The Cold Emperor left the others behind and walked into the light. Surrounded by runic images and the smell of Edict, he could see and sense an awful lot. Before him the ethereal image of a man with two ravens on his shoulders took shape. The man had only one exposed eye, for the other was covered by a golden eyepatch. Yet that one eye seemed to contain the wonders of the world and its secrets. He may have seen this man only a few times in his life, but Grandpa Winks knew exactly who he was. He was the famous vagabond God King. He was the one they called Allfather.
"God King Odin, we meet again," the Cold Emperor was servant to no one, only the Supreme. Although he did display his respect to the god before him by slightly bowing his head, that was all he did. He wasn't going to bow in subservience for Odin wasn't his Allfather. This level of respect was all Odin was going to get, not like the God King of Asgard was complaining.
"Cold Emperor Winks," Odin nodded his head at the Cold Emperor to return the man's greeting. Although the Cold Emperor was only an Ascender, his power could rival that of several strong gods. Added to the fact that he was an Eternal and well, couldn't die, he was basically like a god himself. Some gods of old even referred to him as a god of the Eternals. Some went as far as calling him the Eternal Ice God. A lofty title it was, but when one witnessed the power of the Cold Emperor in battle, one would know it was apt.
"Thou hast come seeking for me just as I sought to find thee myself. Thou truly art the god that knoweth just when to appear." Grandpa Winks smiled slightly and said, taking the initiative to speak in the old tongue.
"Oh? Didst thou needeth my help?" Odin was a bit surprised. The only person Eternals were known for seeking was the Supreme. If they were looking for him, that meant they needed information on the Supreme. And this information was possibly something that had to do with the coordinates to Zandor and how to breach its barrier without destroying it. That was the only thing Odin could think of.
"Art thou yet ready to serve thine Master – he who is thine Lord and Sky?" Odin asked, hinting that he had an inkling of why they were looking for him.
"Aye. There have been some troubling signs, signs that have fast matured our zeal to return to our Lord and Sky." Grandpa Winks had a serene expression on his face when he spoke of the troubling signs that had prompted him to suddenly seek the Lord whom he had promised he was going to give time to grow.
"I see. There have also been some troubling signs on my end. And that is why I seek thee. For thou musteth return to thine Lord and Sky." Odin spoke in the language of the old tongue, for it was an official plea. And Grandpa Winks heard this plea and responded to it.
"Our duty, be it in death or with breath, is to serve that which is our Sky and Lord. If thine eye leadeth thy face to us, then the Eternals shall harken to thine call and rally behind our Lord and Sky." Although Grandpa Winks didn't know what Odin had seen that caused him to seek him out, he knew that it must be pretty ominous for the God King to abandon what was happening to his people and look for him. But he didn't ask what it was. He didn't pry for he had no right to. It was for this very same reason that Odin didn't ask him concerning what the troubling signs the Eternals had received was. It concerned his great grandson alright, but it was none of his business as long as the Eternals did what they had to do.
"Thine Lord and Sky hath been summoned to the Universe of Dreams," Odin informed Grandpa Winks, and the latter's eyebrows fluttered in amazement. He knew what it meant to be summoned to the Dreamscape. That other Universe was tethered to the Allfather, and it only called forth Asgardians whom it saw fit to pass its test. But the Supreme was only 11. Being called at such a young age was a true testament to his skill and talent.
"Wouldst thou want to aid thine King in the land where one knoweth nothing?" Odin asked, offering to send the Eternals to the Dreamscape.
"It is mine creed; mine calling; mine heart. I shall serve mine Lord and Sky, even in the Land where one knoweth nothing." Grandpa Winks promised.
"Good. This shall be your key then." Odin dispensed with the formalities and tossed over a golden key to Grandpa Winks.
Grandpa Winks caught the key solidly, gripping it tightly like it was his greatest possession. And in some way, it was. For this was a Dimensional Key. There were so few of these that one could count them in a single hand. Odin didn't have a lot of these lying around. In fact, this was his own personal Dimensional Key. He was literally giving them what was his so that they would be able to do their jobs. And Grandpa Winks appreciated the gesture greatly. Yet at the same time his worry grew. For Odin was known as one who trusted no one but himself and his own wisdom. He did put his faith in a few people, but he wasn't one to give away his most valued resources without any reason.
Billions of years ago he had relinquished control over Gungnir so that the Great Ra could cripple Fenrir, making it easier for the 5th Supreme to kill the dastardly creature. Even further back he had granted his Power of Invincibility to Baldur when he dared to use Universal Delay to reverse their fate. Each time Odin did such a thing, it was because the threat was so grave that he wasn't capable of handling it on his own. And now he was giving up his Dimensional Key. That alone was telling. It told of a grave danger that Odin couldn't possibly deal with on his own.
"What are you going to do?" Grandpa Winks asked as he put the key away.
"I am going to find the others," Odin didn't hide his intentions. "There are many more who should be with you – others of other races," Odin added. "Preparations must be made, and things set in place for his return."
"Then I bid thee farewell, Great God King of Asgard," Grandpa Winks switched back to the formal as he beat his hand on his chest solidly in an Asgardian greeting as a sign of his respect. This respect Odin had earned by sacrificing something as important as a Dimensional Key.
"And I you," Odin smiled and returned the greeting. His figure quickly disappeared from within the light beam as he left to take care of other matters.
"May the stars align and smile upon our quests," the Cold Emperor sighed and returned to his small group. He immediately told them what happened from within the Light Beam, informing them that Odin had also seen something that forced him to relinquish his control over the Dimensional Key.
"You must go first," Grandpa Winks stated as he channeled his power into the Dimensional Key. The requirement to activate the key was great, and no matter how much power it siphoned from the Cold Emperor, the small key was never full. It drew and drew and drew, with no intentions of stopping.
"Why?" James asked, wondering why his grandfather wasn't coming with them.
"Odin giving him the key means that he expects your grandfather to be around to send others in. He basically offered Winks a chance to work with him. They were tasked with finding the worthy and sending them off to Mane. Odin, with finding the other races, and Winks, with finding the members of his own race." Ravi answered, revealing her age old wisdom.
"Get ready," Grandpa Winks informed them as he felt the key had accepted enough to open a gateway. He slowly stuck it out before him, and a keyhole formed around the golden key. Twisting the key produced a clicking sound, and a black hole that revealed nothing but darkness in its infinite nature appeared before the small group.
"Go," Grandpa Winks ordered. "Bye Grandfather," Morgana hugged the Cold Emperor softly before entering the black hole confidently, not all worried by what it could lead her to. Her hug softened the young looking old man's features, for a bright smile lit up his face.
"Don't die old man," James didn't hug his Grandfather. If he had attempted to do so the man would have probably broken his teeth. But he did call him by the address Grandpa Winks hated, yet the Eternal famed for his excellent control over ice didn't chastise him for it.
James knew how dangerous it was for an Eternal – even one as powerful as his Grandfather – to be reaming around. It was necessary for his Grandfather to be very careful in this quest. Before they had slowly moved from planet to planet, successfully avoiding attention. But now that time was seemingly of the essence, his Grandfather was going to have to act faster. And that meant he run a higher risk of being exposed.
Ravi was the last person to enter the black hole. She didn't share any words of sentiments with Grandpa Winks, but her eyes said it all.
"Take care of them for me," Grandpa Winks pleaded.
"I will," Ravi promised as her eyes told of her affection for the man in front of her. Then she too jumped into the black hole.
"So I find myself alone again, just like in the times of the past," Grandpa Winks frowned and said. It had been so long since he felt this alone that the feeling was almost foreign to him – almost mind you.
"Let's get to work then," Grandpa Winks stretched before closing the Dimensional Gate and flying out of this world. His destination? The planet where he left his subordinates – Kreech.