The Wilting Ballad

Epilogue

Time passed, the moon had arrived in full though no stars were on the sky, and the rain hadn't settled down. It wasn't in the mood to settle down, that much was guaranteed. Also guaranteed was the dampen mood of the last seven who were a curse to stay awake while the rest of Iruil sleeps.

"It happened exactly as He said it would, in case there are those doubting." Muttered Semariv Serpari, cupping a tiny flying thing in his hands. "My dainty flying reliable sources confirmed it."

Naught but silence answered him, but he understands their brooding, perhaps more so than anyone, now that they were the only ones technically, alive. He shared with them their silence, for what else was there that he could do.

Heroes meant to save their land were who they thought they were. But against the cruel fates set by the gods, even the mightiest and greatest and most gifted were meant to only fall, and it crushes their will.

Once the Ill-Fated One had done its work and rises to His fated place. The injuries Berick and Gariel had suffered from were healing in quick succession. Which was a good thing as particularly no one was up to the task of healing them.

They hadn't moved from the southern beach, they slumped on the ground, drowning in their guilt and shame. While some deeply mourned and grief for their home, some accepted the fate of the world. Some were too angry to care while some completely denied what had occurred to be reality.

At the edge of the beach, on the rock closes to the ocean sat Neania, staring at the beyond, where none had dared to venture. The places she saw when she had been a dragon. The lands. So many lands. And the people of Iruil were stupid enough to believe that Iruil alone was the whole world. She thought about the many possibilities of those lands should they try to travel there.

Silent tears tracing on her cheeks met the rain that had doomed her family, crying in the rain truly wasn't worth it. She was startled when she noticed the salty tears on her lips. Crying, in a place that is meant to forever cry. Sleeping while I stay awake.

She stands, still gazing, pondering what was the next land after sailing through this ocean. She knows for certain there were many greens there, so that was a good thing, at least. "Choose." She said, turning around to face those that remain. "We have no choice but to choose." She strides forward, Jlyn was nearest to her, she extended her hand, he gladly took them and stand as well. "Stay here, wallowing in misery... or sailing out to the unknown, to hopefully, find the cure, find a counter to this cursed rain." She looked at each of them in their eyes in turn, "I haven't the right to judge any of you should you choose otherwise... but me? I've chosen sailing to the unknown."

                                                                                Completed