~Zaraline's PoV~977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I0gyWUOGj
After witnessing the battle at Alderas through the pool, Grindyr and I sat back on the edge of the pool. Both of us were silent for some moments. Finally, though, Grindyr spoke.
"Truly the son of Eion, I daresay."
"Yeah," I replied, pulling my knees to my chest. I was relieved that things turned out well, or at least for the most part. "Someone had to see him fly into the storm and use the staff like that. Rumors are going to spread like wildfile in Alderas."
"Yes, they most likely will. I am sure Marius can handle him-" Grindyr abruptly stopped. I looked back to see the features of Grindyr squinched up.
"What's wrong?"
"The blank spot in my prophetic vision. It's happening now. It was not supposed to occur for another few months." Grindyr seemed immensely distressed, the dragon's breathing coming in rapid bursts. I didn't even get a chance to say anything, before a deafening boom resonated across the land. My gaze snapped to where I was sure it had come from. A visible wave of some sort of force swept over the land. In its wake, the greenery turned to snow. Terror wracked my body and I curled up, expecting to be obliterated. The only thing I felt was a rush of piercing cold air sweep over my form.
It took me a moment to pull myself together, before I raised my head. The pond was frozen over, and snow covered the ground around us. Grindyr was wheezing, his head held between his claws. I pushed myself up on shaky legs, and made my way over, hugging the top of his head.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgbhh9I3wP
"We're fine, Grindyr, you've got to calm down. We need to figure out what happened." My voice was shaky, but I tried my hardest to sound calm, even though I was far from calm. 977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eS37hlt7P
It took him a long while, and even when I started to lose feeling in my legs and arms, I stayed with him. Finally though, he seemed to calm down. His cobalt eyes were wide as saucers.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B6FIeq3qX
"The Weygates," he said. "Impossible." He wasn't making any sense,977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIvcGI4nPG
"What about them?"977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzWj8snABG
"They are what makes the Wildlands the way it is... Was. They protect it from the bite of being in the north."977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6b1fB1wSXl
"...Are you saying?" My eyes widened. If this meant what I thought it did... What was strong enough to face off against those creatures that guarded the Weygates?977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZs5ROLBjy
"Someone destroyed one, yes."977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLSOwdxTeK
I felt a familiar presence brush against my mind. Rioric. My gaze snapped to the willow tree.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeaNS0Jqky
Why is it so cold? What's happened? He asked. I informed him of what Grindyr had just informed me. He was silent some moments thereafter.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbNVAKV8k4
...Impossible. 977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMc1ugw5qP
"Hey!" My attention snapped to Morganna, who came running to us from the tower. She had a fur coat on, and had one in hand."Are you lot alright?"977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYI9F85zOP
"R-really cold," I replied, wrapping my arms around myself as my teeth began chattering. Morganna handed me the coat, which I quickly wrapped myself in. "Fine though." 977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIuqRZxI1q
"It's happening Morganna, the blank spot in my vision."977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9taoBlHZ4v
"This is grave news indeed... Someone is attacking the Weygates." 977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAB9859FMc
Who would be bold enough to do that? And strong enough to succeed? Rioric's voice echoed in my head. The only things capable of destroying them are the dragons and the power of a god. 977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeu92SsAoo
I have no idea, I told him. 977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysGshKNBHx
"We need to investigate," Grindyr said. 977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4trw2pvS46
"We do." Morganna turned to me. "Zaraline, you must stay here. It is unsafe for you to come with us." 977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXEH4FMwB1
"But-"977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuB66J0laI
"No. Whoever or whatever is strong enough to destroy a Weygate is too dangerous, and we don't want you to get killed." She turned to Grindyr. "Let me gather my things, and we will leave immediately." Then, Morganna pivoted on her heel and spedwalk back to the tower.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuhcED8ACJ
She isn't wrong, Zaraline. You are unskilled, and have yet to undergo the pilgrimage to become a Blessed. You wouldn't do much to help, Rioric hummed.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzZscaoqVd
I know, but I hate to feel useless, sitting back here and doing nothing.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHn0TDKiZU
As is only natural. Fret not. You won't be here alone.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YyAo52EZJ
I looked over at Grindyr. He was pacing, his tail flicking back and forth. "It's going to be okay, Grindyr. Between you and Morganna, I'm sure you will be able to stop whoever is destroying the Weygates."977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfvbLPVozd
"Don't. Nobody is sure. Not even I. And it is my purpose to be sure," Grindyr snapped. I didn't know what to say to that. He made a fair point.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaFBzsr6ic
Soon enough though, Morganna came back. She gave to me a small mirror. Runes were etched into the silver frame. It was clearly enchanted.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyH2tJXNVO
"What is this?"977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolRJdbYFaT
"It's an enchanted mirror. It's linked to this one." She pulled out a small mirror, similar to the one I had with identical runes etched int the frame. "It's used to communicate over long distances using the incantation on the back." I flipped the mirror over as she said that. Sure enough, on the back was an incantation carved into place. It was a simple one. "You won't be kept in the dark, Zaraline."977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2BKuqhVt5
I looked to her, smiling. "Thank you, Morganna."977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNtND5hXof
She smiled back, though it was a brief smile. She gave me a quick hug, before stepping back. "You're welcome, dear. Stay here and stay warm, hmm? I imagine it will only get colder from here on out."977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjILtY0pf4B
I nodded. Morganna stepped away, removing her long fur coat, now nude in the snow. However, it was only for a second, before her form shifted and morphed, before growing larger as it took on a violet hue. She was only a half the size of Grindyr. Still, it was impressive.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuihN0WijR3
She snatched up her coat and her bag in a talon, before taking off. Grindyr took off alongside her. They made their way south, back to the Weygate Mountains.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7yOC3KWaQ
They'll be careful. Those two always are, Rioric assured. That didn't do much to ease my worry, however. Fear settled in the pit of my stomach at the uncertainty of it all.977Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5daMgOyHK
