Mark of the Ranger

Epilogue

           "The golden core, Lord, which was hidden at the magic farm, just as you said." One of Infernas' favorite Scorch Knights, so loyal and competent that Infernas gave him a name--Torilon--handed Infernas the core he had asked for. Infernas gazed at its beauty for a moment, always one to admire a spectacle, before squeezing it in his iron fist. Power ran down his arm and flooded his body. This was just the amount of power he needed to transform. Infernas did a rare thing--he stood up in the presence of a Scorch Knight. Torilon was sure not to mind marveling Infernas' fire glowing much brighter.

          Infernas looked at his armor. Red fire used to flow from the intentional cracks. Now, the fire disappeared, and was replaced with a blue fire. "AHA HAHAHAHA!" he chuckled, and blue fire streamed out of the top of his head. His black armor became a refined silver, and more blue flames burst from every seam. Eventually, the fire settled down, but it remained blue, and his armor remained silver. He put a hand to Torilon's shoulder, and his loyal knight changed with him. His fire also became blue, and spikes ran along the sides of his helmet and back, and pointing backwards.

          "Your fire is even brighter, Lord," Torilon praised. Infernas nodded. "Yes, it is, Torilon," he chuckled again.

          "Yes, it is."

*****

One year later...

          "...And everyone in the Deadlands is dead," the grand councilor finished the role call. "And now, we have an announcement from an Outland Ranger. Lion, please stand."

          I stood, my fifteen-year-old legs much stronger and more confident than before. I glanced at my Mark of Wisdom. C'mon, give me the right words, I thought to it. I spoke to the entirety of the other Rangers. "Infernas has taken all of the Deadlands and has annexed their cores. Along with those, he has taken a golden core, formed from a combination of phoenix and dragon, and has annexed that. His fire is much brighter than ever before. I need many teams, those who are willing to be destroyed, as my friends did when they tried to protect the core.

          "Infernas has been dormant for this time, resting as his power flows through him. It is now that we must strike, or the Five Lands will be doomed forever. Who's with me?!" I shouted. No one stood. It was worth a try, I told my Mark of Wisdom. I guess I was never good at motivational speeches. As I began to sit down, however, Jordan and Josie rose from the Woodland Rangers' section. "We'll do it," Jordan said as the other Rangers tried to drag them down, reminding them that they were on probation.

          However, the Rangers were stopped by their leader, O'naharu. "They were stupid enough to land on a year-long probation, let them be stupid enough to volunteer for this mission." Jordan and Josie seemed satisfied with being stupid. I heard another voice call out from the Highlands section, and everyone turned that way. A wood elf, the one from the geovore corral, who was named Chris and wielded a hammer, was standing up. "I am also stupid," he declared. I grinned at the elf, and he grinned back.

          "Don't forget me!" called a voice from the Badlands. Sari, the Asmerian from the Badlands that I had met at the ball! She was also stupid! I smiled, thinking of the coincidence that the Ranger I met at the ball would be the Rangers that would be stupid enough to join me. 

          "That is all very well," the head councilor said, "But how many of you standing are there? Five, eh? You need six to be a real team." I sighed, wishing that there was at least one Deadland Ranger that could finish the team.

          That proved to be unnecessary.

           "GREETINGS!" I heard the most beautiful voice from man call out as the large double doors burst open. Into the hall strolled what must have been hundreds of people, dressed in white Ranger Gear and cloaks, wearing strange masks with L-shaped antlers that jutted diagonally forward from the temples. At the front of the group stood another Ranger-like person, except they had metal armor instead of Ranger Gear, and their antlers were larger.

          "I am the Bright Lord!" the armored man continued.

          "As opposed to the Dark Lord?" the head councilor asked.

          "Yes," the Bright Lord answered. "Those that stand behind me are the Wayland Rangers! One of our best new recruits, Raq Shinn, is interested in joining the Outland Ranger's team! Also, the rest of us are interested in helping any way we can!"

          A normal Wayland Ranger, who must have been Raq Shinn, stepped forward. "I will join this quest!" With that, every other Ranger in the room stood, saying the same thing. All they needed was some unknown Ranger leader from an unknown land coming out and saying that their entire Land is stupid for everyone to join in.

          And that was when the real journey began.