The Elemental Chain Saga Book Two: Dragons Ascending

Epilouge: All Who Stand Fall in the End

The cool bitter breeze snapped into the pair. Fall was slowly shifting into a harsh Alerdreamian winter. Church shivered against Kayo, wishing they were in tropical Vlaggon where there were only two truly cold months, the rest warm and pleasant.

But Kayo loved this place, and so he loved it too. They dashed inside the cafe, the door swinging shut behind them. It was a bright space, a cozy place. Church sat down across from Kayo, his back to the window.

Her black hair fell across her slim shoulders and he couldn't help but grin as she gave him a smile that heated his chilled bones.

However, in great contrast, he couldn't help but notice how barren the streets and buildings were now a days; the war had taken its toll on the capital, the kingdom as a whole, really.

Church leaned back in his chair, just to annoy Kayo. She flushed "Don't make me go over there and throttle you, Church!" She playfully warned. Then he saw her eyes leer. Maybe not playfully, he thought sheepishly, placing the legs of the chair back on the floor and leaning in to kiss her.

Screw the war, as long as she was here (and there were still things to collect).
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The battlefield was rubble. A whole chunk of earth has been swallowed by a sinkhole, leaving a cavernous ravine in its place. The fighting had been disbanded when this had happened, both forces retreating in either direction, fearing that the whole field might go under if the brawl continued.

Foragers were at their high, their dark bodies padding along. Crows and buzzards dived out of the sky to feast with dark pleasure, making meals out of those who had given their lives to a cause, all of those who were left to be eaten by these beast that plagued scenes just as these. Others were to decay to nothing, if they were the spared lucky.

Worse yet, dark Necromancers would come to harvest the bones of powerful elemental warriors to use for their Curses and incantations. None who died here found good fate.

A wolf dragged a piece of carrion over to a secluded spot and dropped its find, laying it's body down beside it. It shook it's matted grey coat to clear it of the dirt filth it was covered in before it began to chew vigorously, it's pointy canine teeth sinking into the flesh. Beneath it was a husk, a wooden and metal contraption, long burnt arm and sling still careened over, reaching towards the sky, a grave post for the nameless fallen.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It has happened.

It should have been prevented.

Their prophecy, it is coming to fruition.

There is nothing we can do, it is up to them now.

Mathias looked off into the distance, the mountains now far away. They traveled down a flat road, his sister and Philla riding on either side of him.

And the voices rode with him. He wasn't alone in his head. He didn't know what he was hearing, didn't dare mention it to anyone aloud, just listened and dealt. The voices talked on and on about a great loss and greater peril still ahead; he had no clue what it all meant.

"Keep up, Prince," the voice to his left, now ahead of him.

He turned his gaze from the frothy looking peaks, looking silently ahead at Philla. She had turned around on her stead, her eyes clearly showing worry "You alright?"

Mathias feigned a smile for her sake. He didn't buy it himself. He patted Lotus's flank and she sped up, quickly catching up to others. Mathias tried to keep the pain from his voice, the worry that he felt, he kept hidden away under a veil of carefree blissfulness "Me," his voice sounded syrupy to himself, so overly sweet it was disgusting "I'm fine, Philla. Bet I can beat you down the road!" He urged Lotus to ride harder, and she went into a flawless canter.