Six hours had passed since the raid on the Lost Brotherhood's hideout.
Though no lives were lost, many had suffered burns throughout their bodies.
Axel, with the power of his angelic arm, worked tirelessly to heal those injured.
Despite his efforts, the most severe wounds belonged to Becca, CJ, and Philly, who were now confined to their homes, requiring extensive rest to recover.
The Enforcers reported a smooth transfer of the civilian to the druid tribes forest.
Some druids welcomed the newcomers, even engaging in sparring matches as a gesture of camaraderie.
However, Atlas remained skeptical, seeing Axel's actions as a potential breach of their agreement, but it was nothing more but a cleverly loophole. It was merely a village traveling to their neighbouring partners to learn about their culture.
Jay and Silver were captured and sentenced to public execution in Sungalepore, meant as a chilling display of the king's justice. The execution was meant to happen in a couple of days.
They were not alone—Pi, along with those who had dared to rise against King Kurtis, were burnt publicly to a stake. Gearwork residents who had defended their human allies were going to faced a similar fate in next few days.
As for the others? Rumors swirled that many survivors had scattered, seeking refuge in distant villages or lands.
---
Axel stepped out of his house into the night air.
Inside, Ivy lay asleep, her body regenerating slowly from minor burns thanks to her vampire arm.
Though her wounds were less severe than the others, she still needed time to fully recover.
Waiting for him outside was Lunar, who rubbed her eyes sleepily. He had asked her to meet him, needing her insights on something.
"Follow me to the field," Axel said. "We'll have more privacy there."
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Lunar raised a tired thumb in acknowledgment, trailing behind him.
As they walked, Lunar broke the silence, "What's going to happen to the Gearwork people who got involved?"
Axel hesitated before answering, "Most of them were killed during the conflict. Those who survived have been arrested. They'll be punished and made an example of."
Lunar frowned, "That's not fair. They were just defending their homes. Can't you do something to drop their charges?"
Axel paused, before saying, "I understand your argument. They might not face the harshest charges, but they won't go unpunished. Still, I'll push for a compromise—relocating them here as part of their sentence."
Lunar's frustration eased slightly, though she wasn't entirely satisfied.
Axel turned to her, his expression softening, "Trust me. I'll do my best to bring them here safely. It's the least I can do after all the help you've given us." His reassuring smile lifted Lunar's spirits, her eyes brightening for the first time that night.
---
When they reached the field, Axel reached into his shadow and pulled out a peculiar object: a hand blaster he had found in Pi's lab.
"What can you tell me about this?" Axel asked, handing it to Lunar.
Lunar's eyes widened in awe, "This... this is a blaster? A portable one? It doesn't even look like it was ripped off a gearwork body. Where did you find it?"
"Pi had several of these in his lab," Axel replied. "Do you think you can replicate it?"
Lunar shook her head, still marveling at the craftsmanship, "Not without the blueprints. We'd have to reverse-engineer it to learn more. But this... this is incredible."
Axel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The blueprint are most likely destroyed, it would stupid to leave it around. I guess that will have to wait. Take it with you. Study it as much as you can. That's all I needed from you."
Lunar bowed slightly before darting off with the blaster, eager to examine it further.
---
Alone at last, Axel took a deep breath and extended his arms to the sky.
A surge of wind magic enveloped him, propelling him high into the air.
From above, he gazed down at Neverport, its quiet streets bathed in the faint glow of moonlight.
The golden strands in the sky illuminated the night, casting away the shadows of corruption.
Axel inhaled deeply, closing his eyes. When he exhaled, his form began to change.
Golden hair turned pure white, flowing freely in the wind.
His muscular frame slimmed into a lean, elegant figure.
His human ears stretch into elven points, and his features softened into an androgynous beauty.
His warrior's armor dissolved, replaced by flowing, silken white robes that exposed the right side of his chest.
Under the light of the blood moon, Axel now stood as a divine being—an ethereal figure of power and grace towering over the village.
He gazed down at Neverport, his project, his chosen ground for change, "Things are progressing well," he murmured, his voice resonating like a chorus of whispers, "Becca, your efforts deserve recognition."
Raising his hand, a golden and blue staff materialized in his grasp. With four taps against the air, a ripple spread across the landscape.
A shimmering wave passed over Neverport, leaving behind a mysterious, unexpected gift from Axel, bestowed in the dead of night.