Valentine stepped foot beside Ether, both Variants glanced at each other before stepping inside Terron's walls. The moment they entered, they watched hell break loose around them.
Thawed and Zegi fought against each other with utter rage, a very uncommon sight between a species known for being intelligent and another species known for their strategic combat.
Blood spilled turned the snow a mouth-watering red, one that Valentine adored. His eyes lit up upon seeing the amount of spilled blood everywhere. It was beautiful, he thought.
Using all that blood, he charged himself beyond normal capacity, then unleashed it all as a massive shock-wave. All Variants, Thawed and Zegi alike, dropped to the ground.
One of the Thawed quickly stood back up, keeping a gladiator-like helmet on which set them apart from the rest. Something instantly seemed off about this one.
"You, red one! Identify yourself!" their raspy voice bellowed.
"Why, I'm the Crimson Lover himself. Who might you be?" Valentine replied in a smug tone.
The Thawed grunted, careless of who this Crimson Lover was. "Crimson Lover, you attacked my Thawed who wished to live peacefully. But why?"
Valentine picked up Ether, setting him up right between him and the foreign face. As the young Zesher stood there, awkwardly staring at them, he gulped nervously.
A firm, fatherly hand stuck on his shoulder. Making it clear he was safe regardless of what the outcome would be. However, he did not want to ruin the opportunity.
"Infinus leader, Ether Coros. You stepped foot onto a mountain claimed by an ally without their permission and found shelter without the approval of Digon's guardian," his voice called out.
"Mmm," the Thawed took off his helmet. "We are here for something really urgent my Prophet asked me to find. He claims a prophecy is going to manifest itself in the continent of Centinents"
Ether sighed. "Yeah, okay. Just get up and get out of here or else we will smite you... or alternatively, you can join us."
The Thawed closed his fists around a crimson chain around his neck. "My name is Hizentre, be mindful of the way you say my name."
Valentine softly chuckled. "Ah, Metrivious isn't it?"
Hizentre nodded, looking surprised that someone guess his native mountain correctly on the first try. Valentine snapped his fingers, keeping a smile beneath his mask.
"You all say your 're's' as 'uh's.' Well, are you joining, Hizentruh?" Valentine held out an open hand.
In response, Hizentre nodded. "You have broken my Thawed to tatters. If we want to continue searching, we need to survive. Our loyalty is yours."
-Three hours later-
Twenty-one Sky Beasts landed inside Frosticus' courtyard, most of which seemed excited to have returned to where their masters were. And several Thawed came out to welcome them.
Among these Thawed were Quill and his loyalists. These loyalists were Oracles, the tool the Prophets use to communicate with the Nine.
Gloria touched down on the frigid cold snow, unsettling her as the cold crept in. Her riders jumped off, getting ready to notify the strange faces about their victory.
Icy winds perked the flat feathers of all other Mountain Ascent Sky Beasts, except for the lonely Storm Chaser that impatiently waited for her masters to leave with her.
Quill slowly clapped while he approached the two Variants. "My loyalists tell me of a successful triumph that concluded with submission. Well done."
In response, Valentine got on one knee and bowed. Keeping his head low so the Prophet could not gaze into his eyes, it would be considered a challenge in the Thawed culture.
"Th - thank you, sir. We came here to bring your beasts home and receive our Rite of Alliance," Ether carefully spoke.
His response pleased the Prophet. It was going to be quick, no more than ten minutes. So he got to work in signing their Rite and welcoming them as their own allies.
"Ahem," Quill cleared his throat. "Va-nhim qi'to ana-gat. Ine'ro, nas'ka-tohmn. Hider-ai, cohm'aloz."
Something about listening his deep voice ramble on these foreign words made Ether feel special. It was almost like this was made for him, and it was.
Terron Fall was all a test, not a very hard one, though. Quill ordered it to happen so the threat could be eliminated and an ally would prove their usefulness instead of saying it.
Once he was done chanting in Philious, Quill bowed in front of Ether. And so did the other Oracles. Eleven Thawed turned their crowns to him, almost offering themselves to the small Zesher.
Until they returned to their original positions in unison. Quill reached into his white robes, then pulled out a symbol from the inside. That symbol was cast in iron, ready for whenever it needed usage.
"Little one, Ether. This is a gift from a leader to another," Quill opened one hand so Ether could place his inside. "Your hand, I need it."
In response, he did as he was told. Ether placed it, palm facing up to where he would receive his reward from. Then Quill placed it in his hand.
Cold metal barely affected his cold armored hand, however the weight was there. When Quill's hands pulled away, Ether studied the symbol.
A circular main-body, surrounded by a half-circle on the top and two mandibles that went opposite directions of each other.
It was purple all around, except for the main part of the body. It was in a darker shade of purple.
"This... the Symbol of Legion on Legion Conflict... thank you!" Ether sincerely thanked.
Quill held his hands behind his back. "Of course. We heard your tale of the Light Legion, so we decided to form it's symbol in metal. Be mindful, if the Light Legion accepts it we cannot help."
Valentine got up from the snow, he carefully made his way over to Gloria. Patting the top of her beastly hand with a mighty palm.
"We should focus on the painstakingly long time it will take for us to bring our warriors back home. Quill, it is a pleasure being back under your command. Even if it's in a different manner," Valentine concluded.
Ether slowly made his way closer to their mount. "Yeah, thank you once again. If you need anything else, send messengers to our Legion. I will make sure they get treated like they were our own."
Quill nodded, understanding their situation. "Good luck out there. And the same can be said about your Legion. Goodbye."
With that, Infinus and Frosticus came to a common ground. Neither side would negatively impact the other. And Terron was absorbed into the main Legion.
However, the start of their troubles have yet to come.