The aftermath was tragic and it the war had took a third of the lives in the New World. Three million people died in the Old World and eight million had died in the New World which was no longer a country. These were no small numbers and Caleb was accepting defeat. He surprisingly got away from being executed. Noah saw that Caleb was truly sorry and gave him grace.

Noah also agreed to sign a peace treaty with the New World as long as the New World was dismantled and the New World government was no more.

Everyone agreed with this. All if the New World was dismantled and people who battled were given one of the highest prestige medals you could get, the Medal of Solitudian Peace.

Caleb was banished from The Powerhouse for two years and was not able to own a shop and had to be an employee. He agreed and became an employee at the now rebuilt Oyster Shop. Several million people gained mental illness during post war and an insane asylum was created to keep those crazy people confined. Four hundred shops closed their doors just weeks after the war. Up to twelve million dollars in rebuild cost had to be paid and the Terminians were now the most prosperous country in Narcinica for a few years.

Though a blow to the face, Solitude came out of the war with the strongest military and gained several hundred thousand troops. People had seen what Solitude went through and how much grace was given and a couple thousand people decided to migrate into Solitude. If a kingdom like that gave grace after their people on them then why are you killed in Terminia for speaking out of term, a lot of people thought this and went to live in Solitude.

The sad part of this happy story is that Solitude thought strife in the country was done.

Oh how little they knew. Even now I think to myself why they thought this was the end. Josiah had constantly repeated that there was more to come. I wish everyday that I myself could have informed Solitude of the atrocities about to happen.

It was only the beginning and though Solitude was a fairly new kingdom it would go through more terror than some of the oldest kingdoms and countries in Narcinica. When I was in Solitude at the time, I had also thought that it was over but it never seemed to be over.

Back at Terminia horrible news had come around Narcinica that the man that had gained the terrible punishment from Terminal End had ended his own life. Awareness around Solitude went around like a wildfire and suddenly elders cared for their children even more than before. Sadly this was not for everyone. including Caleb who had a hard time with these things.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"I have an announcement." Said Noah with an unhappy tone.

"What's up?" Said Josiah along with Shadow.

"Caleb is gone..." Noah said

"WHAT?!" Exclaimed Shadow.

"I guess his departure is for the better." Said Josiah with no concern

"WHAT THE HECK HE JUST DIED YOU IDIOT?!" Shadow screeched.

"He will come back soon and if not we will look for him at Terminia." Josiah followed up.

"Oh OH. He is not dead. I guess we will have to find him." Said Shadow.

"We will soon we just have to give it a few days." Josiah said.

Gone were the days of a happy go lucky lifestyle. This was one of the most tough time of Solitude and it would not get better.

I have often thought that the people in Solitude were incompetent for not realizing the problems in the kingdom. I now realize that they probably knew the situation more than the High Court. I thought I knew more about the situation than the citizens when I was in the kingdom. I think many people thought high of themselves in Solitude. This showed the vulnerability of Solitude, in fact it made it clear. The vulnerability was of Solitude was the citizens in Solitude. They thought a little too high of themselves.

Solitude was still in deep trouble, not only because of Solitude itself but because of Terminia and their lust for glory. Terminia was planning to take down Solitude in the span of one year. Even if the plan would take a few months more of planning and preparation they thought after all the damage that had been done to Solitude, Terminia thought they had the best chance to strike. They may have been right but they underestimated the power of Solitude and how fast Solitude could come together after being divided like this.

*Back at Solitude*

"Hey, did you hear the news?" A citizen named Jeremy said.

"Jermey, you are full of baloney! Of course I did!" Said Tom's friend Francesco.

"I think that Terminia will strike soon, you?" Jeremy said pacing fast.

"I think they could strike. This is the best time isn't it?" Franscesco said also pacing.

These boys would often come and see the Powerhouse and they had good ties with a friend of Shadow. They thought that they could be partners if they ever ruled Solitude.

This is just an example of the divide that had happened. People thought that they could do better at ruling Solitude than the king. The divide had to be mended and if not then I would have probably said that the entire kingdom would go up in smoke in the blink of an eye.

I can not say this for a lot of people at the time but I had trust in Solitude and I am glad I did trust them.