The day is unequivocally bright. There are no clouds in the boundless sky, and the wind remains still enough that the temperature rises without any reprieve. The sunlight falls across wood and stone buildings, slipping through the gaps between each building as easily as it drapes over the pedestrian streets. While it is unusually warm, there is a chill that emanates from the ground towards the heavens that seems to come from somewhere deep with the imperial heart of the land. Piles of snow continue to linger under the sunlight, sparkling like gemstones piled together only to be trampled underfoot by muddy boots and damp skirts. The only snowy piles unaffected are the ones on the rooftops, lingering on the edges of the rooftop to fall to gravity's whims once the sky starts dropping its frozen deluge once again.

A figure sits on the edge of one such rooftop, having pushed the snow off with their own hands to give them a place to sit without their body heat causing a puddle to soak into their black pants. They pull one of their legs to the dark purple vest they wear, crossing their arm on top of their knee. They lean forward slightly, swinging the remaining leg hanging off the side of the roof. Dark purple irises swimming in a translucent purple sclera stare at the imperial palace on the other side of the protective walls and snowy fields saturated with thick magic. They move a hand to shield their eyes from the sunlight, keeping their vision pointed toward the distant building.

There is a sudden movement in the snow. The figure does not flinch as something leaps out from the snow. A fox with fur as white as its surroundings lands next to the figure. The arctic fox shakes away the snow collecting on their fur, but they suddenly start shaking off that fur, too. In the end, a person comes to sit next to the figure with twitching ears and a fluffy tail bearing the same characteristics of the arctic fox she has replaced. She shakes her human head, getting more snow out of her shoulder-length white hair. She kneels on her knees beside the figure. "I come bearing news, my prince. Your brother has been safely accepted into the imperial family. It seems the third prince has taken him in as a servant."

"I see. That wasn't the plan, but what can you do?" The prince asks, shrugging their shoulders with a half smile appearing on their face. They glance over at their companion as if they were looking for an answer, but there is none to be found. Neither of them is allowed to interfere. They can only guarantee that the process begins. It is up to the prince's brother to find their way through the world and come to a conclusion just as the prince has.

"My prince, I also learned something else while I was investigating. There are three others," The arctic fox says. She folds her hands in her lap, staring into the eyes of the one she has deemed her prince.

The prince hums with vague interest illuminating their dark eyes. They lean to the side, tilting their head as they move. They glance over at their companion before looking back at the palace. "Three is such a small number, yet the news you share is very surprising. Are you quite certain?"

"I am, my prince. I heard it from their mouths myself, and I sensed that presence inside of them as you have taught me," The arctic fox answers with a firm nod. Her clear blue eyes, as bright and deep as the sky above their heads, shine with veracity. She would never lie to her prince.

"It matters not. We planned for several complications. We were ready to fight aeons and archons, after all," The prince claims with another careless shrug even when their eyes shine with a cleverness the arctic fox grew to admire. The prince's dark lips twitch with a smirk as they affix a glare onto the palace. "We only need to do a little terraforming. Then, we can build a majestic kingdom that will survive the ruins of this world. How are our other plans?"

"Ivy is forming the rebellion in the Badlands. Tomiko is spreading wildfires in Elfame. The rats have been planting the seeds of war in Kinoko, and Sparrow assures us that the war for Las Nevadas has already begun. The others are having a few issues, but they swear that they will be able to handle things if given a little more time. We're making headway, my prince. When you and your brother are ready for ascension, we will have everything completed to welcome in a new era," The arctic fox assures her prince, listing out some of the other individuals who have joined forces with the prince.

"Very good. We should go check on their progress. We've done all we can here," The prince notes. They swing their legs over the side of the rooftop. The arctic fox leaps down onto the ground, transforming back into an animal in the air. She lands on her paws. The prince raises a clawed hand, summoning a spinning vortex of black and dark purple energy that resembles a portal. The fox leaps through the portal without a moment of hesitation, believing wholeheartedly in their prince. The prince steps toward their portal, but they cast a glance over their shoulder at the palace once more. They wore an unusually tense expression as they breathe out of their nose. They place a smile on their faces as they lift their fingers into a salute. "Good luck, brother. When you come to the end of your journey, I'll be waiting for you. The entire End will be. We will finally complete the legacy entrusted to us, together. Don't make me wait too long."

With those parting words, the prince steps into the portal. It closes behind them, leaving nothing behind. Not even a trace of mana to be examined later when a shopkeeper comes looking for the ruffians who stole onto his rooftop.