We last read Chapter 19, where Keena returns to the Tidal Throne after successfully escaping the capital of Skycrest alongside her friends. Once she gets done putting away the evidence for the time being and preparing herself for bed, she is abruptly visited by the ghost of Hydraxus, who confronts her for her act of murdering him and asks why she did it. Keena initially refuses, pretending to hold no remorse, but after Hydraxus reminds her of their past together, she cracks and reveals that she killed him to maintain her relationship with Coldsnap; specifically, to become the Water Sect Leader and match Coldsnap's standing as the Ice Sect Leader. However, in a surprising turn of events, Hydraxus reveals that he has complete faith in Keena's ability to lead the water mages, and, after a little bit of reconciling, departs for the afterlife while imparting his blessing to Keena once more, dying peacefully knowing that the Water Sect is in good hands. This time, we check in on the Earth Sect mage Geode, as he, too, returns to his home region—the Stonemount Gorge—and checks in on his aging father.....
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-Stonemount Gorge, Elemental Realms-
Geode jumped through the gateway to the Stonemount Gorge and quickly appeared again on the other side, in the middle of the brief-but-harsh desert walkway outside the Earth Sect mages' cave that was nearly impossible to cross for most others. To get to his destination quicker, he curled into a ball once again—like he had done during Sledge's final "test"—and rocketed forward, covering the distance between the portal and the cavern in mere milliseconds.
The Boulder Brothers, who usually guarded the complex's entrance, didn't bother to stop him since they already knew who he was, allowing him to speed across the downward, spiraling stone passage that lined the walls of the rather vertical cave—with various side rooms acting as the earth mages' residences—until finally, he reached the bottom.
The bottom of the Stonemount Gorge was mostly a singular room that was wide and rocky, as one might expect for a Sect that controlled such an element. There were racetracks here and there for earth mages to practice their rolling; they would often engage in friendly competitions with each other. Besides that, they also had the option of working out using the dumbbell racks on the opposite wall, or just simply taking a break by chilling at one of the many tables and chairs in the middle, all of which were made out of rock. Though sitting for too long on such a surface might get uncomfortable for some, to the earth mages, it was a warm, fervent reminder of the gifts that The Ascendant had given them. Their abilities may not have been nearly as flashy as those of the other three—or four—factions, but they took pride in them nonetheless.
Finally, at the front of the room was Sledge's throne, which he didn't use that often; usually only for important meetings or delivering crucial decisions to his Sect. It was a rock chair that came complete with armrests, a full "back" to recline on, and two lit torches some distance in front of it—one to the left and one to the right—which flanked it.
Most, if not all, of the earth mages were already asleep; the only exception were the Boulder Brothers, who were incapable of needing it and were sworn to keep an unending vigil over the region.
But apparently, tonight, there was another exception.
Geode wasn't interested in any of that at the moment. After locating the random fire mage again—the same assistant that had watched him take his tests earlier—sitting at a table and drinking a smoothie, he recruited him to his side, and together, they headed towards Sledge's living quarters, with an edge of worry in Geode's voice as he conversed with the fire mage.
"Respectfully, how long am I going to continue to be here?" he asked Geode. "My lady Firebird is probably wondering where I've been these past few days. I thought I'd only be helping your father with his little 'obstacle courses', but.....he still insisted on keeping me around, for some reason.....?"
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Coldsnap: Storm's Call
Novela Juvenil~PARAGON CINEMATIC UNIVERSE: PHASE 2, BOOK 5~ *This novel serves as the 5th novel of Phase 2 and a sequel to "Coldsnap: Harbinger of Ice" and "The Paragons".* "The Ascendant has abandoned us! Were we not good enough for him?! Is that it?! Must we no...
