The snow blew gently over the mountains of Northwind. The ground was pure white, as were the treetops. The plants are conserving their energy so they may welcome the next long-awaited spring. A white rabbit peeped its nose out from the snow and sniffed cautiously. It hopped towards a campfire, searching for perhaps a scrap of carrot for lunch.
"Hey, little guy." Grek reached towards the hare, but it instantly scampered into the distance. "Well, bummer. Those creatures are so cute."
"Any idea when the others will come?" Hubris gently poked the campfire. "It's freezing out here."
"Sometime I wonder why you Ardoni an' Jaggarthans don' wear clothes." Denny said, shivering in his thick but not thick enough overcoat.
"Because we don't come to such cold places that often." Hubris began. "And…"
Luna landed beside them. Abbigail, Ria, Senn, and Achillean slid off her back. Abbigail shook herself clean and wiped her face where the flakes had accumulated over their long flight. Ria and Senn cleared the snow away from their markings. The Tidesinger, meanwhile, blew himself clean with his Supporium Song.
"Any luc' finding Saxon an' Trevor?" Denny asked.
"It was a bad lead." Abbigail replied. "But I did confirm that they are still alive." She sat down beside him.
"We'll keep lookin'." Denny placed a hand on her shoulder. They looked at each other and smiled. Grek muttered something under his breath.
"Do you have the Prime Song?" Asked Achillean.
"Yes." Hubris replied. "Here." He took the Song from Denny's bag and… clutched it to his chest. For a moment, he looked as if he would defend it with his life. Ria stepped forth and gently slapped him.
"Snap out of it, Hubris!" She yelled. Hubris shook his head, now fully awake. Slowly, he held out the Song. Senn's eyes landed on the blue cube. He noticed the Tidesinger's gaze as well. That instant, he wanted nothing more than to punch everyone in the face, take that Prime Song, and disappear with it. Ria took it and stashed it away. "The Primes corrupt the mind." She observed. "It's almost as if…"
"They have a mind of their own." Senn finished. "To imagine that the Deathsinger had three of them by the end of the War, no wonder he was so obsessed."
"Yes, I'm afraid I have fell prey to that corruption as well." The Tidesinger said. "Denny, can you take the song from Ria, please?"
"Okay." Denny walked forward. Ria took the Prime Song out and handed it over without a single hesitation. Every other Ardoni's gaze all followed the blue cube.
"It appears that Ria should wield the Prime Songs." The Tidesinger announced. "She is the only one among us who is not affected by its corruption. And she must be the only Ardoni to handle them from now on."
"Including the other two from the Deathsinger?" Senn inquired.
"If we get them, yes." The Tidesinger said. "And frankly," he added, "There was only one other Ardoni whom I knew could resist the Primes."
"The Deathsinger?"
"I am afraid so. I was in the audience when he was presented with the Primes. His face did not even flinch. But it was at that inopportune moment that he revealed himself to be Voltaris. Had he waited until he had the Songs in hand…"
"History might be rewritten." Ria put in.
"Indeed, but there are no 'what-ifs'." Achillean looked northward. "Now, let us continue. How's the weather today?"
Before anyone could answer, a massive figure rose from the valley below. It strode closer, and when it neared, they saw that it was a giant monster with Grek's face on it's head, carrying an entire dead tree.
"Hey, guys! Check me out!" The monster shouted in Grek's voice. It tossed the tree onto the campfire, completely smothering it. Hubris jumped back to avoid the branches. Thunderdome snapped awake from his nap as the ground shook.
"Grek?" Senn asked hesitantly.
"Grekarn! What have you done?!" Hubris yelled. "You killed the fire!"
"My name is no longer Grekarn." Grek, the monster, said. He arced his arms before his chest, making his muscles bulge. "Show off." Muttered Hubris. Grek bent his arms upwards, then one up and the other down. Putting his muscles on full display, he announced,
"I am no longer Grekarn." He picked up Thunderdome by the stomach with his left arm and lifted him high above his head. The dragon flailed his legs, but seemed to enjoy being part of the spectacle. "From this day until my last, I am Grekarius. Class III Jaggarthan."
Thunderdome flew off his hand, and Grek turned back to the others. The dragon breathed on the tree and it lit up, flames roaring a story high. Luna pawed him on the head, chastising him for making such a big fire.
"Is it cool if I still call you Grek?" Senn walked up to the Jaggarthan, who was a full meter taller.
"Of course, kid!" He slapped Senn on the back. Senn toppled forward but managed to stay on his feet. "I can't believe it! I evolved to the next class! Must have been the Meridian and Felora battles."
Hubris turned away from the huge Jaggarthan and answered the Tidesinger's question. "A blizzard currently rages across the Northwind Flats."
Denny and Abbigail looked concerned. "Luna an' Thunderdome won' be able to navigate by air in these conditions. It'll be impossible ter loca' Gale Point." Denny observed. "We could wai' fur the storm ter pass, but we lose valuable time."
"Our priority is to get to the Prime Song as quickly as possible." Abbigail stated. "We can walk through the blizzard, and remain at the city of Frostburn until the blizzard clears."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Achillean said. "We march at once."
"Stay close to the dragons and Grek!" Shouted Ria over the storm. "We are going into the strongest part of it!"
Luna bonked Abbigail with her tail. "What?" She snapped, "It's not my fault you are a bigger-than-human dragon."
They fell into formation. Denny led the way with Thunderdome, along with the Tidesinger and Ria. Luna followed, accompanied by Abbigail, Grim and Hubris. Grek and Senn closed up the rear.
"So," yelled Grek over the storm, "How'd it go?"
"How did what go?" Senn shouted back.
"With the Captain! I saw you two dancing together at Meridian."
"We were sword training Grek!" Senn scolded. "That's completely different! It's wartime and we have other things to focus on! Now isn't the right time!"
"Now might be the only time." Grek placed his hand on Senn's shoulder. "You never know what's going to happen. Like you said, it's wartime!" He sounded like a wise monk. "You gotta take the opportunity before it's gone."
"That's it!" Senn lifted Grek's hand off his shoulder. "I'm going with you to find another Jaggarthan and I will not rest until I find you a girlfriend!"
After a while, they came upon the small fishing village of Frostburn. As per usual, there should be smoke billowing from the chimneys and perhaps snowmen made by children. But there were none of these. Instead, the windows laid wide open as the winds roared endlessly through the empty streets and roads.
"The town is abandoned!" Yelled Hubris over the storm's hows. "The Nether must have come for them already."
"Or they might have evacuated because of the storm?" Abbigail suggested.
"I don't think so. There hasn't been anyone here for a while!" Hubris peeked into one of the houses.
They trekked through the ghostly town and arrived at the shoreline. The storm suddenly broke away to reveal an endless span of sea and sky. A single island stood in the distance.
"That is Gale Point." Said the Tidesinger. "Normally, we would fly across the narrow strait, but today,"
"It's still too windy for the dragons." Abbigail said, "even with the snow mist gone, the danger is far too great to be flying."
"Maybe I can sail across using my Song?" Ria suggested. She summoned her golden platform.
The Tidesinger shook his head. "That won't do." Senn was playing with his bubble shield, burying himself then expanding his shield to push the snow aside. That gave him an idea.
"Senn, you go with Ria." The pair both looked up, surprised. "Use your shield to block the winds." He winked. "And I know you two won't mind getting too close. Here, take my staff so you can better channel your Song." He handed his weapon to Senn.
"Okay." Ria took a deep breath, and expanded her platform just a bit for Senn. He jumped on and readied his shield.
"We will wait for you here." The Tidesinger said. "Good luck."
Senn and Ria set off, gliding across the waters. It was autumn, and light disappeared over the horizon, bit by bit, day by day. Neither said anything and concentrated on channeling their Songs. When they finally reached the other side, both collapsed on the snow, catching their breath.
"That went better than I expected." Huffed Senn. "I've never made my shield so large."
"Tell me about it." Ria puffed. "Carrying a whole other person with my Song was so very tiring."
They lied in the snow for a moment. Senn wondered, though he knew he shouldn't at this time, whether one day he could lie not on snow, but on fresh, warm grass with Ria, and perhaps with some younger, smaller Ardoni.
"Come on." Senn stood up. He helped Ria back on her feet. "I see a small cave over there, maybe that's where the Song was hid."
They approached the entrance, and found themselves greeted by what the books described as a Glacian. He wore blue-green robes and a necklace of fangs. On his head was a thick fur hat of the same color. He was about the same height as Senn and held his arms before his chest.
"Pardon us for the intrusion." Ria said "Me and my companion are looking for the Aggresium Prime Song?" The Glacian remained motionless.
"Thalleous Sendaris brought it here." Ria said.
"Yes…he has…" The Glacian spoke. His voice sounded frozen and unmoving, like the landscape about him. "But he also said," The Glacian continued, "That only a worthy Ardoni may take it."
"And if someone were to take it by force?" Senn ventured.
The Glacian raised his arms. Instantly, the snow around them came alive and formed huge icy pillars, caging them where they stood. Another huge icicle rose from the ground and hovered in the air. "They will die a very quick but painful death." The Glacian held them for a moment, then released the ice and disappeared into the cave.
He came back with a red cube, evidently the Prime Song. Senn, remembering their arrangement, turned his gaze away immediately. "I'll take it." Said Ria. "I am not affected by the corruption of the Primes."
The Glacian nodded and handed the Song to Ria. "Very good, Ria Senndaris. But remain wary. I have seen the most steadfast Ardoni lose themselves to the power of the Primes."
"How… did you know my name?"
"Glacians are the oldest-living species in the world, apart from the Guardians. We have neither name or identity. We are the keepers of history and the writers of the Walls of Time. So," The Glacian leaned in. "Why have you come for the Prime Song?"
"We need them to defeat the Deathsinger." Ria replied. "He has returned with the Nether, and this time they may very well conquer and destroy all of Ardonia."
The Glacian nodded. "Then you must return with all haste."
"Thank you." Ria put the Song in her bag. "One last question, sir Glacian."
"Yes?"
"Will the Deathsinger prevail?"
"We record tales of the past." The Glacian sighed. "One cannot hope to know the future."
"But one, especially as long-lived as yourself, can imagine." Senn said.
"We fear the dominion of the Nether, not Ingressus Voltaris." Replied the Glacian. "Long ago, his clan lived peacefully amongst us."
"The Deathsinger abandoned peace long ago." Ria clenched her fists.
"Do you wish to kill him?" The Glacian seemed surprised. "You are so young."
"With all my strength, yes." Ria answered.
They returned to the coast. The others have already set up a small camp. A small fire danced in the middle as Senn and Ria landed. When he found his tent, he instantly collapsed inside. Ria joined the others, roasting food on sticks and swords.
"Did you find it?" Asked the Tidesinger. Ria held out the Aggresium Prime and instantly put it away again. "Great. This particular Prime Song, the Aggresium, has always been considered as the most powerful, and most dangerous of the four Primes. It contains every attack available to the Ardoni. It also happens to be the only one that Ingressus did not take during the Great War. Indeed, I spent a good deal of my time with my clan's master, Aegus Nestoris, to make sure of it."
"Then I guess it was very fortunate the most powerful Prime Song was guarded by the most powerful master." Hubris said, a hint of gloating on his face.
"Indeed it was."
Morning came. But only by one's reckoning. The sky was still half dark in the eternal transition of the north, and the waters oozed slowly out in the sea. Chunks of ice drifted about, but none were large enough to trod on. Denny mounted a small hill overlooking the frozen plains below. He surveyed the landscape, observing the weather.
"The storm seems to be clearing for the moment." Abbigail joined him, "But it'll be back soon." She draped a cape over Denny's shoulders. He accepted the garment and wrapped it around his body.
"Ya know," he began. "I've always wanted ter see Northwind. It's so very differen' than the farmlan' I grew up on. An' beautiful, an' lively, in its own, freezing way."
"We've both seen a lot we never imagined we would." Abbigail said softly. "Ever since I found Luna's egg, ever since I landed on your farm."
"Yeah, I kinda miss it." Denny said. "Not that I don't like being with you, but that… You just don't get to have a roast lamb feast or eat freshly baked pork pies with your family."
"You do know that a double negative means a positive?" Abbigail took Denny's arm.
"Wha' does tha' mean?"
"So saying that you don't not like being with me means that…"
Denny chuckled. "I have also hear' tha' a double positive can never mean a negative."
"Yeah, right." They both laughed.
"So," Abbigail asked, "Are we your family now? Me, Saxon, and Trevor?"
"Yes. I would even call you my kin." Denny answered. Abbigail rested her head on Denny's shoulder, and he wrapped the cape around her, pulling her in. Together, they stared out at the icy plains.
"Do you have some of that warm soup?" Abbigail asked, "It's so cold out here."
"I do have my soup, but, uh… it's frozen."