As the sun hovered over the horizon, a somber mood followed the procession led by Fariane, who held Vanima in her arms. The soft rhythmic rise and fall of her chest reassured those who feared the worst. Asena growled at any who got too close. The wolf took her position as the protector of the leader of the Shadow Breakers seriously.
When she reached the hole that they blasted away to enter the town, Fariane observed the battlefield. The surviving elves had spread out, separating the dead. She looked over at Saida and said, “Did they decide what to do with the fallen?”
Instead of answering, she vanished. A shriek came from a nearby roof, followed by her return. “The scout says they plan to have a funeral pyre tonight."
Their presence at the entrance drew the attention of Generals Aienik and Darunia, who were walking toward her. When Tarred, who walked behind them, saw his daughter, he ran toward Caeda. His progress halted when Saida appeared and grabbed him by the neck, jerking him backward. When he reflexively reached for his sword, she said, “Do you want to die in front of your daughter?”
Flustered, he said, “Why are you doing this? We’re all on the same side and the fight is over.”
Without looking back, Fariane said, “Tell your father to stand down.”
Following orders, Caeda said, “Father, you need to listen to them.”
Hand no longer holding the pummel of his sword, Tarred fell backward after Saida returned to Fariane’s side. This caused the generals to halt. Confusion and worry now replacing the joy on their faces.
"We destroyed the dark lord's mortal vessel, but the dark lord himself remains." He can influence our minds, forcing us to act in a way we normally wouldn’t. Until we are far away from here, I won’t let my guard down. No harm will come to Vanima.”
Everyone stepped aside, allowing Fariane to move forward. Saida and Asena continued to dissuade anyone who got too close. When she reached the generals who had stayed behind during the final attack on the town, she offered the same warning before going into her explanation of the fight.
"We made our way through town, carving a path until we reached the black knight, who transformed into a shadow reaper." He was no match against our new gifts combined. The dark lord faced us in the shape of our late commander. Alea and Shalendra sacrificed themselves in the fight to weaken the god. Vanima pushed herself past her physical limits to strike a severe wound. That is when Caeda joined the fight and landed the final blow.”
General Flaryn said, “Thank you all for ending this nightmare. Will you be taking over command for Vanima?”
“No.”
The flat reply left the small group in silence.
“Then who?,” asked General Darunia.
Everyone followed her finger toward Caeda, who stood next to her father. Eyebrows raised, Caeda pointed to her chest and said, “Me?”
Her tone never altered when she said, “Yes.”
Shaking her head, Caeda said, “Why? There are others more deserving.”
“Everyone needs a hero to follow and look up to. As the warrior who landed the final blow to our enemy, you have become a living symbol.”
Shoulders slumped, Caeda rubbed her forehead in silence until her father said, “You can do this.”
Eyes, eating her father's, Caeda smiled and said, “I will agree if it lasts until we return to our people and disband.”
“Agreed,” said Fariane.
All the while, Vanima remained unresponsive.
Leaving the generals and their new acting commander, Fariane returned to the makeshift camp where Cailu, Ievis, and Elwin’s bodies lay wrapped up. Cargwyn brought a portion of the food they helped prepare and left it nearby when told not to get any closer.
When the sun had vanished, Caeda approached and said, “It’s time to say our respects to the fallen. Please join us. I have set aside a section in the front and informed everyone to keep their distance.”
Nodding to the commander, Fariane stood up and followed Caeda with Vanima in her arms. Penelo, Erlan, Saida, and Asena followed behind her.
Facing everyone with the unlit pyre behind her, Caeda addressed the crowd after a wind mage amplified her voice.
“Today we stood up against a superior force far from home so that we could keep our friends and families safe. Elwin paid the ultimate price to fight back against the darkness. Silvertree, the god who gave us a fighting chance, sacrificed themselves. The new gifts we now wield are a reminder of their trust in us to carry the mantle of responsibility protecting this land against the dark lord.”
She turned around, picked up a torch, and signaled the elf who stood nearby. They created a small flame and tossed it into the torch, lighting it up. The body of General Pharom lay on a smaller pyre in the front. The warriors under his command had found where he lay after the bone horror had cut him down among the dead.
Tossing the lit torch on the body, she stood back and watched the flames consume him. A flurry of fireballs flew, revealing dozens of larger pyres scattered behind Pharom.
Hugging Vanima close to her chest, Fariane watched the dead burn. Hundreds of wooden markers representing all the fallen stuck in the dirt across the ground nearby. A memorial to honor the dead.
No one moved until the flames died down halfway through the night. By the time the sun appeared, the survivors were on the trail heading back toward Unn Thalor.
...
As they reached the base of the mountain, Caeda did her best to keep morale up and convince anyone being reckless with their new gifts to stop. Caeda had to step in and break up arguments frequently. Tension had risen as blame was being placed on others from different tribes over the loss of a friend or loved one during the battle. It came to a head when Saida appeared in the middle of a fight, avoiding the elemental attacks being tossed around and beheaded the initial instigator and would have continued if not for Caeda’s intervention, pleading to let her handle it. Few would dare risk her wrath after that.
With everyone settled down to rest before making the trek over the mountain, Caeda prepared to make her rounds. She checked on the three camps under the command of Dain, Aienik, and Flaryn. Darunia had ordered her warriors to merge with Dain’s group for the trip back. Aienik had no issue keeping the survivors who joined up after Pharom fell.
Darunia, now second in command, followed Caeda along with Qildor, who provided an update on the scout reports.
“No signs of undead or shadow beasts. We have enough supplies to make it back home,” said Qildor, before veering off.
Secluded from everyone else lay a small camp where Fariane sat by the fire. Vanima snuggled in her lap. In the shadows, Saida maintained a watchful presence. Nothing could get past her senses despite the lack of functional eyes and after her execution, most were smart enough to keep their distance. Penelo and Erlan talked to fellow clan members nearby. Caeda enjoyed seeing Penelo act more like herself. Losing Elwin had affected her the most after his mate, Vanima.
It took some convincing, but Fariane agreed to place her and her friends' dead companions, including Elwin, in a cart. A rotation of guards kept it secured around the clock near the smaller campsite. No one bothered arguing over the request. Nothing was scarier than upsetting Saida except for getting on Fariane’s bad side.
Between Penelo and the new healer unit, they came up with a method of preserving the dead inside from decay, though it had to be administered every few days. A warrior who could control ice helped during the day to watch to keep the bodies cool.
“Has there been any change?”
Her friend looked at her, eyebrows raised in confusion.
“Vanima?”
Receiving a nod in confirmation, Darunia said, “No, commander. There are reports that Fariane convinced her to drink water but refuses to eat.”
“Thank you. The best we can do for her now is to make her last days as comfortable as possible. Have there been any more accidents today? Some warriors have adjusted better than others to the new gifts.” chuckled to herself, Darunia said, “The new healing group we created has been hard at work healing burns, cuts, and broken bones from their abilities being uncontrollable or used without being cognizant of their surroundings. At least they aren’t attacking each other anymore. They know what would happen if they did.”
The trip over the mountain had been uneventful. Just as the reports had said, there were no traces of the forces left by the dark lord. When they reached the edge of the forest, the wolf pack greeted them. Fariane held up her hand in the universal signal to halt. Caeda noticed and relayed the orders, halting the procession. She may be in charge, but anyone close to her knew Fariane held the true reins.
Handing Vanima over to Penelo, she walked toward the pack with Asena. She took a step to move closer to Penelo, paused, and stepped back when Saida’s head jerked to the side to stare at her. Knowing better, she moved back instead.
“She's scary. A lot has changed since the day we faced off against the dark lord,” said Darunia in a hushed tone.
Getting the impression the elf in question could hear them, Saida shrugged and continued to wait. The wolf pack had sent a few of their members to greet Fariane and Asena. When they separated, the wolves melted back into the forest. After retrieving Vanima from Penelo, she started moving once more, and the army followed with hushed murmurs.
Caeda could sense the mood shift as they drew closer to their destination. They saw a host of movements along the path leading to town. The scouts they sent ahead the night before gave the council ample opportunity to prepare for their arrival and inform the other clans.
As they passed by the crowd, cheers erupted from both sides. There were gasps of shock and fear when some of the returning elves displayed their new gifts to maneuver around the growing crowd in their attempt to reunite with loved ones.
The constant in the maelstrom of joy and tears was the bubble of space given to Fariane and her group in the front, trailed by a single cart. It wouldn’t be long before they reached their destination. The end of the journey. They had completed the deed and paid the price, for better or worse.
...
When the survivors reached the gate, they lined up in their original five formations, which forced everyone present to acknowledge at least a third of them didn’t make it back. Each general stood in front, except for Pharom. They assigned Bellatala the honor of representing them. The leaders of the supply line, scouts, and civilian groups stood in front of their respective members. Caeda appeared on top of the wall to address them as their commander for the last time. Hundreds of elves from the various clans stood in the back to listen while the civilians of Unn Thalor crowded the courtyard, including the current council.
Looking down at the cart and the four surviving elves of the core team, along with Vanima in Fariane's arms and her wolf companion Asena, Caeda felt the cost they had to pay at that moment.
Voice echoing far enough to reach everyone’s ears, Caeda said, “As acting commander, I am declaring the war over and our mission complete.”
The sound of all the applause and cheers was deafening. She raised her hand and signaled for them to silence. When it had died down, she continued, “I would like to acknowledge and honor some warriors who made this achievement possible. Please show respect as I do. If you need to verify if a friend or loved one died, please meet with Dirra and Qildor after my announcement.” Collecting her thoughts, Caeda took a deep breath and said, “Elwin, the hero of the last war and commander who led all of us, died fighting the dark lord.”
The collective gasp turned into a shocked silence.
“Silvertree, the god of the forest, sacrificed himself to bless every surviving elf who followed Elwin into battle, a new gift that has the potential to pass on to future generations. From the Wataki tribe, seven brave elves joined Elwin and Vanima to bring you all together and take down the dark lord. Penelo, Fariane, and Saida return, but Alea, Cailu, Ievis, and Onvyr did not.”
The cries of sorrow from friends and family members of the fallen behind her in the courtyard made her flinch, but she continued.
“From the Xilyra tribe, both my father Tarred and Erlan, along with myself, have come home safe. Shalendra fell in our fight against the dark lord himself.” Pushing through the pain, she said, “Cargwyn, wife, and co-leader of the Shuvo tribe, kept everyone fed while keeping our camps organized. Darunia, the leader of the Kuma tribe, deserves commendation for her effort as a general and my second-in-command on the way back home. I served under her as an officer during the fight and am alive today because of her leadership. Let's commend Bellatala, another member of the Kuma tribe. One of the best archers I know and her contribution under Pharom’s command and as part of the group who entered the town to hunt down the dark lord.”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Taking a moment from her report, Caeda saluted her new friends. A smile returned to her lips when everyone behind Darunia and Bellatala cheered in agreement.
“If it weren’t for the Pabanise tribe’s leader Dirra and Qildor from the Haus tribe who handled our scouts, it would have been difficult to stay informed as we marched toward the enemy. The rest of us should show honor to everyone under the command of Dirra, the leader of the Pabanise tribe, and Qildor from the Haus tribe, as they risked their lives to keep us safe during our march toward the enemy.
"To the Libryen tribe and Rania, I may not have a particular individual to honor, but I would like to express my gratitude for your contribution of people to the cause, and my sympathies go out to those who have fallen." Next, I would like to thank Flaryn, the leader of the Erfina tribe and a wonderful general. It pains me to say, but I must inform you all that the leader of the hunters from the Haus tribe fell during battle. Between his sacrifice and Elwin’s intervention, they saved the group from being completely massacred. Pharom’s friend and leader of the merchants who took responsibility for our supplies made sure no one ever went hungry.”
When the mix of sadness and joy from the news fell away, Caeda said, "Let's also give recognition to General Dain, the leader of the Waejyre tribe, and General Aienik, the leader of the Pahana tribe, for their leadership." Saluting the crowd, every warrior returned her gesture.
“Everyone dismissed. Go back home and rebuild your lives. I dissolve this army and relinquish command.”
Now that her responsibility was over, Caeda went down the ladder where she found her father. No longer able to hold it in any longer, she crashed into his chest and cried.
“It's going to be alright, my child. I’m proud of you.”
...
After Erlan had reunited with his parents, Vasati and Sanev, at the refugee camp, he returned to find Penelo. Zeno watched as his daughter cried into her mother's chest. Nuala soothed her distraught daughter. Carrying Vanima in her arms, Fariane approached the family and addressed Zeno.
“We need to meet with Morthil and Qamara in the council room.”
His face scrunched in worry looking over Vanima. When Saida coughed, he said, “Of course. Right away. Please follow me.” Looking over at his wife, he said, “Nuala, please take care of our daughter. I have business with the council.”
“Of course, Zeno. Erlan is back and he will be with us to help.”
Between the pure white orb staring at them from Fariane and the scarred face from Saida, no one came close to the small procession leading to the council room. Morthil and Qamara stood up when they arrived and bowed. Zeno joined the other two before they sat back down.
Not wasting any time, Fariane stood there and said, “With Elwin gone and the power keeping Vanima alive cut off after Silvertree disappeared for good, she doesn’t have much time left. I plan to take her back to the forest for a small ceremony with those I invite tomorrow. Anyone who disrupts it will not live to regret it.”
…
After defeating the dark lord, Vanima had not reached out to anyone for a long time. She had used up most of her energy for that last strike. It was all she could do just to keep herself alive on the wisps of power still lingering. When her mind picked up Fariane’s voice telling the council about her plans to return her to the forest, she reached out.
Dear friend, please take me to the home of Elwin's mother. I want to sleep there under the tree for my last night next to Elwin.
Fariane responded with a mental communication of her own.
It will be done. Saida and I will watch over the both of you.
As she promised, Vanima slept under the tree next to Elwin's body, with Fariane sitting in the swing while Saida hid in the shadows.
…
A small procession left early the next morning. Fariane held Vanima while Penelo gripped Elwin's wrapped body close to her chest. Qamara from the council followed behind. After the meeting, Fariane agreed to grant a concession and allow another to join. Opening a path for them walked Saida next to Asena.
When they passed through the gate, Caeda and Bellatala met with the two groups who joined them during the last push against the dark lord. Aienik, who had helped to breach the town’s defenses, joined up along the way. They asked him to use his ability to manipulate and harden the ground for the ceremony.
Any elf who had fought under Elwin stopped what they were doing to salute. A young child tried throwing a rock at Fariane as he said, “You let my parents die!”
With her unique white eye, Fariane saw it coming and shifted out of the way. Saida took this opportunity to vanish and reappear next to the child before the rock ever reached Fariane, grabbed him by the neck, and slammed him into the ground. Mouth close to his ear, she said, “Do not sully your parents' sacrifice when the body of the one who led them is being carried to his tomb.”
Popping back in front of the procession, they continued. The child left behind curled up on the ground in tears.
The entire wolf pack and the warriors tasked with protecting the ceremony blocked the way of the small crowd that tried to follow. Any onlookers still around had to watch them meld into the forest.
...
As they drew near the hidden tomb, Vanima felt the lingering wisps of energy. The thought of joining her mate and letting go of this mortal body was comforting. She let her mind wander in and out of the memories washing up to her consciousness. Pausing on a particular vision left her longing for her old body back. A single chance to hold her loved one close to her chest. Not wanting to let this desire fade, Vanima reached out.
Could you indulge me one last time?
Fariane, Asena, Saida, Penelo, and Qamara all stopped to look at the wolf in Fariane’s arms. Aienik stood off in the back with Caeda and Bellatala. All three had a puzzled expression. Caeda said, “Is there a problem?”
Saida appeared next to Fariane, fingers sifting through her fur as she said, “Ask and it shall be done.”
I want to die as an elf, not a wolf.
The silence felt like a weight she couldn’t hold up when Fariane said, “I can’t do it alone, but I will try.”
Trusting her friend, Vanima relaxed into Fariane’s arms. Time passed in a haze. Her consciousness struggled to focus. A surge of energy brought her back to reality.
The ground erupted with earthen spikes, isolating them from the rest of the forest. Another surge and the spikes hardened, reminding Vanima of their siege against the dark lord.
She felt the gentle embrace of the forest floor take her into its arms when Fariane placed her down. Vanima looked up at the three elves who had stayed by her side while struggling against the darkness.
Feeling the power swell around Fariane, she focused her attention. The elf smiled and said, “Saida and Penelo, I need to draw from your power. Will you help me?”
Moved by her friend's request, Vanima looked at Saida and Penelo. The young elf did her best to put on a brave face as she nodded and said, “You have done so much for me since I was born. Meeting Elwin and Vanima for the first time and proving there was truth hidden behind the old stories changed my life.”
Flexing her fingers and the two fake digits attached to her hand that were now powered by her source, she said, “I'm ready.”
Bowing, Saida said, “Of course. What would you have us do?”
Bending down, Fariane placed her hands on Vanima and said, “Place a hand on me and our dear friend. I will draw on your power to help fuel this miracle. You both need to be willing and submit. Any resistance could irrefutably harm Vanima.”
Complying with her request, all three took their positions while Qamara stood observing. Vanima reveled in the comfort that the power running through her made her feel.
Forced to shut her eyes from the bright light radiating from Farine’s eye, Vanima trembled in fear. An emotion she thought long dead.
That is when the pain hit. It was as if an enormous monster had picked her up by the head and tail and pulled it until her spine shattered. Every bone in her body shifted under her skin. Vanima clung to consciousness until she heard Fariane’s voice.
Stop fighting the change. I won’t let you die until you get your last wish.
Again, she placed her faith in an elf she only knew, but for a fraction of her existence. The pain ebbed away until she passed out.
Gentle hands caressed Vanima’s face, fingers brushing lightly against her pointed ears.
Her ears! She had elvish ears again. Eyes flung open, Vanima looked up at Fariane, Saida, and Penelo who, despite showing signs of fatigue, looked happy but with a layer of sadness hidden behind their gazes.
She looked down at her own body. An elven body. Granted, she was naked, but a few millennia as a wolf cured any shyness she might have had for that. Relieved when she wiggled her toes, Vanima tried rolling on her side to get up. Propped up on her elbow, she went to push up when her muscles gave out, planting her face into the ground.
Thanks to Fariane’s ability, she was the first to react. Grabbing her shoulder, the elf helped roll her over onto her back. Embarrassed, she said, “I could use some help.”
Penelo and Fariane both offered a hand, which she took, and they gently lifted her with Saida standing behind, just in case. When Penelo placed her hand on Vanima’s forehead to heal, she shook her head.
“Please don’t.”
Hand trembling, Penelo lowered her head, mumbling, “Sorry.”
One hand holding Fariane’s for support, Vanima took her first step, reached out with her other hand, and cupped Penelo’s chin, lifting it, and said, “You don’t need to be sorry.”
From behind, Saida said, “So this is what your voice sounds like. I always wondered, since we only ever heard you in our heads.”
The realization must have registered with Penelo too, since her eyes went wide. She smiled and said, “You have a beautiful voice.”
Curling a stray hair behind her right ear, Vanima said, “Thank you.”
With a wisp of power, she strengthened her legs enough to walk. It wouldn’t matter soon enough. Hand free of Fariane’s support, she turned around toward Saida.
“We both lost a loved one to the darkness in this war, so I know how you feel.” Finger pressed against Saida's lips when she protested, Vanima said, “You don’t have to lie to yourself let alone a dying elf like me. The darkness killed my first love before I became a wolf and met Elwin."
No tears could ever fall after she lost her eyes, but Saida sobbed all the same. Vanima pulled her in, hugged the elf, and said, “I'm not saying you must find someone new. If I can find love twice, then anyone can. Just be open to the possibility. Ievis was a remarkable warrior.”
Composed once more, Saida stood up and grinned.
“I'm curious. Did you ever have any kids?”
Put off by the sudden question, Vanima stood speechless before laughing. When she could catch her breath, she said, “As an elf, no. My first partner and I ran away from home when Silvertree contacted him, asking for help. After my transformation, I had several pups, but after a few hundred years, we both agreed we were done.”
Barely holding in her giggles, Saida said, “I guess Elwin was an amazing partner.”
“He was. If he wasn’t, I never would have convinced him to use Silvertree’s boon to extend our lives.”
Next, she faced Fariane, the newest leader of the Shadow Breakers. Arms out wide, she looked at her friend expectantly. A moment of hesitation and Fariane embraced Vanima. With a soft voice, she said, “I wish I had met you sooner. Your friendship means the world to me, and I wouldn’t ask for a better friend to be by my side at the end of my road.”
Tears slid down Vanima’s shoulder. When she could speak, Fariane said, “I'm going to miss you, my friend.”
“I’m trusting my legacy to you. Do your best to prepare future generations against the return of our enemy.”
Looking Vanima in the eye, she said, “I will,” with a determined voice.
Next came Penelo, the young reckless girl who snuck out trying to prove her parents wrong and, despite lacking any actual combat experience, still stepped up and joined the cause. She may have lost a few fingers, but Penelo survived as a battle-tested warrior.
“You should be proud of yourself. Both Elwin and I saw a little of ourselves in you and Erlan. He even suggested passing on the mantle of the new hero couple to the two of you. That didn’t turn out as we planned. Regardless, life never goes the way you think it will. What I ask is that when the day comes and you give birth, you will instill into them a level of respect and responsibility with their inherited gifts.”
Penelo flexed her right hand, looked Vanima in the eye, and said, “You can count on me. Erlan will make a wonderful father. To be honest, I don’t think I could handle living as long as you did. It terrifies me a little. That doesn’t mean I want to die anytime soon, but knowing it won’t last helps me cherish the time I have.”
Nodding to Penelo, Vanima looked over at Qamara and waved her over. The elder council member approached her cautiously. With a bow, she said, “Thank you for helping save my people and home from certain destruction.”
Vanima could see the woman had more on her mind, so she said, “What troubles you? This isn’t the time to hold back.”
Shoulders slumped, Qamara said, “I don’t know how we will manage all the elves now and in the future with these new abilities. I fear we have traded one danger for another. From the reports I have heard, it would only take a handful to destroy the entire town if they desired it.”
Thinking carefully over the problem, Vanima proposed, “Fariane and Saida, would the two of you be willing to convert the refugee settlement outside of town into the Shadow Breaker’s base of operations and help train and identify threats to the community?”
Both elves agreed without hesitation. Qamara stood up with confidence and said, “Thank you.”
Strength beginning to wane, Vanima walked over to Elwin’s body, picked him up, kissed where his forehead was under the cloth, and faced the four elves.
“Before I go, I will sing you a song. Elwin and I loved to sing together, so I will be ending it with one.”
Clutching Elwin close to her chest, she sang,
“From a time
Beyond my faintest dream
There’s a presence in my mind
When you love that much
You’re not afraid to say
There’s a home where all our stories will end
The end
With him and me.”
Her voice bounced off the hardened earthen spikes, amplifying it. Emboldened by the moment, she continued,
“Feels like my world is over
The darkness bit too much
Reaching for a love I had
That gave us precious laughs
A moment in time I chased
A thrill that made me whole
No longer my place to live in.”
Lost in the moment, she sang the beginning chorus again before singing,
“You may feel like I gave up
But my time is gone
So when my melody fades away
I hope you think of me.”
After her voice faded with, “The end, the end with him and me,” Vanima let the tears flow as she cried into Elwin's body.
No one moved, just watched as the cloth soaked up her tears. When the weight of Elwin's body made her arms tremble, she looked at Fariane and said, “Please open the way. It's time.”
Hand placed over the relic around her neck, Fariane pushed energy into it and opened the secret tomb. Vanima smiled at all her friends and entered. Darkness swallowed her up, but she knew the way by heart. Next to the last resting place of Silvertree’s partner, Vanima curled up around Elwin on the ground. Breathing in one last time, she let go with a sigh of contentment for a life well lived.
I'm on my way, my love.
…
One hundred years later, Fariane stood next to Saida watching over Penelo and Erlan's son teaching a group of children about the history of the Shadow Breakers and how they needed to be responsible with their new powers. The couple had named him Elwin in honor of the late commander and hero of two dark wars.
Considered elders themselves, Fariane knew Elwin would be her successor. Curious, she turned to Saida and said, “Have you seen Shalendra? I asked your daughter to fetch something for me.”
Stepping out of her Shadow, the elf in question smirked and said, “I don't need to walk to move about, just like my mother. Why would I need to rush?”
Saida sighed, popped behind her daughter, put her in a headlock, and said, "You rascal, you're old enough to know better. Why can’t you act more like the warrior you were named after?”
Vanishing out of her mother’s grasp, Shalendra put her hands on her hips, pouted, and said, “That’s not fair. Why do you have to compare me with her every time?”
Elwin, done with his lesson, approached from behind and said, “If you showed some maturity, she wouldn’t need to.”
Moving before the irritated Shalendra, Fariane caught the fist aimed at Elwin's jaw. Saida moved a moment later and smacked her daughter in the back of the head.
“That is enough out of you. Head home and stay there. If I hear from your father that you disobeyed me, you will find out the reason people fear me.”
With a yelp, Shalendra vanished. Elwin shook his head and said, “What brings the two of you by?”
Remembering the reason she came in the first place, Fariane said, “Your parents invited us over for a meal and asked me to come get you."
Hand scratching his chin, Elwin said, “Oh, that’s right. Mom wanted to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the third Dark War. I'm grateful to both of you for protecting my mother so she could give birth to me.”
The two elders grinned at the elf, and slapped him on the back, leading him toward Penelo and Erlan’s home inside Unn Thalor.
Time moved on. The elves would continue to develop the powers tied to them and their offspring. Under the guidance of the Shadow Breakers, they formed multiple places of learning to educate the youth, but time would once again obscure the truth, leaving the few who never forgot the past with the responsibility of holding to Vanima's request to Fariane, but that is a story for another time.