Nothing was said as Kenos walked northward with Ower and Ncil in tow.

Shiru and Erna wept ceaselessly in Farin’s arms while everyone else simple watched as Kenos got further and further away.

The sun slowly sunk into the horizon, bringing with it cool winds that whistled in mourning.

Thneia walked up to Farin, who held Shiru and Erna dearly.

As for the Draconic warrior herself, she was covered in burns and her armor was beyond damaged.

“The EUF will need someone to lead while he’s away.” She said. Her voice low.

Farin looked to the north as tears fell from his eyes.

“And will you take on the role?” He asked but Thneia lowered her eyes in response.

Farin lightly gasped as Shiru slowly stood up all while holding onto Erna.

She then turned to face everyone, revealing her tear covered face.

“Could we… could we please take care of her first? Before we do anything else?” She asked.

“Mmm… do you mean we should cremate her?” Farin asked, but Shiru shook her head.

“No… is there a way we could… preserve her until he returns?”

“Mmm… there is a way. Come.” Thneia said before taking a step towards Coh but just as everyone began to follow her, she noticed that Shiru hadn’t moved.

No one spoke as she looked north.

Her dress fluttered wildly with the winds that blew by.

But just as it seemed that she would never move, she joined everyone in returning to the crater which sat where Coh once stood.

They all stood next to the egg and Serylea began weeping in earnest upon seeing its charred surface.

“It was supposed to protect her.” She cried.

Anda wrapped his arm around her as Thneia inspected egg.

A Kommáti then suddenly appeared.

“Greetings, everyone. I am Voliah. She who was… assigned to protect lady Yna. She now rests in the egg and her body is being tended to be two healers.” The Kommáti reported.

“I’m assuming you’re restoring it using life force?” Thneia asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“When will the process be completed?”

“Her body has already been restored. The healers inside are simply keeping it that way.”

“I see. Serylea, could you rework the egg’s interior so that it can house a healer who will tend to her?” Thneia asked but Serylea shook at the words.

“I… I would have to see just how much damage the interior took, but…”

Shiru offered a trembling Serylea her hand.

“Farin, please take care of Erna for a moment.”

Farin nodded before picking up the weeping child.

Shiru and Serylea then walked up to Voliah who teleported them into the egg.

Its interior was a dark, burnt and twisted space at the center of which rested-

“My goodness.” Shiru gasped upon seeing the body of a small, woman with a head full of long blond hair. Laying next to her was a dark great sword and three smaller ones.

That woman was Yna. Her body had shrunken and regressed into its more normal form.

Two healers sat by her side and they watched as a weeping Shiru and Serylea approached.

The two women then fell to their knees.

Their cries filled the egg and it got to the point that one of the healers joined them in weeping.

Voliah had long since removed her helmet and she lowered her head as those before her mourned.

“W-What do you think?” Shiru asked, her voice hoarse and her face drenched in tears.

“Could we somehow keep her this way until he returns?”

“Y-yes.” Shiru said while wiping her face.

She then took several deep breaths before looking around.

“I’ll have a few magicians come and clean this place before making a bed for her. I’ll then set up a few things that’ll keep her…” Serylea stopped as her voice grew far too weak to speak.

“Mmm… come.” Shiru said as she stood up.

Serylea then joined her in leaving the egg.

Shiru walked up to Farin, who held a now sleeping Erna.

“Where are your students?” She asked.

“In an underground temple, near Eimval. Why do you ask?”

Shiru glanced at egg before once again, looking north.

“I… this isn’t over.” She said.

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Everyone then watched as a faint frown formed on her face.

“Continue your work. All of you. We must continue fighting for the Expanse as they did.”

“While I agree with you, I must ask, what exactly do you plan on doing? It is beyond dangerous here and-“

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll just cook and care for everyone, like always.” Shiru said with a weak smile interrupting Thneia.

Deag walked up to her and gently wrapped his arms around her.

“Kenos going north as we speak. I could be wrong but I’m sure he’s planning on striking at the heart of the enemy, just as they did us. I… I want to stop but, but I know for sure that if I do, others will follow.” He said with unshaking eyes.

“So, I have chosen to have faith in Kenos. I hope that he accomplishes his task and I hope that he and Katsíki come back hone safely. But, until they return. The Expanse will need a leader.” He added and everyone’s eyes lowered.

“Serylea, you’re far too busy to the west and you’ll be even busier here in the coming days. Sir, you still have your studies to conduct and your students to teach. I’m sorry Ms. Thneia, but I don’t trust you enough to hand you the Expanse and Fìora has her duties to fulfill in Cohval. So, I nominate myself for the role of regent. Oh- and if you all disagree, I will back down until we find a suitable candidate.” Deag said.

Silence filled the crater as everyone digested his words.

“Could I…” Shiru whimpered.

“Could I help you?”

Deag’s eyes widened as Shiru clung to him tightly.

“If I can be completely honest, I’m only saying that so that I can ask you send an army into Lanceberg to snuff out every single human.” She said. Her smile sitting stiffly on her face. Her eyes swollen from crying.

“Doing that would undoubtedly lead to more death and destruction. We… we should not allow ourselves to become like them.” Farin said with a pained expression.

He then sighed before running his hands gently through Erna’s short hair.

“That being said, an army… having a larger army, full of powerful soldiers could prove a viable deterrent for future attacks.”

“True. Also, not to be the pessimist, but even if Caligo hadn’t broken his agreement, we would have probably suffered the same fate at the hands of the Helma.” Thneia said.

“Oh, about that… why did he break the agreement in the first place?” Anda asked as Shiru and Deag let each other go.

“I don’t think any of us will truly ever know. That being said I think we should focus on the immediate. Where is Han?” Shiru asked.

“Han, Volta and Dama… were killed by the Helma. We did all we could, but they were caught in the devastating aftermath of our clash.” Thneia said.

“I ordered that all soldiers in Coh gather in the Kommátia planes. The armies of Lanceberg are nowhere to be seen, but I didn’t wanna take any chances.”

Everyone nodded and hummed in understanding and it was Shiru who walked up to Thneia shortly after.

“Could I make a request?”

“Of course.”

“Could you call most if not all of the soldiers back into the expanse so that they can help us rebuild?”

Everyone let out low hums.

“Does this have anything to do with the hatred that fills your heart?” Farin asked but Shiru shook her head.

“I just want us to gather together the pieces of that which was broken. I want to do all I can in helping those in need until the day he returns to us.”

Farin nodded before looking at everyone.

“Then I suppose it’s time we decided. I suggest that we follow Deag and Shiru into our dark future. Are there any who are opposed to this?”

“Mmm… we all have a broad understanding of what his vision for the Expanse was. But I’d like to remind everyone that hatred is what’s driving Shiru’s actions right now.” Thneia said prompting everyone to look at Shiru, who tightly wrapped her arms around herself.

“Is it wrong?” She asked as more tears welled up in her eyes.

“Is it wrong that I want them to feel like how we feel? To burn, to scream, just as our people did?” She asked. Her face a twisted smile.

No one spoke as her eyes shifted from person to person.

“Her feelings aside, I think she should lead us.” Anda said.

“I think she should lead is because her feelings are so strong. We shouldn’t pretend as though lord Katsíki wasn’t an emotional being.” Calëb said with crossed arms.

“Mmm… you’re right… anyway, I guess this means we are all in favor of Deag and Shiru taking the mantles of leadership?” Anda asked.

Everyone nodded and hummed in agreement.

“Good. So, what should be our primary focus?” Thneia asked.

“Recovery and preparation. Bring everyone back into the expanse and tell them that although we may have suffered great lose on this day, our fight is far from over.” Deag said with a heavy frown.

“I’ll go speak to Koráki and the others.” Thneia said before making her way north with Llana in tow.

“And us? I’m not in charge of the Ia right now, but I can relay your orders to Yiden and the others.” Anda asked.

“Things back in Eimvu are still pretty disorganized, so for now I think you should just get a handle on the refugee situation. We’ll speak further once that’s done.” Deag said.

“And Eimval?”

“Llana is still handling the situation there. We’ll get into the specifics at a later time.“ Deag said.

“And what of the Oasis? Should we send aid to Eimval and here?” Calëb asked.

“A large portion of our food comes from Eimval’s outskirts… so getting those farms up and running as soon as possible would be for the best-“

Deag stopped as Shiru gasped while turning to the north.

“The stream!” She cried.

“Shit.” Anda cursed.

“Dammit.” Thneia groaned as everyone looked at the crater’s northern edge.

“Is it possible to somehow restore the flow of water?” Shiru asked.

“We could have space magicians restore the land but that’d bury… the egg. We could also move the egg, but…” Serylea said.

“Couldn’t we just alter the stream’s course?” Anda asked.

“We could.” Serylea answered curtly.

“So Calëb, send as many space magicians up here as soon as possible. We’ll have to restore the stream as quick as possible but while work here is going, you’ll send some people to Eimval to assist in whatever way possible.” Deag instructed.

Calëb nodded before joining Anda in heading south.

“I’m guessing you’ll be moving here?” Farin asked while facing Shiru.

“Yes. I feel sorry for Erna. All this frequent moving must be frustrating for her, but I feel as though we are needed here.”

“I see. I’ll help you get your things.” Farin said.

“Flora and I will sort things out in lower Coh.” Deag said before leading Fìora to the southeast.

Farin nodded before accompanying Shiru and Serylea out of the crater all while holding a sleeping Erna.

“I guess I’ll return to Serenaya and tell them that I’ll be spending a few days here. Actually, I’ll bring some darkness magicians with me so that we can build some barracks in the outskirts to accommodate the many soldiers who’ll be coming back.” Serylea said upon arriving at what was once Coh’s southern wall.

So much of the ground had been displaced that a tall mound of dirt stood over the wall, allowing Shiru and everyone to looking out into the ruined remnants of Coh.

“Could you help us a bit, Seau?” Farin said and a Kommáti appeared next to him instantly after.

Shiru and company were then teleported to Coh’s outskirts which were mostly deserted.

The only people in sight were the handful of Black Blades who wee patrolling the streets.

Shiru and company entered one of the many vacant houses.

They then entered the bedroom where they placed a still sleeping Erna.

Shiru and Farin then sat in the living room where Farin offered her his hand.

She accepted it before deeply sighing.

“I… I-.” She choked on her own words.

“Don’t worry. We may have said all those things up there but we feel the same way.” Farin said before standing.

He then walked towards the door but he faced Shiru once more before weakly smiling.

“Rest well, dear Shiru. For when you awake tomorrow, you will be his regent alongside Deag.” Farin said before suddenly disappearing.

Silence then filled the house.

That silence was eventually replaced by Shiru’s cries.

Cries that would carry on deep into the night.

.

..

Deag let out a low groan as he placed the last of his files into his new house office.

The house he and Fìora shared in upper Coh meaning they had to move to the outskirts.

Deag stumbled his way into the bedroom where he saw Fìora sitting in bed.

Nothing was said as he crawled onto bed and the two stared at nothing as the seconds ticked by.

“I… I don’t regret it.” He muttered.

“Mmm?” Fìora sounded.

“I don’t regret coming here… all that time ago. Meeting Katsíki, Yna, Shiru, you, everyone… I don’t regret it.” Deag said as tears fell from his eyes.

“That doesn’t mean it hurts any less.” He cried.

Fìora wrapped her arms around him as he painfully wept.

She would go on to hold him all throughout the night.

All while cold winds whistled by.