Portals & Realms

Epilogue 1 - Here We Are

-
-
Two Years Later...

    "Welcome everyone, I'm Sally White, to our nine am to noon news program, where we bring you unbiased and accurately sourced information for your entertainment. This morning I am here with Lily Smith and Caleb Caldino."
    "It is a pleasure to be joining you for this news cast this morning Sally. Now today we have quite a bit to go over. Isn't that right?" Caleb asked from where he was sitting on the far left of the table. Sally was to the right, and Lily was between them.
    Sally nodded, "yes indeed Caleb we do. To start with, today marks the second year holiday of the War For the Realms that happened this very day only a few hours away from now."
    "For those who may have forgotten some information about this historic event for our state, and practically the world, five adults went missing two and a half weeks prior to this and came back to protect our world from destruction against a powerful entity that we had never seen."
    The screen switched from them talking and sitting at the table to the helicopter footage taken above, "this creature went by the alias named Ghost, a corrupted creature who aimed to bring destruction wherever he went. With courage the brave group of individuals managed to fight him off and were successful in saving everyone here."
    "Yes indeed Lily, but what continues to boggle my mind is how the media and the people did not seem to... panic, as the group and as everyone else had thought. It was the most honest report from many other sources, including our own, that I have ever seen!"
    Sally also nodded and the screen flipped back to them, but now slightly more to the left. "I have to agree there! I personally expected many fights to break out about the new policies of potential copyright and if anyone can own properties they create because of some aspect of our creations branching into their old worlds. However, there has been a case of one company trying to take an entire world under their hand, but it failed. But I feel like it's good ours are remaining as separate as possible."
    "But with all this good news did come at a cost. During the fight there was one confirmed death: Mae. She originally was under the name and appearance of Kida, but during the journey she was said to have changed into the true self she had underneath because of power influences and personal troubles. She is said to have been killed by a deep wound in her neck."
    "It's a shame that that day we lost a brave hero, but she will not be forgotten in the face of time," Caleb said and shook his head. "On this special day today the gate into the preservation area is open for anyone who was connected to her to go lay flowers and thanks at her resting site. Now, Lily, what's so special about this place?"
    She smiled, "glad you asked Caleb. We were told by local police forces that were on duty that day that the cherry blossom tree in there began growing there as soon as she died. It not only is her place of burial, but it is the temporary place where we sometimes get visitors from other worlds! Will you put up the pictures of the tree for me Josh?"
    Three pictures covered the newscasters. The biggest one was a far away shot of the tree in the sun, yellow and white flowers decorating the area along with small blue ones sprouting now. New ones, since the picture was taken only a week ago. The tree was now massive, flowers blooming as branches hung low and curled down to form a shaded area. The second picture, though smaller, was from last year. The tree looked much different, being smaller and having only pink flowers in the area. And finally, the third picture on the screen was a wooden plate right in front of the tree, grooves and dirt on its surface, but blue flowers now surrounding it instead of the pink ones that used to litter the ground. An engraving on the tree still was visible "in time".
    "Due to the fact that we don't get many visitors, we still have the gate closed more often than not, but only two monthes ago, a new system was implemented by the stone walkway that leads into the burial and preservation area," Lily explained from behind the pictures on the screen, "The state approved to place a station box there, which essentially is a cellular system that involves codes and buttons for the visitor to enter. They enter a series of numbers based off of where they came from, their intentions here, and other information they can enter if known."
    "It is truly a remarkable system, I'll say that." Sally agreed.
    The pictures faded away.
    "Alright! That concludes the recap of the event," Lily nodded, "Next, we will go see our reporter, Caden F. , down in the capital of our state for a special-" her voice faded away as the TV shut off. In the reflection on the screen was a sad face as she stood up, looking at the picture in her hands.
    "Right, guess it's time to go then," Perri shrugged her shoulders and put the picture frame back down, taking one last bite of her sandwich and opening the lid to the trash can, throwing her napkin away and putting her plate on the counter. She grabbed her water and took a swig of it, swishing her mouth and getting everything out of her teeth. She swallowed and grabbed her backpack, not putting it on and she walked out the door. She pulled out her phone in her other hand and walked into the elevator, pushing the button for the parking garage. "Pick up... pick up..."
    "Hello? This is Ein."
    "Hey I'm on my way. How are you feeling today?" The elevator descended through the large complex of rentable dorm-like apartments and looked up at the number on the screen, decreasing as she went lower.
    He sighed over the phone. "Good. Part of my arm is still numb from being stung by a scorpion, but it doesn't hurt anymore. Say do you prefer bacon or sausage more? Xolo came over today to check on me and brought some breakfast we can share."
    "I'll take sausage if that's alright with you."
    "Sounds good. How's your wife?"
    "Oh Nadia? She's doing well," Perri stepped out of the elevator with her bag in her hand and set it on the floor, rolling her shoulder, "I'm going back tomorrow. I invited her to come for this visit, since it was an entire week, but she declined. Seriously, I know she's the countess and everything but Vesuvia won't fall to ruin if she stays away for a week for a 'business trip'!"
    "Did you tell her that?" Ein asked and rolled his eyes as he stood up from the couch.
    Perri sniffled, "of course I told her that. Brutal honesty has and will always be my middle name."
    "Yeah yeah... hey let me go get mr. metal arm and make sure he's awake since he's allowed me to stay in his house."
    "Wait, you aren't at Garroth's place anymore?" She asked, furrowing her brow.
    "Nah, he had to go on a work trip yesterday afternoon. So... naturally I had the place to myself with Laurance also out, but it got a little lonely. I asked Nana if I could stay the night with her and Zane, and she said yes. I'm heading back there this afternoon."
    Perri switched the phone to her other hand and nodded, "alrighty, I'm about to head your way. Make sure he's up. See you in a bit bud."
    "As to you!"
    She hung up the phone and slid it into her backpack, rezipping it up. As soon as it was secure, she held out her hands and closed her eyes, feeling her entire body morph and extend. As she opened them back up, she grabbed the backpack with a hand and tightened the straps around her left arm, ensuring it wouldn't fly off as she flew. Perri walked around the corner to the stairs out of the parking garage and spread her wings, which now were a lighter shade of yellow than before with greyish green spots on them. On the base of her right wing was a small tear that didn't hinder her flying, but what did was her tail. Due to how badly injured it had been those two years ago, the tip of her tail and then some had to be amputated, since there was no way the bones and muscles could have healed. It hindered her from making sharp turns.
    She took off into the sky as soon as she exited the parking structure, no one walking directly near to feel the rush of winds on their faces from her wings. She evened out, flying above the road and looked down at some faces beneath. One waved to her and she waved back before diverting from going straight. The sky was mostly clear now, but it was predicted that it would rain later on.
Just gotta go get the boy and then we will come back later and vibe a little before we all go our separate ways and live our lives again.
    I miss you Mae.
    I'm still searching for Elvadoer for you. It's been a year and a half since I saw her last. I'm looking everywhere I can. I'm sure you might know where she is and simply cannot tell us since you can now see all and know all and watch all, but I'm doing it for you.
    I don't understand her discontent with you. It wasn't your fault. But she never experienced such pain before. She's still missing. But I'll find her. And as soon as I know she's alive and well, then that is that.
    Perri spread her wings out for a landing at the tree, two teens walking in the area with wonder in their eyes. They stopped as she landed on the paven path by the water's edge and walked up to the platform.
    "Ein Shalasaka, Mystreet, companions of Zane and Garroth Ro'meave."
    The platform seemed to pause for a moment before glowing and in a flash of light, Perri looked at the carving in the tree. In time. In time for what?