In the days that followed, tranquility began to settle over the Elven lands. The scars from the Great Calamity's attack were visible across the palace grounds and the villages beyond, but Elven Magic worked tirelessly to mend the damage.
Charred remains of walls and upturned earth that once spoke of war started to transformed into rejuvenated gardens and flowering meadows. The Elves were confident their Magic would restore every piece of their homeland, no matter the destruction.
Erend and Eccar, though healing well under the care of the Elven healers, carried layers of weariness from their battles. Injuries had built up from months of fighting, and no potion or spell could erase their exhaustion overnight. Yet, they felt relief in the calm and took solace in the absence of immediate threats. Chapter Continue:
One evening, Erend managed to reach Arty through their connected mind. Her voice filled with relief upon hearing his voice.
"Erend! Thank god... We didn't know if—"
"I'm here," Erend assured her, a smile crossing his face as he listened to his sister's familiar voice. "We're all fine. Eccar too. Can you tell General Lennard to pass word to Adrien and Billy's families? Let them know they are also safe."
Arty's response was filled with warmth and resolve, and she promised to convey his message. Knowing his family and friends would hear of his safety was enough to settle some of the worry that had been gnawing at him.
During the quiet weeks that followed, Erend found himself gravitating more and more toward Aurdis. With each evening, they'd find secluded moments away from the formalities of court, wandering together through moonlit corridors or meeting beneath the starlit canopy in the palace gardens.
Eccar, who noticed Erend's nightly escapes in the middle of the night, simply smiled and shook his head, choosing to keep his playful comments to himself.
Eccar, in his way, was also enjoying the quiet. For someone who had spent years in the chaotic realms, he took every chance to immerse himself in the comforts of this world. Elven healers tended to him daily, soothing his old wounds and coaxing strength back into his body. He accepted the peace, knowing their rest was both earned and, perhaps, a fleeting gift.
The days passed, stretching into weeks, and the Elves began to resume life as before, their laughter and music slowly filling the palace halls once more.
Under the pale light of dusk, Erend and Aurdis sat side by side in the small garden behind the palace.
It was a place of quiet beauty, nestled among trees whose silver leaves caught the last light of day and casting a gentle shimmer over the garden.
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In the bright light of his chamber, Saeldir worked tirelessly surrounded by shelves filled with ancient scrolls, delicate vials, and crystals that pulsed faintly with stored Magic.
He had barely rested since the battle, driven by an insistent need to ensure the palace grounds and surrounding lands were secure.
In front of him, a large crystal mirror shimmered, its surface rippling like water as he channeled his energy into it, using it as a conduit to scan the Magical currents in the area.
He leaned forward, his eyes narrowed in concentration. The mirror displayed layers of the palace's protective energy fields, each shimmering with various hues as they interlaced to form a resilient barrier.
Saeldir methodically checked each thread, searching for any signs of instability, any lingering spells that might have slipped through in the chaos of the battle.
For a while, everything appeared undisturbed, and he allowed himself a small measure of relief.
But as he glanced over one of the outer layers, his attention sharpened. A faint ripple had disturbed the smooth flow of the Magic. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but enough to set his instincts on edge.
Saeldir frowned, leaning closer, his hand hovering over the crystal as he focused on the spot. It wasn't just a ripple; as he observed, he saw the faint outline of what appeared to be a small vortex, spinning quietly against the flow of Magic.
It flickered with strange energy, Saeldir thought it was no natural disturbance.
Just as suddenly as it appeared, the vortex faded, leaving the protective barrier untouched.
Yet the unsettling sensation lingered, a warning prickling at the edges of Saeldir's mind.
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