Coldsnap: Harbinger of Ice

Chapter 12: Coldsnap's Comeback

Coldsnap, Firebird, and Leo, now back in their Aspect attire, re-entered the Grand Terminus through a wormhole positioned on the center platform of the city's portal network. The slightly raised middle pedestal made it appear as if the trio were on a stage of some kind.

"Your favorite ice goddess has returned!" Coldsnap announced in a very pronounced, theatrical tone.

Almost immediately, a random Earth Sect took notice of the group, and spotted a familiar-looking ice mage among them, now with a new-and-improved costume.

"Wait, what? Hey, guys! Coldsnap's back!" he declared to the rest of the mages in the courtyard. Instantly, the other Aspects rushed the pedestal and began clamoring in amazement.

"No way!" a fire mage exclaimed.

"Is it actually her?!" a different one asked, as if they couldn't believe their eyes.

"Yep, looks like her, alright," someone from the Water Sect clarified.

"How was Earth?" another ice mage called to Coldsnap from the back.

The first mage who noticed them pushed his way to the front of the crowd. "You've been gone for quite a long time....I can only imagine how much you've grown since then. Not to mention you've gotten a bit of an upgrade!" he commented, looking up and down at her new outfit.

Coldsnap chuckled. "Thanks! But we're not here to have fun. We're here to tackle a very serious matter---"

However, the gathering instantaneously erupted into cheers once again; it was obvious that she was loved by most of the Mage Aspects, and had been greatly missed during her time away.

Firebird walked up to her and whispered something in her ear.

"Come on!" she encouraged. "You should take some time to entertain them! After all....you have been gone for two years.....!"

The formed assembly was an uproar of mostly-incomprehensible words, but upon listening closer, Coldsnap thought she could hear a group of mages asking her to give a lecture or address about her time away from the Realms. To tell them what the planet was like and how its inhabitants---the humans---reacted to someone with such immense capabilities.

Just then, she got an idea. She wouldn't be giving them just any talk.....no. She'd give them something even better.

Before she began, she looked to her left and right between Firebird and Leo, both of whom gave her supportive nods before backing away and letting her have the floor.

Time to give them the show of a lifetime, the Ice Sect mage thought to herself, an excited grin appearing on her face. She couldn't wait to show off how far she'd come.

Coldsnap picked a microphone off the pedestal's front rack, then leapt into the air and slammed back onto the ground on her feet, sending out a massive wave of energy that instantly transformed the surrounding area into a stunning, icy landscape, complete with an atmospheric snowfall, much to the audience's amazement.

She then summoned a large portal to her right, and a giant, ice-covered dragon flew out of it. Initially, it landed across from her and roared defiantly in her face, but she scared it into compliance after just a few seconds of glaring at it. It then bowed down before her, allowed her to ride on its back, and together, they flew above the crowd as Coldsnap began her performance and Leo provided a firm, bouncing beat in the background.

With a strong, domineering tone, she began belting out lines.

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