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Hmm. Maybe that could prove useful in making their escape, Cisco thought. There was a pretty good chance that Feromas, Damian's reaper, wouldn't know much about electronics, either. It seemed like most reapers weren't terribly knowledgeable about modern technologies.

"In any event," Damian continued, "before I let you all play with your new toys, I should tell you that. Well. There've been some pretty big developments in the world. So try not to freak out too much if and when you turn on the news."

"What are you talking about?" said Dunstan.

Grandpa Rofal's eyes snapped to Dunstan, who was standing right next to him. His smile broadened, and he patted the young man on the head, which Dunstan batted away. "Well, y'see, sonny, the second great Eloan war has begun."

"What?!" exclaimed Dunstan.

And he wasn't the only one.

The others had questions, too, and they did not hesitate to ask them.

Five nations. All coincidentally Abolish-influenced. Invading their neighbors simultaneously.

And the continent was in chaos.

Cisco didn't know what to think. While he'd been lounging around in these snowy mountains, the world out there was burning down?

A moment ago, he'd been hoping to find news of what had happened in Sair, to the Rainlords, to his family. But now, he wondered if that would even be possible. News this big must've been dominating every station.

If he had internet access, that wouldn't have been a problem, but that still seemed like it was off the table.

And indeed, after Damian finally let them disperse, Cisco plugged his new television into an outlet in the room that he and Dunstan had been sharing, and the only news he could find was of this war that Damian had just told them about. It didn't help that he only had five channels to go through.