Forbi was the eldest, gifted with visions of the past. Her long blond hair dragged behind her as her silvery eyes gazed at things unseen. Aktuell was the sister of the present. She could see anything happening in the world at that given time.
Her red hair circled around her as she looked over the rugged generals and captains. Framtida, the youngest nymph, was the sister with visions of the future. A fire golem in looks, she stood out from her other two sisters. Dark rich skin, complemented her dark black hair, cut short and super curly. Framtida continued to the statue as her sisters waited behind beside Haross and Kelsi.
"You mean his allies? So, he was working with someone?" Trayson asked confused, though his friends had been right. This was his fault for being blinded by his own happiness. Trayson hesitated before storming over to them. "Why didn't you warn us of the fallout?! I thought you were supposed to be able to see the future!" Trayson shouted as both Welpion and Salvino grabbed his arms. Framtida ignored his outburst, simply examining what had become of Soren.
"The future is ever changing. Nothing is ever certain. There was a chance the monster would let go of past grudges. That Soren would never accept the deal and become a demon. After all, the future is never set in stone. There are as many possible futures as there are blades of grass. I can lead you to a field, but I cannot tell you which blade to pick.
“Every choice you make, large and small, alters the path you take and the future. And sometimes knowing what is coming only hurries one to their doom. Afterall there was a possibility my warnings would have only made things worse." Framtida explained, reaching out to pet the demons face.
"So, you are telling us, today could have had a different outcome if someone had done something different?" Kelsi wondered with heat in her voice as Framtida turned to glance at her. They all knew who she meant. She hadn't been quiet about her opinion. Trayson growled under his breath, pulling his arms out of the brother's grip.
"Simply put, yes. But not the person you think. No, this was the outcome of many paths colliding into one. No single person here is responsible for this war alone." Framtida said slowly as Welpion coughed.
"Vague as always." Welpion mumbled as Salvino scoffed at him.
"How was that vague? The lass just admitted that Trayson isn't at fault." Salvino argued as Welpion snorted at him.
"My friends, please. I can't bear any more fighting this day. I appreciate you standing by my side Salvino, but Welpion is right. I am one of many at fault. I did not play my part like I should, but I am not the only one to do so. Soren choose this path as well after all." Trayson admitted rubbing his face.
"That's what I said." Welpion grumbled as Salvino pushed him off balance.
"Is not, you snobby elf." Salvino muttered under his breath as Welpion drew himself up insulted.
"Stubborn dwarf! Go get lost in the mines!" Welpion hissed back as Trayson shook his head.
"Enough gentlemen. You are still members of the council. Please act like the leaders you are supposed to be." Elamire chided changing back into her two-legged form, getting to her feet and stretching. She turned before Kelsi, bowing deeply to thank the fairy for her talents. Her life would have been forfeit without them.
Elamire always thought they were similar with their knack for healing; however, a mermaid of any gender could only ever heal themselves and only with their element, water. A fairy could never heal themselves but could heal any other living thing of almost any illness or injury. Just with a mere touch. At least the females.
Male fairies were gifted other talents. Ones meant for causing pain, while the women healed it. Two sides of the same coin. Though if she understood correctly, then half that coin had been lost completely. Causing the fairy race to be left broken and incomplete. Which was far more problematic for their race then the others.
"The what ifs and maybes of the past do not matter now. There is nothing we can do to change them." The deep voice of the fire golem assured his comrades. Fighting over it now would do little good for the survivors that remained. Aktuell crossed over to her little sister, nodding softly.
"Haross is right. The past is set in stone and won't be helpful to you now. It is time to prepare for the future as this war is not won just yet." Framtida told them casting her gaze to the future. Aktuell nodded touching Soren's outstretched arm gingerly as she examined his fist.
The council members stood watching the seers quietly as they gathered. Forbi paused, her milky eyes falling on Trayson as her lips thinned in concern. Framtida grabbed her arm shaking her head slowly. They had to be careful with the information they shared. Too much or too little could upset the balance of the valley, plunging it into utter chaos. Forbi nodded in agreement as she came before Trayson.
"Kelsi had wondered how you still stand after your bonded plant perished. The answer is in Ari's gift." Forbi muttered. She looped a finger around the delicate chain around his neck, pulling it up and the revealing the small pendant. "There is more to this than meets the eye. For it is known as the heart of the forest. It has sustained you in place of your plant so that you may live to see another day. However, its power will not last. You will need to make another bond quickly or you will follow your plant." Forbi explained making Trayson hold the little metal tree in awe.
"It figures. Even after her death she is still saving me." Trayson mumbled as he held the piece to his heart. Salvino gripped his shoulder. Smiling weakly when Welpion did the same.
"Ari left you all a piece did she not? The riches of the mountain for the dwarves. The Courage of knowledge for the elves. The guardian of the waves for merfolk. The flames of the core for the golems. Hope and breath of life for the fairies." Forbi told them as they glanced at the pieces their queen had made and bestowed upon them. Kelsi holding her piece as well as that of her brother.
"And the soul of the people." Aktuell added solemnly as pried the piece from Soren's grasp. Trayson growled softly turning away from the demon.
"So why don't we just smash him and be done with this? We need to return and take care of the survivors." Trayson bit out angrily. Aktuell chuckled with her sisters causing the council members to stare at them flabbergasted. This was no laughing matter.
"Forgive us. We do not laugh in humor but merely at the irony of all of this." Framtida explained touching Soren's fist. "For the curse that imprisons him, will not allow him to die. Not yet. When the time is right, he will awaken and roam this earth once more. But only Haross will be alive to witness his awakening." Framtida told them as they glanced at each other concerned.
"I do not understand." Welpion vocalized their collective thoughts as Forbi sighed.
"Ari did not have the power to stop him completely and sacrificed herself to seal him away." Forbi said carefully though that hadn't been the whole truth, it was enough.
"Under the right conditions, this spell will break, freeing him from the stone. Shortly after his release the war will continue and this time the fate of the entire valley will hang in the balance. Unfortunately, this means the end of Albitonya. Remaining here in this tainted land will only work against you. The one great kingdom is no more with the death of its queen." Framtida told them as her sisters nodded sadly.
"Wait, if we are not to remain here, then where do we go? What do we do?" Salvino asked unsure as Framtida's lips thinned in thought.
"It is time to divide and heal your people. Raise them where they will thrive and flourish. They will be needed to fight the coming war." Aktuell told them. They were quiet for a moment before the reality set in.
"Rivers and lakes are gone. What little water survived is polluted or filled with dead. For my people to survive we must have water. I will take all that remain of the merfolk to the great falls in the north. The great lake there that separates the valley from the endless forest beyond will be large enough for us to build a new home." Elamire decided as she considered it.
It wasn't ideal as the landscape around the area didn't allow for large populations to dwell with them. They would have to dwell under the water until something better could be constructed. It would take some major adjustments for her people.
"Our people would be better suited to the mountains; however, I am not sure that is the best choice under the current situation." Haross muttered down at his flower. The fairies could survive in the thin air along the peaks in the tail while the golems would thrive in the heat of the volcano.
It was every other living creature that would struggle to survive among them. Haross hesitated, holding his fairy tighter. This would mean goodbye as his love went to help her people and he went to help his. Kelsi frowned, before shaking her head.
"No. I am not losing you too! I can't. I am not strong enough." Kelsi pleaded as she sobbed, coming to the same realization her mate had.
"It would not be goodbye forever. You will meet again more than once. Kelsi, take two of Trayson's druids to dwell on the peak with you. They are young and can adjust to harsh elements of your home. They will also be able to breed with your kind, so your race doesn't perish. Just like Haross will take some elven women to the mountains. Breeding has always been slow for golem kind. There were never very many of you to begin with. The long-life spans of the elves can help increase numbers as they will have time to try. Golems will be imperative to the survival of the fairies in the second war." Framtida said softly as she gazed into the future.
"I would do whatever is needed to ensure a future for you and your people. You are everything to me my sweet flower." Haross promised her as she wept quietly into his shoulder. She hated feeling so weak and vulnerable in front of so many eyes. But she wasn't strong enough to hide her breaking heart.
"You said I would give up two of my druids? When there are so few of us left?" Trayson stumbled pausing at the sudden rise of heat. "Which two?" Trayson asked trying not to start a fight with the fire golem struggling to give up his love.
A golem only had one mate for life. Most would never consider mating with such fragile creatures that would be gone in a blink of an eye. But Haross was not most fire golems and would give everything to her.
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