The following weeks the rain kept pouring down the mountains, washing away the blood. It was as if the island was mourning the victims of the battle. Funerals were held, tears were shed and brushed away. Ard decided to cremate his brother’s body as was the tradition of their homeland. He spread the ashes over the green island but saved some if he one day would return home.
The killed spring guardians were buried on the south side of the mountain and the killed monsters got buried on the north side to remind everyone who visited the spring of the battle for its protection.
The moment Jack lost all control the monsters were released by his spell. The surviving spring guards had rushed to the spring to gather water and then run back to the monsters and forced them to drink the water. They were all cured, physically, but the memory of all the things they’d done were still there. The islanders took them all in to help them. Touched by their kindness many of the cured monsters decided to stay and repay their debt. But some of them decided to follow the new chairman of the Academy.
Ard’s powers, although still in its cradle, made him the most powerful broken alive. The council members who’d followed Jack to the island immediately recognised Ard as their new leader. Ard had of course already seen the difference he could do in the world and accepted the position. Jagger decided to follow Ard back to the Academy.
Jack was already forgotten. In the chaos after the battle Sassa had escaped with him before no one ever thought of looking for them. But Ana said it didn’t matter, Jack was no longer a threat and if he tried to rise again Ard would know.
Soi sat at the threshold of the kitchen door leading out in the garden and rested against the wall. The rain had stopped for a moment and the sun pushed through the heavy clouds to shine on the small garden and Soi’s face. Siri came and stood right behind him.
-You’ve got a letter from Ard and Jagger, she said.
-Read it for me, are you kind.
Siri broke the golden seal of the Academy and unfolded the letter carefully.
-“ Soi, I think you will be glad to hear that I have re-coloured the Academy, or at least the residences.”, Siri read.
Soi smiled with his eyes closed, enjoying the sun.
-“And I think you will be even more happy when I tell you that my parents have sent me a letter.”
Soi sat up straight.
-Read that again, Siri.
-“…my parents have sent me a letter. The rings Haz sold to buy the ship returned to our parents. If only we had sold our rings sooner…”
Siri looked up from the letter and met her brothers eyes, her eyes were tearing. Soi stood up and put his arm around her shoulder.
-“ I’ve seen images of a wedding, I hope you won’t forget to invite me and Jagger.”, Siri continued.
-Wait, what? Soi said. –Who’s wedding?
Siri tilted her head and watched her brother closely.
-It’s not mine! Soi defended himself.
-No, it’s mine. I knew Nibbles was planning something, I just didn’t know what. So much for the surprise, Siri sighed. –I better not read anymore in case he reveals something else.
Siri walked back into the kitchen.
-Like what?! Soi called after her, then begun to read through the letter thoroughly.
A sharp sunbeam hit Soi’s eyes and he looked up from the letter. It was a sun reflection from Ana’s ring that swung around her neck as she came down the mountain with a raincloud right behind her. When the first drops of rain hit her she began to run towards the house. Her smile turned brighter than the sun. She joined Soi in the doorway, safe away from the rain. She was drenched.
-Does it always rain around here? She asked, trying to sound irritated but her bright smile revealed her.
Siri came back with a dry towel.
-I thought you liked the rain? Isn’t that why you’re smiling? Siri teased her and gave her the towel.
-Oh no, I hate rain, Ana said still smiling radiantly.
-Then why are you smiling? Siri asked, confused by her smile.
Ana’s smile only grew wider and her grey eyes sparkled. Soi knew why she was happy. She could run free no longer restricted by her leg.
-Not because of my little brother, right? Siri teased.
Soi was stunned, he didn’t know what to say. Ana’s smile turned shyer and she refused to meet his eyes.
-Eh, it seems like Ard has found my black mare, or rather she waited at the front gate of the Academy when they returned, Soi rambled on to break the awkward mood. -What do you say, should we return to the mainland, Ana?
Ana’s bright smile returned.
-As long as we get away from the rain.
The killed spring guardians were buried on the south side of the mountain and the killed monsters got buried on the north side to remind everyone who visited the spring of the battle for its protection.
The moment Jack lost all control the monsters were released by his spell. The surviving spring guards had rushed to the spring to gather water and then run back to the monsters and forced them to drink the water. They were all cured, physically, but the memory of all the things they’d done were still there. The islanders took them all in to help them. Touched by their kindness many of the cured monsters decided to stay and repay their debt. But some of them decided to follow the new chairman of the Academy.
Ard’s powers, although still in its cradle, made him the most powerful broken alive. The council members who’d followed Jack to the island immediately recognised Ard as their new leader. Ard had of course already seen the difference he could do in the world and accepted the position. Jagger decided to follow Ard back to the Academy.
Jack was already forgotten. In the chaos after the battle Sassa had escaped with him before no one ever thought of looking for them. But Ana said it didn’t matter, Jack was no longer a threat and if he tried to rise again Ard would know.
Soi sat at the threshold of the kitchen door leading out in the garden and rested against the wall. The rain had stopped for a moment and the sun pushed through the heavy clouds to shine on the small garden and Soi’s face. Siri came and stood right behind him.
-You’ve got a letter from Ard and Jagger, she said.
-Read it for me, are you kind.
Siri broke the golden seal of the Academy and unfolded the letter carefully.
-“ Soi, I think you will be glad to hear that I have re-coloured the Academy, or at least the residences.”, Siri read.
Soi smiled with his eyes closed, enjoying the sun.
-“And I think you will be even more happy when I tell you that my parents have sent me a letter.”
Soi sat up straight.
-Read that again, Siri.
-“…my parents have sent me a letter. The rings Haz sold to buy the ship returned to our parents. If only we had sold our rings sooner…”
Siri looked up from the letter and met her brothers eyes, her eyes were tearing. Soi stood up and put his arm around her shoulder.
-“ I’ve seen images of a wedding, I hope you won’t forget to invite me and Jagger.”, Siri continued.
-Wait, what? Soi said. –Who’s wedding?
Siri tilted her head and watched her brother closely.
-It’s not mine! Soi defended himself.
-No, it’s mine. I knew Nibbles was planning something, I just didn’t know what. So much for the surprise, Siri sighed. –I better not read anymore in case he reveals something else.
Siri walked back into the kitchen.
-Like what?! Soi called after her, then begun to read through the letter thoroughly.
A sharp sunbeam hit Soi’s eyes and he looked up from the letter. It was a sun reflection from Ana’s ring that swung around her neck as she came down the mountain with a raincloud right behind her. When the first drops of rain hit her she began to run towards the house. Her smile turned brighter than the sun. She joined Soi in the doorway, safe away from the rain. She was drenched.
-Does it always rain around here? She asked, trying to sound irritated but her bright smile revealed her.
Siri came back with a dry towel.
-I thought you liked the rain? Isn’t that why you’re smiling? Siri teased her and gave her the towel.
-Oh no, I hate rain, Ana said still smiling radiantly.
-Then why are you smiling? Siri asked, confused by her smile.
Ana’s smile only grew wider and her grey eyes sparkled. Soi knew why she was happy. She could run free no longer restricted by her leg.
-Not because of my little brother, right? Siri teased.
Soi was stunned, he didn’t know what to say. Ana’s smile turned shyer and she refused to meet his eyes.
-Eh, it seems like Ard has found my black mare, or rather she waited at the front gate of the Academy when they returned, Soi rambled on to break the awkward mood. -What do you say, should we return to the mainland, Ana?
Ana’s bright smile returned.
-As long as we get away from the rain.
The End
To NOT to be continued...
By J.L.Frick
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