Something was off with the winds. Lifting his nose to the sky, Carbuncle sat on a pile of lush leaves. He growled silently to himself as he pondered the actions before him.

Taking a stroll through the Seventh Storm, the last before reaching the world outside, he made sure to stay out of the sights of any Tundrafolk and those that hired them as guides. The winds were harsh to those who spent most of their time in the Eight Storm or the remainder of Ul’dana.

His gem shined brightly within the few sunrays that broke through the oppressive whirling clouds. As he watched a reflection dance through the trees around him, a rustle shook him from his hypnotic trance.

“Well, well… This is a rare sight to see.” A woman adorned in a bright red cloak stepped out. Her long straight black hair appeared unaffected as well from the tumultuous winds swirling around them, something her attendants were painfully aware of. “You sure are a mysterious little fella. This is your first time outside the Third Storm in four, maybe, five hundred years?”

Carbuncle chirped in confirmation.

“Well, I hope you enjoy your time out here in the outer winds, it’s not too often anything changes out here…” Miraelle’s fox ears twitched in the winds. As the Heiress of the Storms, nothing within could escape her perception. “You’ve heard about it as well, huh? This ‘World Game’ that was ordained from on high?” With an show of exaggeration one would not expect out of a woman of high station, Carbuncle wagged his tail in appreciation.

“Yeah, I’m not sure of it myself… We could just wipe out those pesky Second Sun worshippers with a big enough storm.” She looked at her freshly manicured nails, “But that would just leave us open to the rest of the world, really ruining the real estate around here.”

“Squeak!”

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“You’re right. It’d only be nice for the short term, with a ‘once in a lifetime chance’ to get to the Origin of the Storms while only being ever so slightly sane would not be worth the trade.” She sat down next to him, her attendants scrambling to find their mistress a more refined seat, “I don’t really see the point in the Wor-”

“Augh! Ahhh!”

A pale white man with grey hair collapsed on the ground before them, quickly trying to back away, “It’s- It’s you! The ‘One Who Transcends Storms’!” A Sea Sage from Academia Rex seemingly on a routine research excursion into the Seventh Storm somehow found his way before them. His bright orange eyes were the only color on him, sharply contrasted by the features of his kind.

As her attendants rushed forward to subdue the man, Miraelle stood to brush them aside, “Well, I am glad to hear my reputation precedes me.” Walking forward with an air of solemnity, her robe remained unphased by the blustering winds surrounding all other members around. “But you, pond scum, you are not befit of looking upon me! However, your very soul must perish for intruding upon the one greater!”

The Sea Sage’s remains were quickly vacated from their presence. Miraelle took her seat once more next to Carbuncle playing with a strange whirling essence in her now flawed manicured hand, “As I was saying, I don’t see the point in this World Game.”

“Squeak.”

She stood immediately, “No. You must not!”

“Squeak squeak!”

Crushing the man’s very life essence in the palm of her hand, she held out her arms in supplication, “I do not care if you feel like you must do this! Please, there must be another way!” She dropped to her knees, making eye contact with the bejeweled creature, “Why don’t you go out and make peace instead? It is far less risky than throwing your very own life away for some game we don’t even know the rules to!”

Carbuncle frowned. Miraelle was the only one capable of even reaching his home. The world was vast and yet lonely. As one of his only friends sat before him, begging him to find another way, he had no choice but to abate.

“Squeak.”

“Whew…” She stood, brushing her gown in an attempt to regain her regal air once more, “I’m glad you still have some sense in you.” She put a finger to her lips, “How about I introduce you to one of my friends down south and start there?”