The buried city beneath Blackstone Academy pulsed with a steady, unshackled rhythm, its black-gold runes glowing faintly under the noon sky, casting a warm light as the early afternoon sun climbed higher. The Veins' freedom had solidified the academy as a radiant stronghold, its ley-lines weaving a resilient web across the continent, awakening ancient realms and ushering in an era of fragile earthen resilience after recent anchorings. Mark Wilde stood in the council chamber within the academy's central tower, its walls etched with runes of unity and resilience that thrummed softly in the daylight. The crystalline table held Lysa's glowing orb, its map now shimmering with a cold pulse from the Frostbite Glade, north of the Stoneheart Caverns, indicating a frost wail tied to the Veins' awakening. His allies—Elira, Vrix, Silas, Lysa, Kaelith Veyr, Torin Drayce, Lirien Frostweave, Gavric Thorn, Thryme Dren, Koryn Stormchaser, Sylra Vineborn, Draven Ashwalker, Celene Prismguard, Astrael Nightwatcher, Kael Driftsand, Liora Mistguide, Tharok Earthflame, Nyx Duskwraith, Lyra Celestarch, Erynn Rootwhisper, Zariel Crystalshade, Calen Tidewhisper, Tavrin Chronoshield, Kaelor Sunforge, Lirien Echochord, Seryn Nightveil, Tharok Emberforge, Veyra Frostspire, Kaelith Stormveil, Zariel Prismheart, Erynn Spiritveil, Lyra Sunpetal, Calen Moonflow, Astrael Nightveil, Tharok Emberflow, Liora Frostveil, Tavrin Stormrift, Erynn Crystalvoice, Erynn Rootbloom, Tavrin Seacall, Seryn Duskveil, Astrael Stargazer, Veyra Iceveil, Zariel Mistwalker, Kaelith Prismguide, Sylra Bloomguide, Tavrin Windguide, Liora Tideguide, Lyra Sunscribe, Seryn Duskwalker, Zariel Starscribe, and Gavric Earthscribe—gathered around, their faces reflecting the afternoon's warmth yet chilled by the frost signal. The air vibrated with mana, charged with icy energy yet shadowed by a frozen force.
Lysa traced the orb's map with a careful hand, her journal open, its pages shimmering with ice runes. "The Stoneheart Caverns' pulse is anchored," she said, her voice cool despite the early afternoon's heat. "But the journal detects a new chill from the Frostbite Glade—a frost wail, a cry of ice and preservation awakened by the Veins, guarded by a figure called Veyra Icecaller."
Mark's eyes narrowed, the Forbidden Tier magic stirring beneath his skin, aligning with the city's pulse as the afternoon deepened. "The Frostbite Glade," he said, sensing a shift from earthen to frosty. "What's the wail's purpose?"
Lysa pointed to the map, where the cold pulse marked a frozen woodland. "The journal calls it a ley-line frost, a chill where the Veins channel ice and preservation. Veyra Icecaller, a frost guardian, seeks to call this wail—either to enhance the Veins' preservation or to freeze their essence, depending on their intent."
Elira leaned on her staff, her wards glowing softly, cutting through the chamber's early afternoon light. "The Frostbite Glade is frigid—glistening ice, mana-woven cold, and an air that preserves the spirit. This wail could protect us or immobilize us. Our alliances are fragile; this could unite or isolate them."
Silas twirled his cane, his grin frosted by the challenge. "A frost in the glade? That's an icy fight. My Runebreakers can scout, but the Glade is a freeze. We're holding the academy, but we're intrigued. What's the move, Wilde?"
Vrix's stone-like skin glinted as she traced a glyph pulsing with warming energy. "The Archives describe frosts as ley-line chills, blending ice and preservation. Veyra could use this to either safeguard or halt the Veins. We must assess their intent."
Mark's mind blended the strategic depth of his past life as Maximilian Wilde with his current role as the Crownless Sovereign. The frost wail offered preservation but also immobility. "Lysa," he said, "any insight from the journal?"
Lysa flipped to a new page, revealing a sketch of a serene figure wreathed in icy mist, surrounded by runes of preservation. "It reads: 'The Icecaller seeks to call the Veins' frost. The Crownless must face them with adaptability, for their strength lies in their wail.'"
Elira's wards flickered, her tone wary. "Adaptability? The Glade's ice could immobilize us, Mark. It's a frosty challenge."
Mark's smile was flexible. "Then we adapt their wail. The Veins are our preservation. Vrix, can your glyphs warm the ley-lines at the frost, countering their ice runes? Silas, your Runebreakers can secure the Glade's perimeter. Elira, Lysa, Kaelith, Torin, Lirien, Gavric, Thryme, Koryn, Sylra, Draven, Celene, Astrael, Kael, Liora, Tharok, Nyx, Lyra, Erynn, Zariel, Calen, Tavrin, Kaelor, Lirien, Seryn, Tharok, Veyra, Kaelith, Zariel, Erynn, Lyra, Calen, Astrael, Tharok, Liora, Tavrin, Erynn, Erynn, Tavrin, Seryn, Astrael, Veyra, Zariel, Kaelith, Sylra, Tavrin, Liora, Lyra, Seryn, Zariel, Gavric, you're with me. We'll call the strength."
A new voice, crisp and ethereal, broke the stillness. A serene figure with skin like frosted glass and eyes like frozen stars stepped forward, their robe woven with icy threads. "I am Erynn Frostscribe," they murmured. "I've sensed the Frostbite Glade's chill. Veyra is my kin, torn between preserving or freezing the wail—peacefully or by force. I'll guide you, if you seek harmony."
Vrix nodded, her glyph thawing. "I can warm the ley-lines, but the Glade's mana is cold. Thirty minutes, at best."
Silas twirled his cane, his grin melting. "Thirty minutes to call an ice cult with a new scribe? I'm in. My team'll hold the perimeter."
"Set," Mark said, his eyes glowing as the Forbidden Tier magic surged. "We move at dusk. Let's call the strength."
The Frostbite Glade shimmered under a dusky sky, its frozen woodland pulsing with awakened mana, the air thick with ice and frosty resonance. Vrix's glyphs had carved a narrow, warmed path, guiding the ley-lines' flow. Silas's Runebreakers, aided by Erynn's frost craft, secured the Glade's perimeter, their illusions conjuring adaptability and dispelling immobility, drawing any guardians away from the frost.
Mark, Elira, Lysa, Kaelith, Torin, Lirien, Gavric, Thryme, Koryn, Sylra, Draven, Celene, Astrael, Kael, Liora, Tharok, Nyx, Lyra, Erynn, Zariel, Calen, Tavrin, Kaelor, Lirien, Seryn, Tharok, Veyra, Kaelith, Zariel, Erynn, Lyra, Calen, Astrael, Tharok, Liora, Tavrin, Erynn, Erynn, Tavrin, Seryn, Astrael, Veyra, Zariel, Kaelith, Sylra, Tavrin, Liora, Lyra, Seryn, Zariel, Gavric, and Erynn moved through the icy terrain, their mana-woven cloaks shielding them from the cold energy. The ground thrummed with a rhythm of preservation. "This place is a freeze," Elira muttered, her staff's adaptability struggling against the ice. "The mana's chilling."
Mark's hand hovered near his spiral glyph, the Forbidden Tier magic syncing with the Veins' pulse. "It's wailing," he said.
Lysa clutched her journal, its runes glowing as she whispered a counterspell, the light cutting through the frost. The path revealed a frost wail, its center dominated by a spire pulsing with blue light—the ley-line frost. "They're here," she said, pointing to a figure in the ice. "Veyra."
A serene figure emerged, wreathed in robes of icy mist, their staff wreathed in frosty energy that warped the air. Their face, framed by crystalline hair, held a preserving yet conflicted gaze—Veyra Icecaller. "You are the Crownless," they murmured, their voice a cold whisper. "But you are brittle. The Veins' frost will be called, and my wail will reign."
Mark stepped forward, the Forbidden Tier magic blazing. "Your ice is a freeze," he said. "The Veins are free, and adaptability endures."
Veyra's staff flared, unleashing a wave of frosty mana that warped the wail into a maze of ice and snow—preserving echoes, surging waves, a world that immobilized all. Elira's wards surged, anchoring their adaptability, but the shield strained under the wail. Lysa whispered runes, Erynn and Koryn weaving counter-frost, but more guardians emerged, their staffs amplifying the ritual.
Mark fought with flexibility. The Forbidden Tier magic wove the Veins' adaptive energy, calling the wail. The frost pulsed, responding to his presence, and the ley-lines surged, countering Veyra's runes. Visions flashed—the First Sovereign's free world, the Veins' power meant to protect, not halt. Veyra wasn't a caller; they were a force, calling to enforce control.
"I see you," Mark said, his voice cutting through the ice. "You're not reigning—you're immobilizing."
Veyra lunged, their staff unleashing a spear of blue light. Mark met it with a surge of ley-line mana, warming the wail. The frost roared, its light flooding the Glade, dissipating the guardians' runes. Elira's wards held, and Lysa, Kaelith, Torin, Lirien, Gavric, Thryme, Koryn, Sylra, Draven, Celene, Astrael, Kael, Liora, Tharok, Nyx, Lyra, Erynn, Zariel, Calen, Tavrin, Kaelor, Lirien, Seryn, Tharok, Veyra, Kaelith, Zariel, Erynn, Lyra, Calen, Astrael, Tharok, Liora, Tavrin, Erynn, Erynn, Tavrin, Seryn, Astrael, Veyra, Zariel, Kaelith, Sylra, Tavrin, Liora, Lyra, Seryn, Zariel, Gavric, and Erynn sealed the spire, halting the ritual.
Veyra staggered, their staff fading as the Veins' adaptability embraced them. They knelt, their gaze softening. "The Veins are yours to call," they whispered, their guardians retreating into the dusky light. The wail stabilized, the ley-lines' pulse returning to its natural flow.
Elira exhaled, her staff dimming. "You've adapted us, Wilde."
Lysa clutched her journal, her eyes bright. "The Veins… they're preserved again. Life endures."
Erynn nodded, their frozen-star eyes warm. "Veyra yields, but the wail's power lingers. More frosts may rise."
Mark turned to the wail, its black-gold light reflecting in his eyes under the dusky sky. "This was their frost. We'll sustain the Veins' preservation."
Back at the academy, the council chamber glowed with the orb's map. Silas grinned. "Wail adapted in thirty? We're frosty now."
Vrix crossed her arms. "The Veins' awakening stirs more wails. New challenges chill."
Elira nodded. "The world's ours to call, Mark. What's our path?"
Lysa's journal shimmered with new runes. "New frosts and callers emerge."
Mark, with Kaelith, Torin, Lirien, Gavric, Thryme, Koryn, Sylra, Draven, Celene, Astrael, Kael, Liora, Tharok, Nyx, Lyra, Erynn, Zariel, Calen, Tavrin, Kaelor, Lirien, Seryn, Tharok, Veyra, Kaelith, Zariel, Erynn, Lyra, Calen, Astrael, Tharok, Liora, Tavrin, Erynn, Erynn, Tavrin, Seryn, Astrael, Veyra, Zariel, Kaelith, Sylra, Tavrin, Liora, Lyra, Seryn, Zariel, Gavric, and Erynn beside him, gazed outward. "We protect a world of adaptability. But we stay vigilant. The frosty are coming."