The sacred island of Nashoon was not at all how Koda and Wildeye left it. The once verdant forest was now blanketed in vivid white. Withered leaves fell from the grasps of their branches and danced on the snow covered forest floor below. Koda looked on in astonishment as winter had found its way to Nashoon for the first time.

Xile sat on a stone with a litter of wolf pups playing on his lap. Koda slowly approached his grandfather, yet Xile did not bother looking up at the grandson he had not seen in such a long while. His voice was tired and worn, and he coughed hard in between his words, “I traveled the world as you told me to and I found a pupil. She is an elf of Stratus descent. She is not well accustomed to warm climates, but she shows great aptitude and willingness to learn. Her name is Lore Starfrost. Perhaps you will become friends in time.” He gently pushed the pups away and gingerly used his staff to stand. His joints popped and he grunted and his back ached, “It seems the Dawnedge were not meant to be Guardians.”

Koda rushed to support him, but was brushed away, “What were we meant to be?” Koda asked.

“Leaders,” smiled Xile.

Koda grinned, but his face turned serious. He pointed to the glistening ice that gripped the canopy above, “I’ve never seen seasons change on Nashoon. What is happening?”

Xile shuffled over to pet Wildeye, who arched her back to get an extra bit of attention from the ancient elf, “Koda, I am dying. As the Arcane Guardian, my life force is connected to this forest. When I finally pass, the forest may well never come out of this winter. When that happens, evil will swallow this land whole.”

“What of your student?”

Xile’s face wrinkled, “Lore is wise beyond her years, but not ready to protect the seal.”

Koda’s brow perked up, “Seal?”

“The Celestial Seal of Cypress. One of five, each one written on each of the Dragon Realms. They ward the gods from the mortal plane. However, if broken, the gods will continue their deity wars on our world and Draak Terra will crumble. Even now the seals are slowly cracking and fading. I am too weak to repair the seals and Lore is far from being fully trained still.”

Koda shook his head, “I thought the Arcane Guardian protected the Magi?”

“They protect all of the world’s secrets. The Magi is just one of them.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about something with such dire consequences? I could have helped!” Koda fumed, angrily.

“I was wrong to think you were prepared to become a guardian. I know how much you latch onto the Magi as if it is some sort of nectar. I have felt you growing darker. I only envisioned your fate as a flicker, but as time passed… Koda I fear the worst.”

Koda’s face hardened like the frozen ground beneath him, “Darker? Fear the worst? I have grown vastly stronger than the child I was when I left!”

“It’s far too late to prove yourself to me. However, it is not too late to prove yourself to those that depend on us.”

“Tell me how, grandfather!”

“Use your influence to find the seals and protect them. I sense I am not the only one that knows of the seals’ waning,” Xile wheezed. Wildeye leaned her large body against the aged elf, so that he could rest.

Koda nodded solemnly, “I will do this for you.”

Xile placed a trembling hand on his grandson’s shoulder, “Do this for the world.”

***

Inle walked for what seemed like an eternity to the shadow elf. He trekked alone through a dark void. The walls were black but shimmered with a magenta light while the road was lit with a soft, white glow. The path seemed to twist and rotate with each step he took.

“How much further?” he asked, although he felt like he was talking to himself because Calsoon seemed to have vanished months ago. Inle had no choice but to walk down the strange corridor without the aid of his mysterious guide. He did wait at first. However, much like the journey he was on, the waiting seemed to be never ending as well.

Calsoon’s delightful voice came from behind Inle, “We’ve just arrived, my friend.”

Inle spun around, surprised by Calsoon’s sudden reappearance, “Where have you been?”

Calsoon grinned and bowed, “A thousand apologies, my friend, but perhaps it is best if you didn’t know.”

Inle narrowed his eyes. The abundance of vague puzzles were starting to wear on him, “How long have I been here?”

“I mean not to confuse you any further, but time has no meaning here. Once you leave to go back to the mortal plane, it will be as if you never left.”

Inle shook his head in disbelief before asking one final question, “Where is here, exactly?”

Just as the question left to escape his mouth, the world around them warped and vanished. Around them appeared a large room with a circular table in the center. At the table sat five men and a woman. Each one wore a long black cloak and an oversized hood that masked their face. The table was made of dark ebonwood with a large, black, eight-pointed snowflake carved into the table. The carving was outlined with a thin line of silver paint so that the black design would be better seen on the dark colored wood. In the foreground of the snow flake were twin crescent moons painted blue that faced away from one another. Circling the room were stone walls and invisible pillars that took the form of falling snow. There were two empty seats, one of which Calsoon took.

Inle looked around confused. He stood silently, waiting for an explanation before finally speaking, “Are you the players of this game?”

Calsoon clapped his hands in delight. A man next to him rose from his seat and and unveiled his face. He was a devilishly handsome man with delicate features and faintly silver eyes. His skin was pale and matched his short, platinum hair. He spoke with an elegant dialect, as if he were highly educated and had noble blood, “Welcome Inle, to Dead of Winter—A collection of unique individuals such as yourself.”

Inle was even more confused, “How did you know my name?”

“We always keep an eye on those we take a special interest in.”

“Who are you?” Inle asked. A whole batch of new questions hatched in his mind.

The mysterious gentleman bowed, “I am known as Wraslyn to my peers. However, others know me by other names. I will introduce the other members of our guild, but over time you must take it upon yourself to learn each of their strengths.” He moved his hand to each of the six other members. As he stated their name, they stood and bowed, “Uther, Aazeren, Strife, The Collector, Sable, and you have already met Calsoon who serves as Sable’s servant.”

Inle nodded to each but looked blankly at an eighth seat, “Who sits in the last seat?”

Wraslyn walked over to the empty chair and rested his hands on its back, “His name was Ryjin Leafsong. I believe you knew him?”

Inle looked flabbergasted, “The Silent Master was one of your members?”

“He was merely a Leafsong. Who did you think trained him?”

“We all assumed it was one of the warrior tribes who disapproved of the founding of Lost Dawns,” Inle responded.

Calsoon snickered out loud, “We trained him, we set up his funds, and we gave him his opportunity for the vengeance he craved against the Dawnedge.”

Inle shook his head in confusion, “The Black Rabbits were all a part of your game?”

Calsoon strolled over to comfort Inle, “My friend, I told you that you and everyone you know are just pieces in our game.”

Inle pushed him away, “Why? Why go to such lengths?”

Wraslyn flashed a wide smile, “Now we are getting to the good questions. By straining Jaelyn’s power, we knew he would send for Koda to come home. By further pressuring Koda, he would become king.”

Inle furrowed his brow, “How does Koda becoming king have anything to do with this?”

“You see, without Koda in Nashoon, a new Arcane Guardian can’t be trained. Soon the seals will be ready for us to make our move.”

Inle leaned against the wall, “I still don’t understand.”

“But you will in time,” Calsoon finished.

Wraslyn motioned to the eighth chair, “Take a seat, Inle. A new Silent Master must be named.”

Inle grinned and slowly stepped toward the seat, but halted shy of sitting down, “I wish to be a player, not a pawn.”

“We knew you were more ambitious than Ryjin. That is why we sought you out,” Calsoon said, giving a cunning smile.

“Then I will join and become the new Silent Master,” Inle answered as he finally took the eighth seat.

“To the dawning of a new season, darker than the last,” Wraslyn toasted, a pleased look strewn across his face.