Dungeon of Niflheim

"Once again welcome to Icethorne, Frost." General Bando animatedly welcomed Frost to Icethorne as the fortress' southern gates were craned open by a team of muscular soldiers and a durable lever mechanism.

From just a cursory glance Frost estimated that the gate weighed tens, perhaps even hundreds of tonnes and was made out of a metal he'd never seen before.

As the gate slowly opened he was able to see a beautiful marbling running within the metal, its colour appearing slightly lighter and far shiner than the rest, it even glinted whenever a sunbeam passed across its surface. It was obvious that this metal that made up 90% of the gate was of a very high rank.

'Even I repeatedly used [flight of the Luan] I doubt I'd be able to shave off more than a few centimetres.' Frost could immediately tell that without special equipment it would be impossible to break through this giant wall and gate.

"I'll have someone give you a grand tour later but first let's go and settle the Princess' nerves." Jared could see the curiosity welling up in Frost's eyes but unfortunately there wasn't time to indulge.

"Alright." Frost shrugged his shoulders and shoved down his curiosity as he followed Jared through the gates and into the fortress.

"Garow!" However the moment they began to cross the threshold a massive four legged creature with wings sprouting from its back let loose an aggrieved roar before charging straight for Frost with reddened eyes.

"Oooff Kiba!" Frost despite quickly bracing himself for the impact was instantly knocked off his feet and pinned to the ground.

Lick lick

Kiba who had been worried sick this entire time whimpered as he repeatedly licked Frost's face with his rough tongue, refusing to budge an inch until he had his fill of attention.

"Hahahaha what a loyal and affectionate kitty cat hahahaha." Jared bellowed with laughter finding Kiba's actions downright adorable. He was supposed to be a noble and wild glacial tiger not some house cat that missed his owner.

Frost was initially annoyed by Kiba's clinginess but after hearing his aggrieved voice through their soul connection and noticing his trembling he smiled and gently stroked the back of his head and ears until he calmed down.

"Well done Kiba." Once back on his feet Frost warmly praised his partner's valiant efforts and climbed up onto his back.

"Chuff!" In response Kiba proudly arched out his chest and loudly chuffed as a smile quickly adorned his goofy lips.

The surrounding on duty soldiers and residents of Icethorne tried their best to ignore the sight but Kiba's actions were just too darn cute. Muffled chuckles and bright smiles could be seen all around as Jared led a proud Kiba through the streets with Frost on his back.

"The Princess would have been escorted to the noble embassy same with that blacksmith dwarf, what was his name?"

"Borris Darksteel."

"Yes that's right Borris Darksteel…his arrival couldn't have come at a better time." A forlorn expression flitted across Jared's face for a brief moment before he forced himself to smile.

"Anyway I'm sure they'll both be happy to see safe and sound Frost."

"…..Is the situation here really that bad?" Frost asked keen to know the true story and not something sugar-coated.

Upon hearing his question Jared stopped walking and turned to face Frost, a frown evident across his brow "…..Haaaaa bad doesn't even begin to describe it Frost." He sighed and shook his head, his shoulders slumping down as though unable to withstand a massive weight.

"Jare…" Frost was just about to press him for details, but Jared held up his hand and said, "I'd like to tell you more about it, I really would but I think it'd be best if you heard it directly from the Duke." Since Frost came with the Princess his position was rather delicate, he couldn't be considered as a simple civilian, nor could he be considered as part of the Northrend military thus what could be told to him and what couldn't needed to be decided by the Duke himself.

"….Very well I'll ask the Duke." Though he was keen to know about the territory he was leaving his two friends in he understood Jared's position.

"Thanks." The group of three thus continued on towards the embassy, a building reserved for important and high ranking visitors. Since it was built near the southern gate it didn't take Jared, Frost and Kiba long to reach it.

Just 10 minutes after entering through the gate and being assaulted by Kiba, Frost found himself in front of a large ornate building that exuded a noble charm far different from the many military styled buildings he passed on the way.

"Oh." Jared uttered his surprise upon finding a woman standing outside the embassy. She was adorned in roughed up adventurer clothes and had her arms tightly across her chest, but her face was no longer hidden.

"Your Highnes…." Jared moved to kneel and greet her, but the young woman darted passed him, completely ignoring his existence.

"FROST!!!" The woman or rather Avira loudly screamed out Frost's name with tears streaming down her cheeks. Then without any thought in regards to her status she leaped from the ground and wrapped herself around him, hugging him tightly against her body as she cried her heart out.

For the past two hours she had been beside herself with grief. Frost was strong but he wasn't a match for that oversized frost giant and her cronies. Her only solace had been that the contract between Frost and Kiba had remained all this time but that only ensured that he was alive not what state he was in.

Would he come back on the brink of death? Would he be missing a limb or limbs? Would he have a permanent injury that would ruin his future? Or perhaps his beautiful face had be destroyed? Her mind went round and round imagining all sorts of terrible outcomes so when she finally caught sight of him after all this time she broke down into a bawling mess.

Experience tales at empire

At this moment she was not a revered Princess, but a young girl worried about her friend.

"Wah wah." Avira continued to cry into Frost's chest and all he could do was gently stroke the back of her head, not having the heart to push her away.

"Let's head inside." Jared suggested after noticing that people were being drawn over by the sound of a young girl crying. He couldn't have the Princess; the future leader of their nation being seen in such a vulnerable state. With the fortress currently beset with danger their future leader needed to be portrayed as strong and confident amongst the residents.

"Agreed." Frost nodded his head and skilfully held Avira against his body as he descended from Kiba's back and entered the embassy with Jared.

"Hahahaha I should have known you'd come back without nary a scratch lad." Once inside Borris appeared with a large grin plastered across his lips and red tinge on his cheeks, clearly he'd been drinking heavily while in the embassy.

"It was far more than a scratch Borris, in fact I'm lucky to even be alive." Frost immediately regretted his words as the woman wrapped around his chest violently shivered before looking up at him like a baby on the edge of a tantrum.

"Y..You…hick…got hurt?" Her eyes welled up in preparation for the wailing of a century.

Frost's upper lip started twitching in response and he craned his neck to the side to avoid looking directly at her. "….I misspoke it was just a scratch." He quickly took back what he just said.

As though sceptical Avira narrowed her eyes and scanned him for any signs of wounds and only after finding nothing too out of place did she nod her head and go back to being glued to his chest.

Borris and Frost shared a knowing look, they'd talk at length later once Avira calmed down, she was too fragile at the moment.

"Frost feel free to rest here with the Princess, you're bound to be exhausted after your journey." Said Jared after calling on the staff servicing the embassy.

"I am so I'll take you up on that Jared….do you need to get back?"

"Yes in fact I've already wasted too much time haaaaa I'll try and visit the next time I'm able, but it might be easier for you to come and visit me instead." Jared sighed and once again showed that dark expression.

"Got it, where?"

"Where else? The frontlines." His dark expression was mixed with a bloodthirsty smile which Frost instinctively mirrored. Where else would a General be during times of war.

"Hopefully the Duke will be able to return to the palace shortly but if not I'm sure one of his aides will come in his place, see ya Frost."

"Farwell Lord Darksteel."

"Until next time your majesty." Jared gave separate farewells for his friend, the talented 4 star blacksmith Borris Darksteel and of course his highest ranking liege Princess Avira who unfortunately didn't even register his voice given her focus on Frost.

"Good hunting General." Borris replied with a military salute, he was full of respect for the man and looked forward to fighting the good fight alongside him.

Don!

Jared closed the embassy's front door behind him and then instantly used his A-rank speed to dash North to the frontlines.