The bustling city of Karn surrounded him with a whirlwind of surprises as he ventured through its lively streets. Initially, Karn had anticipated that it would take him hours to traverse the city, but upon stepping into the sea of bodies, he quickly realised that both he and Master Giblet were strangely disconnected from the ethereal display before them.

The people milling about appeared utterly real, and the tantalizing aroma of delectable food wafted through the air, testifying to the city's thriving livelihood. However, as they walked, Karn and Master Giblet passed through the bustling crowd as if they were mere apparitions.

"It's not them," Master Giblet warned. "It's us. We aren’t entirely bound to this realm."

Karn's brow furrowed in confusion as he glanced at the mysterious Froggian. "What do you mean?"

A smile played upon Master Giblet's all-knowing green features. "Take yourself, for instance. Have you ever been in this realm before?"

Karn's mind raced back to the memory, and he nodded with a hint of recollection. "The first time I entered, it felt incredibly strange. It was as if I floated in and out of the place, and I could hear distant voices."

The Froggian nodded, pondering the information. "I would wager that, at that time, it was only your mind that transported into the realm. However, this time, both your mind and spirit have ventured here."

Karn nodded thoughtfully as he phased through a burly baker, who recoiled in shock at the sight of a young man walking through his chest.

"What in the blazes!" the baker cried out.

"Pardon us," Master Giblet quickly spoke up with a chuckle, guiding Karn through the bustling streets as the crowd instinctively made way. A palpable sense of unease emanated from the onlookers, causing them to keep their distance.

"If I were to venture a guess," Master Giblet continued, skipping a few steps ahead, "your physical body has been left behind somewhere. In this realm, both your mind and spirit have found refuge."

Karn's brow furrowed with concern. If what Master Giblet said was true, he couldn't recall what would have caused him to retreat in the first place.

"And what about you?" Karn inquired, giving the Froggian a quizzical glance. "Is your body still outside the book?" He paused for a moment, realizing the sensitivity of his question. "Ah, I sorry. It’s not for me to ask. I mean, about such things..."

Master Giblet let out a weary sigh. "It's alright. The topic is painful, but you will likely uncover the truth soon enough. I might as well spill the beans as your kind like to say..."

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As they moved through the crowd, the Froggian began, "You've seen my people's history threaded on the walls."

Karn nodded, his gaze fixed on the back of the Froggian’s white and blue ruffled tunic. There was no trace of humour in his voice.

"At a time when all the races united to wage war, our Froggian people pledged our allegiance to the side of the White Dragon. We fought not out of valour or bravery but out of an insatiable thirst for vengeance."

Karn stared intently, understanding the seething rage that arises from witnessing the harm inflicted upon those you hold dear.

"The place we called the watery depths, our home, was obliterated, our offspring lost," the Froggian continued, his voice filled with sorrow. "The southern nation, which stood against the Dragon, slaughtered our Froggian women. They coveted the valuable resource within the clear pools of our homeland, draining the waters of the northern inland sea to forge weapons for the war. After that tragedy, we aligned ourselves with the King, not out of duty, but for the sake of vengeance."

Karn nodded, empathizing with the Froggian.

Leaving the bustling marketplace behind, they entered a neighbourhood of opulent mansions, towering statues, and lush gardens—a haven for the nobility.

"So we marched to the city of Hornbare, defending it with a combined might, consumed by a bloodlust,"

“With the Felren?” Karn prodded, eager to hear the continuation of the tale.

Master Giblet nodded, “The Kraven and Wolvegren too.”

As Karn listened and continued his journey through the bustling city, his mind wandered. He’d never seen the Wolvegren. Memories of the bear-like beings depicted on the ancient tapestries within the Polliwog tower flooded his thoughts.

With their powerful bear-like bodies, adorned with a majestic mane and fearsome fangs, their appearance emitted strength and a hint of untamed wilderness. Karn couldn't help but envision these creatures prowling through dense forests, their amber eyes gleaming with primal wisdom.

"And we the Froggian people achieved what we desired. They never anticipated the might of creatures who could bound fifty feet into the air, effortlessly dispatching their opponents before vanishing as swiftly as they had come," the Froggian reminisced, a hint of nostalgia colouring his words. "Ah, you should have seen it. We were magnificent."

A smile danced across Karn's face as he imagined a legion of Frogmen leaping into battle, harnessing the combined strength and agility of their kind.

"Then..." Karn prompted, hungering for the rest of the story.

A hint of sorrow coloured Master Giblets words.

"Then calamity struck, and the book was forged, leading to the demise of our people," the Froggian said, his gaze shifting upwards, as if seeking answers from the sky.

"And you’re the last of your kind?" Karn asked, softly.

Master Giblet shook his head, his expression heavy with sorrow. "Yes and no. When the White Dragon first set foot in this realm, he beheld the sight that looms above us. Eventually, with the help of willing individuals, he built this city. To express gratitude for the past, he created beings like me."

“Created?” Karn asked as he regarded the Froggian with newfound reverence. "I'm sorry," Karn said softly, a genuine grief welling up within him for the fallen Froggian race.

"I am the last of my kind, created rather than born. But do not weep, for the King had a purpose in bringing me into existence," Master Giblet explained, pointing toward the heavens. He was not merely a Lore master in name but embodied the essence of his people, every cell resonating with their collective memories.

"The White Dragon hopes that the future will usher in the long-awaited rebirth of the world. And a dawn for all those who have lost their lives."