The Aftermath of the End

"Find the princess!" The beast kin knights hoisted debris and large stones off of where they could feel Syndel's life force. They managed to pull most of it off, Syndel's hand forced her hand through the last layer of debris, and they pulled her out. The king was nowhere to be found.

Syndel opened her eyes slowly realizing she was back in her body. She could feel her own energy regulating and regenerating itself. "The princess is awake!" One of the knights yelled to the others. Rai walked over and approached Syndel as she sat up.

"That was some move, who would have thought it'd be during the Age of Eraga..."

Syndel, still trying to process what just happened, looked at Rai with this terrified expression.

"What... Happened?" She asked.

"Ragnarök happened. It's time. I suppose we should prepare for the impending war ahead. Since we're allies as of now, I'll give you a tip. Kill that boy as soon as possible or there will be others ready to make sure nothing stands in the way of getting to him. However, whether you take my advice or not... Good luck in your endeavors." He said as he hobbled away with his attendant.

Syndel sat there for a few more minutes before finally getting up to get a full look at what exactly transpired prior to the meeting. Hundreds of knights were on the scene helping citizens and carrying corpses away from the scene.

"Where could they be?" She thought.

Kayin disappeared completely and nobody could find her.

"We found the king!" A knight said from a distance, Syndel ran over immediately.

King Ianbellis was stretchered away immediately; he took much of the blast covering Syndel. The blast sent him nearly a quarter mile away. Since humans are more vulnerable than elves, he was critically injured. Syndel kept walking until she made it to a smoldering crater, smoke steadily rose from the crater. She noticed someone laying inside it. Could it be?

Syndel stepped over into the crater and there he was, steadily burning as the dragon and runes glowed. Syndel cast ice magic and set it on him, steam rose quickly as his body cooled off slowly. The runes turned black then slowly disappeared. Kendell's body had been slowly cooking from being so hot.

"Someone help! Anyone!" She yelled as some knights came over.

They put Kendell on a stretcher and moved him to the infirmary immediately. When Syndel made it to the infirmary, Kendell's bed was in the back away from everyone else, and he had his own healing team casting advanced healing spells while someone cast water magic to make the heat die down more. His arm was cuffed to the bed rail. They managed to get his body temperature down completely, he was unconscious from how much energy he'd exerted.

"Will he be, okay?" Syndel asked.

"We're not sure, much of his mana has been depleted and there's no telling if he'll wake up anytime soon." A nurse mage said.

A week went by, the King fully recovered and felt something different within himself. Kendell continued to slip in and out of consciousness. They loaded Kendell onto a carriage and headed back to the kingdom. One of the beast kin attendants from Cedrus and an elf from Hana accompanied the Ianbal kingdom through Tuteni territory. Since Tuteni and Cedrus have an alliance together, this gives the Ianbal Kingdom access to their roads without fare.

They made it through Dilvol within a day after that. Now they were back in Ianbal and Kendell finally woke up. Kendell opened his eyes to Syndel looking straight at him. Her eyes glowed in relief, Kendell had been unconscious for close to a week and a half. She began to lose hope looking back on how her own power caused others to die.

"I thought you were a goner, but as expected from someone like you. You never know what may happen. I'm so happy you're okay." She said smiling, embracing his hand.

He looked up at her and smiled back then realized he was back in his own body now.

"Where are we?"

"We should be close to the kingdom now, it's been almost a week since you went cold." She spoke.

Kendell sat up in the back of the carriage, he felt the power pulsing within his body. Syndel looked at him as if she could feel it too. Syndel signaled for the carriages to stop, they stopped, and they both got off to stretch. Kendell's skin glittered from the sun with the transparent tattoos that were noticeable at close range. Syndel smiled at him, the king came to their carriage and talked to the two.

"What happened at the conference, when we get back to the kingdom... There's much to be discussed."

They arrived at the kingdom's borders and crossed into the first town of Ianbal. It seemed as though nothing happened over the time while they were gone.

"The king has returned!" One of the knights relayed to the capital.

When they got back to the capital, the king wasted no time and got in the castle.

"Kendell we're here." Syndel said, tapping his shoulder.

He rolled over and sat up.

"It feels good to be back, but we're going to have to explain this situation to your father." Kendell said.

Syndel let out a deep sigh and nodded. "I know, but he should understand." She replied.

Cedrus and Hana's ambassadors went inside to get situated in the kingdom. Castle attendants carried luggage back into the castle.

"Adrenis you've been quiet ever since we left for Matiy. What's the deal?" Syndel asked.

Adrenis' face was still kind of traumatized from what happened.

He still said no words and walked into the castle.

"Give him time, anybody would be shaken up from that. Come on." Kendell spoke grabbing Syndel's hand. They went inside finally.

They get to the room and sit on the bed. Syndel immediately fell asleep from being awake the entire ride back.

"I should just let her sleep." Kendell tucked her in and went searching for the king.

"The world powers are rising. In this age? That's absurd!" King Ianbal said.

Kendell walked in slowly, eyes shifted onto him.

"I hope I'm not intruding." Kendell said bowing.

"Ah, just the person I wanted to see... We need to talk." He replied.

"I'm sure you know more about what's happening." Kendell spoke.

A castle attendant came into the room with a cart of books and records.

"Yes, here we go." He said, walking over to the cart.

He grabbed a thick black book with loose papers in between pages.

King Ianbal handed this book to Kendell.

"This is the record of the World Powers. Usually, I wouldn't show anyone these records but given the circumstances, it's best if you see it for yourself and prepare for what's to come. As long as you stay in this kingdom, we'll do whatever we can to protect you. If you do find yourself in the situation where you need to flee for your own safety, take Syndel and don't waste time doing so. There are several countries who will strike at the chance to invade this kingdom. But I'm confident in my men to defend the home of my predecessors, so please; keep my daughter safe." He spoke.

"You have my gratitude, I'm in your debts truly. I'll keep Syndel safe for as long as I live, even after death." Kendell said bowing again.

"Also, I should mention... I know about your origin now. Your people have seeped through the fabric of our two worlds before. But some of them were not good people at all, however you seem to know what to and what not to do. One of Syndel's ancestors on her mother's side was summoned to this world also, so don't feel like you're alone in this world. When you find time, travel to the Spice Coast. I'm sure you'll feel familiar with the surroundings.

The entire cart was records of the World Powers. Kendell discovered much more than what he read while in the record room. He took the records back to Syndel's room and set it by her desk. He spent the next few hours reading through the black book. There were many short journal entries in the back of it.

"I suppose you find yourself scurrying to figure out what's happening. But fret not... It's not the end of the world, yet. Although; if it has stayed on this bloodline. The Children of the Sun and Moon Kings will be the turning stones in all of this, but I feel in the next four to five centuries, circumstances should change. But, if not... Then so be. I am the father of Lucca Silver-stone. Lamont Silver-stone, head of my village, Autumn pass. Currently, there are twelve active World Powers present in this age of Garrison. Ragnarök has run rampant in the western countries for years now, but nothing has rivaled the likes of Titanaboa yet. If the gods end up granting any more World Powers, the end of the world as we know it is certain to happen." Signed, Lamont Silver-stone.

"Seems like I found my grandfather's notes about the way of the world. How the time passes, but the Age of Garrison is now over and the rebuild can happen now. My name is Ianbal, the first. I ended up taking my mother's last name because my father died fighting in the war. I'm close to twenty-four now. It's weird being in control of such a large kingdom, I have advisors who have lots of experience, but I don't know if I can do this. But we'll see." Signed, Ianbal.

"Arcana Cortex is a dark world power that was never meant for the elven to hold. Although it's rise to Number four has been abrupt, it's proven time and time again that it is meant to go against all logic. Between the death ritual and the summon ritual, both can be mixed up. When undergoing a menstrual cycle, the magic potency from this can change the direction of the ritual intended drastically." This note didn't have a name beside it.

More journal entries from Syndel's ancestors were spread throughout the remainder of the journal. It was clear that they were in control of this area for quite some time.