Almost by magic. That was the radical change in environment Alex and Midna experienced in their upward trek to Glacia City. From balmy temperatures to near freezing, and still several thousand vertical feet to go. Down below Asgarnia looked disturbingly ruined. Alex had never seen the city from so far since he traveled there eighteen months ago. Now he saw the true extent of the Kandarinian Sovereignty?s damage. All the more motivation to remove them, he thought.
Despite what Alex had been through, he was slightly alarmed at how easy the journey to Glacia was. Sure enough he would find some obstacle to slow him down.
?So you said you once lived here?? Midna inquired.
?"Yeah,?" Alex replied. ?For about seven years I did.?
?"So what'?s it like? In all of my Twili affairs I never had the time to come up here.?"
?"Well, it?'s pretty much cold year round, but the sights are amazing. I just wish we were coming up here as the sun was setting. The nights here are absolutely beautiful. It almost never stops snowing, and the Glacia folk are some of the nicest you'?ll ever meet.?"
"?Sounds like paradise,?" Midna said. ?"Why did you leave??"
?"Well, there just wasn'?t anything I could do to hold a stable income,? Alex complained. ?So I left for Asgarnia in hopes of finding a job, being fed up with the war and all. Though, as soon as I got there, the portal storms flared up, and one thing led to another."
?"I see,?" Midna replied. "?So is it good to be finally heading back?"?
?"I?'m sure the people I left behind were worried about me, yes,"? Alex noted, "?they probably think I'?m dead. They know me."
?"Alex, this trip up to the top is taking way too long. Maybe I should just teleport us to the top."?
?"So why didn't you before??"
?"It helps to see an area for myself first before I can start casting portals within it. Now that I can see the top, I could take you there now.?"
?"Fair enough,?" Alex replied. "?Do it."?
And so she did. The black portal once again formed, letting out directly outside Glacia City?s wooden walls.
"?Let me do the talking,"? Alex said, motioning Midna to take his shadow. She obeyed promptly.
Alex made three hard raps on the wrought iron gates. "?Anyone there??" He called.
A guard brandishing a crossbow stood up in the tower overlooking the gate. ?"Identify yourself!"? he shouted.
?"It'?s Alex. I?'m finally back, Seth."?
Seth could hardly believe his ears. "?A-Alex?? You?'re back? After eighteen months? We thought we?'d never see you again! Welcome home, Alex."? He motioned the guards to open the doors.
The huge iron gates swung open, revealing the same little town he had left behind a year and a half ago. Little had changed. Busy folk were milling about, working, having fun, being happy. It was truly a paradise.
Alex stepped through the gates and onto the town?s main thoroughfare. The market was still here, as were Sefl?'s Pub, the general store that Jen ran, and Harik'?s smithy. All was as he left it. It seemed unnatural about how little had changed.
?"Hey, Alex!"? Seth called back. ?"I?'m sure you?'ve got business to do here, and I?'m still on my shift. As soon as that?s over I'?ll come find you and we can catch up!?"
?"Sounds good,"? Alex replied, and shook hands. He then continued down the main street.
?"So, where do we go from here??" Midna asked.
?"Well, my old cabin is a nice place to stay. Let?s get there and work from there.?"
"?Sounds like a good idea,"? Midna replied, and followed him.
?"At last, my prey has arrived,?" de Sade hissed. He looked at the hut Carmine had wandered into to warm up. ?"Mere mortals,"? he muttered. ?"Always tending to basic necessities.?"
Across the thoroughfare he laid his eyes on the ebony man. He was in a prime state of vulnerability.
Carmine had just returned from inside the hut. ?"There he is,? he said. ?Why not attack now??"
?"Silence, fool,"? de Sade commanded him. "?Hunting prey is an acquired skill. You need to toy with your prey first, lull him into a false sense of security.?"
Once again, Carmine knew when to shut his mouth.
?"Very soon,?" he said to Carmine, clenching his fist, ?"the prey will slip up, and the trap will be sprung. Up to now you?'ve been dead weight, Carmine. Now you?ll finally be able to serve that Sovereignty you so foolishly conscripted yourself into.?"
That made Carmine?'s blood run cold. ?"Uh, sir?"?
?"Carmine, if he doesn'?t do away with you, I will. Now, present yourself as the lure.?"
?"Err, Yessir?"? he sighed as he jogged up the road, speargun in hand.
?"Now, my little Twili wolf,? de Sade said to himself, ?you shall die like the dog of war you are.?"
