NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60 - Epilogue
Palinus sat with Seline as she watched the stone witch die. She wouldn't let them take her away until the witch's chest stopped moving, the ragged gurgling of her breath fading slowly until finally stopping. As Palinus confirmed her heart had stopped, they heard a raven caw from the corner of the room. The bird swooped over the Erulean team as it flew out of the temple, north towards the mountains. It's caw echoing portentously through the town.
Taking a shuddering breath, Seline stood, stroking her bow thoughtfully before she slung it over her shoulder. She checked it sat in place and straightened her hair as they left the body where it lay.
Their legionnaires cheered as the Cinderborn descended the steps of the temple. Raising their arms in triumph as the young men and women cheered and clapped them on the shoulder.
After the exhaustion and action of that afternoon, everyone in the group was happy that the next few weeks were lazy. They occupied the barracks and settled into a routine of patrolling around the town as they helped the people who lived in Ravensdam recover from the looting and damage of the bandit group. Seeing the haunted look on some of their faces made Palinus regret that they had let the enemy escape; they had even released Reinvar once his wounds had healed. But as the town returned to a normal routine, the pains faded, and a sense of quiet normalcy returned.
Reflecting on his journey, Palinus stood in the temple, tending the fire he had cleaned out and restored. He grasped the letters from his father to the stone witch in his hand. As he read each for the last time, he threw them in the fire, watching the past burn and promising himself a brighter future. The witch had descended into madness on each of the pages, revealing a darkness to the northern witches that repulsed Palinus.
He and Servius hadn't quite figured out how to behave around each other, and it was awkward. Fortunately, once things calmed down, the man had said his goodbyes as he ran south, preparing to join the civil war. With an aborted hug that became a handshake, he had left Palinus with a token, a letter that declared him his son and a ring that bore their family name: Laeca.
The time to process had been good for Palinus; he had felt so much emotion and so much pain, but he was ready to accept the change. He felt a glimmer of pride as he considered what being named meant; he was truly a citizen, and he didn't need to prove himself to the capital. Though the motivation of that still eluded him, he still loathed the posturing of the city and the corruption of its people.
"Come quick!" Vesuvia called out to him, interrupting his spiraling thoughts.
"Another rift?" he asked, excited for another adventure. They had been able to delve several times since they recaptured the town, with the eagle nexus beast making up lost ground against its neighboring rivals. The team had enjoyed the opportunity to delve into less intense rifts, and they had even managed to level up, each gaining their Third Tier.
"No! It's a horse, riding quickly. We think it's a messenger!"
They ran out to the gates to greet the messenger. The man reining in the horse as he delivered a box studded with a gleaming calculus.
It buzzed and crackled as they set it on the street in front of them. A
"Hellooo!" Tribune Asterius's voice came through a short time later. "Can you hear me, Cinderborn?"
"We can hear you, Tribune," Seline answered.
"Great! Well done on recapturing Ravensdam. The report from Centurion Felusian was riveting!
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I am sending this packet through to give you an update as well as some 'rewards' for your achievement. I can't believe you asked the nexus beast for a reward, Rufian, I have never heard of balls… I am off track!"
The team laughed as Bruchts punched Rufian on the shoulder.
"The current standings for the Rift Trial for your century are as follows:
Golden Wolves have lost ground in the trials; they are sitting in 9th place.
Your friends, the Punishing Flames, have been doing well a few towns over; they have moved into 3rd position."
Palinus shared a look with Seline as she noticed the same thing he had. They, the cinderborn, had been in third place. Had they done enough to jump higher? Or had they fallen behind the former 111s… They had lost the first rift in the series, and from what Vesuvia was saying about the last rift, she thought the druid had thrown the match.
"You faced the most challenges of any of the teams so far. Scoring highly for winning against the odds, rescuing the town from bandits, and protecting the nexus from sabotage that could have obliterated much of the town.
For these reasons, you are currently in first place, leading the Rift Trial!"
"Yeah!" Rufian crowed and jumped around with his hands in the air, Vesuvia joining in his exuberant celebrations, as the others smiled at their display.
"That's great, Tribune," Palinus started, not feeling the same sense of triumph, "But with the civil war going on, is the Rift Trial going to continue?"
"With the turbulence of the empire, the Rift Trials are even more important," Asterius replied, his voice cracking through the projection. "They are about finding and empowering the best of our young talent. We need you to take on the mantle as the next generation, and maybe you will be able to solve the problems the empire continues to face!"
Nodding at the explanation, Palinus felt his chest swell; he allowed himself to let go of the worries that lay ahead and be proud of their achievements.
"... In this box, you will find your rewards. As well as your orders for the next rift trial."
As soon as he had said the word reward, Rufian jumped to open the box; it proved to be spatially expanded as he pulled out a spectacular bow, several calculii, and a circular shield. The team could instantly tell which item was meant for whom, as Palinus admired the calculus in his hand, wondering what it might add to his power.
Reading the packet with their orders, Seline wished the Tribune goodbye.
"What's next?" Palinus asked.
"We are here for a while at least…" she explained, a sad look on her face, "but the next trial is west and north, into the forest."
"Where is the consul?" Podius screamed at the aide. Taking the golden wreath that marked him as the Tyrant Emperor of Erulea, he launched it at the wall. His rift empowered body adding red flames of his attunement to his tantrum as the heated metal clattered against the wall. Adding to the scorch marks that already decorated the reception hall.
"He has taken to his hunting villa, Tyrant Octavius, his doctores claim that he is quite unwell. 'Absolutely unfit for duty.'" His aide trembled as he held a stone tablet, trying to protect himself behind the little albumstone shield.
"Why must they all hamstring me at every turn!" Podius roared, throwing the signet ring that marked him as Tyrant Octavius. "Send out the training legion to bring him back to the capital!"
"The Centuriata have blocked you from-."
"I know they have blocked me from commanding the armies! But they can't stop me from sending them orders directly! Surely the legions will respond to my request."
"There are no legions in the capital tyrant…"
"Except the one marching towards it!" Podius's anger simmered as he sat on the marble chair that acted as his throne. He had imagined giving orders from this spot, shooting out instructions that fixed the whole mess of the empire.
But he had achieved nothing…
Even worse, he had confirmation that the man he had supposedly killed to claim the throne he sat on was not only alive, but he was marching back to the capital.
Tears came unbidden to his face. "How do they not know I am doing this for them? How can my precious first legion march against me? Why must they all abandon me?"