IN ANOTHER WORLD

The bright blue light from the spirit stone illuminated the clearing, casting an ethereal glow on the faces of everyone gathered. It shimmered like a thousand tiny stars, sparkling in the fading light of day. The air was thick with the weight of their revelations, and Sou couldn't help but feel a thrill stir inside him. This power—whatever it was—was his. But he still didn't fully understand it, and his curiosity was growing by the second.

Rema, who had been watching intently, leaned forward. "Rachel, what does it mean?" she asked, her voice laced with both excitement and confusion. "What power does Sou have?"

Dr. Ren, always the scientist, couldn't contain his intrigue either. "Is it water? It looks like it could be water energy."

Rachel shook his head, his lips curling into a thoughtful smile. "No, Dr. Ren. Water spirits are associated with a deep blue hue, a calm, flowing color. This—" He gestured towards the glowing stone in Sou's hand, "—this bright blue light is something else entirely. I must admit, I didn't expect Sou to possess so much potential. This is far more than I initially thought."

Sou could barely stand the suspense. "So, what is my power? Tell me! I can't hold my curiosity any longer." His voice had an edge of impatience, but also an undeniable excitement. The idea of wielding such powerful energy was a dream come true, yet it was maddening not to know exactly what it was.

Rachel's gaze turned serious, his eyes narrowing as he studied Sou. "Sou," he said, "you possess an unusual spiritual energy. One that very few can ever tap into. You have the potential to wield Ice energy."

Rema gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Ice? Wow... cool." She chuckled at the irony of her own words. "But how can he use it? Is there some special technique or training required?"

Rachel paused for a moment, his expression thoughtful as he gathered his words. "Well," he began slowly, "the thing is, Sou can't use it yet."

Sou's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? Why can't I use it?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration. The idea that he possessed such a powerful energy and couldn't yet tap into it was maddening.

Dr. Ren's scientific mind kicked into high gear. "What does that mean? Why can't he access it? Isn't the whole point of having such a power to use it?"

Rachel's face darkened as he turned his gaze toward them all, his voice lowering with gravity. "Sou's power is unusual. In fact, it is so rare that only one person can help him unlock it—someone from a place far beyond this land. In the kingdom of Austagorose, only the Ice Princess, Nike, has the ability to grant permission to use the Ice energy. Without her approval, Sou cannot tap into his full potential."

Sou's mind raced as he absorbed this information. "Ice Princess? Who is she? Where can I find her?" he demanded, the determination in his voice unmistakable. The prospect of harnessing such a rare and powerful energy thrilled him to no end, but he knew it wouldn't come easy.

Rachel sighed, his expression softening. "Princess Nike is the first-born daughter of King Harlot and Queen Hella of the Ice Kingdom. She is a legend in her own right—an extraordinary beauty, wise beyond her years, and an unrivaled ruler. Currently, she is the reigning monarch of the Ice Kingdom, and she too seeks to defeat the Sun King. If we have her support, if she grants Sou permission to use his Ice energy, it could change everything."

Sou's thoughts immediately wandered, his imagination conjuring images of this legendary princess. "Wow," he muttered, his voice filled with awe. "She sounds amazing... and if she's really that beautiful… I wonder what she looks like." A mischievous grin crept onto his face as he thought about meeting this princess who held the key to his power.

Rema, noticing the gleam in Sou's eye, crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. "In all of this talking, you're only paying attention to the part about her being beautiful? You are really a pervert, Sou."

Sou turned to her, unbothered by her comment. "What now? You jealous?" he teased, his grin widening.

"Jealous?" Rema scoffed, her eyes narrowing with playful annoyance. "In your dreams! And for your information, she's a princess. She'll never pay any attention to you, Sou. You're just another face in the crowd."

Sou chuckled, his confidence unwavering. "Oh, come on. You think so low of me. I'm sure she'll notice me. I'm pretty hard to ignore, you know."

Rema rolled her eyes, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "Alright then, it's a challenge! If you think you can win her over, go ahead and try. But don't say I didn't warn you when she turns you down."

Sou smirked, feeling the challenge rise within him. "We'll see, Rema. We'll see."

Dr. Ren, who had been quietly observing the exchange, let out a small laugh. "Well, this should be entertaining," he muttered, shaking his head at their bickering. "But in all seriousness, we have more pressing matters to focus on. Finding Princess Nike and securing her support will be no small feat. If she truly wants to defeat the Sun King, she may have her own reasons for aiding us. But convincing her won't be easy."

Rachel nodded, his expression growing more serious as he considered the path ahead. "That's true. But we have no choice but to try. Sou's Ice energy is our best chance at defeating the Sun King, but only with Nike's permission. We need to make our way to Austagorose and convince her to join our cause. Time is of the essence."

Sou, suddenly aware of the weight of the journey ahead, nodded. "I get it. We can't waste time. We'll go to Austagorose and find this Ice Princess. I'll convince her to help us. And once I have my power, we'll take down the Sun King."

Rema, still skeptical but trusting Sou's determination, sighed. "Fine, I'll go along with this... but don't get any funny ideas, Sou. Just remember, we're in this together."

Rachel raised an eyebrow, his usual smirk creeping onto his face. "Together, huh? Well, let's see how this all plays out. But for now, we move forward. The journey to Austagorose is long, and we have much to prepare. The storm is coming, and we must be ready."

With the gravity of their mission now firmly on their shoulders, the group set their sights on the Ice Kingdom, where Sou's future—and perhaps the fate of the world—awaited.