A lone figure stood at the top of a dark fortress looking down at the oddly dressed tribesmen moving into the city. Her heavy coat flapped to the west winds, bringing the chill, yet she did not feel it. Behind her, an older woman approached her and wrapped another coat around her to shield her from the cold winds.
"They are going to settle here?" the older woman asked.
"They have not made their plans known to me," the young lady answered.
"Lusa…." the woman started to say.
"I don't want to hear it. They have a way, I will go," Lady Lusa said.
"Even at the cost of your life?" the woman frowned.
"This has been the goal since the beginning. You do not have to come," she said.
"I must. He is my grandson too," the woman said.
Lusa turned back and stared at her with a determined gaze.
"Mother, you are only coming with me, to take Jin'er and leave if something goes wrong," Lady Lusa said.
"Nothing will go wrong," the woman rejected with a shake of her head, the fear in her eyes unable to conceal her despair.
"Promise me, mother," Lady Lusa insisted.
"Lusa, you have to come out. Your father will be waiting for us three to return. You must not think like this," The woman's voice cracked slightly.
"If something goes wrong, you take Jin'er and return. No matter what, you must put Jin'er first. Am I clear?" Lady Lusa's eyes steeled as she spoke.
"Lusa,"
"Lady Hou, am I clear?" Lady Lusa asked and the woman froze for a second, before lowering her head.
"As Your Ladyship orders," she answered and Lusa looked at her deeply, before taking off the second coat to hand to her and walking away.
Lady Lusa entered a warm hallway and made her way to the central great room. Stones of Kallor's ruins paved the floors and walls like they had been there for centuries. Maids stopped to bow as she passed, not daring to gaze upon the cold lady's form. She walked into the central great room where two familiar people sat waiting. Both did not stand in respect when she walked in, only following her figure with their expressionless eyes.
"Lady Lusa, I believe my deal with you is up," the young man said and she glanced his way before sitting down.
"I should have a need for your presence to not dismiss you by now," she answered.
"I wish no more for cooperation, my lady. I await my payment," the man said coldly. To this, the old man looked on with amusement, his hand ever stroking his long beard.
"You talk as though you know what I wish of you,"
"I do not need to know. I have my own plans, my lady. I agreed to show you how I navigated the endless sea. I did that. I have no interest in your plans,"
"Word is, you have been touched by the Kryi," she said and he paused.
"Many do not know that you are not of this world. This job is one only you in Thriergor can do," he said and he frowned.
"Knowing of my origins does not mean I will work for you, Lady Lusa,"
"Young Master Li, Lady Wickshire told me you can carry anything safely across the Nether Sea," Lady Lusa said.
"And this is important why?"
"Since you have such protective power, it is obvious what I need your services for," she answered.
"And if I do not?"
"I have many ways to convince you," she said.
"If you will not pay, then I will be on my way," Young Master Li stood to leave.
"I paid a realm gate for your information, Young Master Li. It is best you sit down and understand why. After all, where I am going is where you always wanted to go," she said and his figure paused by the door.
"Where then, pray tell?" he asked.
"She incited your need to be claimed by the Nether, Young Master Li," she said and he froze.
"If I am about to walk the Nether realm, someone seeking the touch of the Nether Lord is a good companion," she said as she stared at his frozen form while casually swinging her arms on that of her chair. "Sit, Young Master Li. I assure you, the probability of dying on this adventure is high,"