Coldsnap: Harbinger of Ice

Chapter 48: A Bone-Chilling Execution

—1 Week Later—

Some time afterward, the Elemental Realms had more or less returned to normal. The day immediately following the battle at the Grand Terminus, after Coldsnap had assisted the rest of the ice mages in rebuilding the Aurora Keep, her first order of business as the new Ice Queen was to throw Alpin into the dungeon, behind the exact same bars that Geode had initially been held behind. Over the course of the many days he spent there, the rest of the Aspects worked together to repair the damages caused to the Grand Terminus, and also put the Inferno Fortress back together, with Firebird officially assuming command of the Fire Sect following Flamestar's death. Additionally, she had selected some of the Fire Sect mages who were brave enough to resist Flamestar and brought them together to form a security force known as the Siege Guard, a team of defenders who looked after the castle and were intended to replace Ignicion's former role.

For the most part, everyone had resumed going about their business, with Hydraxus and Sledge occasionally offering their advice in order to help Coldsnap and Firebird ease into their new roles as Sect Leaders.

However, there was still one more matter to take care of.

Firebird threw open the double doors to the central throne room of Aurora Keep and met up with Coldsnap.

"Hey!" she greeted the icy heroine. "How's it going? You getting used to everything around here?"

"Yep! You?"

"Honestly.....I thought it'd be nerve-wracking, but it's actually not that bad! The Fire Sect have been very supportive of me......in fact, do you remember that one mage that spoke for the rest? Back when we first tried to recruit them to our side?"

"Yeah? What about him?"

"He's become one of my advisors!" Firebird exclaimed happily. "I keep forgetting to ask for his name, though....."

"I'm sure it can't matter much. Besides.....we're not done yet. There's still one little weed that needs to be plucked," Coldsnap pointed out.

"Right," the fire mage agreed. "Shall I go get him?"

After receiving an approving nod from Coldsnap—who proceeded to unlock the ward on her throne and allow her friend access to the catacombs beneath the keep—Firebird descended downwards and met up with both Keena and Geode at the entrance to the detention block.

"Come on....." Geode complained, slightly annoyed. "Let's just hurry up, get him, and get out of here. This place is bringing back really bad memories." There was no doubt he was recalling his time spent trapped here by the former Frost King, being forced to act as nothing but a mere pawn in his schemes. Although it did feel immensely satisfying to turn the tables against Alpin, he desired to move on more than anything else, rather than spend too much time pursuing vengeance.

"I wasn't even here for as long of a time as you were.....but this place also gives me the creeps," Keena admitted. "It's completely unlike the rest of the Keep.....just like the basement of the Inferno Fortress....."

"Don't worry. Coldsnap and I have both agreed that no one is to be imprisoned unless absolutely necessary. Only the worst of the worst end up here," Firebird assured. Then, she shot a glance at Geode. "And we will not hold innocents captive any longer, either. Now.....both of you, stay close to me. It's easy to get lost this far down."

The three of them stuck together and entered the dark, dreary halls, with Firebird using one of her daggers as a light source as she led Keena and Geode to a certain holding cell located deep within the complex.