Chapitre 37: Spartan Frost Shield
Chapter - 37
The training hall was buzzing with tension as we all lined up for class, Hecate's steady, watchful gaze moving over us. It was unnerving yet motivating—her presence had that kind of effect. I straightened, trying to center myself as she spoke.
"Now, over the past two months," Hecate began, her gaze landing on each of us, "we've worked on directing Iridium flow, understanding how to channel it efficiently, and strengthening your Iridium cores. Today, you're going to put all that into practice by trying something new. When you cast a spell or use a magical skill, you're directing this flow of Iridium to a specific point in your body—usually your hands or mouth, depending on how the spell is activated." She paused, giving us a moment to take it in. "The act of casting forces the Iridium out of your body in a controlled manner, shaping it into the form of the spell. The more complex or powerful the spell, the more Iridium it requires."
The room was silent as everyone focused on her words, feeling the tension of the challenge she was setting before us.
"You're each going to try conjuring a flow of Iridium manually, creating a spell based on your elemental affinity. Don't worry about anything grand—just a small flicker of flame, a light burst of water, a glimmer of light. This is about intent and precision and I want you focused on that, not power"
She paused, giving us a level look, her eyes flicking from one of us to the next as she added, "Remember—do not go overboard. If you overload your Iridium channels, you risk internal damage, which will cripple your ability to channel for weeks, if not longer." Her words grew colder, and she looked pointedly at a few of the more overzealous students in the front row. "And under no circumstance should you reverse the Iridium flow. Forcing it backward against your natural channels will destroy your body from within."
A chill spread through the hall, and I could tell the warning sank in for most of us. Hecate didn't waste words, so if she said something could cripple or kill us, she meant it.
Hecate moved to the center of the hall, watching us as we prepared. This wasn't like any other lesson. We were being asked to go beyond the rote spells we knew of, to use our intuition and internalize our elemental power in a way we hadn't before. A ripple of nervous energy spread across the class as each student closed their eyes, focusing inward.
The minutes ticked by, and one by one, the students tried. Marcia's brow furrowed as she strained to conjure even a spark of flame, her face tight with concentration, but the Iridium kept slipping from her grasp. Sabina's hands were shaking as she tried to pull even a whisper of wind into her palm. Tiberius, surprisingly, struggled as well; even his normally confident stance wavered as his attempt to summon light flickered and faded in his hands. Jennifer and Cassia, usually sharp in their skills, were equally frustrated as their attempts fizzled before they could form.
I closed my eyes and inhaled, focusing inward. It was true that I'd grown attached to Hecate's classes over these past weeks. At first, I hadn't given her lessons much thought—magic felt too abstract, especially compared to combat training with Ares or strategy sessions with Athena. But Hecate had a way of weaving deeper meaning into her teachings, showing how complex and delicate Iridium could be. She delved into the theory, the philosophy, and the intricate complexity of Iridium manipulation. Unlike Ares, who pushed us to fight with brute force, or Athena, who drilled strategy into our heads, Hecate's classes were… different. There was a depth, a sense of responsibility that felt more real. And I found myself drawn to it, to understanding how Iridium worked from the inside out.
I centered myself, and focused on the flow of Iridium in my body, visualizing the process. My modern knowledge of anatomy and physiology came to mind—the way blood flowed through veins, how energy circulated through pathways in the body, organs, and nerves. This knowledge, still sharp from my days back on Earth, gave me an edge none of the other students had. I could map the flow of Iridium with precision, picturing it as clearly as I could picture my own bloodstream. The visualization helped me harness it, direct it.
Ahh, I never thought old Mr. Thompson's lessons would actually come in handy one day. Thank you, old man—and sorry for all the times I drove you up the wall with my shenanigans in class.
As I focused, I began to feel the distinct, tingling warmth of my Iridium stirring to life within me. Slowly, I willed it to move to my hand, visualizing the flow of energy much like I would imagine blood rushing through an artery. It took some effort to control the flow precisely—I wanted to shape the Iridium into frost, something aligned with my elemental affinity though it had to be different from the usual Frozen Spear skill that I used. Drawing on what I knew of the Frozen Spear spell, I tweaked the flow near the end, visualizing it dissipating into a frosty mist instead.
I felt a shift in the air as I opened my eyes, my focus still razor-sharp. There, resting on my palm, was a light coating of frost—a small shimmer of ice that covered my hand like a silvery glove. A thrill ran through me. I'd done it. But I wasn't finished.
Encouraged by the success, I set my sights on creating something more complex, something that resonated with my training and instincts. I focused again, channeling more Iridium into my hand, shaping it with a firm intention. I envisioned the classic Spartan shield—round, sturdy, something that could act as a reliable defense. I'd seen enough movies and played quite a few games to know the shape of the Spartan shield by memory. The image of the shield filled my mind, guiding the Iridium flow as I adjusted and refined the pattern.
Slowly, with precision, I molded the Iridium into the shape. My hand tingled with the energy, and then, almost like a mirage solidifying, a translucent frost-shield materialized around my arm. It wasn't large, but it was there—a defined, shimmering disc of solid ice. I could feel the weight of it, cold yet resilient, and my heartbeat quickened with excitement. I could also feel the drain in my Iridium as I cast the spell.
Hecate's voice cut through the murmur in the hall as she noticed the frosty glint in my hand, her eyes widening slightly. She quickly strode over, her gaze locked on me, her eyes glimmering with a rare delight.
"Impressive, Callum," she said, a genuine smile breaking her normally composed expression. She examined the shield, intrigued by its structure, and the warmth of her approval was something I hadn't expected. "Not only have you channeled the Iridium with precision, but you've managed to adapt it into a defensive form—something most students don't attempt until they're much further along in their training. You must have put in a lot of thought into the channeling."
Her gaze softened a little, and she looked at me with what could only be described as pride, and dare I say, a bit of hunger. "It's refreshing to see someone using their understanding of Iridium to innovate," she said, her tone both admiring and a touch mystified. "You've gone beyond what I was expecting for this lesson. Well done."
---
New Skill Created: Spartan Frost Shield
- Spartan Frost Shield: Conjures an ethereal shield of reinforced ice, molded in a Spartan style, which envelops the user in a protective frost aura. The shield absorbs a significant portion of incoming damage, and any melee attackers who strike it are met with a surge of freezing energy, temporarily slowing their movement and reaction speed. Upon shattering, the shield releases a burst of icy shards in all directions, dealing frost damage to nearby enemies and potentially freezing weaker foes.
Iridium Base Cost: 15
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
JamesonSteele
JamesonSteele Like the story? Add it to your library！
Please support through Golden Tickets and Power stones and help this novel reach new heights. Thanks!
P.S, you can also check out my other novels, the more serious and romance heavy: The Wandering Cowboy, and the lewder: Prince of Beasts and Chains
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone