When they died, the life light pillar that a Seedling cast was a sign and homage to the strength and abilities they possessed when alive. No matter a Seedling’s social standing or moral compass, a life light would shine, letting the world mourn the loss of another child of the Goddess of Life. It was like a shadow or a flicker of a candle burning out but was nothing more than a death throe or a way for a child to return to its mother’s embrace.
The life light pillar slowly faded when the Alchemic Race arrived a few days after the battle.
Beside the pile of ash that was once Osiris, Carter sat silently. He had been there since the battle had ended, staring emotionlessly at the slowly vanishing pile. Nesha and Char fainted from exhaustion while Echo was still experiencing burning pain. Fortunately, Sivie was unharmed and kept a close eye on everyone as Arc left to get help from the Alchemic Race. Vanir, who had sustained the most injuries, was stable but remained unconscious. Arc assured everyone he would be fine, as he was a descendant of the first family.
According to Sivie, the bandits had come to threaten them. However, Kakai intervened before anything could happen. By the time Morin rose the next day, the bandits had already left.
Sivie sat beside Carter; it was the first time someone had looked at Carter since the battle ended a few days ago.
“Everyone is curious how you know this man…” Sivie said, looking at where the burning man’s ash still lay, “They also want to know why you are so attached to someone who wanted to kill you…”
Sivie sighed at Carter’s silence. He knew he would not get an answer from the child, but he hated seeing someone like this, even if he could not understand what they were going through.
Although Nesha had woken up the morning of the next day, she was well out of commission; that was the price of using a skill that exceeded the level the Seedling was at. So she lay in her tent with Char, who just refused to leave the comfort of her warm sleeping bag.
On the other hand, Echo had been poked and prodded by the Alchemic Race and the couple of Divine Race that had come to help that Arc had to step in before Echo lost his mind like the burning man.
“Come child, it is time to leave,” Arc stated solemnly as he put his hand on Carter’s head.
Carter gazed silently at the charred ground before standing.
“Do you want to say something before you leave?” Arc asked
Carter lightly shook his head.
“Are you sure? This may be the last time that you will ever be here.”
Carter looked at the ground again before his head tilted backward, looking at the sky. What his thoughts were, only he knew.
Arc silently followed Carter’s actions, never interrupting the child, “That bandit Kakil or whatever said that this man was their chief…”
Carter turned to Arc, his face the same emotionless expression.
“He said that the man did not have much in his tent… just this key that no one could figure out what it went to.”
Carter looked at the familiar key, “...chains…”
Arc looked at the boy, staring at the key in his hand, “Take it.”
“ARC! WE ARE LEAVING!” a scream echoed from the newly formed caravan.
“Come, child; you can finish your mourning when we reach Pilosophis.”
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
It took quite a bit of extra time, but the caravan finally reached the capital of the Alchemic Race, Pilosophis. It was a very quiet greeting; only a few guards and watchers took notice of the group making their way into the visitor entrance of the city.
“I’m exhausted,” Sivie said as his foot graced the cobblestone that made the first road they walked on in over half a month.
“Char play!” Char screamed as she ran off into the distance.
Sivie was about to scream for her to return, but Nesha just shook her head, “Let her be; I am pretty sure I know who she will go see. So we can just get her later if they don’t come to see us before then.”
Echo shivered as he thought of the only person that Char would go and see, “I would prefer if that crazy lady stayed as far away from me as possible.”
Nesha laughed, “I’ll make sure to tell Zindra you said that,”
“Tell me what?” said a voice drifting from a distance away.
“IT’S THE HAG!” Echo screamed, running to hide in the back of the group.
A girl who appeared to be the same age as Sara but had mostly light pink hair with brown roots glared at Echo. Despite her petite build, she looked fierce with her gritted teeth and grandmaster alchemist robes in purple.
“What do you mean hag, Echo?” the little girl said with gritted teeth, “Do you think I like looking like this? STUPID MASTER!”
Zindra, the small girl, was born into a family of grandmaster alchemists. Despite her limited talent, she was fortunate enough to find a master willing to teach her. This master was a descendant of the famous Ascended Alchemist Mon, the inventor of the first life potion. Zindra's master was determined to create a superior version of the potion, but unfortunately, he lost his life during the process. As a result of the potion, Zindra was cursed, her body infused with too much life essence, causing her to age at a much slower rate than others. Despite her efforts, she was unable to cure herself due to her limited alchemy skills. As a result, she had to wait out the effects, and over two hundred years have passed, resulting in her current appearance.
Nesha gave a small smile, “Well, it looks like a little has come out since the last time we met,” Nesha said, looking at the brown roots of Zindra’s hair.
“Not funny.” Zindra said unamused, “Anyway, I am here to escort you to the meeting that is taking place about our trip… Where is the child.”
“Asleep as always,” Sivie said, watching Char run back to the group.
“She wasn’t home…” Char said with a hung head, but as she noticed the other little girl, she shouted in excitement, “ZINDRA!”
Zindra gave a smile to Char, “Hi, now where is Carter?”
Nesha walked over and opened one of the carriages, “This is where the Feyrishians are,” She glanced inside, seeing all three asleep, “And all of them are still asleep.”
Zindra whispered to Nesha, “Which one is the one that was hurt protecting the child?”
Nesha pointed to Vanir, “He still hasn’t woken up, but his external injuries are gone; only a scar remains.”
“Interesting, and Carter?”
“Still the same as the last time you saw him.”
Zindra asked, “Do we still not know who was holding him?”
“Nothing has been one hundred percent confirmed yet, but a name did come up.”
“And what was it…”
Between the noise of the whispering women and the light from outside the open door, Arc and Carter opened their eyes, glancing around with confusion.
“Are we here?” Arc asked with a gruff voice and a drowsy appearance.
“Sleepy…” Carter lightly opened his eyes before jolting at the pink-haired girl.
“Hi, Carter,” Zindra said with a smile and a small wave.
Carter instantly jumped at Zindra, tackling her to the ground.
Arc jumped at the movement, panicking as if they were being attacked again.
“Calm down, Arc; we are in Pilosophis.”
“Huh… CARTER!” Arc was even more unnerved by Carter’s actions, “WHAT!”
“Zindra was the one who found Carter and cared for him while everyone else took care of the other matters. So Carter is kinda attached to her.”