Elementa Naturae - A Cold Day in Hell

Artura II

7:41pm EDT

"I'm sorry Artura, I couldn't get him to come." The words were like a slap across the face. Artura wasn't surprised, but that didn't mean she wasn't disappointed.

"It's not your fault Ali, he always was a stubborn prick." She knew that wasn't true, but it made her feel better anyway. The room was dark and musty, with a certain chill that unsettled the body. It was packed with various tools, boxes and garments, though she had never known of anyone coming in here. Somewhere, there was the faint drip of moisture, an irritating patter of falling water that reverberated through the relatively small storeroom.

Ali, sitting on a bench in one corner, brushed herself off and stood up, outstretching her hand. "Here."

Laying in her palm was the beaded white necklace with the lightning carving.

"Thank you," Artura replied, taking it from her and placing it around her neck, groaning as the worn muscles in her back and chest stretched in the movement.

Ali gently touched her arm, examining the bruises that dotted Artura's skin. "Are you ok?"

"I'll be fine," she replied, waving away the concerned inspection.

"So, what actually happened over there? You said before you sent me off that you were the last one to see Zeus alive?"

"Well, I arrived at the top of the volcano, already weakened from the fight in the ruins. I talked with Glasius and then the mountaintop exploded. By the time we recovered, He had arrived."

"Satan?"

Artura nodded, her voice quiet. "He's evil. But not in the way you'd expect. A much... calmer evil. A more dangerous evil."

"And then?"

"Glasius and I attacked him, not doing much. He knocked us down, and Zeus came up to me and whispered in my ear. Then he summoned the lightning bolt that blasted them both to oblivion."

"What did he tell you?"

"He said that it was up to me to unite the Elementals and find his brothers."

"Poseidon and Hades?"

"Apparently."

"But no one's seen them in centuries."

Artura mindlessly fiddled with the necklace hanging from her neck and sighed. "That's the problem I'm having."

"Wait a second, you said that he told you it was up to you to unite us."

"He did."

"So basically, he chose you to replace him. Why not use that to shut everyone up and get on with everything?"

"Do you really think they're all going to sit there and just accept all this? You can't breathe a word of this. Not to Glasius. Not to anyone."

Rolling her eyes, Ali raised her hands in a defensive gesture. "Alright, alright, I won't."

"Good. Now let's go, or we'll be late."

Pulling down on the rusty handle, Artura shoved the solid wooden door open, exposing the storeroom to the world. For a moment she was blinded by the orange glow of the sun as it slowly edged over the horizon. The fresh air was a wonderful respite from the mouldy storeroom, as vestiges of wood smoke drifted across the valley. Closing the door behind them, the pair followed the winding rock path up towards the central meeting hall.

Nodding to the occasional passer-by, Artura glanced around the valley. Dozens of people paced around the mess hall below her, eager to dig in to their early evening meals. Far off, she heard sudden irregular cracks as trees were toppled for construction and burning. A group of trainees practiced with wooden weapons; hours of discipline being drilled into them as they sweltered from their labour. But there was something off about the hubbub. Groups milled with less energy. Discussion took place in lowered tones. Not to mention the far-too-noticeable holes in their ranks.