“Where are we going?” Gwyneth asked, pain searing from her wrist from where Thea held on tightly. It had started to rain and she struggled to keep up with her in the slippery mud. Hair kept falling in her face getting her eyes wet, and with only one free hand to wipe her eyes, it was even more difficult to see where she was going.
“To where it all began, of course,” Thea answered cryptically, but it only took a moment for Gwyneth to realize what she meant.
“Do we have to run so fast?” Gwyneth tried to pry her wrist out of Thea’s grip to no avail.
“If we want to get there before the end of the world, yes.” Motivated by her own words, Thea tightened her grip on Gwyneth’s wrist pulling her even faster to the latter’s dismay.
“You do realize that means running for days, right?” Gwyneth tried wiggling her wrist back and forth to relieve the pain which produced minimal results.
“Maybe that’s something you should have thought of before initiating this plan.” Thea tsked but the princess couldn’t hear her over the rain.
The two girls came to a sudden halt when an all too familiar black-haired man appeared before them, nearly being kicked by Thea in the process.
“What are you doing here?” Thea snapped, unhappy that he nearly caused her and Gwyneth to tumble over.
”To come get you two. Unless you want to spend the next three days walking?” Ares asked, seemingly confused that Thea had even questioned his sudden appearance in the first place.
“Yes! Thank you!” Gwyneth exhaled in relief. She rubbed her wrist now that Thea had finally let go.
“It would have been nice to have known this ahead of time,” Thea mumbled.
Ares teleported the three to the Forlorn Forest, the same place he had shown Gwyneth just days ago. Unlike before, the flower was nowhere in sight. Instead, the clearing remained empty.
Once they arrived, Gwyneth could have sworn the evergreen trees were losing their leaves. The gray sky made the scene more ominous, and perhaps for the first time, it hit Gwyneth that the world truly was ending.
“She really does have Thea’s magic!” Gwyneth heard a melodious voice speak. Judging by its ethereal sound, it was one of the Spirits.
“Come now, there’s no need to hide,” Ares beckoned.
The Spirits appeared before them one by one, but Gwyneth knew they had been there all along.
“It is rather unusual to engage with others as the cycle ends,” Water began. “But Ares tells us there is something you wish to say to us, little one.” Their voice was gentle and inviting, and any fear Gwyneth may have had speaking to a superior being drifted away.
“Stop recreating Halcyone,” the princess’s voice was stern and clear.
“What?!” Earth squeaked, much unlike their siblings. “But if we don’t recreate Halcyone now, the land will crumble until there’s nothing left!”
“We can survive,” she said sternly before taking a deep breath. Her expression softened and she spoke slowly. “You have given so much of yourselves to this world — to us. We are not perfect beings and thus are doomed to fail to live up to your expectations. You needn’t sacrifice your strength each time. Let us learn to live for ourselves — give us time to correct our mistakes. After all, we’ve done as much these past 800 years, have we not?”
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The Spirits paused, surprised by the princess’ words.
“There are incantations in this world that should not be permitted to exist,” Water began again. “If we were to leave Halcyone as it is, no human would know peace after death.”
“There’s… no other way to fix it?” Gwyneth froze. She was certain she could save her Halcyone if she could just convince the Spirits. “What about another incantation?”
“You forget that another incantation exists — Ares’. If we layer incantation over incantation… I shudder at the consequences.”
“There is no point in saving this land,” Wind spoke more sternly than their sibling. “It has already begun to crumble on top of the incantation problem and racism. Your very kingdom has been corrupted throughout time, and Zetheria remains a broken kingdom. Recreating the world would be a mercy.”
“Then I have two requests. Three, actually.” The princess thought over her words.
“Requests?” The Water Spirit was baffled that a human would dare “request” anything from the Spirits.
“Firstly, you must bring everyone in Halcyone over to this new world. Secondly, my friends are to remember the journey we shared and all we have sacrificed.”
“And who are you to make such a demand of us?” Wind asked, and Gwyneth could have sworn she heard contempt in their otherwise peaceful voice.
“The Princess of Aeceria as well as the Light Spirit — your equal.”
“But Thea is—“ Fire was quickly cut off.
”My light magic is what gave me that position. Without my magic, I’m merely human. Therefore Gwyneth should be recognized as the true Light Spirit,” Thea said smugly.
“This is true…” Water mumbled, obviously unhappy by the turn of events.
“I will admit that you’re right in that I have I have no right to demand anything of you,” Gwyneth said. “But as your fellow Spirit, I hope you will at least hear me out.”
“Your requests are reasonable,” Earth said kindly, and the princess could practically feel the Spirit smiling at her.
“What is the third request?” Wind asked suspicious of the princess’ intention.
Gwyneth sharply inhaled, holding her breath for but a moment before slowly exhaling. She needed to work up her confidence before making her final request. “Promise me you won’t appoint any successors.”
“What?!” Earth bounced around shocked by the princess’ words. “You mean like Ares, Thea, and the others?!”
“I don’t believe you understand how this works,” Water said patiently. “Without vessels, Halcyone won’t exist the same way. There will be neither night nor day, and life will remain stagnant with no birth or death. Life itself will be punishment.”
“Ballard is dead yet the cycle of life continues. How might that be?”
Water sighed knowing this question was coming. “Without Earth, Halcyone could not be recreated. We established a temporary solution and bestowed Ballard’s powers upon the Fae king.”
Gwyneth froze. She had no idea the Fae king had inherited such power over life. Judging by Ares’ and Thea’s expressions, this was a surprise to them as well. She would have to think this one over.
How could Halcyone continue to exist without these roles? Eyris existed without them, right? But what were those Guardians Ares had spoken of? No, it didn’t matter. These worlds were operated by different laws. If only there was a way for these powers to exist without—
“It is merely the presence of light and darkness that need to exist, yes?” Gwyneth asked.
“Correct,” Wind answered but it was obvious they had grown irritated.
“Then create an object that can host these powers. One that will have no need to use them. It should work assuming its existence is enough.”
The Spirits paused, surprised they had never come to this conclusion themselves. Perhaps it was because they saw the other two elements as equal to themselves that they never considered a nonsentient vessel.
“What about Lunelle and Solus?” Water asked.
”Funnel their powers into the moon and sun,” Gwyneth said proudly.
“And what about life itself?” Wind snapped.
Gwyneth paused. No, the answer was obvious. “Bestow that power among life equally that each generation may partake of it and bear new life.”
The Spirits froze. Was that something they could do? They had never tried it before. Perhaps to them, it had seemed too risky.
“Thirteen times has the world fallen due to a disagreement of these vessels, has it not?” Gwyneth asked. “And the other times were related to the death of the vessels as well. Create the world as per my instruction and it will not fail this time.”
“You really believe that?” Water asked staring into the princess’ eyes for the answer.
“Yes, I do.”
Water sighed, and Gwyneth could feel more peace than she ever had before from the Spirit. “Very well. We four will give our remaining power not only to recreate Halcyone, but to restore the land that has been lost. Your requests will be honored.”
“Wait—“ Gwyneth reached out trying to physically stop the Spirits not having said all that she had wanted to. In a flash of light, the Spirits were gone and the ground trembled beneath her feet. Shaking her head and smiling, she looked up at the heavens, at the gray clouds that covered the land in their abundant rain.
“Thank you.”