Interlude - Closure

Mom.

Such a strange, almost vulgar term. A crude title, it was. A tactless name. One utterly devoid of respect or formality.

Yet, within that word was a warmth- a celestial light that betrayed the very nature of the speaker.

That name- that word, swam through the weave behind me to breach my focus like a Triton announcing its presence to a surface dweller. Removing my thoughts from the task at hand with a persistence that matched the undead.

Returning my focus to what lies ahead was a simple endeavor. As was my task. Perhaps…

"Dear."

<<I see.>>

Perhaps the ease of navigating the Dark World was why their voices pursued me through those dank caverns.

The monotony of it all made for wandering thoughts, unlocking the backdoor to my mind. Permitting a horde of thoughts and feelings I've not experienced for quite some time to run rampant in my head.

Unwelcome though they were, those feelings acted like runes to my flesh. They empowered me as if I had a descendant from the Hells. Facilitating my transfer to the rendezvous point.

<<You're early, Eved.>>

As one would expect, I heard the voice long before I saw the speaker. The songful voice of my kin was like acupuncture to my mind. Working to cast aside the thoughts and hopes and fears and aspirations that I'd been so obsessively fixated on and slow myself to a reasonable pace.

At last, there was something to close the back door. And soon, I could hear Her voice again.

I was met with a rather unexpected sight upon rounding the corner. A particularly unwelcome worm was groveling at my feet at the edge of the chamber while the faces I've longed to see turned our way with mixed expressions.

<<Eved, most high.>> The worm groveled. <<I welcome your return->>

<<HOW DARE YOU SPEAK!>>

That guttural scream bellowed like a tempest in our minds; nevertheless, Yassra's outburst was like a whisper to the duet of sobbing pleas and wet crunches echoing throughout the caverns.

<<How was your venture on the surface?>>

I held my gaze at the Worm receiving his punishment in a vain attempt at shutting the back door before I answered my oldest and dearest friend.

'How could one describe such an experience?' I wondered. My absence hadn't been long. Comparable to around a year from a human's perspective. In that short time, however, I've forsaken everything that was true to me. The crimson luster in Laele's eyes was proof of that much.

And then there were the hauntings.

'How could one recount the horror of coming to fear something that once solaced them?' I laughed to myself.

And was saved by Yassra approaching me to grasp my hands in hers. <<Words cannot describe how I've longed to see you return to the surface, My Queen.>>

<<What is your report, Eved.>> Laele said after mimicking her actions.

<<You know the rules, Laele.>> Yassra turned to her, then pointed at the rift in front of me.

<<It was.>> I began, then trailed off along with my gaze. First to Yassra, then to the Denin the worm.

The similarity of their frames and countenance was sickening, and that feeling only intensified as their counterparts burst through the door, releasing a wave of nostalgia into my mind.

Memories of these three individuals and their vastly different upbringings swirled with the paranoid and hopeful assumptions of how their fates and mine had been intertwined by the hands of the Spider Queen and the Eternal.

<<He is.>> I finally muttered. <<He's peculiar.>>

<<He?!?>> Yassra threw her arms up. <<Of course, it's a man.>> She turned away, scoffing.

<<I was shocked when I learned of your task. But, that.>> Laele gave an envy-less chuckle. <<It seems the Eternal's punishment knows no bounds.>>

<<This is the bed we've made for ourselves.>> I took a deep breath, then settled my eyes over the two of them for a quick inspection. Both of them were clad in armor and weapons forged from the finest materials to be unearthed and processed in the Dark World. Yassra's was sparingly marked with <<Are you prepared?>> I softly asked.

<<We've prepared for centuries.>> Yassra proudly declared. <<Our tasks will be accomplished just as yours were.>>

<<Mine is far from over.>> I scoffed, turning to Laele. <<Are they gathered?>>

<<As I said, you're early.>> Laele pulled away to stand beside the rift, laughing all the while. The portal was a construct made entirely of the weave. Forming a rift in space in the shape of a dragon's eye. <<And so were they.>>

With only a nod, I stepped towards the rift and entered. In a stark juxtaposition to my previous transit, the concentration of energy instilled me with a sense of safety and hope that worked to refresh me before I arrived on the other side.

With my feet once again on solid ground, I scanned the massive chamber I now found myself in and stood in awe at the sight of the largest conglomeration of elves to have been assembled since Telin's intervention. Every type of Fey from drow to the hated high-elves stood by behind their masters, armored and at the ready before the platform on which I stood.

The chatter and murmurs died down as my companions made their way through the rift and settled at my sides.

To first breach the silence, I took a long, weary breath and smiled. 'At last.'

Opening my eyes, I locked eyes with the leader of each group of elves before declaring. <<The Champion is to be awakened by the week's end.>>

Though no words, cheers, jeers, or gasps could be heard, there was a sudden spike in the atmosphere's ambiance. Suddenly, armor and weapons were being secured and inspected a final time, packaged meals and potions were being consumed and elves of all kinds began silently shuffling behind their leaders.

<<Now, it begins,>> said Imra, the leader of the Wood-Elves.

<<Yes.>> The high elf nodded before chanting. <<One year for the rise.>>

<<Another until the rending.>> Pafir, the Frost Elf added.

<<And the willowing in three.>> Laele then said

Followed by Imra. <<Then, the portal shall be closed.>>.

<<And shall remain so for thirty-five more,>> said the high elf in turn.

<<Invoking the start of our beloved peace.>> Pafir sighed.

<<Until the Champion comes with their final judgment.>> Laele concluded.

One by one, the leaders turned to give final orders to their subordinates before sending them through. Naturally, that was to include Laele. And with her, Yassra and the Worm.

There was no need or want to be found within me to witness their departure. Similarly, there wasn't any one thing or another keeping me from staying to watch the rift close behind them. Those were experiences that have long since been locked away in the depths of my memory. The last thing I needed was another entity knocking at the back door. So, I leapt forward through the caverns, basking in the potent weave and dank atmosphere as I dreamed of reintegrating into my forsaken life.

I was finally free.

If only for a fleeting time.