Coldsnap: Storm's Call

Prologue, Part 5: Birth Of A Usurper

This is Part 5 of the Prologue for Coldsnap: Storm's Call. In Part 4, we stood by as The Ascendant learned of the Sect Leaders' utter failure to redeem the citizens of Atlantis after Commander Windsor Galeforce sank it in a fit of cynicism. As retribution, The Ascendant banished Galeforce, his right-hand woman Typhoon, and the entirety of the Storm Sect to a place called limbo—the space between alternate dimensions—before erasing any and all traces of the Storm Sect's memory from the remaining Sect Leaders and all of the current and future Mage Aspects. This time, many years down the road, we join Hydraxus and the three other Sect Leaders once again as they prepare to witness the birth of yet another Mage Aspect; one who will be all too happy to succeed Hydraxus in the future.....

***********************************************************************************************

-2005-

-Grand Terminus Chapel, Grand Terminus, Elemental Realms-

The center of activity for the Elemental Realms was easily the region known as the Grand Terminus, a huge settlement akin to a capital city where Mage Aspects of every element could meet up and socialize outside of their training. The place greatly resembled a typical metropolis of Earth, with shops, restaurants, a performance hall, parks, and a portal network containing six portals: one to Earth, and four for each of the other regions of the Elemental Realms: the Whitecap Tundra, the Firelands, the Tidal Throne, and the Stonemount Gorge.

The sixth portal, which used to lead to Skycrest—the capital of the Storm Sect—was long deactivated, however, and since the memory of Galeforce, Typhoon, and the Storm Sect had been wiped from all of the Mage Aspects' heads by The Ascendant, there was no reason to investigate the gateway that had formerly stood there.

Instead, today held a different purpose.

Quite possibly the highlight of the Grand Terminus was its majestic chapel, complete with stained glass windows along the sides and several rows of comfortable-looking pews. There was a wide center aisle—with two additional isles on the very left and very right side of the huge chamber—an expansive, horizontal stage at the head of the room, and a podium situated to the spectators' left-hand side.

The congregation within the chapel of the Grand Terminus were all noisily clamoring to themselves, voicing their excitement at the thought of yet another birth ceremony about to take place. What especially got them riled up was that Coldsnap, quite possibly the most powerful Mage Aspect to ever have been conceived and a future member of the Paragons, had just come into the world in 2003–a mere two years earlier—and everyone was wondering whether this next one would be just as capable as she was.

"Pssst! Hey!" a random fire mage whispered to the water mage that was sitting next to him. "The Ascendant can only produce one new mage per year now, right? I've heard he's been getting a bit tired over the years....."

"Yeah," the water mage answered. "Coldsnap was two years ago, in 2003. The one for 2004 wasn't all that great......let's not talk about them."

The fire mage visibly recoiled. "Oof. Yeah, do not remind me of those times," he cautioned. "I don't think anyone can top Coldsnap, but I hope this one's at least better than the one from last year. It's supposed to be a water mage, correct?"

"I don't know! You know we never know anything about the mage's identity until they're officially conceived. It's part of what makes this ceremony so magical!" At this, the water mage stopped and raised an eyebrow curiously. "Hey, wait......what makes you think they'll be part of the Water Sect?"