Twisted Roots: A Collection of Short Stories

Eternity

Hello again,
This story was actually inspired by its own ending. Not gonna spoil it, but I wanted to write a story with that ending, so yeah.
Enjoy!
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The Story
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I was unstoppable. Sword in hand, I blazed through the enemy troops, cutting them down one by one. Several people tried to stop me, but my rage blew on. I kept running and running, stabbing and slicing until, all of a sudden--

Oh come on. What kind of start was that? A terrible one, that's it. I mean, who starts a story with the final battle? Not me, that's for sure.
Here's the real beginning:

I sat atop Redwood Hill, gazing down at the eternal war in the valley below. Two sides, the Terra and the Aqua, fought viciously over the sacred ground. Many suspected that their fight would never cease, for each felt passionately for their religion, therefore regarding the valley as theirs alone. I, however, suspected differently. You see, there was a third people, the Aera, who watched from the clouds. They did not want the sacred valley, but they absolutely despised the Terra people. Therefore, I predicted that soon enough, the Aera would interfere with the war by siding with the Aqua to defeat the Terra and perhaps regain their right to approach the ground.
How do I know all this? I also despise the Terra. They wanted to take all land for their own, forcing the Aqua to live underwater and the Aera to live in the sky. It was I who allowed the Aqua and Aera to live in such unnatural environments for them. I gave the Aera their wings and a home in the sky formed of solid clouds. I gave the Aqua their underwater abilities and a palace of coral and shells. However, I will give the Terra nothing, for they have already taken everything for themselves.
I heard the silent wingbeats of an Aera behind me. Without turning, I addressed him.
"Good afternoon" I said
"And you as well" The Aera replied "May I ask how you knew I was here?"
"I heard you" I replied
"Clearly you have keen ears" The Aera commented "I have been trained to be silent. To most, my wings make no sound"
"I can tell" I said "Tell me your name"
"Can I trust you with such a thing?" The Aera asked
"I am Lyara" I said "You can trust me with anything"
"Oh, my apologies" The Aera bowed his head before me "I did not recognize you"
"It is fine" I said "Please rise and tell me your name"
"I am Hawk" The Aera said "I am a spy for King Eldest"
"It is nice to meet you, Hawk" I said "What brings you to this hill?"
"I was sent to observe the war" Hawk said "Is that your task as well?"
"I suppose" I said "Tell me, do you wish to form an alliance with the Aqua?"
"That is what King Eldest wishes" Hawk said
"I see" I said "Would you be so kind as to deliver a message for me?"
"Of course" Hawk said "What is the message?"
"Tell King Eldest that I will await the Aera army on this hill" I said
"Alright" Hawk said "Farewell"
"Until we meet again" I said
Hawk flew off to his kingdom. I watched the steady beats of his wings as he flew, knowing that soon he would no longer have to fly as silently as he did, that he would someday walk this land with dignity.
Many minutes later, the Aera army arrived at Redwood Hill. King Eldest approached me.
"The goddess Lyara" Eldest said "It is nice to see you again"
"And you as well" I said "Thank you for coming"
"You're always welcome" Eldest replied "Is there a reason you brought us here?"
"I brought you here to fight alongside you" I drew my golden blade from its sheath "Together, we will take back what the Terra stole from your people"
The Aera and I flew down to the center of the battlefield. Everyone stopped and stared.
"We will fight beside the Aqua" King Eldest announced "We will drive the Terra from this valley and take back our land"
"The land was never yours" The chief of the Terra stepped forward "The God of Earth has given it to us alone"
"Yet you dare not speak his name" I said
"The God's name is forbidden to us" The chief said "It is his will"
"Thandar does not trust you" I said. There were several gasps.
"How do you know this?" The chief shouted angrily
"Because I am his sister, Lyara" I said "The Goddess of Sky"
"How dare you enter our land" The chief spat "We will burn your spirit when this war is over"
"My spirit will remain forever intact" I said "And when this war is over, you will walk your land with the Aqua and Aera by your side"
"We will never walk with those who side with you" The chief said "You gave us nothing. The God of Earth gave us everything"
"Thandar gave you what he gave you because he enjoys war" I said "And today, I give you a choice. You can share this valley with the Aqua and share your land with the Aqua and the Aera, and in turn share my support. The other option is to be defeated in this battle and exiled to the depths of the shadows where only Aknos will see you"
"Who is this Aknos?" The chief asked
"The God of Darkness" I said "A friend of Thandar"
"Then we will never share our land" The chief said "It is a gift from our god, we will treasure it forever!"
"Very well" I said "Then we will have war"
And the battle began.
I was unstoppable. Sword in hand, I blazed through the enemy troops, cutting them down one by one. Several people tried to stop me, but my rage blew on. I kept running and running, stabbing and slicing until, all of a sudden--

Whoops, wrong part.
That's the beginning.