Morning light streamed through the Crystal Palace's ice-carved windows, bathing the war room in a cold glow as Aelar Frostveil stood before a map of Eryndral. His dark blue frostweave armor was polished but scarred, silver-white ponytail tied neatly, the rune-stone—now dull—resting on the table. Kaelith sprawled nearby, silver-streaked fur gleaming, glacial eyes half-open but alert after yesterday's Depths battle. The sealed Chaos Dragon lingered in Aelar's mind, but Syrith's defeat and the Order's persistence demanded focus—more keys to the Depths were out there.
Theron Frostveil paced beside the map, his frostblade propped against the wall, Ursok the Frostbear snoring in a corner, scarred fur rising with each breath. "You sealed one lock," Theron said, voice grave, "but the Depths have many. The Order's not done."
Elara Glintfrost leaned against her staff, her pale blue tunic crisp, silver hair catching the light—yesterday's core half sharpened her aura. "Syrith mentioned others," she said, frowning. "How many stones?"
"Unknown," Theron admitted, tapping the map. "Scouts report Order activity south—near the Frostspire. Another rift, maybe."
Torin Iceblade stood by the door, his Frost Boar, Gruk, snuffling at his feet, icy spines glinting from the core boost. "Gruk's restless," he grunted, spear in hand. "Means trouble's close."
Aelar nodded, trusting their instincts—Elara and Torin would move as needed without his push. "Sylvara, scan them," he thought, checking progress.
Target: Elara Glintfrost
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 9)
Stats:
Strength: 46 (+2) Agility: 64 (+2) Intelligence: 67 (+1) Mana: 110 (+2)
Skills: Frost Weaving (Level 7) Mana Focus (Level 5) Staff Combat (Level 4)
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 10)
Stats:
Strength: 70 (+2) Agility: 56 (+2) Intelligence: 46 (+1) Mana: 65 (+3)
Skills: Spear Mastery (Level 7) Beast Synergy (Level 5) Endurance (Level 5)
Companion: Gruk Stats: Strength 76 (+2), Agility 50 (+2)
"Elara, keep building strength—sparring later," Aelar said, voice low. "Torin, more speed with Gruk—drills tonight."
Elara smirked. "Planning my day?"
"Winning it," Aelar replied, grinning.
Theron pointed south. "Frostspire's a day's ride. Take your squad—twenty guards, Elara, Torin. Find the rift, stop the Order."
Aelar gripped his sword. "Done. Any word on spies?"
"Jorin's silent," Theron said. "More are out there—Sylvara's scans?"
"Clear so far," Aelar said, eyeing the guards outside. "We'll watch."
The Frostspire Rift
By midday, the squad rode south, snow crunching under hooves, the Frostspire—a jagged ice peak—looming. Aelar led, Kaelith scouting, the rune-stone quiet but heavy. Elara rode beside him, staff ready, while Torin and Gruk flanked the rear, spear tapping his saddle. The air grew thick, mana humming—a rift's signature.
"Feel that?" Elara said, eyes narrowing. "Another stone."
"Order's ahead," Torin grunted. "Gruk's nose says humans—lots."
Aelar nodded—no need to direct them yet; they'd act when the fight came. "Sylvara, scan," he thought.
Target: Frost Raptor (Prime)
Race: Magical Beast
Beast Tier: Prime (Level 10)
Stats:
Strength: 65 Agility: 70 Intelligence: 10 Mana: 40
Skills: Razor Talons (Level 4): High-speed claw strikes. Ice Dive (Level 3): Aerial frost-charged attack. Mana Scream (Level 2): Disorienting cry.
Kaelith's howl split the air—a Frost Raptor swooped from the peak, fifteen feet of ice-blue feathers and claws, eyes glowing red, wings trailing frost. "Order's pet!" Aelar shouted, leaping off his mount. "Hit it—Kaelith, with me!"—only directing the wolf, trusting Elara and Torin's instincts.
The Raptor's Mana Scream pierced—Aelar's Mana Manipulation steadied his mind, Frost Shroud cloaking him as he charged—Ice Crafting a spiked net mid-run, hurling it—the beast dodged, net grazing its wing. "Fast!" he taunted, Swordsmanship slashing its leg—feathers fell, frost-blood spraying.
Elara spun, staff glowing—Frost Weaving conjured a frost cage, not to trap but to block its dive—she grinned, "Fly lower!" Mana Focus sharpened ice shards, pelting its chest—scales cracked, blood dripping. She dodged a Razor Talon, Staff Combat parrying a claw, "Not today!"—frost sparked, agility shining.
Torin roared, "Gruk, up!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge leaped, slamming its wing—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, Beast Synergy piercing its side. "Claw me, will you?" he bellowed, Endurance soaking an Ice Dive—frost seared his arm, Gruk biting its tail.
Aelar darted under, "Kaelith, howl!" The wolf's Frost Howl countered the scream, stunning it—Blizzard Charge tore its wing, Ice Armor deflecting a talon. Aelar's Glacial Chains lashed—not binding, but coiling its neck, yanking it down—Frost Bite sank into its flank, mana surging back. "Bleed!" he roared, Ice Crafting a jagged spear mid-air, Swordsmanship hurling it—wing tore, the Raptor screeching.
Elara's frost cage tightened, "Got you!"—ice spears pierced its chest, blood gushing. Torin's spear sank into its eye, "Die!"—Gruk's charge crushed its leg. Aelar's chains pulled, Swordsmanship slashing its throat—blood sprayed, the beast collapsing, a silver core rolling free.
Aelar claimed it, mana surging. "Sylvara, update."
Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 4)
Stats:
Strength: 108 Agility: 118 Intelligence: 86 Mana: 175
Skills: Frostborn Legacy (Innate, Level 7) Glacial Chains (Level 10) Frost Bite (Level 3) Frost Shroud (Level 6) Mana Manipulation (Level 10) Ice Crafting (Level 8) Swordsmanship (Level 10) Beast Taming (Level 5)
The Rift's Edge
The squad advanced, the Frostspire's base revealing a rift—smaller than the Depths, but mana poured out, a second rune-stone glowing on a crude altar, guarded by ten Order warriors and a robed figure chanting. "Another key," Aelar said, dismounting. "Take them!"
Elara grinned, frost sparking—Frost Weaving launched a frost net, tangling three warriors—she spun her staff, "Sleep!"—ice shards felled one, Staff Combat cracking another's skull. Torin charged, "Gruk, go!"—the boar trampled two, Torin's spear piercing a third, "Weak!"—Beast Synergy synced Gruk's bite.
Aelar sprinted, Frost Shroud cloaking—Glacial Chains lashed the robed figure, disrupting the chant—Frost Bite bit their arm, mana surging. "No more keys!" he roared, Ice Crafting a blade, Swordsmanship slashing—robes tore, blood spilling. The figure fell, altar dimming, warriors breaking—guards cut down the rest.
Aelar grabbed the second stone, its pulse syncing with the first—mana flared, then stilled. "Two down," he said, panting.
Elara wiped her staff. "How many more?"
"Too many," Torin grunted, Gruk snorting.
Aelar tossed the Raptor core to Elara. "Split it—Torin's half. Strength for you, speed for him."
Elara caught it, smirking. "Winning again?"
"Always," Aelar replied.
Theron's Strategy
Back at the palace by night, Theron studied both stones, Ursok growling softly. "Two of five, maybe more," he said. "Order's scattered—find their base, end this."
Aelar nodded. "South's hot—Frostspire's a start. We ride tomorrow."
Elara leaned on her staff, core absorbed—mana flared. "Trackers?"
"Scouts," Theron said. "I'll send word to Gorrim Icefang—his hounds'll sniff them out."
Torin, core boosting him and Gruk, grunted. "War's heating up."
Aelar gripped his sword, stones heavy in his pouch—the Order's shadow loomed, a fight for Eryndral's heart.
Night's Vow
In the courtyard, Aelar stood with Elara and Torin, Kaelith at his side. "Good moves today," he said, voice steady—no orders needed, their strength clear.
Elara twirled her staff. "We're not done."
Torin patted Gruk. "Bring the next one."
The stones pulsed, a call to hunt—the Order waited, and Aelar would answer.