The Paragons

Chapter 41: Final Preparations

Walter and Clara were seated next to Coldsnap, who glared at them apprehensively with her steely, light-blue eyes, much to their discomfort. The two of them tried to look away on several occasions and focus their attention on polishing their blades, but whenever their gaze would return to her, she would still be looking at them.

Eventually, Walter broke the tension. ".....Can we help you with something, my lady?"

"I hear you two are authorities on interdimensional beings," the icy heroine began. "I come from another dimension; how come you both aren't showing hostility towards me?"

"I can answer that!" Clara chirped, immediately reverting to her cheerful personality after Coldsnap finally responded to them. "I think you have us ever so slightly mistaken; we handle interdimensional threats, not beings in general. And, seeing as you're one of the members of this band of heroes, we see no reason to go after you!"

"Yes!" Walter added. "Although we haven't known you for too long, your adept cryokinetic skills suggest a strong attunement to the Elemental Realms.....am I wrong?"

Coldsnap's eyes widened; they knew where she came from. "No, you wouldn't be.....but then again, I already told you I was from there, so....."

The Cloaked Path master looked at her with wonder. "Everything you told us back there, during your introduction.....we already knew. We have you to thank for defeating Morton Flamestar and Frost King Alpin, and saving the planet from their combined wrath."

"Things seem to be looking up now that you're in charge of the Ice Sect, Firebird runs things in the Fire Sect, and Keena is at the helm of the Water Sect," Clara commented. "Flamestar, Alpin, Hydraxus.....you all really showed those Sect Leaders who was boss!"

"Hydraxus wasn't corrupt, though....." Coldsnap protested. "Hold on a minute, how do you even know about everything that happened there?"

Clara chuckled. "Because we're 'authorities on interdimensional beings'," she reported, repeating the ice mage's words back to her. "If it's on an otherworldly plane, chances are we're aware of it."

"If you knew everything that was going on.....then why didn't you two do anything to help us? Things would have gone smoother if you were both there....." Coldsnap admonished. "Were you unable to, or were you just content to sit on your asses and watch my friends and I struggle?"

"Because we saw how efficient you were at bringing everyone together. We witnessed your capacity for bravery, courage, valor, and strength. In short.....we didn't interfere because we knew you were powerful enough, bold enough, and fierce enough to handle it all by yourself. That, and we were kind of busy helping The Viper with something else at the time," Walter elaborated, intending to soothe Coldsnap's anger by commending her; she seemed like the type of person to buy into it, anyway.

"Well.....flattery will get you everywhere with me. It's about damn time I'm given the respect I'm owed."

"Yep, you really got us out of a pickle there!" Clara commented. "Otherwise, the master and I probably would have had to work overtime. And he's not really happy when he misses out on his sleep."

"I enjoy sleeping as well....." Coldsnap agreed. "I never know what I'll dream of next.....that's part of what makes it so exciting. That, and my sleep schedule's been out of whack lately with everything that's been going on. First, I hold constant all-nighter gaming marathons with my older sister. Next thing you know, I have to work my ass off to save Earth from two corrupt Sect Leaders. Then, I get recruited into a superhero organization. Not complaining, though---when it comes to working with Duncan, there's no opportunity I wouldn't take."