END OF THE STORM

END OF THE STORM
Elba’s POV

I watched Siofra leave, but someone stayed behind—Lumeria, one of the spirit goddesses.

“Why are you still here? Aren't you supposed to go with her?” I threw the questions at her, not stopping as I bent over and grabbed a fistful of Alma's hair, dragging her toward the jagged fracture in the cavern floor. “You're about to lose someone you care deeply about. Shouldn't you be there to guide her spirit to the Mother Gem?”

Since Alma wanted to awaken the beasts of the underworld so badly, I figured I would show her what happens when someone disturbs their slumber. I couldn't possibly leave them hungry, could I?

“What are you doing?! Let me go, you monster! Why not just kill me?!” Her terrified screams rang through the air. Her trembling hands scrambled to claw at mine, desperately trying to break my grip on her hair.

“You should have thought about those beasts feeding on you before you decided to release them,” I hissed, pulling her closer to the abyss. “Since they're already awake and begging to be fed, why don't you go be their snack? At least your soul will spend eternity in their hell, remembering every single agonized tear as they eat you alive.”

My words spiked a fresh wave of horror through her, and she thrashed wildly to break free. But I hauled her straight over the edge of the crack, shoving her into the darkness below without a second thought. A blood-curdling shriek followed her down, fading into the abyss.

Almost immediately, the parted ocean walls around us began to cave in. Channeling the power of Almaruda that had finally returned to me, I held the massive walls of water back just long enough for the other elves to carry the unconscious queens out to safety.

With the combined strength of the Black Stone, Almaruda's power, and the Mother Gem’s blessing, I summoned every drop of energy in my soul to force the cavern walls back together, permanently sealing the underworld beasts away where they belonged.

Once the rift was closed, I commanded the ocean floor to swallow the site whole, letting the sand bury it beneath the sea.

Only then did I turn back to the spirit goddess, who was still silently watching me.

“You haven't answered my question,” I said, walking toward her and extending the Black Stone in my palm.

Lumeria looked from my face down to the artifact before carefully taking it from my hand.

“This time around, try hiding it somewhere other than a mountain,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Don't worry, I will make sure it never falls into the wrong hands again,” she replied gently. “I think I finally understand why the Mother Gem chose to bless you, even though you carry a dark force like Almaruda’s power. It is because despite that darkness, you still possess a pure heart.”

I hated that she saw right through me. I didn't want anyone knowing how many nights I had spent praying for a second chance during those long, lonely centuries trapped in the depths of the ocean.

“I'm nothing like you describe,” I snapped, keeping my tone as cold as ice. “I only did what I had to do to reclaim my power. Now that I have it back, I can't wait for all of you to return to the surface so I can go back to relaxing with my sea creatures.”

“If you say so,” Lumeria said with a soft smile. “I had better get going. I have an old friend I need to bring home.”

With a faint glow, she vanished into thin air.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips. I guessed the elderly elf hadn't made it after all. I secretly prayed that Álfheimr wouldn't lose any more of its leaders.

“Elba?”

Alda's voice called softly from behind me. I hadn't even realized she was still there.

“Hey, Alda,” I murmured, turning to face her.

“Can't you really come with us?” she asked, the heartbreak in her eyes bringing a sudden sting of tears to mine.

“I'm just so happy you can finally go back to your real life,” I said, forcing a faint smile. “Maybe the mark of the Gem Animal will bring us together again one day.”

Before I could say another word, Alda threw her arms around me, wrapping me in a tight embrace.

“I'm really going to miss you,” she whispered. “I wish I could take you with me.”

Those words were all it took to melt away the heavy burden I had carried for so long.

“Then that will be a miracle,” I murmured as we pulled apart. “Come on. I'm sure the others are waiting for you.”

Alda's POV

Elba walked with me as far as she could, but eventually, the water began to shift, and she could go no further. Once I breached the surface, I looked back just in time to watch the parted sea close behind her.

This was really it. I could finally go home. I was no longer bound to another soul, and Álfheimr had finally found its peace.

A gentle hand rested on my shoulder, and I turned to find Siofra standing behind me. Tears shimmered in her eyes, confirming what I already feared—the elderly elf had passed away.

I pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close as she quietly wept. I stayed by her side, whispering words of comfort until she was able to pull herself together. I could feel how terrified she was—scared that she wasn't cut out to be a queen, overwhelmed by the immense responsibility suddenly placed on her shoulders.

When the spirit goddesses finally stepped forward to open a portal that would take me back to my realm, I held Siofra’s hands one last time.

“Don't let fear hold you back,” I told her softly. “You are already going to be a great queen. And... maybe try to forgive your mother. I know it will be hard, but you can take it one step at a time.”

“Come visit me soon,” Siofra said, wiping away a stray tear.

My eyes widened in surprise, snapping from Siofra to the two goddesses standing behind her.

“Well, it seems the Gem Animal mark on your wrist can always guide you back here,” Nymeria chimed in with a wink. “And that isn't all, the gem also—”

“Nymeria!” Valeria cut her off sharply, silencing her sister with a stern glare before turning to me with a graceful smile. “Thank you for helping save Álfheimr and our people. I hope our paths cross again.”

I looked between them, completely bewildered, but nodded anyway.

With one last glance at Siofra, who gave me a nod of encouragement, I turned toward the swirling light. I stepped through the portal with only one name echoing in my heart.

Xender.