After what seemed like eternity, the door to the Council opened.

"The Council bids you in." The page who had opened the door told Larissia in a lofty tone that irritated her but she kept her face neutral. It would not do to lose her temper, not now, not here.

Standing in front of the Council did not help matters either for King Orion was scowling darkly at Larissia. She sighed, it was going to be a long session.

"We have discussed the matter thoroughly and we have decided to hear you out, Larissia." Queen Risea told her gently, "Why don't you explain further what this is all about?"

Larissia inclined her head in mute respect.

"At the Beginning before all worlds," she intoned, "there were 4 Gods, later known to us as the Four Seasons Gods, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. They were given a task by the Universe, mother of all creation and were told to create worlds where life could prosper."

"Can you please get to the point?" King Orion demanded, "We have better things to do than to hear you recite the religious texts."

"Will you please keep quiet?" King Mithrien said in an exasperated tone, "We're trying to listen here."

Similar requests from his fellow monarchs soon silenced the King of Men though he still looked as if he would like to say more.

"And so," Larissia continued as if she wasn't interrupted, "The Four Seasons created world after world, finally coming to our world of Arthenia. They liked what they created so much that they made this world their home and created an Orb of Power to balance Good and Evil for even then, Good and Evil was present.

But the world they had created could not bear their weight, so the Four Seasons decided to move on and leave the Orb of Power behind to safeguard their beloved world. Yet the Four Seasons could not leave the Orb unguarded so they chose a representative each and empowered them to protect the Orb.

Hence, for years after that, there were always Four Adepts to represent the Four Seasons. When one Adept dies, a new one is identified by a birthmark on the right shoulder. The mark of a tree for Spring, sun for Summer, leaf for Autumn and the white mark of snow for Winter.

The Adepts were loyal to the Four Seasons and never strayed over to Evil for they were all noble people until Glennas was chosen as the Adept of Winter. He was born power-hungry and not even the goodness of his fellow Adepts, Luthiea, Sophianna and Tylandel could dissuade him from making a pact with Evil.

His fellow Adepts knew they had lost him for good when he started the Dark War to snatch the Orb of Power and twist it to his evil ways so they took the battle to him and fought him bitterly with the help of the Orb."

Here Larissia paused, sadness written all over her face, "though Glennas perished in the battle, his fellow Adepts also sacrificed their lives."

At this point, King Glandrig spoke up, "Then what do you mean when you said that the Dark Adept will rise again?"

"Though his physical body had been destroyed, his spirit wasn't. He had been immensely weakened but he has not forgotten his defeat at the hands of his fellow Adepts. He will rise in revenge once he has recovered his strength."

"Then what of the other three Adepts?'' King Mithrien asked in a subdued voice.

"They will return as well for their time on this world is not finished and be reborn again in new bodies."