Chapter XI

=Rose: Wonder at the Winter Wonderland=

The atmosphere is a cold, unforgiving place. A white wasteland that you fear could rise up and drag you under. Confining you there in the darkness for all eternity.

It's a blessing that you're not seriously hurt. In the aftermath of the fight you were almost certain that the Spirit of the Lake had left its mark upon you. However, as you stand there in the chilling breeze, a swift examination of your arms, wrists and hands reveal otherwise.

You are perfectly fine. Or as fine as you can be as the loss of one John Egbert comes crashing through the barricade fabricated around your mind.

Worry for the boy rushes through you. You hope that he survived the attack much the same as you have yourself.

You stand still, breathing in the air and exhaling it in a puff of transparent mist. The first of a newborn flurry of snow dances into view and you raise a hand. A batch of the snowfall fragments come to rest on your upraised palm and you scrutinize them for a moment before letting your hand drop back down to your side.

A winter wonderland, as many would call it.

A fair distance away from your home.

You shiver and wrap your arms around yourself, grateful for your scarf, which can at least keep your partially protected from the cold.

You doubt that you would be able to make it back to your home on foot without falling victim to the freezing temperature and the oncoming blizzard.

It's good then that you know where you might be able to find a place to rest. Somewhere warm and free of the outside air.

You know that you are close to where Jade lives.

Unfortunately, being a separate form of witch from her, you are unable to contact her through her favoured form of connection.

Which leaves you with only one other option.

Drawing out your needles from their nestled point in the Strife Deck. You point them instantaneously to the sky.

You can feel the magic flow through them, extending out to their tips. It's only a few seconds later that a pulse of dark magenta surges out across the sky.

You drop your weapons, placing them neatly back away in the deck. Now all you have to do, is wait.

Jade's familiar mental call links with your mind within half a minute, her voice echoing through your ears and inside your head, 'Rose, hello! What are you doing so far out here? I thought that you'd be back at your mansion meditating?'

'There are a greater majority of deeds that need to be done, than the practice of meditation.'

'Oh? Like what?'

'Like the sudden appearance of a boy not of this world.'

'Wait… what? Do you mean…?'

'Yes, he came from beyond the ancient heirloom mirror.'

'Oh… Oh! Maybe… No, wait, you're outside in the cold! I can't just let you stay out there to freeze! Just hang on a minute, Rose. I'll send Bec out to pick you up.'

You smile the faintest of smiles in a blend of relief to get out of this freezing cold and gratitude to Jade for her amiable qualities. 'Thank you, Jade.'

'No problem!' she replies, just as a flash of green light illuminates the blank nature of the snow. 'Bec should be there now.'

'He is,' you reply, reaching out to pat the head of the large shaggy dog that rushes over to you with a happy grin. He wags his tail and licks your hand, then sits down with a snort. You have to admit, dogs weren't your most favoured of animals, however Becquerel was a special case due to his nature and interesting capabilities. One day you'd ask Jade about Bec's intriguing abilities, but not now.

Jade was more interested in a discussion about John Egbert, you could tell, and you were more than happy to oblige. There were certain… qualities and questions to this whole event that you yourself needed answers to and by talking about it with someone who was on the same page as you it might open up more possibilities for such aforementioned answers.

"Would you mind taking me with you, Becquerel?" you ask him.

He wags his tail and moves closer, brushing against your side. In a flash of green, you are instantly bombarded by warmth, the fresh scent of an assortment of flora and a particular change in scenery.

You are now standing in the midst of a familiar atrium; Jade's garden atrium. A place that you found she had often frequented during your few visits.

You find Jade seated upon the floor amid two sets of flower-filled rows. She opens her eyes and smiles as you approach. "It's good to see you face-to-face again, Rose! It's been a long while."

You nod. "Indeed it has."

She gets to her feet, brushing off her clothes, then flashes you a beaming grin, it falters for a moment when she notices you shivering. "I hope I didn't make you wait too long out there in the cold."

You shake your head. "I'm fine. This change in temperature should fight off the chill."

She continues to watch you for a moment, as if struggling with the urge to say something else related to this sudden worry. She lets it drop, however, instead gesturing for you to sit down beside her. "I hope you don't mind if we stay here. I have to keep an eye on the crops, you see. I think someone's been stealing off with them again."

"That's perfectly understandable," you say, gracefully sitting down cross-legged. The exchange from freezing air to warmth was comfortable enough, even though the perfume of the flowers may prove to be an annoyance if you were to stay in this particular area for too long.

Jade plops down beside you. "So, um, you said that a boy from another world came through that old mirror of yours?"

"Yes, I know little about him beyond him being a part of an outside world, except for the fact that I did have a strange… premonition of sorts before his entrance."

Jade frowned. "Premonition?"

"A… warning of such to his approach, is my guess. There was an aura of blue that clouded my vision momentarily, a hint of a reflection in a mirror and the vision of John before my journey up the stairs and to the room where the heirloom resides."

"It sounds to me as if it is a warning of some sort," Jade said in a thoughtful tone. "But, I remember that you said a while back that usually you don't have those kind of visions. They're mostly to do with the Horrorterrors."

"Yes, but I believe that this is a special case. It wasn't a monitory premonition against him but, more a monitory premonition against something else that will occur during his visit. Although I can't say specifically what it could be."

Jade shifts a little, her brow furrowing in thought. "That sounds… kind of ominous."

"Indeed."

"Where is he now?"

You sigh, feeling that sense of worry and something else you can't exactly pinpoint flowing viciously back over you. "We were ambushed by the Spirit of the Lake during our ride across it. Unfortunately, we were split up in the aftermath."

Jade put a hand over her mouth. "That sounds like it must've been terrible. I hope he's okay."

"I hope so too."

It's a terrible thing to think that he is out there somewhere without knowledge of the dangers that lurk the many sectors of Gabrium. You feel as if it is your own fault for letting him take that journey across the lake with you by boat. Although, there is nothing you can do about it now.

Jade seems suddenly restless, her expression set in a frown. She stares up at the flowers. "I… have been having weird dreams lately; recurring dreams. They're a blur but… It's as if something is calling out to me. And with the Denizens being so restless… It's all kinds of weird." She shakes her head. "No, never mind… I'll tell you about it later, Rose." She smiles. "First of all, I want to help you in your search for John!"

You chuckle quietly. "How did you know that that was my plan?"

She grins. "I have my ways! But, really, it's just that I know you. You wouldn't just let someone get hurt or lost without trying to help or find them. So, I'll see if I can contact some of the others. They might know something about this, or maybe they might've seen John if we're lucky! We'll never know, unless we try, right?"

With a smile, you nod in agreement. "Of course. I appreciate the help."

"It's the least I can do!"