Coldsnap: Storm's Call

Chapter 19: From Beyond Heaven's Shore

We last read Chapter 18, where Geode and the three Sect Leaders successfully escaped from Skycrest and begin making plans to reveal the Storm Sect's existence to the rest of the Mage Aspects the next morning before splitting off to return to their respective home regions for the night. When going to sleep, however, Firebird is approached by her informant, who asks her what has happened to Emberson's workshop and what the sixth portal terminal is doing standing in its place. After spilling the beans to him, she makes him promise to keep everything a secret until the next day, which he agrees with. Meanwhile, Coldsnap prays to The Ascendant and transports herself to his sanctuary, questioning him about the Storm Sect. What starts out as an interrogation eventually turns into a full-on argument as Coldsnap brutally tears into The Ascendant for his poor treatment of Commander Windsor Galeforce and the Storm Sect, particularly erasing him from the minds of the other Aspects and punishing the entirety of the Sect for the Commander's actions alone. Afterwards, The Ascendant could do nothing more other than wish Coldsnap luck in fighting the Storm Sect before the heroine leaves his presence entirely. This time, we catch up with Keena, and see what she has been up to since splitting off from Firebird and Coldsnap for the night.....

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-Tidal Throne, Elemental Realms-

Keena walked through the now-barren central chamber of the Tidal Throne; all of the other water mages had already retired to their quarters for the evening, and she was the last one out. She took a few minutes to stare in awe at the absolutely huge aquariums that composed the region's outer walls, containing a huge variety of ocean and plant life that lived in complete harmony without any worry of their habitat becoming polluted.

She was about to ascend the spiraling staircase to the second level---which housed most, if not all, of the water mages' personal rooms---when a majestic orca swam up to the glass and greeted Keena with a series of whistles, with the Water Sect Leader gently placing her hand on the glass in turn.

Back when she had been initially conceived by The Ascendant many years ago, Keena was immediately brought under Hydraxus's tutelage and had her skills honed, to the point where she was nearly as capable as Coldsnap, who was thought to be the most powerful ice mage---no, Mage Aspect overall---that had ever been created by The Ascendant. As such, she spent a lot of time in the Tidal Throne, and was thus incredibly familiar with the region's layout and the various species of animals that resided within its vast aquariums.

"Ahhh, Maurice, it's you," Keena said softly. "One of the two orcas that we have, if I remember correctly. Also known as a killer whale, scientific name Orcinus orca. .....I wish I could say I was making that up, but I'm not. How are you doing tonight?"

Maurice let out another series of whistles and jaw claps once again, with Keena being able to detect the worry and stress in his calls. Earlier, the orca could do nothing but watch from the other side of the aquarium glass as the rest of the water mages solemnly brought back the bodies of those who had died as a result of the Grand Terminus flood. He felt the water mages' grief just as much as they did; after all, they had given him a home that could never be polluted---and a home that was never at risk of being encroached on by poachers or whalers---and he owed them his eternal gratitude.

"I know.....I know....." the Water Sect Leader replied, instinctively knowing by heart what the orca was saying, due to having spent so much time around him. "A lot of people died in that flood.....but look!" She gestured to the two light-blue cloths and the deceased Storm Sect mage that she had dragged into the region. "We know who did it now! And tomorrow, my friends and I will tell everyone else."