd been tempted to buy one through the Dungeon menu before, but its prices were even more ridiculous.

A strength inhibitor was a special object, usually made out of a rare type of stone that radiated a unique field that weakened one's physical strength. The nearby user would feel as though their body weighed several times or even dozens of times heavier than usual. Training within such a unique environment was great for people who wished to forge their physical strength beyond their natural limits.

The aura resisters were also made of unique materials and were even harder to get your hands on than strength inhibitors. These crystal structures emitted a field that restricted the flow and formation of one's aura. Within the field the user would find that their aura was viscous and rigid making it much harder to control.

Through the use of the these objects Duke Runak was able to thoroughly forge his body into the temple that it currently was.

"I can gift you one later if you'd like but first we need to have a little chat." Duke Runak suddenly released his dense, overwhelming aura along with an incredible wave of bloodlust. Frost felt his muscles groan from the pressure, his organs twisted, and his blood ran cold as the stench of death assailed him. His body immediately fought back, engaging his fight or flight response.

"I'll only ask you this once young Frost." Duke Runak slowly walked forward, his every step causing the floor and walls of the hall to tremble.

"Did you lay your hands on her!" His aura suddenly skyrocketed to a point that even Frost found it unbearable. The young Dungeon core struggled to remain conscious as corporal swords surrounded his body, threatening to pierce his flesh the moment he gave a wrong answer.

He could obviously try and lie but successfully tricking someone at Duke Runak's level was an impossible task, thankfully he truly hadn't laid a hand on her.

"…No!…I view her as a friend, a comrade plus I'm already spoke for!" He loudly shouted with veins bulging across his skin, just speaking through the pressure was difficult let alone fighting back.

Duke Runak continued to walk closer, unleashing the full extent of his aura. He glared at Frost's face, his handsome features were certainly attractive, he worried that Avira had been tricked by them, falling into the trap of chasing beauty. His panic, rage and fury were imbued into his aura making Frost constantly feel as though he was at death's door but even, so he refused to buckle and succumb.

He knew deep down that he was innocent, nothing untoward had happened…at least not yet.

Filled with confidence and stubbornness he craned his neck and glared back at the approaching Duke. With their eyes locked onto each other the two men sensed each other's character.

The staring contest lasted for close to ten seconds before Duke Runak called back his aura letting Frost breathe and relax.

"I believe you…..but we still have a problem Frost." The Duke's aura came back but this time there were no invisible blades threatening to pierce his flesh at a moment's notice and the level of pressure was far less intimidating. His muscles however still groaned in protest, uncomfortable but bearable.

Frost knew the situation couldn't be over so easily, Avira's attachment to him was clear as day.

"I can't be held responsible for V's emotions only my own." He bluntly replied with a strong shake of his head.

"Tsk, she's a Princess, the future Empress of Northrend." The Duke took offence at him using Avira's nickname.

"I'm not a citizen of the Northrend Empire, Lord Duke and V has already given me permission to call her as such." Frost felt a little cocky for some reason, knowing that his relationship with Avira got under the Duke's skin he couldn't help but want to tease the old man.

"Arrogant little….that's precisely why! Your background is unknown, your allegiance is unknown! And your intentions are unknown! How can you be trusted!" Frost's cheeky retort earned him the Duke's wrath, the pressure multiplied, and several invisible aura blades appeared around his neck, their tips pressing against his skin until drops of ruby red blood fell.

Frost had to admit that he was genuinely intimidated by the Duke's show of force but regardless of his true feelings he portrayed unwavering confidence.

"You seem to have a misunderstanding Duke; it was not I who sought out V but V and her cohorts who sought out me. I am a friend of the Furanos, an adventurer registered with the guild and the Lord of a territory that neighbours their territory."

"My background is none of your business, my allegiance is to myself, my family and my territory and as for my intentions I was asked by my friends to escort V to Icethorne, an off the books hiring that was generously sponsored by General Anya and the Furano Viscounty.

A task that I have now completed, thus terminating the contractual relationship between V and myself." He bellowed the facts and even leaned slightly forward causing the aura blades to dig deeper into his skin.

Duke Runak was speechless, he wasn't expecting Frost to be so aggressive in their exchange…to be honest he was really starting to like the kid but the variables surrounding him worried him greatly.

His aura started to retreat, and the aura blades were pulled back but Frost wasn't finished talking.

"I'm a man who is currently spoken for, I love my partners Maya and Daki but I'm not blind, I can see the way V looks at me and acts towards me.

Despite the professional contract between us I'll admit that we've become friends over the course of our journey together, but I don't have any intention in pursuing anything more than that." Duke Runak relaxed upon hearing Frost's words and his aura receded another a notch.

"…But I won't stop V from attempting to pursue me either." The aura that was pulled back flared to the maximum in an instant.

"If she's determined to chase after me despite my current attachments then that's up to her. If you wish to stop it then you'll have to confront her rather than me Lord Duke." Frost stood his ground and released his own aura in defiance, this was his stance and he refused to back down.

"…..I could always kill you here and now." The Duke replied with an equally forceful stance, showing off the bearing of the one known as the War God of the Glacial Mountains.

"You won't."

"Hmm why's that?"

"….First despite your efforts in intimidation you actually respect me, second you know that doing so would destroy the relationship you have with Avira and third you don't know the strength of my background thus you can't quantify the consequences that would follow after killing me." If he couldn't understand the true nature of the Duke by now then he was an idiot.

Duke Runak didn't want to kill him, he never did, he just wanted to pressure him, to keep him from having any intentions towards the Princess.