The Vasareng form an impressive society and kingdom nestled deep within the Uncharted, so we think. Explorers that wander inside and dream of charting and mapping the area bring home sketches that, upon reexamination, match nothing on a second expedition. We believe the Vasareng are the cause. On our own expedition to the Uncharted it wasn't weeks yet before we were knocked unconscious, the entirety of our group. What we awoke to were the Vasareng. A fascinating discovery. Each individual consisted of three bodies, walking cubes that varied in hues. Their city, of what we were allowed to see, was modern in its design, using principles unimagined. Each Vasareng bonded to an animal of the Uncharted so what followed was an awakening, for the expedition to see dangerous creatures walk calmly amongst each other surrounded by colorful cubes. We were in awe. We spent months there learning of their city and their people, but they were a cautious group and we had only scratched upon the symbiotic bond they share with the animals they bond to. Such so that one day we simply awoke with all our gear and supplies at the edge of the Uncharted as if everything was naught but a dream. It may well have been save for the detail that we all experienced the same exact one.

-Solm Gaiu, adventurer

Frozen winds pulled at Luck's hair, revealing twinkling eyes that gathered the scenery below like a handful of toys. Luck had no idea where his appreciation of beauty and wonder truly came from. There was simply something sublime and captivating about holding the entirety of the Frozen Zones in an amber iris. Blankets of snow and ice gently covered misleading ridges and edges. Frostbitten trees, the largest Luck could find might've been cold-touched bonsais from this altitude. Even the air was beautiful, snowflakes danced past at speeds too quick for Luck to appreciate them. Their fading beauty only accelerated as Rever glided onward.

The cold, in all its beauty, was also biting. Luck had gone around earlier, laying a gentle hand on all those aboard. A bit of magic and everyone was warm. The discovery he was able to share aspects of nature was powerful. Maxworth and Erok were unaffected by the cold and so only glanced at Luck with mild interest.

They were too busy inspecting their weapons and Luck left them to it. Only Ace and Nayah were as amazed by the rush of the wind passing through their hair as Luck was. Tate and mage were still paralyzed but Luck had made sure they were comfortable. As it turned out, his sister was actually quite mobile.

His gaze landed on her. Though she couldn't talk, the metal surrounding her moved her limbs and head to admire the Zones. Luck knew that, like him, Tate cared little for rewards for doing the right thing. It might have been the way they were raised, or more likely the person who trained them for the majority of their adult life. Mr. Ark was a great mentor but his quiet views always made themselves heard in the way he observed their actions.

It was two, bordering on three, hours before Rever started to descend. On the flight, Luck wasn't shy to question the machinations of the world since it was no secret that Rever already knew he wasn't from this one. Ethodthem, it seemed, affected even him greatly throughout his life. Rever had gotten Quests to create frozen fortresses when he had the opportunity, to raze cities, or create works of art. He believed the stronger he became the more frequently that he was the being offering rewards, rather than receiving them, which was to say one or three times during his lifetime.

Rever had his share of Titles and Feats which he explained to Luck briefly.

Titles were given by accomplishing certain tasks or by garnering a reputation among a group of people or beings. They defined an aspect of the individual and, from what Rever speculates, were given by those who recognize you or created by the System itself. Rever was understandably secretive but shared that he hadn't met many with a Title, less so of the smaller sentients. They affected how the System addressed you, what Quests you receive, and what rewards you might attain. They had a power all their own and if you were recognized for things you did then the Quests you might be offered would ones of the same vein. After Luck's question, Rever explained that for the most part, the System was a private thing between individuals. Titles weren't visible to other people they only affected interactions with the System. The only System-recognized Title aside from Friend of the Drakes was True Druid, and he thought, perhaps, that was why he was given the Quest to free Rever rather than kill him.

Feats were achievements of the individual that grant specific bonuses. Actions of the extraordinary that no other individual could feasibly manage. Achievements of great skill, strength, courage, heart, intelligence, dexterity, agility, will, sacrifice, the list goes on. Rever admit to having a single Feat but the drake went silent soon after, leading Luck to believe that not all Feats were happy things. Their effects, to Rever's knowledge, ranged from dispositional benefits to increased physical, mental or magical strength. Even those could specify further. Rever did note that often a single event of spectacularity wasn't enough to gain a Feat, often it required multiple demonstrations to manifest in truth.

Apparently, prior to the Update, as Luck deemed it, these weren't common knowledge, though they wouldn't really know until they hit Ardun. Rever had been frozen for quite a while.

Opening up his own status, as Rever referred to it, showed that aside from his listed Traits and Powers, he also had a section denoting his Titles which amounted to Friend of the Drakes and True Druid. He noted the lack of any Feats being displayed.

The screen was increasingly intuitive. Luck felt it change to fit his preferences every time he'd open it up. Make no mistake, Luck had examined it thoroughly through boring nights in Hydr Dunes. It was descriptive, helpful and, Luck conceded, pretty damn cool. Though from what Luck gathered, even looking at the light-blue screen now, he was correct. Ethodthem only represented Powers, Traits or Skills given to him by the System. For example, Nature and Earth magic were present but there was the distinct lack of any representation of Luck's training. No listed proficiency with knives, bare arms, wrestling, grappling, small arms, rifles, deception, etc.

In the end, Luck shrugged when speaking with Rever, the status screen was an easy way for an individual to find their rewards. According to Spirit, even in ancient Aeraen history, it's referenced multiple times. Post-Update the screen had advanced. Quests were listed, Traits and Powers described in great, concise detail. Titles and Feats as well. Rever speculated that many aspects of the Status Screen are locked to the lay people. Even he felt Titles and Feats were just scratching the surface of what Ethodthem might bring to bear.

Important to note were the staring eyes of everyone as Luck conversed in low Draconian. Erok and Maxworth's reactions were subdued, having already witnessed Luck performing similar communications. Nayah seemed to have forgotten. Ace was shaking his head and whispering to himself while Tate had found the muscles of her eyebrows to be functioning. Of all, the mage seemed the most surprised, he had regained some movement, enough to prop himself up and stabilize his limp form, but the man had an inquisitive look to his face that Luck found somewhat intelligent.

Luck smirked at the impromptu crowd before continuing his conversation with Rever for the rest of the trip.

Luck did indeed receive all of the rewards promised to him, even if he didn't ask for them or tried to deny them. Of course, one of the first things he noticed was the fact that the rewards didn't specify if they were split among the group or for each individual. The promised rewards were a Chance for a Lesser Blessing, a Chance for a Lesser Boon, Information, Ally and Unknown. After his conversation he considered information done with. The Lesser Blessing went to the ice mage, who still regarded Luck silently. The Lesser Boon he felt he was in the process of receiving right now, the flight to Ardun. And Ally had to be Tate or Rever himself while Unknown could've referred to the weapons and enchantments given to Maxworth and Erok.

It wasn't long before they started their descent. His hair whipping back, he could just make out what might've been the outline of the city before it disappeared behind a mountain.

Saga and Tric were the first to dismount. The shar's padded feet landed silently on the snow. Saga was particularly respectful of the Frost Drake, nodding to him as he dismounted. Erok and Maxworth followed. Erok carried the ice mage, who looked to be taking the carrying well. Luck chuckled as Ace was having a one-sided argument with Tate and her metal that it would be easier for him to just carry her down.

Luck admired the drake for several seconds before saying goodbye. Armored with a helmet of ice did nothing to stop Rever's edged beauty. His claws grasped at the snow, seeming for all the world a part of it. The almost pure blue-white of his sparkling scales nearly made the drake invisible in the setting. But his spines reminded Luck of not only his ferocity but the magic he commanded.

"Thank you, Rever." Luck bowed, in true awe and respect.

"No, thank you, small friend. For freeing me." The drake lowered his head. A localized blizzard blew up around him. He glided through the snow, reaching a nearby cliff overlooking a howling trench. Raising his head in the frozen winds Luck watched him spread his wings. "Caution before the walls of the city, friend. Danger is always there." And then a piercing screech that Luck translated to a cry of triumph and freedom before Rever dived out of view.

"Crazy." Ace said simply. "Almost as crazy as your damn sister. Mind giving me a hand, Lucky?" Ace cut in sounding truly desperate.

"She's a Lockyer, what'd you expect man?" Luck grinned, happy to have his sister back even if she happened to be glaring at both of them.

"Pretty much exactly this." Ace shrugged, shaking his head. His hair was frosted with snow but the man didn't shiver. "I'd say we're only a few hours or so from the walls." He added. "I don't know about you but I'd love to get a move on. It's about time we got to this damn city."

Erok came, ice covering his arms and chest. "I do not trust strangers so easily." He said, looking back at the two.

Maxworth was silent on the matter, though the man was holding close his daggers. Nayah too only stood nearby stealing short glances towards Tate and the mage who were, in truth, not that far from their conversation. It didn't particularly look like Erok cared they knew his thoughts.

"Relax, the girl is my sister. My reason for heading to the Zones in the first place. See this?" He held up his pendant, glowing motes of light still pointing east. "Tuned to my family. My sister's harmless. " He paused thoughtfully immediately upon saying that. "Well, perhaps you're right to be on guard. She is very dangerous in actuality. She means us no harm, however. And if that man is with her then he must be worthy of trust as well."

"Doesn't hurt to see a human face. Especially after seeing yours this entire time." Ace said after a moment. "Too much amber."

Luck shook his head, pulling on the heatblind. And, after a thought, his hand went to his pockets, pulling out an amber set of playing cards with a bit of dimensional sleight of hand. The very same ones that were gifted to him by Jerxos' wife, Goddess of Fun. He was tempted to flick one at Ace's neck knowing full well he could draw blood but he was loathe to bend or scuff such a magnificent set of exquisitely crafted cards.

"Careful what you say, Ace. I could shatter your precious hair with how solidly frozen it is right now. While I'm at it I might as well shatter the teeth making that cocky grin." Luck didn't even need to look up from his cards. He went through a variety of idle shuffles and sleights. Twirling cards between fingers and hands, careful not to lose them in the wind.

"Max, why don't be banter as they do?" Erok said a moment after Luck started walking.

Luck heard Nayah chuckle as Maxworth replied, barely audible.

"Because we are a fairly boring pair, Erok."

"Ah."

It was a downwards climb. By no means did Rever drop them off on an easy path. Luck would be the first one to admit he was out of his depth. In truth, without the fruits from his dimensional room and the aspect of the heatblind, he might be panicking at the simple roar of the wind. As it was, what would've been a cold, freezing reason to fear death was a strong wind against his face. The fear of any physical dangers was abated by the knowledge of his regeneration but the still isolation somewhat got to him, even with the large group.

Ace led, for all Luck knew having even done something similar before. Who knew with that man. Maxworth helped Nayah along who had nearly had a panic attack on the treacherous path. Erok held both Tate and the mage comfortably, confident in his stride even when Luck wasn't. Saga and Tric made their own paths but scouted forward for them, returning with promises of safe traveling.

Luck's foot slipped, his wool shoes losing traction for a fraction of a second. He found his step easily, breathing normally even as Maxworth eyed him. As of now, the drop below, the height, was unknown. The drift of snow that came off with his footing disappeared. Nayah's eyes widened.

"T-that was close." She said, chattering until Luck laid a hand on her, giving her the aspect of the heatblind. "Thanks." She said, still avoiding looking over the edge of the path.

"I advise exercising more caution, Luck. I don't believe I can catch you should another slip like that happen whilst I'm not paying attention." Maxworth added.

"No kidding." Luck said, seeing Ace already paces ahead. His amber set of playing cards jumped between his fingers, the sound of a birds wings between his fingers.

He liked to believe that passing frozen caverns, slippery trenches, and hundred meter drops were just as dangerous as a day in the city. He also knew, quite confidently, that he was wrong. The sublimity of nature was far more terrifying than a gun to the face. Not only the possibility of death but dying alone, where your presence meant nothing but more food to the ecosystem. This was not an environment at all suitable for the likes of Luck. For all the experiences Luck had gone through, all the challenges he had faced, this particular trip had been the first time he had seen snow. It was the very first time he was acquainted with the dangers of the mountain, the dangers of falling, breaking limbs, freezing to death, dying of oxygen deprivation, and many more Ace felt the need to sarcastically narrate, suspiciously nonchalant all the while.

So Luck was surprised to find himself perfectly at ease.

There was an urgent shout behind him and Luck twirled around instantly. An icy tendril had gripped onto Maxworth's leg. It jerked backward but already Maxworth had planted a dagger in the ice, cracks forming from the strain. His leg shot out from under him as the tendril pulled again.

Luck focused on the moment, the stillness between breaths, and time froze.

It was a drain on his mana the longer he held it. He was planning to grab Maxworth's free dagger and cut his icy chains. But after a moments glance at the suspended, reaching tendril of lightning only a foot left from his face, he unpaused time. It seemed Ace had it in hand. A crackling cackle of lightning shattered the icy chain, perhaps with a little too much power. The lightning's impact upon the path rumbled upwards. And Luck saw a single drift of snow slough off the mountain meters ahead.

Then the rest came. An avalanche. The members of the group had only a moment to look upward. Luck caught Erok shielding the two paralyzed members with his body while Maxworth hugged the wall and braced. Meanwhile, Luck dodged another cord of ice, whipping at his legs and ankles. His foot shattered the ice, and more advanced only to abruptly dissipate.

Clumps of snow fell. Nothing near enough what Luck saw earlier. He looked up. A dome of ice formed. Immediately his eyes went to the paralyzed ice mage, but the man was instead looking off the edge of the path and towards the opposite cliff. His blue eyes roamed the ledges and ridges along that cliff, searching. It wasn't his doing, Luck concluded. He couldn't have done it in his condition. So that left their attackers. Why?

In Common, a voice rang out echoing across the chasm between them. "Release the mage or we release the avalanche you've called upon yourself!" It echoed, a second time then a third. The chasm was silent.

Spirit almost immediately detected the man. Camouflaged in the snow, to all just another lump of powder, to Spirit, it might as well have been a flag. He was with one other. "Over there Ace." Luck jut his chin out, not loud enough to be heard. The two opposing mages weren't human.

"Keep your ice to yourselves lest I zap you off the mountain!" Ace responded his slow voice at odds with the speed of his magic, but just as commanding. "We seek Ardun! Plain and simple!"

At this distance, though Luck sensed them whispering, there was no chance he could hear them past the whistling wind. Not even with his enhanced hearing. They responded. "Again strangers, release your hostages or die in the cold! You'll go no further than this!"

Luck would've already had a barricade of sorts up if he was skilled enough, or rather, powerful enough to pull rock from the depths of the snow and break the solid feet of ice that encased it. His chitin did form, however, though he wondered how exactly that might help in this situation.

"They're allies, Roth!" A horrendously slurred voice rang out. "I've been paralyzed, long story!" Luck would be surprised if anyone understood it at all. Luck, though, heard every word for what it was.

There was a beat of silence and Luck got the impression they were debating. He moved slowly, trusting they could see him. On his way, he bumped into Maxworth, coming away with a borrowed dagger. He slipped nearby Erok.

"Prop him up against the wall, Erok." Luck said. "They're after him. Don't look at me like that, Tate." His sister was eyeing him carefully.

Just as he thought, a rope of ice, misleadingly flexible, reached for the legs and ankles or nearly everyone in the group. Nayah lobbed a fireball to the opposite cliff but missed entirely, having no idea where they truly were. They seemed to be encouraged and reached for he legs, tripping her and dragging her away if not for Ace's grip on her leather armor.

In a swift motion, Luck had his arm around the paralyzed mage's chest, holding Maxworth's frostbitten dagger against his throat. A whisper of frosty mist fell from the blade like wet blood.

The magical harassment ceased.

He stood calmly, eyeing their direct position. Tate looked at him and he shrugged, she didn't seem particularly peeved at the development. She had probably come to some similar conclusion. The mages, Luck knew, weren't going to drop an avalanche on them. It gave them cover, made retrieval of the perceived hostage harder, and made their lives more difficult than it had to be. Not to mention the possibility of their friend to simply be pushed off the cliff by the tons of snow.

Luck conceded that the man he held fake hostage did try to negotiate, though slurred, with whoever these people were. They seemed like the nice type, the kind of people to get angry at injustice. Unfortunately, his slurred rambling, his tongue impeded by whatever effects Noshm's blast carried, sounded extremely as if he was gagged. That didn't work in their favor at all and so Luck moved to damage control.

A sneaking cord came from mountain wall itself and Luck only tightened the dagger, drawing blood.

It receded before the person across, whom Luck observed was furred, spoke again, now out of his drift of snow. Though Luck noted the fact the other person stayed hidden. "Release him and you go free, stranger." The furred man said, Luck further noticing a snout under the hood he wore. "Those are Magice robes. You kidnap or kill one of ours and you make an enemy of the guild."

Luck had already assessed the robes with due interest. In particular, the ones his fake hostage wore. He couldn't feel them through the chitin armor but he had the sense they were durable. But make no mistake, they seemed as if snow had become cloth, albeit with a blue tint. The sleeves were tight and hugged the wrist. It wasn't as if the robes were baggy, such would be an error in their functionality, just that they seemed to hang with thickness.

"Peace, we found these two paralyzed and traveling together." They need not shout. A lull in the wind allowed normal speaking, eerie as it was for the space to be silent. "They're no enemies of ours."

"Then release him from your blade!" The other called abruptly, erupting from a snowdrift, revealing himself.

The furred one cut back in. "If indeed you mean them no harm release our friend so that we may retrieve him." Luck noted that their robes did, in fact, match the paralyzed mage.

He whispered to the man he held by bladepoint. "Are they friends?" Luck asked. "It's a treacherous path. I'd hate to misplace my trust."

"Yes," The voice came tongue-slack. "allow me to talk to them. These men aren't used to seeing travelers this close to the city without having seen them leave." The mage did well not to suspect Luck of actual hostility. It was a nuanced situation. "More so, a large uninjured group. We should've been hounded by the wildlife our entire way back but our method of travel saw that we didn't." Luck had indeed turned around a few hunters, mainly lone icil wolves.

"Can you form a bridge?" Luck called after some thought. "He wishes to explain clearly our situation, though his tongue is still coming back to him." His voice echoed for moments, the only answer being itself.

"And risk ourselves over the chasm? Do you take us for fools?" The second man called. "Only a-"

"For us to cross, friend. For us." Luck spoke, allaying their concerns. "Your friend and I. So we might clear this up without any harm coming your way." Luck smirked, even as the man he held hostage looked doubtful at the last part.

An immediately indignant voice shouted back from across the chasm, scoffing. "Our way?" The sound echoed with anger.

But the furred man's response chided him, his voice nearly silencing the echo. "A reasonable request. A moment then, stranger." He said. "We'll form your bridge. Jrok."

He watched snow shift, ice moving beneath the powder before it broke free in brilliant branches. They formed a stable base before extending and connecting like the patterns of a snowflake. Luck had the feeling the spectacle he witnessed unfolding before him was leagues beyond his capability, requiring degrees more mana than he even had available. Luck waited patiently as more pillars of ice supported the structure. In minutes, they had a complete bridge.

Ace glanced at Luck as he passed with ice mage in tow. "You sure?"

"Yeah." Luck said, helping the ice mage walk.

The blue-robed man had a sturdy build. Luck noted the man's confidence walking the frozen structure, supporting himself on the short walls with one hand. Luck trailed behind him, his steps a little more ginger. The ice of the bridge was nearly clear but Luck ignored the heights, some part of him indifferent. The howling of the wind picked up as they neared the center of the chasm.

"What's your name?" Luck said idly.

"Mark." He responded, slurred. "Mark Gaypa."

That was all they had time for before the short walk was over. They eyed Luck, unsettled, he thought, at his chitin armor. He must've looked truly terrifying. He smirked, unsure whether it was visible through his armor. He made no outward moves as Mark moved to converse with them, wobbling on his feet and jerking weakly when his legs didn't respond. His walk was unsteady but stable enough.

Luck's enhanced hearing was of no use. Instead, it was his eyesight that allowed him to follow the conversation. Reading lips was something he discovered he was able to do after gaining Omnilingual. Although he could already read english speaking lips to some degree.

"It is you! Mark? We thought you'd gone missing like Greyfur." The furred man man responded, who Luck now thought pertinent to mention, had brown fur. "Though if anyone would last as long out here I suppose it would be you." His snouted face bared teeth in a fascimile of a smile.

"It is good to see you, Roth." Mark laughed as well as he could. "And you too, Jrok." He nodded to the other robed man. But there was a sad way to his mouthed words, Luck was surprised he could even detect it through lip reading, as he continued. "Greyfur... has passed. Ravaged by Icil Wolves."

Roth grimaced, shaking his head. "Another one to the snow. We will hold a ceremony for him then. I'll alert the guild master in debrief." The furred man was silent for moments before continuing. "Then tell us, Mark, who are these people? Seeing a guild member being carried off isn't the most helpful to their case." Roth mouthed, the entire conversation still silent to Luck. "And how goes the hunting? And your golems? Did you find it?"

"I did find the Frost Drake, in fact." He said, to which both men went silent. "My golems, however, failed miserably."

"You're not one to joke, Mark." Roth, laying an arm on Mark's shoulder, said.

"No, I found it." He shook his head. "We found it. This group saved me. And in fact, that man," Mark gestured to Luck. "spoke with the drake. I know little about him, other than that he and the rest of this band are skilled. For all that, I gather they're simply the average pilgrims to Ardun, seeking glory and riches as everyone does."

"Then the Quest to kill the Frost Drake... he slayed it?" Jrok said, his lips were visible just barely under his hood.

"No, he spoke to it, negotiated I think. The Quest changed and we freed the drake instead. The ramifications may be tremendous but my life was forfeit had he not interfered. There are other details better discussed in the guild hall, however." Mark rubbed his arm, Luck sensing that some feeling was returning to the man. "I grant them guild immunity as Officer of Magice." He said with some nonchalance and finality in equal measure.

Roth hesitated but nodded his head in respect and Luck noticed Jrok turn his way. The whistling howl of the wind was in contrast to the relatively light snow, at least in comparison to previous snowfalls. Luck cut a strong figure, his armor covering what would be bare chest and arms, yet still hugged his form tightly. The chitin that acted as a helmet, it seemed, allowed visibility of his eyes.

He regarded Mark and Roth slowly as they approached, seeing faint swirls of snowflakes surrounding the two. Their steps crunched lightly in packed snow. Mark walked slightly ahead of Roth addressing Luck.

"The misunderstanding has been cleared." Mark opened, more in control of his body than previously. It looked like the symptoms of the paralysis were wearing off quite quickly towards the end of its effect. Luck eyed Mark's features, finding his eyes might be bluer than before. The blessing of cold perhaps? "The walls are dangerous to travelers. I owe Tate and your group for helping me, unprepared as I was for the beings awakened by the System. I rank high in one of Ardun's magic guilds, Magice, and have thus granted you crowd safety. You'll be allowed passage through the Magice entrance. Your blunders are mine, trouble you cause is my responsibility." He stood straight and calm, waving to his associates behind him. "Follow us."

Luck's chitin receded, revealing a grinning man, bare-chested in the cold. "And I owe you, for helping my sister through the Zones. She's a stubborn one." Amber eyes crinkled.

"She is your sister then? She said she was searching for family in Ardun." Mark recalled.

"We are." Luck replied, switching mentally to address Saga.

Come on, Saga. We're free to pass. First Saga and Tric came before Ace shrugged walking forward and the rest followed suit. Nayah hesitated while Maxworth and Erok shared a single glance before walking forward together. Saga prowled confidently, testing the bridge with quick light steps. The rest walked calmly, unthreatened. If these mages tried anything Luck was only a pause of time from slitting their throats. Luck preferred it this way.

Mark eyed the procession, before turning in the snow, leading the way and trudging forward lower and parallel to the chasm, descending. "I hope you find them then." He said. After a moment, Roth and Jrok, stepped into his wake.

"Thank you for saving Mark, stranger," Roth said, bowing slightly. "

"Sorry about that," Jrok said. "You'll learn to let bygones be bygones in Ardun. Death is a constant companion and danger is his mistress."

"I'm sure." Luck responded, glad his playing cards were unharmed. "No hard feelings then."

Jrok stared at the cards flipping between his hands with a moment of interest before turning away.

There were only mutters from Nayah about these new people, and Ace, though his were more of the joking sort. Ace seemed content to let them lead but Luck noticed his scanning of the snow-bitten terrain ahead. While Ace regarded the path ahead Maxworth walked nearby the mages. Luck's smirked as the mages tended to move away from the metallic man, though little it may be. It didn't seem like prejudice, but rather uneasiness.

In all, there was little conversation. Luck just assumed the rest were content to follow the three mages since they promised fast passage into Ardun, which, by the way, Luck still couldn't see. The heatblind was a boon since neither Ace or Nayah had any winter clothes to speak of. Nayah wore only fitting leather and Ace had black pants and a hoodie. Luck made sure they were warm on the trip, however, and all three of them received at least some notice for their lack of appropriate attire. Of all, Erok was taking it the most in stride, not even blinking at the mages or their stares while the mages themselves, aside from Mark, whispered to themselves. Luck got a good amount of stares his way too, being shirtless in this weather as he was.

Luck's mind wandered, his footsteps on autopilot trudging through thick two feet deep snow. The snowfall ramped up and Luck noticed all three mages look up to the clouds. For a moment, Luck wondered what necessitated such attention until he saw it.

Snowflakes.

Perfect patterns of symmetrical ice twirling down from the sky, patterns among patterns.

On a whim, Luck asked Spirit to track their paths. And the sky lit up in beautiful colors, light-blue thin lines swirling around imaginary paths. The sky was a painting framed in frost and snow, a knitting of light and ice. Spirit warned Luck, breaking his amusement, of the resources diverted to this and Luck stopped, leaving the sky only white with snowflakes. He caught one on his tongue much to the amusement of Saga who padded along silently behind him. The group was amazed, most audible were Ace and Nayah, themselves commenting on the beauty and perfection. Erok nudged Maxworth and the gentleman paused for a moment to admire the sky. Tric darted among the snowflakes, either dodging them or nipping at them.

The mages, done with their appreciation of the weather, trudged forward again, forcing everyone else to follow lest they get lost in a flurry. Luck took another second of admiration before following along, a soft smile on his face.

Eventually, Tate was able to walk and Luck enjoyed her presence, giving her a hug that she could actually return. It wasn't yet that she could talk or felt confident to and Luck made it decidedly known he enjoyed the absence of her annoying voice. She was expressive in her retaliation. Luck grinned at her. She was as in awe of the snow as he was, though she didn't show it. He knew his sister. For everything that happened, he was glad she was okay.

She still had their mother's wavy brunette hair. A little frizzy from the cold. Luck chuckled. And exactly as Luck thought, Tate seemed to be holding up mentally. It wasn't a bad dream or some hallucination. His sister had died. She died. Without a doubt. Perhaps she was holding it back perhaps not, but her brown eyes showed only intelligence and competence, not a trace of doubt or fear.

They stopped in front of the bottom of a cliff. Directly in front of the group was solid ice and rock. Luck hadn't seen any walls nor had he seen any indication of a city. No smoke or lights or pollution or anything, no trace of human or otherwise. Still, Luck wasn't naive, to bring them here meant some other alternative way into the city.

Mark pressed a hand against the cliff, set his stance, breathed deep, and exhaled frost. "The sanctioned passage of Magice." He intoned, gesturing to a section of ice being pulled down and apart by invisible magic. "Enter."

The ice came down like a curtain. Starting at the top, it folded down like drapes, leaving a sizable arched doorway. Either side was smooth cold ice and inward Luck could only see the same thing. He marveled at the display noting they could easily walk three abreast if they wanted to, and without further ado, they were walking the tunnel.

"Huh, mirrors." He ran a hand along the surface of the ice. "They don't smudge either." He smirked back at himself, still walking, his hand coming back wet and cold. The tunnel was all mirror currently, if not a bit warped.

"I really need new clothes." Ace shook his head, looking at his attire before snapping to Luck's. He twisted in the mirror to wipe snow off his pant legs. "Wait, Lucky, when'd you change? Those pants aren't the same ones you came with."

"Oh, when my arms and legs were blasted to near uselessness. Traumatizing." He said sarcastically. "Don't know how I'll ever get over it."

Ace gave him a flat look. "You've been through worse than that." He was right.

"You arms and legs were blasted off?" A familiar voice asked, soft and competent. It seemed more a surprise to Tate and Luck than Ace. "Huh, my voice is back and legs aren't wobbling as much now. Damn, feels good."

Luck chuckled, noticing Maxworth and Erok tune into the conversation. "Hey, Tate." He said softly. A greeting that held more meaning than Luck had time to express before he moved back on to sarcasm. "Yes, my arms and legs were blasted to near uselessness, but hey, impartations, you know? They're damn useful." He shrugged, letting a smile slip.

"And you're not telling me are you?" Tate laughed, high and bright. Her laugh dwindled down until it was just her smiling before her face became more affectionate. "Missed you too, Luck." She gave him a side hug. For a second, everything felt alright. And Luck wouldn't show it, but he was relieved. To witness his family all die? To be left alone as the only survivor? Ace was right, he'd been through way worse than broken arms and legs. He'd experienced what it felt to have your heart and soul shattered, ripped from your being. "Good to see the Ace Vent somehow make it too." Tate grinned teasingly.

Ace grinned back. "Good to see you too, Tater Tot."

Tate groaned rolling her eyes. "Fuck you, Ace." She hid her grin half-heartedly. Ace weathered Tate's retaliatory punches, the grunts they received only throaty chuckles from Ace's mouth. "I should've known after all this, you two would be exactly the same."

Luck's laugh echoed amiably through the tunnel. For some reason, after seeing Tate alive, when he told himself his mom and dad would be fine, he knew they would be. Wherever they were, whatever they were doing, it helped to see another Lockyer alive and kicking. It served to remind him of what his family was truly capable of. He liked to think he had full confidence in the skills of his family, and he did, but a man could worry about his parents and his sister, no matter who they were or who he was. Looking at Tate, half covered in metal and leather, was a wake-up call.

"Not exactly." He said. "The impartation gave us a lot of new tricks. And this world, it's different from ours." Luck looked at her. "How'd you handle the first weeks? I know it wasn't exactly easy for us, eye-opening, but not easy."

"I lost track up here in the mountains. I've been stranded, nothing to eat but berries, nothing for warmth but the heat from my metal." She looked at her arm, covered like a sheath. "I got it from the impartation. Useful little thing." She grinned. "Until I met Mark. Accidentally melted his golem. Killed some wolves. At the very least, he got us turned the right way before those robots attacked us in one of his guild sanctuaries up here."

"Warmth from the metal?" Ace said puzzled. "Some type of magic then?"

"Look at her Ace. She's not dressed for the cold how did you think she survived up here?" Luck replied, hitting upon the same conclusion he made privately earlier. "I don't suppose you'll tell us what else it does."

"Not unless you tell me what's new with you guys." She shrugged.

"You already had a sneak peek during the fight with Noshm." Luck replied, grinning. "Thought not though. Too much like your older brother."

Tate smiled, shaking frost out of her hair. It was out of place, her fixing her hair in the reflective ice, but Luck welcomed the familiarity. "First time I've fought damn robots, I'll give you that." Her metal flowed up and around her arm moving between her leather garb. "And this, well I think it's better not to say."

"Goddess of Fortune, you're just like your damn brother." Ace cursed, dragging his hand down his face. Luck raised his eyebrows at him at the use of Leah's title. "What? Just testing how it feels on the tongue. You think she'd mind?"

"Not particularly." Luck thought. Was swearing with a gods name a compliment or insult? Or was it neither? "Honestly, I don't think she'd mind."

Tate's voice was soft, and for that, the two were silent in order to hear it. "She's the one, isn't she? The one that gave us another chance here?" Her attention was on her hair, nonchalant, her fingers though, moved to her forehead. Where a bullet had gone through. "You met her, Luck?" She asked, looking sideways at the mirror as she walked.

"I prayed for us, Tate. And she answered." He remembered that church filled with four-leaf clovers of emerald and shamrock. "Yeah, I met her."

"She brought all of us back right? Mom and Dad?" She asked, a timid hope in her voice.

"Yeah, she did."

They shared a silence, their obvious thoughts inferred by Ace.

"Stop worrying you ding dongs. One of your parents is more dangerous than all three of us combined." He sighed heavily, shaking his head. "I mean, come on Tater Tot. I don't need another mopey Lockyer. And, you both can't tell me that when I tell Laura or Rick about all this they aren't gonna smack you across the head." He rapid fired, out of breath. "Like really, they can take care of themselves. Do you know who those two are?"

Luck shared a look with Tate. It was a pure moment, just looking at Ace giving them an exasperated look before the man turned around as if they were hopeless. The first chuckle Ace didn't hear. He may have twitched when Tate snickered. He didn't see Luck's smirk. But he definitely heard them laughing heartedly moments after.

Luck grinned at his friend as lightning flared in Ace's palm with mock anger. "Go for it bud. Not like you can kill me."

Ace combed his hair back with a hand. "God damn Lockyers." He muttered, the electricity in his palm dissipating, much to Tate's interest. "There, Tate. Sneak peek in case you missed it the first time." He said annoyed.

"Huh." Tate paused. "I've only seen Ice magic so far. Cool."

By now they had been talking for a good while. The mages walked ahead, leading the way through the tunnel. So far there was only a single path so Luck assumed anyone could've led but it was probably better to put familiar faces upfront though. Only moments after that thought did the tunnels begin to snake and fork. Saga walked beside Luck having no trouble doing so, wide as the tunnel was. Tric perched on the widest and rockiest shoulders of the group behind him. Maxworth walked abreast Erok and Nayah..

And it was now that Maxworth questioned Luck.

"What language is that, sir? I've not heard anything similar before." The shorter metallic man asked. After traveling with him for so long Luck gathered Maxworth was somewhat like Ace. That is to say, very secular and traveled.

Tate glanced over at Maxworth somewhat interested before her eyes landed on Saga.

Mentally Luck took the time to warn Saga. Careful Saga, my sister loves everything and anything soft. Rest in peace, friend.

I will be fine, Amber Eyes. Saga chuckled back, nudging Luck's hip softly. She is family.

She is.

"We must've slipped back into it without knowing." Luck responded to Maxworth's question about their language. They had been speaking English and had transitioned almost seamlessly. "It's our native tongue."

"Do all humans speak it?" Erok rumbled, causing Tric to shift, it looked like the little dragon was actually sleeping.

"Ah, I don't think so. Native to our city. I doubt it's shared among other humans." Luck said, skirting the truth easily. Though in truth, there were hundreds of languages aside from English. His mind saw conversations and responses like a grandmaster in chess when he wanted to. If he wanted a casual conversation to go one way, it would go that way. "Are you two that interested?" He asked, slightly curious.

"Conversation can sharpen a dull march." Erok grunted. "The Rhoride Hammers often speak of their weapons but Max never tells me about his daggers and I've told him all I can about my hammer. Though I guess," He gestured to his rever ice great hammer. "I have another one. Besides, conversation in different languages might hone a dull march further." He said.

Maxworth nodded, Luck allowing him to walk beside him. "My daggers also have changed. Though I prefer to discover and note their capabilities myself." He said. "And yes we like to hear other languages. The Players of Askelm often sung in beautiful languages when I traveled with them. Since then I've had a small interest." Luck caught that he was referring to the the traveling band of musicians that the gentleman learned how to sing from.

"Besides, friend, it looks to be a long walk" Erok gestured forward.

Mark and the mages stopped atop a lip of ice that overlooked a cavern the size of a warehouse. From a bird's eye view, they could see the expanse of the space. Luck whistled low, the cave at the end began to blur with the distance. It was all ice and slip and Luck thanked his new sense of balance as they descended a nearby winding staircase. He could make out Mark, Jrok, and Roth talking.

"Have you patrolled the cavern since the Update?" Mark asked, looking around intently.

"We conducted a thorough examination maybe a week post-update. I'd stay alert though, I don't trust nothing to show up." Roth said slowly, his voice filled the empty space, broken only by stalagmites and icicles. The rest of the group reacted accordingly, tensing and looking around.

"There are more creatures up in the Zones too." Mark replied. "I need to report to the guild master. The sooner the better." Their robes trailed behind them.

"And these people?" Roth began. "You trust them completely?"

"Saved me. Capable bunch." Mark responded fast. "Part of that requires an extensive report to the guild master. Suffice to say, the drake wasn't the least of my problems up there. But this group handled both. They're a commendable crowd." The pause in the mages' step made Luck think Mark wasn't the type to give out compliments easily. "I trust them."

"I see." Roth responded glancing backward. Luck held eye contact, a twinkle in his eye.

It wasn't long before Luck had the sense to look up. Skylights, holes in the cavern above. Shafts of ice that reached the surface. The majority of the cave was still ice, clear to the rock it froze upon. The only shadows rest in the crevices between chunks of frozen rock and the unlit ceiling. But the place was still brighter than it should've been, almost like it glowed blue.

His connection to nature bloomed, and while the majority of the place was ice, Luck could still feel the connection in places. Life teemed even here, just under the ice. Organisms that made possible the impossibly bright cavern. They were as soft and clear and light as the snow and ice around them. Bioluminescence of the same type some of the fish from The Pools harbored. They were in stasis, still emitting some type of glow through the ice. And they were everywhere. A less observant man wouldn't have immediately noticed.

Spirit? What are those? Luck inquired, staring intently at the walls as he descended down the stairs.

They are reminiscent of lightfish. Magical senses detect no outward mana usage. Their traits seem to be physical. The S.I. supplied. These species are unknown to my database.

Luck's mind wandered as they climbed down the stairs onto flat ground. He could make out the individual frozen fish if he stared at a chunk of ice long enough. "Frozen fish." He said. "They're lighting up the place."

"Oh, you've noticed." Mark grunted, raising an eyebrow. "Not frozen. It's part of their life cycle. We call them Freeze Light Fish or just Freeze Fish. They grow in the ice before they burrow down into the icy waterways below the Zones. And when they need to lay eggs they swim back up the frozen channels in the ice. The light's the way they find their path upwards and back." His hand rubbed against a frozen chunk of ice formed around a boulder. In it, there were freeze fish in stasis as if floating in clear water.

"That's amazing." Ace breathed. "I've never been in a frozen cavern before." His hand came back wet from the same boulder and he wiped it on his pants. "Cold."

"It's cold everywhere, Ace." Tate snorted.

Luck reached for them, the frozen fish. Strange as it may sound he could feel them notice him. Maybe the lights shined a little brighter as he walked by. Luck whispered to them in Drood, an unfathomable depth to the language. "Sleep young fish. I only pass." His voice was a whisper and so none heard him.

Small voices whispered into being like flowing water to a frozen river.

A Druid is here! Safe passage to you!

Swim with me, Druid!

He is a True Druid! I have never seen one before.

Luck's eyes lit up in happy amber. He rather thought the fish were cute and he chuckled that for all their enthusiasm and awe they were helplessly stuck in the ice. He rest a hand on a nearby chunk of ice. Uncountable tiny eyes followed his movement, suspended as their bodies were. "Rest frozen fish. Know you are safe here, for here walks a Druid." The effects of his words were immediate. A ripple of calm resounded across the cavern as an inaudible hum lessened further. A soft smile graced his lips as he patted the ice. "Good." He said.

They were fascinating beyond belief. Not a single magical aspect to them. He already observed small pick-like appendages forming near their fronts. Likely, it was their method to claw through the ice or break it apart.

"Fish too, huh?" Ace sassed.

"No idea what you're talking about, Ace." Luck smiled, failing to hide an encroaching chuckle. It was hard not to feel happy having seen these magnificent creatures. Something akin to pride blossomed in his chest.

"Wait, one of your tools is to talk to fish." Tate snickered.

"And trees." His mercenary friend chimed in, not helping Tate's laugh.

Luck rolled his eyes at both of them. They simply had no idea the communion he could share through nature simply from his two traits. One with Nature and Omnilingual allowed much more in-depth conversation than he believed any Druid might've shared with any animal, simple though it may be.

He took steps forward and reached for his connection to the place. A million motes of calm light, like lanterns of water, lit up in his sense. It was both familiar and sublime, humbling to his soul. His breath caught as he felt the presence of millions of frozen fish some swimming only several feet below them. He steadied his step and enjoyed the presence of family and friends. And he truly felt that way. A multitude of muffled voices, some clear as ice and others garbled with water spoke to him. He let his mind swim with the fish, true relaxation coming to him here of all places.

"Beautiful isn't it, Nayah?" Maxworth gestured, an odd role for the gentleman to take.

Nayah was open-mouthed, looking around in awe. Her mouth opened and closed and Erok nudged Maxworth with a small smile. "Let her alone Max. It's only once a person gets to see something for the first time." He was testing the weight of his hammer, looking around the same way. "And this may be her first of first times."

"Ah." Maxworth said slowly, giving a moments pause before continuing. "Well advised, Erok."

How much do you think are in this cavern, Spirit?

An estimated half million. Came the S.I.'s response.

Calculations and numbers sprang up harmlessly in Luck's field of vision like augmented reality. Figures regarding volume and mass and other such things. He sensed that Spirit used this overlay simply because advance action allowed it to do so. Indeed, Luck found it extremely attractive. All the information was visually represented without being obtrusive and glaring.

What is this? Luck asked, mentally gesturing to the entire U.I.

This is an A.R. overlay. A new feature of the Mk3. Testing shows 83% of subjected users with high mental capacity react poorly to this type of information representation. Of that 83% nearly 100% experienced visual overload while 5% experienced mental shutdown.

Luck observed the overlay calmly. And me?

The Mk3 has observed 100% certainty you would experience none of those symptoms. Your documented regenerative capabilities and magical traits allow this overlay without any adverse effects. The Company's goal was for this feature to be widespread and usable for all users, however, the feature was laid dormant in most cases less the user becomes suitable. You represent one of dozens to experience the overlay without negative effects.

Dozens? Spirit had always given Luck percentages but he had assumed that the Mk3 was expensive so exactly how much people had used the product? How many users currently own a Mk3?

That information is not logged within my database. Was the succinct response.

Luck thought as much. The Company, Spirit had told him, was what created the Supportive Intelligences. Whatever private organization they were, they were extremely secretive. Not that Luck had done any research other than asking their own product. He wasn't all too curious.

He shrugged. Set the A.R. Overlay to the default when processing or presenting new information. I like it.

Affirmative.

The cavern tapered into a slimmer passage as they walked. Water began to trickle from the walls. Eventually, they came to a still river upon which chunks of ice floated and fish swam in. The pathway they walked was frozen solid but below there was water, a blue abyss made friendlier with the appearance of fish. They shimmered in the ice and Luck got a few glances from the group as the fish seemed to cluster below his feet. He tossed bits of heat berries from the grove over the edge, fish nibbling at the fruits.

He ignored the stares, shuffling cards with a smirk.

Minutes later and Luck noticed the draw on his mana lessen. The aspect of the heatblind was needed less and less. The river had a lethargic current to it and by now Luck had amassed a large gathering of fish. The entire group paused in surprise as a genuine mass of fish ebbed and flowed under Luck's feet visible through the clear ice.

"What the hell?" Jrok exclaimed, stepping away. "The fish don't do this."

Mark was the next to reply. His voice was gruff but he didn't hide his amazement. "Icehorns, look." And sure enough medium-sized horned fish charged below their feet, dancing and jousting each other. "I've never seen a gathering of them this large."

"Wow." Nayah breathed, a hand on the floor as if it were a window. "I don't think I've ever seen fish swim. It's so beautiful." She traced a finger on the glass and an illusory fish swam below leading the others around and around. She giggled, breaking the magic.

"Deja vu to The Pools." Ace nudged Luck, stepping around and peering at the fish below. His eye's held genuine interest. "They are pretty beautiful." He agreed, holding his hands behind his back and glancing downward.

As one, however, the group's attention slowly shifted to something large below. Some mouths going agape. Others slower to follow.

A white-blue figure emerged from the depths. An echoing pulsing call erupted from below like the very voice of the sea. It looped slowly disturbing the semi-still surface of the river, overpowering the current even at the distance below. It was massive. A pronged tail that flowed behind it like a kite and two large flippers guiding its path. It spun in large loops, lethargic and slow, as if everyone was looking through a spyglass into a dream.

"Snowhale. And it's coming right for us." Mark breathed. "Everyone brace. Might get a little rough on the ice." He called a little louder.

The mages immediately slammed their hands against the ice instantly freezing up to their forearm for leverage. Luck's focus was below, simple wonder in his eyes. A respect held in the awe of his amber irises. And perhaps the rest had come to know Luck more than he thought, for they didn't even flinch at Mark's warning. Instead, they followed Luck's example, not fearing for anything.

As one, they took in the primal rush of a massive lifeform brushing just below the surface of the ice. A few feet of clear ice between them and nature sublime. It was dead silent as the snowhale arched, passing just below them, ten feet clear on either side of them, thirty feet long with its tail trailing longer behind it. Only a few feet from the thick ice separating them. The fish below them spread naturally, like peasants to royalty, and the group got a full view. The sound of displaced water encompassed the tunnel, waves of rippling water disturbing the calm current of the frozen river.

Only Luck heard the whale herself.

Greetings Druid, I bid you safe passage through the ice ways. I pay my respect to you. Approved by Wazar and Drake both, my respects from the ocean below and all its dwellants. To the rest, her elegant speech was the most surrounding call of the blue. And a show.

A motion from the sea, my thanks to the ocean. Follow the current, friend. My respects from the depths of the ocean's oceans, the bottom of the sea, and the smallest and smoothest of rocks.

A pulsing echo rang out in mirth. Well said, Druid!

"I think we're fine then," Mark said slowly, his head swiveling as the whale passed under them. He gave Luck a once over as he passed him. Slowly his hand freed from the ice encasing it.

Luck thought he might as well get the group moving again. He grinned backward at the slow crowd, most of their eyes below the clear ice. The fish rushed back in as the snowhale parted them, clustering below him. Some eyes were drawn upward but they only found Luck's back.

It was as if he was some kind of fish god. His enhanced hearing, especially with the acoustics in the cavern, allowed him to overhear snippets of conversation. He fiddled with the amber cards in his hands, loving their feel. Their art was beautiful, tactile ridges and sharp edges gave the cards a crisp cut feel. The perfect set of playing cards.

Nayah's voice. "Who is he, really?" It was unclear who she was addressing.

"Just a friend." Ace's voice replied. "A very very very dangerous friend." Luck could almost hear the shrug and grin on Ace's face.

Another voice further away, smooth. "He is a strange one, Erok. A good strange I think."

A rougher sound responded slower. "A man of many secrets, yes. I wonder, sometimes Max, who exactly he is."

Mark's voice, quieter. "He's your brother, really? You don't even look alike." A pause. "Does he train? There are little mages that hone their bodies."

"He's adopted. And yes, he's always been my brother." Tate's unmistakable voice responded. "He seems happier than I've ever seen him." She added softly. She was right. "Mage?" She asked after a seconds pause.

One of the mages, Luck hadn't memorized their voices yet. "Magic you think?" Luck chuckled.

"No." Another responded. "You think he's a fish person? Aquatic maybe? I don't see gills on him though."

"I don't think so. He is intriguing though. The guild master will see him in any case. Perhaps he might have some insight." The first voice said. "There's an air about him, no?"

"Dangerous, I think." One voice pondered slowly.

"Indeed, I have the same feeling." The second responded.

It wasn't long before the snowhale below departed, finishing a loop and diving deep into the cover of the depths and Luck said a heartfelt farewell. The whale was a magnificently large being, white-blue and humbling. He felt small, like a planet was moving just under his feet, heavenly bodies moving around him. The depth below could've as easily been space. The vastness below Luck couldn't even sense. Luck paused to watched the snowhale's form disappear. It was like a ghost or spirit had graced their passage only to descend out of view.

The fish below him departed as soon a large arching wooden double door came into view. It was rustic and thick, not a single splintering section. It smelled reminiscent of the wood of his bar back in the dimensional room.

Mark laid a fist on the doorway and Luck was convinced he was going to do magic. Instead, he rapped loudly on the door three times. "Mark Gaypa, Officer of Magice!" He yelled. "We bring guests!"