"What are they?" Walter asked Little Nse, slightly startled.
"Ruins of the great crack," he answered.
"What is the great crack?" Walter asked.
"You've never heard of the great crack? Lilian Vaine rages a war through the worlds and her general attacks the gates of Holse, sending his sword intent tearing from Heishm to Veidja, dividing the lower realms into lower and middle realms. It is quite a well-known legend. That is how the lower realms got divided into middle and lower realms," Little Nse said.
"Lilian Vaine," Walter seemed to roll the name around his tongue.
"The first Thraine,"
"Thraine?"
"Yes, you know them?" Little Nse asked.
"Don't we all?" Walter answered.
"This part of the portal is called the heads of Gidia. It is said that the sword intent barely missed the temple of Gidia, cutting off eighty-three of the hundred Beiya heads. These are rumoured to be those heads," Little Nse said and Walter nodded.
"Many are trying to evacuate to the higher realms. It's hard, but possible if you have enough money and power. I hear big families are making their way there," Little Nse sighed.
"Why?" Walter frowned.
"A Thraine is coming, of course,"
"Who, where?" he asked.
"Lucy Wickshire. She is coming, a lot of people are going to die," Little Nse sighed.
"It is not sure that people will die. And if she is that scary, what is the need to hide in the higher realms?" Walter asked.
"Oh? You don't think she is scary?" Little Nse asked.
"I do," Walter answered.
"Then why shouldn't those who can, run?"
"I think she is scary enough that it is useless to run, almost insulting," Walter answered and the boy seemed to almost smile.
"Oh? Then you think she could kill you and myself here, even while she is not with us?" Little Nse asked.
"If she wished to, she could, is what I think," he answered.
"Then if you knew she could, wished it too, you would not run?" Little Nse seemed confused.
"No, I'd sit right here,"
"You'd give up?"
"No, I'd obey and stay right where I am. There is a greater story at play," he said and Little Nse sighed.
"I see," Little Nse seemed to contemplate his words, "But for now, she must first find her way into the higher realms. Many are running there because Thraines bring havoc and the higher realms have never been invaded by a Thraine," Little Nse said.
"Something makes me feel as though she is not like any Thraine ever seen. The higher realms may not be that safe," Walter said, trying to sound completely offhanded about the topic.