***

Crackling could be heard as fire embers danced in a fireplace, wrapping those who sat before it and the well-furnished sitting room, in a warm glow. A pot filled with a warm fresh brew of cream malt sat between two men, as they sipped on the slightly sweet brew. They welcomed the warmth, it help one forget the snow storming outside their doors.

"I thought it never snowed on This-side, yet here we are. The cold is nothing compared to ours, but it remains a little unexpected," Linean said.

"The white cold has arrived This-side. It usually hits the northern Lands first over here. Our south is their north, so this cold is nothing compared to back home," General Lamah said, "There are many storms brewing this time of the year,"

"The Lady Wickshire killed off one of the ancients. I guess that woman has a bite to her,"

"Girl,"

"Huh?"

"She is a girl. As I hear, she will soon be thirteen,"

"That young, yet has all of us entering this primitive place in secret?" Linean's eyes turned cold.

"You must never underestimate..."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Yes, yes, the Thraines. You have said this many times, but I still don't agree with it,"

"There were people from the Harnian gate there, is what I heard. It seems the Flutii are working with them,"

"Why do we not? They are the Harnian gate,"

"Your father wishes not that you know these things, but I will tell you. Thriergor, a small world like ours which is at the bottom of the power chain in the multitude of worlds would have been taken by now, by other worlds; but no one has moved. Do you know why?"

"No,"

"The Thraines. I will not go into it, as I have not the heart to answer to your father but, you must not provoke them, young lord. There will be no power to save you,"

"If they are so scary, why is the Flutii working with the Harnian gate against them?"

"Because people forget. Many have forgotten why they exist and less even knew in the first place. But their power is true. The Harnian gate would not have had the stomach to move, so I feel they have no choice. The alignment is here; when all realms will fight on one big stage; when the heavens will open and heroes will be created," General Lamah said.

"The Harnian gate wishes to take their entry positions?"

"No. If that was what they wanted, they would have taken the entry position of our Other-side. It may look like This-side is the weaker of us two, but no one would dare to provoke This-side. What would make them desperate enough to risk provoking the Thraines, is beyond us all. what we must do is concentrate on ourselves We are here to make use of this storm. It will let us move unhindered and achieve our goal,"

"The northern seal; with it, I will stand a better chance in the battleground"

"It is said that the aligning of realms causes a great many things. Before and after the alignment, many can benefit from it even if they do not fight on the battleground. you must get the northern seal. Days before the alignment, the heavenly energy will be thick, you will be able to absorb the northern seal," General Lamah said, making Linean's eyes sharpen with determination.