The few shafts of light that had deigned to fall upon the beautiful and cruel creature that emerged from the gate would suddenly dim slightly, giving the glow that they created a much more icy and cruel look, as if something good and pure had been twisted to a darker self. The clouds thickened, and the snow that made up Axel’s periphery thickened to become an inescapable wall, as if terror and the darkness of night had been made manifest to keep him in the spot he had uncovered. Whether or not he noticed the switch with the lovely creature in front of him occupying his attention was very much up for debate, but the signs were there for one who knew to look for them. Unfortunately, most of the people who knew to look for these specific signs died a very long, long time ago.

From the snow, a darker and more ethereal - though still very firmly in the opaque and solid - figure began to pace forwards. The movements were deliberate and delicate, but carried within them a firmness and authority that could not be denied, a power that leaked into the very air that Axel would very soon be breathing in. It was the start of a series of events that would lead Axel to whatever destiny the grand design had chosen for him to walk - a series of events that he would play a role in shaping, for better or for worse. At any rate, the power that could be felt in the air was likely stronger than anything he had ever experienced in his life.

“Mortals have not coveted anything differently from our time, my sweet… They have simply become more demanding about it, and we should leverage out our considerable power carefully to avoid letting them get so… Arrogant. Mortals must pay a steep price to learn the secrets we keep, must they not? Perhaps his price was already paid when he freed you… Yes, such a deed must be rewarded. You have done more than you know, my little insect.” 

The voice was cold, but not in the same way that the icy creature’s voice was - this voice was darker, more cunning, and its chill reeked only of death. The only remotely similar tone was that of overwhelming superiority, in all of its coldness, and while the two were very distinct, there was an element of familiarity that could not be denied. It was clear that the two had known of one another in the past, but whether or not they knew each other… Well, that was up to Axel to decide: his first choice of many.