‘Achoo!’ I sneezed. The cold wind crept across my body, tickling my nose and giving me goosebumps. I shivered, the rapidly cooling temperature drawing a scowl from my face.

“Cinder, I swear.” I glared at him, wishing I could steal his warmth. “You’re acting just like Viralya. Please, for the love of kankaar, share some of that heat mana with me.” He grinned, enjoying the flight as he turned his nose up at me. I suddenly had the urge to throttle him for the 13th time today.

“Oh come on. A little cold couldn’t possibly bother the great ‘all-seeing mage’.” I growled.

“If you say that this is good training one more time, I will flood you full of your own mana, just to see if you pop like a balloon because of how full of yourself you are right now..” His smirk was quickly replaced with a glowering look.

“I saved your ass! You should be grateful, you furless abomination.”

“Yeah, and then you tried to kill me! I distinctly remember you attacking me while I was in the middle of trying to save both of us.”

He grinned.

“Doesn’t make you any less of an idiot.”

“What? You're the idiot!”

“And your nothing but a lousy copycat that follows me around like some sort of dog!”

“Oh yeah? Well, your-”

“Quiet.” Viralya’s voice cut through our psychic banter, making both of us shut up instantly. But it didn’t stop us from staring daggers at each other, exchanging psychic attacks that sent ripples across the ambient mana.

A faint white fog clouded the air, the frozen water mana reflecting the tiny, almost imperceptible white dots that passed us in a flash. The clouds were heavy and grey, the sunlight getting more and more scarce as we went further north.

From what we had pried from Viralya while flying, we were heading towards the Sahcalylalan Theocracy. When I had asked her why she just grinned and showed me a bloody siren scale.

She didn’t tell us much else though, at least for the first few days. After all of us started getting uncomfortable and jittery from the lack of movement in the air, both Cinder and I got impatient and started asking questions. Like what a Theocracy was. I for one knew what it was, and I took great satisfaction in Cinders frustration at his lack of knowledge. I had even deemed myself ‘all seeing’ much to Cinders chagrin. We just tried throwing out guesses at what we were supposed to be doing there with each guess getting more and more ridiculous.

Eventually, as both of us peppered her with imaginative wonderings and fanciful musings, she got tired of us and gave us a little more information. Apparently, we were going to meet a friend of hers that might have something we could use to find our target. Her friend was really good at finding stuff that shouldn’t be found easily and would help us find where Celestina, the siren princess was.

The only problem was, the Sahcalylalan government was a very… Passionate theocracy, who worshipped the seven gods. They would not be happy seeing both Cinder and Viralya, seeing as they were both traitors.

Somehow, I wasn’t surprised that government-sponsored discrimination existed on an interdimensional scale.

Cinder was almost perfectly camouflaged, his pale white fur hanging in clumps as it flickered in the wind. Freckles of the white paste Viralya had smothered him with were still sinking in.

“We’re almost there.” She said, glancing at both of us with a sweet but stern expression that warned us not to do anything stupid.

We both perked up. “Finally!” We said in sync.

Viralya chuckled, using her magic to descend from the clouds as the snowflakes whipped into my hair. I savored the sensation, feeling the cold moisture cling to my face before it was immediately melted.

I felt my fire mana snap at the foreign water mana, snarling with its usual rage. I muttered under my breath as my body began to heat up against my will, driving off the rest of the water mana like a cat chasing a mouse. Well, at least I don’t have to beg Cinder for any more heat mana.

We were silent as we hit the snow, shouldering our exhaustion as all three of us began to walk. We quickly took on a triangular formation, looking from left to right like sentinels. The steady crunch from my feet and the soft padding of snow from their paws seemed to echo in the faintly howling wind, the thick water mana choking off our mana senses.

I had to switch it off to spot the massive stark white wall in the distance, huge towers rising from the city like mini-sky scrapers. The sun gleamed off the elegantly crafted alien architecture, mixing what felt like something from the blade runner movie and a fantasy castle. Thousands of tiny dots buzzed around like flies, making me feel like I was looking at an incredibly technologically advanced race of ants. Wait… Intelligent insects don’t actually exist… Do they?

“Welcome,” Viralya interrupted my internal debate, turning to us with a victorious smirk playing across her face like she had been rehearsing that line for hours. “To the outskirts of the Sahcalylalan Theocracy, Winter’s Mettle.”

We stared at her, as she took on a dramatic pose, purposely using wind mana to send a gentle gust through her white fur that rippled with supposed epicness.

We bust out laughing.

“Pffft!” Cinder wheezed, raising a paw and pointing at her like he was accusing her of something. “You… There's no way… How long did you practice saying that in your head!”

She scowled, her control over the winds tightening. I suddenly found it very hard to breathe. “Apparently not long enough if you think this is a joke.” She said it so seriously like she wasn’t burning up with embarrassment inside.

“This place will be incredibly dangerous for both of you. I have half a mind to bring you two on this trip, considering Cinder will be killed on the spot if the white lotus dye wears off, and you Ash will be publicly executed for associating yourself with him. Especially since you are considered one of a lesser race.”

I stood up, panting shallowly with a sly grin on my face as I put my hand fondly on her foreleg, looking up at her with a beaming smile.

“Hey, it's okay! You don’t have to pretend like you didn’t just bring us along because you're incredibly socially deprived! Why, it's already incredibly sad that you have nobody but your own children to talk to, but don’t worry! We’ll both be here to help you with any… Social troubles you might have. It’ll be great!”

Silver eyes met scarlet as she looked down, her face shifting from confusion, to anger, to deadly calm. I gave her a cheeky grin and a thumbs up, channeling my inner Cinder.

I didn’t even get the chance to hear Cinders laugh, nor say any follow-up I totally had up my sleeve, as the air around me blurred with power.

I felt something solid impact my side, making the world spin as I flew across the surface of the white earth, crashing into a mound of crystalline white snow.

I heard distant roaring Psychic laughter, and then another audible ‘Smack!’ as my brother was sent flying in the opposite direction.

A smile lit my face as my mana-infused flesh tanked the hit, my constitution stat supplementing for my lack of defense skill. That reminds me, I don’t have any physical defensive skill. I would have to work on that next.

I brushed off the snow from my crudely created pants, steam rising from my skin as balancing act flared with silver mana, my perfect precision in running giving me greater speed and traction as the skill optimized my body's shape and makeup near flawlessly.

Wind mana carried me as I arrived back where I had been smacked away. Viralya was more impassive than usual, her cold exterior sending needles into my spirit.

Cinder came back pretty quickly, glaring back at me as well for making him laugh.

Totally worth it.

My tail swished back and forth with impatience to get there already, the gate getting closer and closer. I could make out a myriad of runes carved all over the walls, enveloping the city in a massive bubble.

I absolutely couldn’t wait to see a real city!

Well, I had seen some of them in the couple of history books Mother keeps, as well as the weird alien square ones from Ash’s memories, but it was different seeing one in person. Nothing could have prepared me from the sheer vastness that stretched across the snow and pierced the clouds.

Not soon enough, we arrived near the main city wall, two lizard-looking spirit beasts snapping to attention at the sign of our presence. I felt my brother nervously shift in place, glancing at them in worry. I couldn’t blame him either, considering I was doing the same, for slightly different reasons.

“State your affiliation and business.” The one to the left broadcasted at all three of us at once. His voice had a faint hiss to it like he was used to talking in the forked tongue of most lizard spirit beasts. Mother responded in an oddly small voice.

“Just us. Affiliation is from the golden plains. We are just passing by and restocking on supplies.” At the mention of the golden plains, the guard's eyes shifted, softening just a tad.

“Refugees?”

“...No. We are just passing by.”

“Ah, I see. I apologize for what happened to your lands.” Mother curtly nodded, like she was forcing herself not to think about something.

The first guardsman turned to the second, before nodding in agreement.

“Do you have any coin miss?” She shook her head silently, her front shoulders slumping subtly, and her eyes turned downcast.

Damn. She’s a good actor. I thought.

Well, I guess you pick up some skills after living for centuries like she has, even if she’s a hermit.

“I see… Well, young miss and…” He gestured to us, eyes sweeping over my brother's poorly made rags in slight confusion as well as my dirtied matted fur.

“... Company, we both have agreed to let you pass without paying the entrance fee. Be sure to ready some coin the next time you pass by here.” His lizard lips turned upwards in a smile, showing off his full set of sharp chompers.

“My thanks. May I have the pleasure of knowing your names, good sirs?” Mother dipped her head with gratefulness.

After a moment of hesitation, they both spoke up again.

“Grath and Forta, miss.” She nodded once again, her stony exterior melting slightly as she smiled.

With their acceptance, I felt a subtle ‘click!’ thrum in the ambient mana as it was siphoned into the wall above. I looked up, sensing the flicker of some kind of new mana forming as the stark-white wall in front of us turned opaque, fading until all that was left was empty space the size of ol’ death rock.

I inhaled sharply, the masterwork of runes revealing themselves to my eyes for a split second. It took me a full 15 seconds to glance down at what was actually in the fading doorway.

I had never been to a city before, so I didn’t quite know what to expect, but it definitely wasn’t this.

Spirit beasts of all kinds walked stark white stone, roaming under looming 3 story towers stretching like small stark white obelisks shadowing everyone from the morning sun. Audible chatter and Psychic messengery flew back and forth, filling my head with an uncomfortable amount of feedback. The crowd clamored and a couple of them caught flight, rising into the air like it was nothing more than an afterthought. I even spotted one or two arctic foxes rounding a corner, joking and laughing in their clansman's language.

The city, Winter’s Mettle, was nothing like I had expected.

“Woah…” I felt Ash convey across the link, wide astonished eyes sweeping the distant pillars. “I was expecting something different from what was in my world but this…”

Reading his expression, Viralya smirked. “Just wait until you see the underground sector. It’s just as amazing as the surface, if not better.” We looked at her, not for the second time in wide-eyed amazement.

I flinched as the outer runes on the gate lit up, popping it back into existence and leaving us trapped inside. It was unnerving but really cool.

I’m making a conviction right now. I absolutely need to track down whoever created those runes and convince them to teach me everything... If they’re still alive.

“The underground sector?” Ash piped up, snapping my attention away from the pretty symbols that would never mean anything more than chicken scratch to me.

“Of course. Where do you think the cavern dwelling spirit beasts lie? In the spires?” She shook her head. “No. All cities have an underground equivalent to them. Well, all civilized cities.”

“Huh.” He said, scrunching up his face in thought.

Mother began walking forward, melting into the paved pathway with the crowd like she had always been there. If she had ever been ‘socially starved’ in her life, she sure had a weird way of showing it.

We scrambled to catch up with her, my paws skidding on the smooth ice-cold stone as we came to her side, slowing down to keep pace. The clamor did not cease as we passed tens of spirit beasts chatting amiably, the majority being mostly white-furred.

There was a white bear type hammering in a small obelisk-spire, shouting for someone named ‘Fedwick’. I could feel metal and heat mana thrumming through the forge, hints of war mana brushing over my whiskers.

In another obelisk, a long-nosed ferret-type spirit beast chatted ambiently with a snake type, waving and linking chains together and stamping enchantments on them to form some sort of metal clothing.

I shivered with excitement, nervousness, and glee. The very fur on my back was an antithesis for this entire city. A mockery of their beliefs.

The weight was unfamiliar and strange and the air felt clogged. It was a strange feeling.

After around 30 seconds though, our hapless and incessant walking started to get to me.

“Mother?” I looked up in askance, my eyes glistening. “Where are we going?” She didn’t even stop moving.

“A friend's place.”

“Yes, but… Where?”

She paused, glancing at me without breaking her stride.

“It should be near the other side of the city… If they haven’t moved.”

“Moved?” Ash piped up. “Wait… Are you saying you aren’t certain?”

“Nothing is ever certain, young Ash.” He frowned.

“Don’t evade the question, please.”

“... I have not been in Winter’s mettle in a few decades. Give me some time to refamiliarize myself with its makeup.”

I snickered to myself silently, a small smile stretching across my lips as I turned and inspected some of the other glossy black and identical obelisks. It was my first time seeing professionally drawn runes, and they were all so fascinating to look at!

One of them was chock full of frozen water mana, churning out ice blocks and shaping them in what looked like some sort of entertainment gesture. I saw some merchant types, showing off their wares and trading them for coins, powerful protective runes dissuading greedy paws.

I saw bronze-colored lions bathing in an artificial sun that was positively covered with solar mana and runes.

And the best part was, they were all so different and unique to look at! I didn’t even notice as we crossed narrow streets, winded through closed tunnels, and traveled across great open spaces where many a spirit beast lingered. My focus was almost entirely on the different runes. Already I had a few new ideas on what I would be building as soon as we got home...

Ash never stopped gaping, whirling around to look at everything that caught his eye with a piercing scarlet gaze that made some of the younger or weaker folk flinch away. He didn’t notice of course.

We continued to follow Viralya, nipping at her heels like young pups.

“Hey, look at that!” Ash pointed.

I followed his gaze to see a pale white bear standing at the entrance to a rather small obelisk, handing out small stone tablets to anyone who passed by, smiling and talking politely.

“That guy is handing out free stuff!” Ash looked at me and grinned. I looked back over my shoulder, watching as mother stopped and turned around, looking back at us with slight annoyance.

“Well, yeah, but we’re in the middle of going somewhere, remember?” I looked back at Ash who was looking far more excited than he should have been.

“Yes, but… Free samples! I have to see what it is!”

“Oh come on, you can surely-”

He took off, lightly jogging across the street and greeting the polar bear with a smile. I felt his odd excitement across the link, stretching his hands out for the stone tablets in an attempt to gain a ‘free sample’.

The polar bear frowned, looking at the strange and ugly bipedal cub before it reluctantly gave it a stone tablet. Ash came running back quickly, and I looked back at my mother who was now looking at Ash with parts amusement, and parts confusion at why he would be so happy to get a free rock.

“Look! Cinder, look!” He waved the rock in front of my face and I snatched it from his nimble hands, standing on three legs so I could read it.

The rock was inscribed with great detail in the picture of a two-legged lizard and a hound-type spirit beast, with both stretching their limbs out to touch a trophy, shining in the center. It had words in the common tongue printed across it, as well as a Psychic message that cheerfully told me that it was welcoming one and all to some kind of grand tournament.

I tore my eyes from the enchanted carving, looking at Ash in confusion.

“I got us a souvenir!” He told me, seemingly pleased.

“A… What?” We continued talking as I gave him back the tablet, freeing my legs so I could walk across the weird white stone.

“A souvenir! You know, those things you get as a reminder of the place you visited!” We joined Viralya as she cast curious glances at both of us, before spying the message on the tablet, rolling her eyes, and resuming her pace. We kept up.

“I’m… Sorry, but why, in kankaars name do we need a physical object to remind yourself of a place like this? Who would ever forget it?” I gestured to the white obelisks that just kept getting taller and taller, like trees in a forest.

“I’m not sure. I just… Wanted the free sample, you know?”

“Um, no. I don’t understand your desire for an invitation to some tournament… But whatever.” I shook my head slowly, pitying my poor idiot for a brother.

He bristled suddenly.

“I’m not an idiot!” I blinked, looking back at him in confusion. Did I think that too loud? I guess so because he was now glaring at me with an unsatisfied snarl. Whoops.

The rest of the three-hour or so long journey was a fun one, as we observed the people, milling around and talking happily. Occasionally, Ash would see something he really liked and would pop over to see what it was about, much to our chagrin.

I admit I did do the same one or two times myself… Okay, it may have been four or five times, but that doesn’t matter!

Eventually, when the sun was high above our heads, we arrived at a pretty normal-looking pale white obelisk that was carved full of protective and private runes. The entrance lay open as all three of us approached, eyeing the sign that said both physically and Psychically; ‘Welcome to Olmars oracle shop’ in big bold symbols.

Viralya seemed pleased, Ash looked suspicious, and I was just happy we had finally gotten here.

“Well, this isn’t shady at all…” Ash muttered.

When we entered, an enchantment lit up under our feet, releasing a small ‘Ting!’ sound.

“Give me a minute!” Someone shouted from the back. I stepped into the actual building along with my mother and brother, taking in the sights of the half-covered heavily runed wall. There were a few tarps hanging from the walls, full of color and woven with thousands of tiny strings.

Multiple candles were spaced around the room, as well as diagrams of… Whatever those weird star symbols were, as they were decorated around the room.

It smelled of smoke, and potent flowers.

Before I could look at anything else more closely, a… Panda looking thing came out from the back of the shop. They had red ears, long whiskers, and a flat but furry face. They were around the size of mother, but a little bigger around the waist area.

“Welcome to Olmars oracle shop! The only place in Winter’s Mettle full of great wonders, and fantastic merchandise- OH!” He looked startled after seeing mother, coming to an abrupt halt with a massive smile on his face.

“Viralya! It’s good to see you, my friend! Wow, it’s been-” He paused. “Around 70 years since I last saw you! How have you been?”

Mother smiled in return, glancing at both of us before answering. “Oh, I’ve been quite well. I’ve busied myself with these two, as you can see.”

I felt the attention shift to me and Ash, standing right next to me, blinking with some surprise.

“Ah, I see!” He gave us both a friendly smirk. “And who might these two young pups be, eh? I see that they’ve been named properly.” He gave a nod to that.

“Yes, well, they have most definitely been a handful.”

Oh, come on. I barely see you once a week mother! And we aren’t pups, damn it!

Of course, I said none of this out loud.

“This here human is Ash.” She gestured to my brother. “And this is Cinder, a sun fox similar to myself.”

There was some surprise on his face at the mention of human. “Interesting. I have heard of these ‘humans’ before. They are one of the newer races, are they not?”

“Yes actually. I’ve been in contact with some of the native ones, and they are… Well, they certainly aren’t the prettiest species.” They both chuckled at that. I glanced at Ash to see what his reaction was, but he didn’t even seem fazed.

“Well, anyway.” Olmar continued. “Why are you here? I haven’t heard from you in years, and then poof! You’ve come back! What is so important that the mighty Death whisperer comes knocking at my door, hmm?”

“Ah, I apologize. I’ve run into… A tad bit of trouble you see.” Omar's eyes narrowed, his big puffy cheeks puffing out a little bit in what might have looked threatening if it wasn’t for his kind brown eyes.

“The sirens attacked the golden plains.” Mother blurted out. Olmar just nodded.

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“You have? Oh, I suppose the guards at the front gate already knew. I forget how fast news travels nowadays with all the runical advancements that have been made. Ah, excuse me, I’m getting off track.” Mother lifted a paw to her face and massaged between her eyes, sighing deeply.

“Well, I’ve gotten tangled up in the solar foxes troubles, and I’m on the hunt for Celestina, the Siren heir.” She put her paw down, her silver eyes shining with an almost… Excited light.

“I was hoping I could get her general location or hide out from you, and cash out on the favor you owe me for it as well.” Olmar seemed to frown, considering it for a moment.

“Do you have some of her essence I can use to track?”

Mother smiled bitterly. “No, I only have a scale from one of her subordinates. Unfortunately, she is dead so it is of no use.”

Olmar seemed to pause, and consider it for a moment, frowning with concentration. “You want me to track her without any of her essence? Viralya…”

She sighed. “Yes, I know. It is a difficult task.”

“A ‘difficult task’ would be a severe understatement. She is most likely heavily warded, as well as heavily guarded. This is not something a simple favor can result from. I’m going to need something more from you, considering this will exhaust me for weeks.” He brought one of his big furry paws to his nose and rubbed it, looking back at mother with the same frown of consideration. She didn’t respond, just looking to Olmar as the seconds ticked by. After 10 or so, he finally responded.

“Ah, I’ll tell you what.” Mother tilted her head politely at his inquiry. “Normally, this would cost well over 10,000 gold coins, or something worth the core of a king or queen level beast at least.” Viralya gave a slow sigh and a nod like she had been expecting this.

“However,” The excitement returned to her silver eyes. “For you, I can do it for 500. But only if you visit me often!” He held up one of his digits on his paw, sticking the claw up in midair.

“Hah! I knew you wouldn’t let me down, old friend.” She said with a massive grin. He returned the smile and held up three more of his digits.

“I’ll give you three weeks. I’ll be needing that much time to prepare, as some of the materials I need don’t last very long after they’ve been harvested.”

She winced. “That will make things a tad bit harder. But it is still possible.” She seemed to consider the air in front of her for a moment, her white fur ruffling with invisible wind mana.

She didn’t contemplate for long, because she froze, and turned to us her stare slowly morphing into a grin.

Olmar spoke up before she could though. “Well, I’ll let you three go. I’m sure you have other business in the city and aren’t willing to spend time with old Olmar here.” He chuckled good-naturedly. But I didn’t pay attention to him. I was looking at my mother with perpetual fear.

“Ah… I’ve forgotten both of you! How rude of me…” She cackled. My heart dropped, and judging by the feelings of despair coming from Ash, he was feeling the same.

We knew that smile all too well.

“What was it you called me earlier? ‘Socially deprived’? Yes… I am going to have to agree with that statement. After all, how could an old fox like me talk to the younger generations? It just isn’t proper. However…”

Oh please no.

“I think I have the perfect task for you! Since I so clearly cannot speak to the people of this city, I’ll just have to let you do it.”

Please, kankaar no. This was all Ash’s fault! Why are you making me do this!?

“I need you to get around 100 of those gold coins if you would. I’m sure such smart young pups could figure this out by yourselves.”

“Dammit, Ash!” I seethed across the link, carefully keeping my face neutral.

“I’m sorry, okay?! How was I supposed to know this would happen!?”

“That doesn’t damn well matter at this point!” I snarled across the link.

Before he could respond though, Olmar chuckled, looking back at the two of us, before glancing at mother, giving her a nod, and walking back around the corner, his footsteps clunking against the solid colorful smooth stone of the obelisk.

“Come, you two have some work to do…” She had a slight smile on her face as she led us outside, and back into the afternoon sun, looking mighty pleased with herself.

“How the hell are we going to pull this off?” He whispered across the link. I had to agree.