The wind and snow of the Frost Wind Plane seemed a few degrees colder than usual.
Three days had passed since the Glacier Academy was wiped off the map.
But the scorching shadow of the mushroom cloud that had blotted out half the sky still loomed over the heart of every Wizard on the Frost Wind Plane.
In Snow Rock City's largest tavern, the "Ice Beard," the atmosphere was thick with tension.
The Mercenaries and traveling merchants who usually held forth loudly had all lowered their voices. The focus of their conversations was a single topic: the North.
"Did you hear? The Black Thorn Association's three Second-level Wizards, along with the entire Glacier Academy, are gone," a one-eyed Mercenary said, downing a large gulp of strong liquor.
"What do you mean, 'gone'? They were vaporized! My cousin's mentor was gathering materials nearby. He saw a beam of light shoot down from the sky, and then... the ground started shaking like it was the end of the world."
