Spring had fully come to Alliance, though Eric barely noticed that fact. His days and nights had been immersed in searching through the ancient tomes that Cleandria had saved. Initially working for his own personal interest and with no direction, Eric had been translating more editions when news had come to the island.
His mother had found him and together they had cried in relief to hear that Kannein had been found, that Nerini was safe and they were both on their way south. Eric had been about to celebrate that his siblings had vanquished the evil they had all been worrying about when Elana had cautioned him.
There had been no word of victory in the short dispatch from Lady Wyn. Relief and joy at the safety of those they cared about, yes, but there had not been a single word about the state of the enemy.
A few days later, he received a letter from his sister. Aside from the normal affections that she always sent to him, she had only given him two lines. One of request.
Look for Shariana, for Sanyuinels, for the elders, for Truth Seekers, for Queen Ana.
Oh, I found the sword. They weren't lost, they were buried. Keep the diamond in the earth.
With names and a direction to look in, Eric lost himself in the histories. And it was not long until he began to understand why his sister had sent him searching for those specific things. There, hidden amongst the rest of the histories of battles, loves and losses, a story took shape.
And he knew his mother had been right. There was far more to follow.