Three months after formally joining the Sovereign League, Elion received an invitation to the first official summit. It would be held at Kira's settlement, New Frost in the mountain peaks, with all three System Bearers attending.
"It's a ten-day journey north by ship, then another three days through mountain passes," Mira explained, reviewing the travel details. "Kira's offering guide service through the mountains. She guarantees safety, but it's still treacherous terrain."
"Who stays to manage Shadowhaven this time?" Elion asked.
"I do," Mira said firmly. "You need Kael with you—this is partly military strategy discussion. Take Lyssa as diplomatic advisor and Garrick for his experience. I'll hold things together here."
The delegation departed a week later on a northern trade ship that regularly visited New Frost. The journey was long but uneventful, passing through waters increasingly cold as they traveled north. Elion watched the climate change—tropical warmth giving way to temperate, then chilly air that made his breath visible.
They reached the coastal port of Frozen Harbor on the tenth day. True to its name, the harbor was partially frozen despite it being late summer. A delegation waited at the docks—northern humans bundled in fur and leather, led by a woman with the telltale frost-sheen of Kira's influence.
"Welcome to the north," she said. "I'm Captain Vex, commander of New Frost's guard. Ice-Blessed Kira sent me to guide you through the passes. The way is safe but difficult. Stay close and follow instructions exactly."
The mountain journey was grueling. The paths were narrow, winding through valleys and over ridges where one wrong step meant a fatal fall. The air grew thinner as they climbed, making breathing difficult. Snow appeared despite the season, and temperatures dropped to freezing at night.
But the scenery was breathtaking. Massive peaks rose to impossible heights, glaciers carved valleys into fantastic shapes, and the air had a crystalline clarity Elion had never experienced in the tropics.
On the third day, they crested a final ridge and New Frost came into view.
It was extraordinary. Built into the mountainside itself, the city seemed to grow from the stone and ice. Buildings were constructed from blocks of permanent ice that somehow didn't melt, shaped into elegant structures that caught and reflected light. Walls of solid ice protected the city, and towers rose at strategic points, each topped with crystalline spires.
"How many people live here?" Garrick asked, awed despite himself.
"Fourteen hundred, last count," Captain Vex said with obvious pride. "Started with just Ice-Blessed Kira and fifty refugees two years ago. Now we're the largest independent settlement in the northern territories."
Kira herself met them at the city gates. She looked different here—more regal, more commanding. This was her domain, and her confidence showed it.
"Welcome to New Frost," she said, embracing Elion in the northern custom. "It's good to finally host you. Rashid arrived yesterday—he's complaining about the cold but enjoying the novelty."
She led them through the city, and Elion studied everything. The inhabitants were diverse—northern humans primarily, but also dwarves, frost giants, and even a few ice elves. Everyone wore furs and layers, and breath steamed in the constant chill.
"How do you keep the ice from melting?" Lyssa asked, examining the buildings.
"System power," Kira explained. "My primary ability is ice manipulation. I can create permanent ice that only melts if I will it to. Everything you see—the buildings, walls, decorative elements—I shaped personally. It took months, but it gives New Frost a unique advantage. No conventional fire can destroy what I've built."
They were housed in guest quarters carved from ice but surprisingly warm inside. Enchanted braziers provided heat without melting the structure, and thick furs made the beds comfortable.
The summit formally began the next morning in a hall of crystalline ice. Kira had shaped it specifically for this purpose—a circular chamber with three elevated seats for the System Bearers and additional seating for advisors. Sunlight filtered through the ice walls, creating ethereal light.
Rashid arrived dressed in desert robes that seemed absurdly out of place in the frozen north. "I don't know how you people live like this," he announced cheerfully. "Where I'm from, cold is something that happens on winter mornings. This is torture."
"Where you're from, heat is something that kills unprepared travelers," Kira shot back with a smile. "Different challenges."
"Fair point. Let's begin—I want to be back in civilized warm climates as soon as possible."
The three System Bearers took their seats with Kael, Lyssa, and Garrick joining other advisors in the outer ring.
"First order of business," Kira began formally. "Status reports from each settlement. Population, resources, defensive capabilities, and current challenges. I'll start—New Frost has fourteen hundred residents, stable food production through ice fishing and trade, strong defensive position with walls and trained guard of two hundred. Current challenge is limited agricultural capacity forcing us to rely heavily on imports."
Rashid went next. "My situation is more complex. I don't have a single settlement—I'm working within the existing structure of the Sunscorch Emirates, specifically three allied tribes totaling about eight thousand people. We have abundant resources thanks to the desert oases, strong trade networks, and military strength from traditional warriors plus my flame-touched elite guard. Challenge is political—the Empire-aligned faction constantly tries to undermine my influence."
Elion finished the reports. "Shadowhaven network has six hundred people across four settlements. We're resource-stable through fishing, farming, and jungle harvest. Defense is the main challenge—we're spread across multiple locations, making coordinated defense difficult. We rely heavily on regional alliances for security."
"So we have three very different situations," Kira observed. "I'm isolated but defensible. Rashid is integrated but politically constrained. Elion is connected but vulnerable. These differences actually complement each other—we can help where others are weak."
"Agreed," Rashid said. "Which brings us to the key question—what is the Sovereign League? Just cooperation, or something more?"
The discussion that followed lasted hours. They debated everything from formal structure to specific commitments to long-term vision. Eventually, a framework emerged:
The Sovereign League would be a defensive alliance, not a unified nation. Each settlement maintained complete sovereignty over internal affairs. But they committed to mutual defense—attack on one was attack on all. They'd coordinate trade, share intelligence, and support each other during crises.
"We need more than just us three," Elion pointed out. "The Empire is vast. Three settlements, even with allies, aren't enough to deter them long-term."
"There's a potential fourth," Kira said. "The rumors of a System Bearer in the eastern jungles? I've confirmed them. Her name is Yuki, and she's been building something called the Verdant Sanctuary for the past year. About six hundred people, deep in jungle territory the Empire has never successfully penetrated."
"Have you contacted her?" Rashid asked.
"Tried. She's... reclusive. Doesn't trust outsiders. But if we could bring her into the League, we'd have representation in all four major regions—north, south, east, and the archipelago. That's a significant power base."
"I could reach out," Elion offered. "The eastern jungles aren't too far from the archipelago by sea. And another island-adjacent settlement might have more in common than mountain or desert kingdoms."
They discussed strategy for expanding the League, coordinated defense protocols, and resource sharing mechanisms. By the third day, they'd drafted a formal charter for the Sovereign League:
CHARTER OF THE SOVEREIGN LEAGUE
Article I: Purpose
The Sovereign League exists to protect the independence and prosperity of settlements led by System Bearers, providing mutual support against external threats while respecting internal sovereignty.
Article II: Membership
Open to settlements led by recognized System Bearers, approved by unanimous vote of existing members.
Article III: Mutual Defense
Attack on any member settlement constitutes attack on all. Members commit to providing military assistance within their capability.
Article IV: Governance
Major decisions require unanimous agreement. Each settlement has one equal vote regardless of size.
Article V: Resource Sharing
Members commit to sharing resources during crisis and facilitating trade between settlements.
On the final evening, after the formal business concluded, the three System Bearers shared a private meal in Kira's personal quarters.
"Can we really make this work?" Rashid asked, his usual humor subdued. "Three settlements against an empire?"
"Four soon, if we convince Yuki," Kira said. "And we're not alone—we have regional allies, independent kingdoms, free cities. We're building an alternative to Imperial dominance."
"Or we're painting targets on ourselves," Elion said quietly.
"We were always targets," Kira countered. "The Empire fears System Bearers because we represent change they can't control. They'll move against us eventually regardless of what we do. The question is whether we face them divided or united."
"Then we stay united," Rashid said, raising his cup. "To the Sovereign League. May we build something that lasts."
They drank to that—three people chosen by ancient systems, leading settlements built by refugees and idealists, challenging the most powerful empire in the known world.
It was audacious. Possibly doomed. But it was real.
Elion returned to Shadowhaven two weeks later with the ratified charter and new hope. Mira had held everything together perfectly in his absence, and the settlement had actually grown—thirty more refugees had arrived, pushing population to six hundred and thirty.
"How was the summit?" she asked.
"Productive. Complicated. Hopeful." Elion smiled. "We're part of something bigger now. Really part of it, not just loosely affiliated."
"And if the Empire attacks?"
"Then we don't face them alone."
It would have to be enough.