The elf exhaled softly, then spoke. "Serina should be find guilty as she ca with them. But it’s also true that, without Serina, none of this would have been possible. She was the one who brought Esther and Hina here so that they could save us. Without her, we wouldn’t have been able to stop Gyosu."
Serina’s eyes widened, her lips parting, but no words ca.
The Elf continued, his voice firm yet kind. "So we have no reason to punish her. If anything, we should be thanking her."
Tears welled in Serina’s eyes, and this ti, she didn’t fight them. She didn’t want to be forgiven—she didn’t believe she deserved it. A sob escaped her, followed by another. She lowered her head, fists trembling, her whole body shaking as she finally broke.
"I... I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with pain. "I should have done sothing sooner... I should have stopped it before it got this far... I failed... I—"
Her words collapsed into strangled sobs. She clutched her head, her shoulders shaking violently as she cried, consud by self-loathing.
Hina didn’t hesitate. She stood and wrapped her arms around Serina, holding her tightly. "It’s okay, Serina," she whispered, her own voice breaking. "Braun and the others weren’t easy to defeat. And you... you lost a friend when he revolted against them, didn’t you?"
Serina gasped for air, trying to regain control. "Still..."
"You did what you could," Hina assured her, stroking her back. "You made the right choice when it mattered most. There’s no need to carry this burden alone. The elves have forgiven you... so please, forgive yourself."
Serina trembled in her embrace, her sobs quieting into shallow breaths. The hall remained silent, the weight of everything that had happened settling into the hearts of all who were present.
A hush fell over the hall, the weight of Serina’s sobs lingering in the air. Then, soft footsteps echoed against the wooden floor. Two small figures—a boy and a girl, no older than ten—erged from the gathered elves. Their innocent faces were streaked with concern as they rushed toward Serina.
The boy reached her first, wrapping his small arms around her trembling body. "Serina sister... don’t cry," he whispered, his voice filled with childlike sincerity.
The girl followed, pressing herself into Serina’s side, holding her tightly as if her embrace alone could chase away the pain.
Serina gasped, her breath catching in her throat. She turned her tear-streaked face toward them, her eyes widening. More tears welled up, but this ti, they weren’t just of sorrow—they carried sothing else, sothing warr.
With a choked sob, she pulled them both into her arms, burying her face in their hair as she held them close. She cried, but this ti, she wasn’t alone.
Around them, the elves watched in silence. Then, slowly, their expressions softened. The cold edge of battle-worn grief lted into sothing gentler. So exchanged glances, so nodded, and others smiled—a quiet, reassuring gesture of acceptance.
At that mont, the weight of guilt no longer rested on Serina’s shoulders alone. She was no longer just a soldier of a lost cause. She was family.
*Clang.*
The sharp ring of steel striking against steel echoed through the hall, breaking the fragile silence. Every head turned toward , their gazes locked in quiet anticipation. I set the glass down with deliberate ease and leaned back, my eyes steady on the elder elf sitting before .
"So... what’s next for the Eladrins now?" My voice was calm, but my question carried weight.
The elder t my gaze, his expression unreadable. He remained silent for a mont, lost in thought. Then, before he could answer, Hina chid in, her voice light but hopeful.
"Why not leave the island and join the others? Like the rest of the elves who have settled across the country?" she suggested, her hands gesturing as if to welco the idea into existence.
But the elder shook his head slowly. "We need ti to think... to reflect on our destination," he admitted. "Gyosu wasn’t entirely wrong, you know. Once, we were the strongest of elves. Our magic, our skill—they were unmatched. But now, we live in solace, stagnant, with no true path forward."
His words lingered in the air, heavy with a past that refused to fade.
I said nothing, simply watching him, my fingers idly tracing the rim of my glass.
Finally, he exhaled, his posture relaxing ever so slightly. "We will co to a decision in ti," he continued. "But for now, you need not concern yourselves with us any longer. You’ve done more than enough." A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a rare mont of gratitude breaking through the weight of his burdens.
I studied him for a second longer before shrugging and saying.
"Do as you wish."
Lifting the glass once more, I took a slow sip of water, letting the conversation fade into the background. Whatever the Eladrins chose next—whether to stay or to leave—was no longer my concern.
And with that, our ti on this island ca to an end. The weight of battle still clung to the air and Elves will take so ti to recover from the disaster but the storm had passed, leaving only quiet resolutions and lingering wounds—so seen, others buried deep within.
In just a few hours, we would be preparing to leave, stepping off this land for what might be the last ti. Perhaps, in another place, another battle, fate would bring our paths together again. The Eladrins had their own journey to walk, and so did we.
I took a stroll, one last look around. The island was rich with life, its resources untouched, its beauty undeniable. The vast, endless forests, the crystalline lakes—it was a place many would dream to call ho.
But right now, none of it mattered to . I longed for the comfort of my own bed.
"Oiii Esther!!" Called Hina from behind with our bags in hand. "What are you doing here? The boat is here. We need to leave."
"Coming!!" I replied, Sighh.
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