The Northern Ice Field stretched endlessly beneath eternal winter sky with crystalline spires rising like frozen cathedrals, glacial plateaus gleaming under pale sunlight, snow-swept valleys where frost-veins pulsed with ancient cold.
This was Frostina's domain.
The Glacial Queen ruled here, sovereign of ice and stillness, guardian of the frozen north.
Her palace stood at the realm's heart, magnificent structure carved entirely from sapphire ice with towers reflecting light into dancing rainbows, halls preserved in eternal winter. Beautiful beyond description, cold beyond measure.
And coiled atop the highest spire, surveying her territory with composed majesty, rested Frostina herself.
Fifteen stories of pure elegance with sleek wyvern form crafted from sapphire scales and snow-white crystal. Wings vast and translucent, trailing perpetual snow-mist, scattering halos of refracted light across storm clouds. Frost crystal mane flowing like frozen waterfall down graceful neck. Eyes containing concentric ice-rings refracting light into mesmerizing patterns.
Graceful, regal, gentle.
Below her palace, throughout frozen realm, her followers thrived.
Ice-element beasts of every tier served the Glacial Queen, not through fear but through loyalty earned by gentle, fair rule.
Wilding-tier frost sprites danced through snow, Servitor-tier ice wolves patrolled glacial valleys, Noble-tier crystal bears guarded frozen passes, Elite-tier snow leopards hunted along ridge-lines, King-tier frost drakes circled above plateaus magnificent but smaller than their sovereign, Lord-tier ice serpents coiled within deepest caves ancient and powerful.
All acknowledged her authority, all respected her wisdom, all followed willingly.
Frostina ruled with composed grace, never harsh, never cruel, never demanding beyond reason. Strength tempered by gentleness, power wielded with care.
Her domain flourished under ice-touched sovereignty.
Frostina's concentric ice-ring eyes shifted focus as sensation rippled through consciousness.
Overlord network, telepathic-like communication connecting four across Theia's vast expanse.
Message arriving, clear, urgent, significant.
Gate discovered in Northern Ice Field region, dimensional phenomenon, Earth connection confirmed.
Her elegant head tilted slightly, frost blooming along crystalline scales as she processed information.
Gate in her territory, dimensional bridge from other world.
And discovered by bearer, human, two Overlords present including Malvorn and Naelvorn.
Memory stirred as Raziel's voice echoed through network from weeks past: *Bearer freed millions. Brought peace between species. Worth watching.*
That human in her domain now with impossible discovery.
Curiosity kindled beneath composed exterior, territorial interest awakening.
Decision formed with characteristic calm certainty.
She would investigate personally.
Frostina rose from spire with fluid grace, wings spreading wide as translucent membranes caught light, scattering rainbow halos across ice palace below.
Her followers paused, sensing sovereign's movement as respectful acknowledgment rippled through domain. No fear, just reverence earned through gentle rule.
She did not announce departure, did not explain because her subjects trusted her judgment absolutely.
Wings beat once, powerful despite elegant appearance, lifting fifteen-story form into cold northern sky.
Snow followed her ascent, swirling upward even without wind, dancing around sapphire scales like living coronation.
Frost bloomed continuously along her body, each breath creating intricate snowflake sigils that hung crystalline in air before dissolving.
The Glacial Queen flew south toward gate, toward answers.
Graceful, purposeful, unstoppable.
***
Draven stood before gate with pack surrounding him as Velnar's ancient bulk settled on ice, Sylvara's forest druid form observed phenomenon thoughtfully, Feyra's small fennec shape nestled close for warmth, Zor circled overhead maintaining vigilance. Malvorn in human form with crystalline features contemplated dimensional mystery. Genesis Codex floated nearby, green-gold book pulsing with quiet light.
Naelvorn's seven-foot human form suddenly tensed, teal eyes brightening. "She's coming. Frostina. You're about to meet ice royalty, bro."
Draven straightened instinctively as another Overlord approached.
Temperature dropped noticeably, measurably.
Air crystallized as tiny ice particles formed spontaneously, glittering in pale sunlight like scattered diamonds.
Something magnificent approached.
She appeared from northern sky like winter's embodiment.
Sapphire scales catching light, scattering prismatic halos across frozen landscape. Snow-white crystal accents gleaming. Vast translucent wings trailing snow-mist that defied gravity, swirling upward in her wake.
Snow began falling despite clear sky as Frostina's signature manifested even in frozen wasteland already buried under endless ice, her presence intensifying winter itself.
Frost spread across ground where her shadow passed, intricate patterns crystallizing instantly. Each wingbeat sent cascading sparkles through air as refracted light danced like aurora.
Graceful descent with no haste, no aggression, just composed majesty lowering toward frozen plain.
Fifteen stories of elegant power touched down with barely a sound, claws settling on ice delicately despite immense weight, wings folding with fluid precision.
More snow swirled around her constantly, beautiful and inevitable as breathing.
Concentric ice-ring eyes surveyed scene before her: gate, bearer, pack, fellow Overlord.
Regal presence radiating gentle authority.
"Frostina!" Naelvorn's boisterous voice broke respectful silence. "Long time, ice queen! Looking majestic as ever!"
Frostina's elegant head turned toward ocean Overlord, concentric eyes reflecting his grin with what might have been, very subtly, exasperation.
But beneath composed exterior, faint warmth as familiar annoyance somehow felt comforting, reminder she was alive, not just frozen sovereignty.
"Naelvorn," she acknowledged, voice calm and melodious, carrying slight crystalline quality like wind through ice caves. "Your enthusiasm remains unchanged."
Measured words as gentle rebuke lacked any true bite.
Then attention shifted to human standing respectfully nearby, bearer, the one Raziel mentioned.
"You must be Draven," she said, tone remaining composed but not cold. "The human who freed millions. Brought peace between species."
First meeting, assessing, curious beneath regal composure.
"I am Frostina. This territory is mine. And I understand you discovered something remarkable."
***
Draven bowed slightly, respectful acknowledgment of Overlord sovereignty without subservience.
"Frostina. Honor to meet you. Yes, we discovered dimensional gate connecting Earth and Theia. In your territory. We reported through Overlord network immediately."
Direct, honest, composed.
Recognizing the discipline she valued: calm under pressure, respect without fear, clarity in communication.
Her ice-ring eyes studied him thoughtfully as bearer indeed carried himself with unusual poise despite being human, two Overlords allied with him, Genesis Codex as ancient artifact floating beside him like loyal companion.
Interesting.
"My bonded family," Draven continued, gesturing to beasts surrounding him. "Velnar, Sylvara, Feyra, Zor, all Lord-tier. And Malvorn..."
Malvorn stepped forward, crystalline human form nodding respectfully. "Fellow Overlord," he acknowledged simply.
Frostina inclined head with equal courtesy in normal peer respect, no special dynamic, just professional acknowledgment between equals.
"Malvorn. Naelvorn speaks of you."
Then surveying others briefly as Lord-tier beasts capable and loyal but not requiring particular focus, present, acknowledged, respected in their roles.
Her attention returned to dimensional phenomenon behind them, the gate with swirling clouds churning silently, unknown and fascinating.
"Show me," she said simply, wings folding closer. "I would see this gateway myself."
They moved forward as group with Draven, pack, three Overlords in human forms, Genesis Codex floating silently.
Frostina's graceful steps left frost patterns on ice, each footfall crystallizing ground further despite already frozen surface. Snow continued swirling around her perpetually as gentle constant presence.
She studied gate as they approached, five-meter diameter vertical formation with swirling grey-white clouds churning endlessly, silent, stable, utterly mysterious.
Her concentric eyes narrowed slightly as analytical assessment began, strategic mind processing visual data, curious beneath composed exterior.
"Extraordinary," she murmured. "Dimensional bridge. In my territory. How was it discovered?"
***
Draven explained encounter: traveling to investigate Northern stable zone, finding gate instead, witnessing small object emerge.
He produced paper clip from pocket, tiny bent metal wire.
"This came through the gate. Expelled from Earth. Genesis Codex and Adhivar confirmed its origin through original universe signature."
Frostina studied small object with composed curiosity, manufactured and precise with unfamiliar design, from Earth as other cursed world.
She didn't react to "Adhivar" mention as name meant nothing, assuming perhaps artifact's formal designation or bearer's term for Genesis Codex itself.
Her focus remained on gate and evidence before her.
She approached gate directly, elegant movements unhurried.
Reaching out as Absolute Frost Dominion extended, attempting to freeze swirling clouds, halt their motion, crystallize phenomenon.
Nothing as motion continued unchanged, gate unaffected.
Trying Glacial Mirage by manipulating refraction, attempting to see through dimensional barrier via crystalline analysis.
Nothing revealed as barrier remained absolute.
Permafrost Mirror attempting reflection analysis.
No response.
Gate remained untouchable, mysterious, separate from Theia's reality entirely.
Her wings rustled slightly as only outward sign of frustration.
"Dimensional separation complete," she observed calmly. "We cannot affect it from this side. One-way barrier confirmed."
Velnar clicked thoughtfully. "Four hundred years, never encountered dimensional bridge. Unprecedented phenomenon."
Sylvara added, "Nature magic detects no connection to Theia's ley lines. Completely isolated from planetary mana network."
Feyra observed, "Life element senses nothing living within gate. Just emptiness between dimensions."
Zor's tactical assessment followed. "Represents unknown threat level. Origin unclear. Purpose unknown. Monitoring essential."
Draven synthesized their findings. "Earth objects emerging periodically, possibly. Gate stable and permanent. In your territory, Frostina. Under your sovereignty."
Acknowledging territorial reality, respecting her domain.
***
Frostina's concentric eyes surveyed gate one final time, then pack, then bearer standing respectfully before her.
"Dimensional bridge in my territory," she said calmly. "Connecting Earth to Theia. Expelling objects from other cursed world."
Pause as strategic mind processed implications.
"This requires discussion. Among all concerned. Overlords and bearer alike."
Looking at Draven directly. "We should speak further. About this gate. About cooperation. About what comes next."
Not demanding, not commanding, just gentle suggestion carrying weight of regal authority.
Snow swirled perpetually around sapphire form as graceful and composed sovereign acknowledged complexity.
The Glacial Queen had arrived.
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