The midday sun shone brightly above Hjaðningavíg Island, piercing through the remnants of the slowly fading gray clouds. A cool breeze blew across the surface of the giant lake surrounding the island, carrying away the metallic stench of blood and the smell of ozone that had once choked the battlefield.
Upon the ground now filled with craters from lightning strikes and scorched by black fire, a sight deemed impossible for centuries now lay bare.
The war was over.
There was no longer the clashing of swords. There were no longer arrows flying through the chests of their own kin. All that remained was an awkward silence, interspersed with the soft groans of injured soldiers.
In the corner of a makeshift camp built from the remnants of Evilus tents, Dina knelt upon the withered grass. The White Elf's hand radiated a soft turquoise green glow from the Anemo-Calyx, channeling healing winds into the chest of a severely injured Dark Elf soldier. The dark-skinned soldier stared at Dina with wide eyes, a mix of disbelief, fear, and immense relief.
On the other side of the camp, Vena was supporting a White Elf who had lost his balance. The Dark Elf did not say a single word, but her firm grip ensured the White Elf did not fall to the ground.
They were awkward. Very awkward. The ingrained hatred of hundreds of years could not just evaporate in a matter of hours. Many of them were still glancing at each other with deep suspicion. However, the memory of how they were nearly wiped out together by the Evilus forces, and how their lives were saved by the pure protection of the wind spirit, forced them to swallow their pride and discard their racial egos.
For the first time in history, White Elves and Dark Elves sat side by side around the shores of the lake, bandaging each other's wounds under the banner of survival.
From atop a rocky hill directly overlooking the camp and the expanse of the calm lake water, Hedin Selland and Hogni Ragnar stood side by side.
Hedin's white robe fluttered in the lake breeze. The lenses of his glasses were indeed broken, but his gaze was far clearer than before. Beside him, Hogni sheathed his pitch-black sword. Remnants of red mist and black fire still billowed thinly from behind his arm guard where the Ego-Calyx was pinned.
The two men looked down, watching their people who were now helping each other.
"A sad irony," muttered Hedin, breaking the silence between the two of them. His tone was cold, but there was no longer any hostility in it. "We slaughtered each other for hundreds of years to prove who was most worthy to rule this island in the middle of the lake. Yet in the end, we could only unite when forced to our knees by a bunch of lowly humans."
Hogni snorted softly, his red eyes staring flatly at the camp. "Gahahaha... The nonsense about racial purity has completely burned to ashes. Their blood, our blood... it's all just as red when it spills onto the ground. This ridiculous war is truly over, Hedin."
Hedin nodded slowly. He raised his right hand, staring at the gray crystal now radiating a purple Electro glow on his chest. "Yes. And along with the end of this war, our duty is also finished."
"The titles of White Elf King and Dark Elf King..." Hogni laughed softly, his laugh sounding hollow yet relieving. "...are merely curses that bind us to this island."
"Starting today, those titles die along with the remnants of this war," said Hedin firmly. "We will give them full freedom to choose their own paths. Let them stay and rebuild their homes around this lake and island, side by side with one another without anyone ruling."
Suddenly, a small air vortex rustled between the two former kings. Turquoise light particles gathered, solidified, and formed an adorable little ball of wind. Venti's Wisp floated around nimbly, circling Hedin and Hogni before finally stopping right in front of their faces.
"A very beautiful sight, isn't it?"
That playful and youthful voice echoed to Hedin and Hogni. The Wisp spun for a moment, looking toward the camp below. "Even though they still look like a bunch of cats and dogs forced to share one food bowl, at least they are no longer biting each other's necks."
From the ascending path, Dina and Vena stepped toward the hill. The two girls' breathing was slightly ragged after finishing treating the victims, but their faces radiated relief. They bowed respectfully upon seeing Hedin and Hogni—despite knowing the two men had just intended to relinquish their titles—then looked at Venti's Wisp with a gaze full of gratitude.
"Then, the big question right now is..." Venti's Wisp floated to the center of the four strongest Elves on the island, its tone turning slightly more serious and full of curiosity. "Your people will settle down and rebuild this place. So, where will the four of you go after this?"
The four of them fell silent. Dina and Vena exchanged glances.
"The four of you," interjected Venti's Wisp, floating closer to Dina and gently touching the back of her hand holding the Anemo-Calyx, "you are no longer the same as other Elves. You hold elemental authority. You possess wings, and the wind of freedom has blown upon you."
The Wisp then spun and shot upward, looking straight toward the west, beyond the lake and mountains toward the main continent.
"Why don't you go to Orario?"
That name made the four Elves flinch.
"The Labyrinth City..." murmured Vena, her brow furrowing. "The center of the lower world, a nest where adventurers and deities gather."
"Exactly! The stage of the world!" exclaimed Venti's Wisp cheerfully. "It is a far more fitting place to test your new powers. There, you no longer need to fight for the narrow sake of a race. And most importantly... the wind never binds its followers. The four of you are free to choose your own paths. You can join any Familia there. Loki, Freya, Hephaestus... anyone you deem worthy."
Hearing the little spirit's words, Dina stepped forward. There was no hesitation in her emerald green eyes. She looked straight at Venti's Wisp, then asked with a very steady voice.
"Little spirit... is the God of Wind who lent us this power, God Barbatos... in Orario?"
Venti's Wisp stopped spinning for a moment, radiating a bright, warm glow. "Of course. Barbatos is there right now. Yeah, probably complaining about a hard mattress or looking for a cheap wine tavern."
Vena stepped forward, standing parallel with her sister. Without the slightest hesitation, the Dark Elf placed her left hand on her chest, right over her heart, offering the grandest knightly salute.
"In that case, the direction of our steps is clear," said Vena firmly, her reddish eyes radiating absolute loyalty. "God Barbatos saved our lives, sent his protector to heal our people, and gave us power when we had nothing but despair. Choosing another god after all this would be a betrayal of our own conscience. We, Dina and Vena, will go to Orario and serve the Barbatos Familia."
Dina nodded in agreement, mimicking her sister's respectful pose. "These lives and souls have been saved by the Wind. Of course we will follow him."
Venti's Wisp looked slightly surprised by the instant dedication. It then spun and looked toward Hedin and Hogni. "Then, what about our two highly esteemed former kings? Will you live as wanderers? Or seek another god to serve your pride?"
Hedin Selland exhaled a long breath. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the gust of wind sweep across his face. When his eyes reopened, a purple flash of Electro darted from his pupils.
"I refuse to kneel to a god who gave me nothing," said Hedin, a faint smile full of elegant arrogance etched on his face. He pointed to the Ego-Calyx on his chest. "That wind god of yours... Barbatos... he saw my shattered pride and anger, then forged them back into invincible lightning. If I, Hedin Selland, go to Orario and bow beneath the banner of another god, it would be tantamount to degrading the value of the masterpiece he has bestowed upon me. I will not let my pride be trampled by a foreign god."
"Gahahaha! You are very honest, Hedin!" Hogni laughed uproariously, gripping his sword hilt until black fire crackled softly around it. His madness was now completely under his control. "Only one god dared to touch the fire of my madness and turn it into a weapon. I will only swing my sword for the god who gave me the power to slaughter my enemies! I'm joining Barbatos!"
Venti's Wisp fell silent. Its turquoise light flickered rapidly, as if processing the extraordinary dedication just thrown its way by the four deadliest individuals in the Eastern region.
"Uhhh... wait a minute," Venti's Wisp sounded a bit awkward, its playful tone faltering slightly. "Are the four of you... absolutely sure? I mean, the Barbatos Familia right now... ah, let's just say its headquarters is only an abandoned old church. Its members are just two sickly women currently in recovery. There is no treasure, no facilities, no wealth."
"That is completely irrelevant," Hedin cut in with a flat yet sharp tone, radiating the aura of an unmatched commander. "If the Familia is poor, we will plunder the wealth of the Dungeon for it. If the Familia lacks a proper headquarters, we will build its palace. The four of us will ensure the name Barbatos becomes the most respected Familia throughout all of Orario."
"An old church is more than enough," Dina added with a soothing, gentle smile. "As long as the Wind is there, it is our home."
Hearing such steely resolve, Venti's Wisp finally surrendered. It laughed freely, a laugh that echoed in the air like the highly melodious strumming of a lyre.
"Hahaha! You guys are truly an interesting and crazy bunch! If so, hurry up. Orario is a city full of surprises, but I'm certain, the biggest surprise that will hit that city is the arrival of the four of you."
............
A day later, on the shores of the lake separating Hjaðningavíg Island from the mainland, a quiet yet meaningful farewell took place.
The White Elf and Dark Elf residents stood side by side on the island's coast, watching the departure of their four heroes. There were no tears of sadness, but rather a profoundly deep respect. Under the guidance of the remaining elders, the Elven people would build a peaceful new settlement around this lake region, free from the chains of past wars, exactly as Hedin and Hogni desired.
Meanwhile, only a simple wooden boat cut through the calm waters of the lake, sailing toward the western mainland.
Aboard that boat, Hedin stood at the bow, his eyes staring sharply toward the horizon. Hogni sat cross-legged while calmly sharpening his sword. Dina and Vena sat side by side, using light wind manipulation from the Anemo-Calyx to push their boat's sail, making their journey speed along much faster than a regular boat.
There were only the four of them. Without an army, without titles, without treasure. However, anyone who possessed the eyes to see their auras would know that the small boat was carrying a storm that could shake the world.
The new pillars of strength for the Barbatos Familia had departed.
At the same time, miles away inside the Labyrinth City of Orario.
In an abandoned church, a petite young man in a green cloak who was relaxing in a chair suddenly sneezed very loudly.
"Achoo!"
Venti rubbed his nose, then stared at the small glass of wine in his hand that had nearly spilled. He furrowed his brow, looking outside through the church window whose stained glass was already broken.
"How strange," muttered Venti softly. "As the manifestation of the wind, it's impossible for me to catch a cold. Why does my intuition suddenly tell me that this quiet church is about to become very noisy and troublesome?"
Across the weathered wooden table, Alfia—who was now wearing casual clothes—simply stared at her god with a flat expression. She sipped her tea, then sighed in resignation as if already accustomed to the baseless complaints of her new god.
Neither Venti, Alfia, nor the deities in the Tower of Babel were in the least bit aware that far in the east, four pilgrims of the wind were marching toward their city gates.
The gears of fate had turned forward, and the stage of Orario was preparing to welcome the arrival of existences that would tear down the hierarchy of familia power.