Wind howled as it whisked around frigid mountain peaks while clouds trailed far off into the horizon. “After leaving the Valley of the Colossi, we once again found ourselves traversing the cold and relentless mountains,” Tearna wrote. Snow crunched underfoot as she marched with her head down, the caravan slowly making their way across a frozen tundra, “Though we had all laughed at Bren’s hatred of cold, we all began to slowly understand her. We were constantly caught in blizzards, and we ended up losing an entire day just to escape the freezing weather.”

                Sheets of snow fell across the caravan as they moved up a thin, stone path, black rocks looming on their left while a sheer drop sat on their right. Tearna swallowed nervously as she stared down, “Just like the northern part of the continent, the southern part was incredibly underdeveloped. We saw no sign of civilization, and the paths were treacherous in ways I had never imagined.”

                Bren shivered fiercely beside a campfire, flames roaring as several flame wielders worked to keep it burning. Ghollon almost completely encircled the expedition as they huddled together, bits of frost growing across their clothes as they did their best to resist the chill. Tearna continued to shiver where she was squatting, all thoughts of taking notes gone, “There was a period there where I thought for sure we wouldn’t survive. I understand now why there are so few travelers in these mountains, and it astounds me that anyone could survive here.”

                The next day, light glittered across the frigid mountain peaks. Clear sky shone for miles and miles around at long last, and while the weather wasn’t warm, at least it wasn’t frozen. “After several days of pain and suffering, the weather finally broke,” Tearna wrote. Rocks crunched under heel as the expedition slowly made its way down a dark valley. “Though my responsibility was to record our travels, I admit that I wasn’t really thinking about it at this point, not that there was anything to record. For almost a whole week, we saw nothing but ice, rock, and the cold stillness of the mountains’ clutches.”

                Flames crackled as the caravan settled down for the night in a rocky clearing. Tearna shivered a little as she absently flipped through her journal and gnawed on the last of her rations. After a few moments, she pulled out her pen, “Since there weren’t any new creatures to record, I decided to instead focus on our next destination!”

                Wind howled around the caravan as they slowly made their way along a tall ridge. Tearna frowned at the sky as she watched hints of morning light shine through it, “Our next destination was to be none other than the starting point of the Crisis, the ruined city of the Eclipse Empire! Access to the city, however, was strictly forbidden, even for those with imperial clearance, so to get access, that meant we had to make a slight detour to meet the one person that could let us in! The Archon of Falador!”

                Raising her arm as the wind kicked up, Tearna gasped as the mist blew away. Stretched out down the side of the mountain was another field of gold, just like the Golden Plains, while a forest sat in the distance all the way to the horizon. Basking in the radiant sight for a moment, she adopted a bigger smile as she looked off to their left, “Which of course meant that we FINALLY were getting a reprieve from the mountains! Tonight, we would be staying in the largest village near the continent’s center, Neravar!”

                Rising from the heart of the plains ahead of them were massive timber walls. They stood tall and proud almost twenty feet in height, timber watchtowers positioned across them with fires blazing at their peaks to serve as a beacon for travelers. Across the walls, militia were standing watch near the braziers and were quite unlike any legionnaire. They wore chain mail instead of plate, and what plating they did have was silver instead of crimson. Though they were associated with the imperial legion, they were from a branch dedicated to the heart of Falador, and while their duty was to keep the village safe, there weren’t exactly any threats anymore.

                Wind blew gently through the golden whisker fronds as the caravan followed the road towards the village’s main gates, Tearna looking over the tall walls with a bright smile. Beaming giddily, she pulled out her journal and hurried after the others, “Neravar was certainly a welcome sight, and not just because it was a break from sleeping on rock. There were lodges and shops poking just over the walls with hints of snow across them, just like what we had seen in the mountains! I knew we were in for a treat, and I was eager to see just what we would find in a village like this!”

                Flames burned in braziers on either side of the immense gates. The caravan began to slow down as several guards moved out from an alcove. “Good morning,” one of the guards called as the captain approached, Tearna walking alongside him. “We don’t get travelers very often. What’s your business?”

                “Good morning,” the captain said respectfully as he bowed his head. “We’re on an expedition from Orden meant to restore our archives. We’re here to speak to the Archon about potentially getting access to the ruins of the Eclipse Capital for research purposes.”

                “Ahh, they’re on the list, right?” one of the other guards asked, pulling out a sheet of paper and flipping through it. Squinting, he finally nodded, “You guys are clear! Enjoy your stay, and good luck with the Archon!”

                “Thank you,” the captain said with an appreciative bow as the guards stepped aside. With that, the caravan moved through the gates, but as per usual, Tearna was already off in her little world.

                Several dozen feet ahead of the caravan now, after having wandered past the guards without even thinking to stop, Tearna’s footsteps echoed on the cobblestone road. Wonder illuminated her face as she looked around, doing her best to avoid running into anyone while scents of baked goods floated past her and chatter echoed in her ears. Completely overwhelmed, she finally pulled out her journal and moved to a nearby bench, “When we first got to Neravar, I honestly wasn’t sure where to start. I try to avoid what I call ‘thought vomit,’ but… I couldn’t see a way to avoid it!”

                Villagers moved back and forth along the road before her as she continued, “The main road was absolutely stunning! I never imagined that buildings could look like this! The only way I can think to describe it is a village entirely composed of tall, mountain lodges, and even then, that does no justice to the small details I spotted, like the patches of snow clinging to the rooftops or the emergency bins dedicated entirely to clothing!” Watching as the caravan slowly made its way past her, Tearna continued to write, “I suppose the best place for me to start would be with the buildings themselves.”

                Warm light glowed from the windows of a shop, a few customers coming and going while Tearna wrote furiously on the bench in front of it, “The theme of Neravar, it seems, is tall. All the buildings come across as tall, and, thinking back on it, I kind of wonder if they were actually thin instead. Regardless, the buildings were all pushed up against one another like what one would find in Mercanta, but instead of sandstone, these were all timber!”

                Patches of snow fell off a roof as a telekinetic wielder shoveled the snow off with telekinetic plows, “Most of the buildings had two stories and cozy looking windows that glowed with orange light. Their doors were almost always situated at the top of steps, and many of them had benches in front of them, though most were snow covered. Seems that they got a taste of the same storms we got caught in!”

                Tearna walked along slowly as she meandered down a side street, eyeing a bakery as her stomach rumbled, “As per my role in our expedition, it was my duty to explore the shops thoroughly, so how could I resist a bakery when I happened upon it?!” Warmth and sugary smells rolled around her as she stepped into the small bakery with shining eyes, “I was absolutely blown away! There were braziers in each corner of the shop, and it was so warm that I was tempted to go find Bren, though, I knew she would never leave once she found it.”

                Her reflection stared back at her as she made her way down a long aisles of glass display cases filled with pastries, “After traveling for so many days on rations, it was a relief to finally have options!” Flames burned within massive ovens near the back of the shop, Tearna basking in the warmth, “In this particular bakery, they were constantly making new pastries just behind the main counter. They actually had quite the display, and I was able to watch the entire pastry making process. To say I was hungry by the end would be an understatement!”

                Moments later, Tearna frowned at a display case as her stomach grumbled loudly. “Are you sure you don’t want to buy something?” the shasheek behind the counter asked with concern.

                “Oh, I’m sure I do,” Tearna said with an embarrassed laugh. “But… I don’t have any money on me. Our captain keeps all our funds, and I kinda… wandered off without thinking.”

                “Oh, you poor thing,” the shopkeeper said, frowning more pointedly as Tearna’s stomach audibly rumbled. “At least let me get you a sample or something! You sound like you’re starving!”

                “No, no! Please, I don’t want to take anything from you!” Tearna said quickly. “It would be rude of me to ask for a free handout, after all!”

                “But, you sound hungry! When did you last eat?”

                “Well… I had a quarter piece of bread yesterday, so… I guess that has probably been it,” Tearna said, frowning at the thought. She shrugged with a weak smile, “It’s ok though. I’ll catch up with the others later and get some food then!”

                “Pardon me, but did you mention an expedition?” a curious voice spoke up.

                “Hmm?” Tearna turned with a start, blinking in surprise before tilting her head back to look up at the stranger’s face. He was… surprisingly large, and was mostly black in color with a few silver patterns decorating his ears. He had three tails, and while he appeared to be quite muscular, he did also seem to be a little old, probably in his very late three hundreds. That being said… there was an odd aura around him, making her feel more than a little small. Who was he?

                “Oh, sorry!” Tearna said sheepishly as he suddenly realized she had been staring at him. Shaking her head, she bowed her head, “Tearna of the Orden Expedition, at your service!”

                “Ahh, so I did hear correctly,” the sheek spoke with a deep, rolling voice. The thick wool coat he was wearing ruffled a little as he crossed his thick arms, “You must have had quite the journey. We’ve been trapped in a snowstorm for several days, and I can only imagine how tough it must have been in the mountains.”

                “It was very brutal,” Tearna nodded. “We were actually trapped in a pass for a whole day, and there was a moment there where I thought we wouldn’t make it. We almost ran out of supplies.” Tearna’s ears heated as her stomach rumbled loudly.

                “It sounds to me like you did run out of supplies,” the sheek laughed heartedly. Shaking his head, he stepped up to the counter, “Well, you have my apologies for the trouble. Here, the least I can do is to cover you for a little refreshment.”

                “Ehh?” Tearna asked in confusion as he set a satchel of coins on the counter, the shasheek behind the counter smiling as she began to collect pastries in understanding. Tearna rapidly shook her head in panic, “No! That’s fine! I don’t want to take your hard earned-“

                “Relax, explorer,” the sheek chuckled, making Tearna cock her head. A thud rang out as the shopkeeper set a basket of pastries on the counter, the sheek looking it over before pushing it towards Tearna with a friendly smile, “It’s the least I can do. After all, you’re working to repair our history, and we are all incredibly grateful!”

                “I… Well…” Tearna frowned and rubbed her neck as she stared at the basket. Finally, she smiled and nodded in gratitude, “I guess you have a point. I really appreciate this, sir! I was honestly starting to feel dizzy!”

                “That doesn’t shock me,” he barked a laugh. Looking at the shopkeeper, he gave her a nod, prompting her to pull out a smaller basket that was prewrapped in a darker cloth, “I truly hope this simple gesture conveys my appreciation for your efforts, explorer.” Picking up his own basket, he bowed his head before smiling, “If I may offer a recommendation, however, I would highly suggest retiring to an inn at your earliest convenience. After all, I don’t want you passing out when we meet later.”

                “That’s probably not a bad idea,” Tearna admitted, rubbing the back of her head as the stranger waved and began to walk away. Blinking once, she looked after him and waved, “Thank you again for the meal! I really appreciate it!” Lowering her hand as he left, she frowned in thought. How had he known about… “Wait, who was that?!”

                A little later, Tearna absently chewed on a fruity piece of bread as she meandered down another street. Taking another bite, she moved her basket into the crook of her elbow as she began to write, “While I had no idea who the stranger was, I at least now had the energy to finish my report.” Snow crunched under her feet as she searched for the inn, “Life in this village seems to be humble and quiet. They have a large emphasis on agriculture and livestock, and I saw a number of shops dedicated to mountain gear. I really wish we had entered the mountains from this side now…”

                Preet bleated as a small herd moved down the road, Tearna watching them curiously, “One thing that did stand out to me was the affluence of the village. Even knowing there was an Archon here, I would have expected the village to be a little more rustic, but that wasn’t the case at all. From what I was able to gather, since the village lies on the edge of the mountains, they get a lot more traffic. I guess you could say this is a sort of starting point for most adventurers on this continent, and it certainly shows. Between that and the trade routes, everyone in the village appears to be doing quite well!”

                Tearna studied her journal as she continued to write. “And then she just randomly shows up!” a voice exclaimed. Blinking once, Tearna paused and looked to her left in surprise. Several expedition members, including Kai, were standing in front of the widest building she had seen so far. They were all grinning, though Kai looked a little more judgmental, “Seriously! We were just talking about sending a search party, and then you just wander in! You are the hardest person to keep track of!”

                Frowning at him, she stuck her tongue out, “At least I know where I always am!”

                “What does that even mean?!” Kai exclaimed, Tearna wandering over as she looked at the building. It was squatter and probably triple the width of the other buildings, definitely looking more like an inn. “You know what, forget it,” Kai groaned in defeat. Frowning, he raised his brow and nodded at her basket, “Where in the world did you get that? Did you barter something for it?”

                “Oh, this?” she said, holding the basket up. “No, some old guy bought it for me. He heard how hungry I was, so he said it was thanks for our efforts in exploring the world.” She frowned and tapped her chin, “I never found out who he was though…”

                “He knew about our expedition?” Kai asked curiously. After a moment, he shrugged, “Maybe he was the village elder. I guess we can find out later.” Nodding towards the inn, he raised his brow, “Anyway, you interested in getting some real food?”

                “Yes please!” Tearna said cheerfully, following them into the inn. A little later, she let out a tired sigh as she flopped back onto a bed. Although she had a lot of recording she wanted to do, she was exhausted, and it would only be a few hours before her meeting. Stretching out, she clutched her journal and almost instantly passed out as she began to snore.

                High over the village, the star rapidly trailed across the sky, slowly sinking towards the western horizon before, suddenly, slowing back down. Evening light shone across the village, making what was left of the snow shine resplendently across the rooftops. With evening slowly settling in, only a few shops remained open as dusk slowly crept by. While most of the village was winding down, however, one group was getting ready for a rather intimidating encounter.

                Tearna absently pulled at her robe as she followed a few other expedition members, a small frown resting on her face, “As the day ended, it was finally time for our meeting with the Archon, and to say I was uncomfortable was an understatement. Given the Archon’s illustrious status, it was only fitting that we wear appropriate clothing, which meant wearing my ceremonial robe.” Golden light glimmered across some of the robe’s adornments as she frowned sourly, “And I was not happy about it…”

                Scowling in thought, she reached for her explorer’s pack and pulled out her journal as she decided to make the most of her misery, “Thankfully, the palace was in a part of the village we hadn’t seen yet. Like so many other places, the village became even cozier with the fall of night, and I very much would have liked to have taken advantage of the local hospitality.” Writing down a few more notes, Tearna glanced up as someone gasped, her eyes widening as she saw the structure on the right at the end of the road, “Whatever thoughts I had about such a thing, however, were dashed when we finally arrived at our destination, the Archon’s palace.”

                Standing tall along the northeastern corner of the village was the palace, not quite like the buildings around it, but not as out of place as she had expected. The palace grounds were surrounded by towering walls with tall guard towers that cast shadows into the courtyard. Behind the walls, a massive courtyard stood right in front of the palace’s entrance, leading up to the massive set of stairs and its grand gateway!

                Tearna swallowed nervously as she stepped under the gate leading to the courtyard, the glow of braziers shining down on her, “Being in such a prestigious place was a little… unnerving. Even after visiting the emperor’s palace, I still found myself incredibly nervous, but I did my best to record what I could.” Shaking her head roughly, Tearna hurried after the others, “As expected, the palace looked nothing like the lodges, but it wasn’t what I expected either.”

                Massive, carefully hewn timber stared down at her as she eyed the walls, “The foundation of the palace was clearly made from the trees in the valley. They had colorful patterns and images hewn into their surfaces, and what stone there was only accented it further.” She turned her gaze up higher, “There were ramparts lining the top of the palace, and what looked to be a balcony over its entrance. At its corners, four tall towers stood with tear-drop shaped tops, but the main focus of the palace was its domed roof!”

                Rising at the center of the structure was a colossal dome. She peered at it curiously, “In many ways, the palace was every bit as prestigious as the emperor’s, but I found its cozier accents to be calming. I wonder if the Archon did that on purpose.” Squinting in thought, she jumped with a start as someone called for her, prompting her to hurry after the others, “I didn’t get much time to study the courtyard. After all, the Archon’s are on a tight schedule, and we did not want to keep him waiting!”

                An echoing thud rang through the palace’s entryway as the expedition members slowly stepped inside, Tearna looking around in awe, “The entrance was stunning to say the least. There were two floors that immediately greeted us, the second being an open floor that ringed the outer walls with huge columns supporting it. The ceiling was arched, and there were so many decorations that I could hardly process them all!” A smile touched her face as she looked over at the hearth off to her right, “Truly, it felt like we were just visiting a complicated lodge, but we were quickly reminded of where we were.”

                “Ahh, Captain Farin,” a voice suddenly spoke. They all looked over as a sheek in a silver robe stepped up to them, bowing his head respectfully, “The Archon has been expecting you. If you would please follow me, I’ll take you to the study.”

                Bowing his head in turn, the captain and the others followed the silver adorned sheek as Tearna took notes, “We were quickly greeted by the Archon’s head servant and ushered away to where the meeting would take place. Much to my surprise, the servants for the Archons wear silver, regardless of their fur color. I’m not entirely sure why, but although I could have asked, the pressure of our surroundings was getting to me.”

                Tearna massaged her leg nervously as she looked around the large study they found themselves in. The room was quite tall with bookshelves lining most of its walls. There were a few paintings, large, burgundy tapestries, and a resplendent rug covering the floor. Bren and several of the others were huddled in front of the hearth while Tearna, the captain, and several others sat on the ring of couches near the center of the room, all of them more than little anxious.

                “So, what do you think he’s going to look like?” Kai asked curiously as he sat beside Tearna.

                “I have no idea,” she said with a shake of her head. Swallowing nervously, she breathed slowly before continuing, “I’ve heard that the Archons have the power to sunder continents. He’s probably going to be a giant, and… I’m kinda scared.”

                Kai glanced at her, noticing the hint of fear in her eyes. After a moment, he smiled warmly, “Well, even if he is scary, you got me here at least.” Blinking once, she looked at him curiously as he shrugged, “I mean, I gotta be good for a punch or two if things get rough, right?”

                Tearna stared at him quietly as she thought to herself. After a moment, she smiled awkwardly and nodded, “Y-yeah… Having you here does make me feel a bit better.” Smiling sheepishly, her heart shot into her throat as a loud click echoed around the room.

                “Apologies for the delay,” a jovial voice boomed. All conversations ceased as all eyes turned to watch as the large doors slammed shut and a large figure strode into the room, “I didn’t mean to keep you waiting, but Council meetings often run long, and Cyros was determined to keep us yapping about trade routes.” Coming to a halt beside the couch, the large figure crossed his thick arms, “Goodness knows we’ve already talked about that at length, but I digress.”

                Silence hung around the study as time seemed to freeze, Tearna blinking in abject confusion. He was about a foot taller than her, was wearing a dark robe with silver accents, and was surprisingly muscular. Additionally, he seemed to be old, somewhere in his three hundreds, and… and… Her head slowly tilted as he looked at her and grinned, “Did you find those pastries to your liking, explorer?”

                Blinking once, she finally slapped her hands against her face as she practically screamed, “YOU’RE THE ARCHON?!”

                “Haha,” the stranger chuckled jovially, all eyes turning to Tearna, and then back to him. “Guilty as charged. I was wondering why you didn’t have much of a reaction earlier, but I can now see that you simply didn’t recognize me.”

                “Wait, you ran into him?” the captain asked in confusion.

                “A-at the bakery,” she nodded, still completely stunned as the Archon sat down across from them in a relaxed manner. “I-I didn’t have any money, but my stomach wouldn’t stop growling and then he just… bought me food.” Staring at him blankly, she looked over at Farin, “I thought he was a village elder!”

                “I can’t believe you made the Archon buy you food,” Kai whispered, Tearna’s ears heating with embarrassment as the other expedition members sat down.

                “There’s no need to get self-conscious about it,” the Archon said with a wave of his hand as he smiled warmly. “I would have done it for anyone in this village, especially those working so hard for the betterment of our people.”

                “I… I guess that makes sense, but…” Tearna trailed off for a moment before shaking her head, “I don’t understand. You looked like just a normal villager earlier! What were you-“

                “What? An Archon can’t go out to do some shopping?” he asked with a knowing grin. Tearna’s jaw dropped slightly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small cookie, taking a bite for emphasis as he winked, “I am quite fond of Linnith’s bakery, so I stop by every so often. While I am an Archon, I don’t want to be a stranger in my own village, so I try my best to visit many of the shops and support their endeavors.” He chuckled and grinned, “That, and I don’t like coming across as a snob, so yes, I do know how to dress like a normal person, thank you very much!”

                Blinking once, Tearna’s ears heated, “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to imply-“

                “I’m just teasing you, explorer,” the Archon laughed uproariously. “Gah, that never gets old. Being Archon definitely has its downsides, but the amount of grief I can give people will never get stale.” Chuckling to himself, he looked around at the rest of the expedition members, “My apologies for getting us off to such an unusual start. My name is Dai’khan, Archon of Falador.” Sitting forward, he narrowed his eyes as a more serious air fell over him, “Now, I believe we have some business to discuss.”

                Outside, the star slowly sank towards the horizon as night closed in, but, inside the study, the world seemed to be frozen as the meeting continued. “Granting permission to explore the grounds of the Eclipse capital is not something we can do lightly,” Dai’khan spoke with a careful tone. “While most of it was dismantled, that area was the epicenter of the tragedy that nearly cost us our world. There are still remnants of the horror there, and the Council is cautious about letting anyone investigate and potentially trigger an accident.”

                “We are aware of the dangers and have planned as best we can to handle any ordinance that was left behind,” Farin spoke with a serious tone. He pointed at the map rolled out on the table, “We’ve already established that we’ll be using-“

                “You aren’t quite getting my point,” the Archon interrupted. He looked around at them with narrowed eyes, “Our world has only just started recovering from the Crisis. The scars that were left behind are fresh, and poking around in those ruins could tear them wide open.” Tearna’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at her specifically, “You are possibly the only one here who understands what I mean, explorer. You have been cataloguing your journey thus far, have you not?”

                Swallowing hard, she forced herself to nod, “Yes, sir.”

                “Then you understand what I mean,” he said with a slight frown. “You have no doubt already come across the remains of the Crisis throughout your journey, but what you will find in the ruins of the Eclipse will completely overshadow it all. If you remind the world of the true pain we suffered during that fight, you may inadvertently reopen our wounds, and that could set us back in unimaginable ways.” Letting his gaze linger on her, he looked around at the others, “Do you all understand the Council’s concern? We do not wish our people to suffer any more at the hands of ghosts and specters.”

                Frowns settled onto the faces of the expedition members. Tearna lowered her gaze, the Archon’s words hanging over her like a cloud. After a moment, she looked back up at him with determination, “I don’t think our people are as vulnerable as they used to be, sir.” Dai’khan raised his brow at her as she continued, “I understand your fear and have experienced hints of it firsthand, but I’ve also seen just how far our people have come! I’ve seen the beauty and wonder that we’ve managed to rebuild, and I’ve seen our people flourishing in places that were once nothing but fields of death.” A smile touched her face as she nodded for emphasis, “Our people are strong enough to handle a few reminders from the past, Archon, and I’m certain that reflecting on what we survived will only serve to make them even stronger!”

                Dai’khan kept his eyes narrowed as he studied her. Closing his eyes, he finally snorted as he shook his head, “Leave it to the bakery bug to make the best point.” Chuckling to himself, he finally nodded as he reached into his robe, “Very well, explorer. I wasn’t sure if I would actually approve this venture, but you are right. I do believe our people are strong enough to face our past, and I believe that such knowledge will be necessary with what is to come.” Writing on a slip of paper, he finally handed it over to the captain as they stood, “This will give you the clearance necessary to get past the guard post leading into the city. Do not linger longer than you have to, and be exceptionally careful about digging up things that should be left buried.”

                “We will do our best,” Farin said as he bowed his head. “Thank you for your support, Archon.”

                “You have the bakery bug to thank for that,” Dai’khan chuckled as he nodded at Tearna. Looking around at them, he finally chuckled, “I am not sure what you will find in those ruins, but I look forward to reading your report. Good luck on your expedition, explorers, and may the light of grace guide your path.”

                Outside, the star finally disappeared on the horizon, the twin moons shooting across the sky before the star rose again in the east. Droplets steadily dripped from the icicles dangling off eaves. Breath frosted as the villagers began to go about their daily routines, clearing away ice while shopkeepers swung open their doors. Near the south end of the village, ghollon plodded along with echoing stomps, the expedition members marching alongside them with their packs laden with supplies.

                “The day after meeting with the Archon, we set out on the next leg of our journey,” Tearna wrote, looking up at the gate ahead of them. “With clearance granted, our path was set to one of the most heart wrenching locations on our planet, the ruins of the Eclipse capital. For many of us, the Archon’s words hung heavy on our hearts, making us truly think about what we were setting out to do, but I felt emboldened!”

                Stepping through the tall grass, Tearna paused and looked back at the village. Smoke wafted into the air from numerous chimneys while light broke around the back of the Archon’s palace. Breathing a small sigh, she turned back forward, “I no longer saw this as just a chance to remember our history, but instead a chance to remind our people of what we had overcome! With my head held high, I made my way along with the rest of the expedition back into the mountains to see where the Crisis began… and ended.”

                “WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!” a pained wale echoed from the front of the caravan as they began to angle towards the mountains, prompting Tearna to burst out laughing.

                “Oh, and Bren is still mad about us visiting so many cold places!”

                Wind whistled around Tearna’s ears as she trudged through another cold tundra. “Unfortunately for our expedition, the journey back into the mountains was not a friendly one.” A sheek let out a cry of pain as he slipped and fell. Rushing over, Tearna knelt beside him, trying her best to shield them both from the biting wind as a medic rushed over, “We were beset by vicious winds almost the instant we reached the mountain passes, and it took us most of the day to surmount the very first mountain, the first of many…”

                Wind moaned around a small camp several nights later. Tearna and Bren shivered beneath the blankets they had wrapped themselves up in, trying their hardest to stay warm next to the campfire. “While there was some complaining when we left the village about packing so many supplies, we were grateful for making the decision,” she continued, taking a bite of the last bit of bread she had. “We didn’t have to worry about rationing too much, and we had plenty of blankets to keep ourselves warm. Although the start of the journey was rough, after a few days, we finally escaped the snow as we descended into the heart of the mountains.”

                Rock crunched under her sandals as Tearna made her way down a long, misty valley. Small birds chirped as they hopped around a collection of rocks nearby, tilting their heads one way and then the other as they eyed the strangers in their midst. They cowered closer to their nest as Tearna stopped beside them and pulled out her journal, “Fortunately, we did finally stumble across some semblance of life in the form of a nest of rockhoppers!”

                One of the snowy birds tilted its head as Tearna tilted hers in turn, “Rockhoppers are an avian species that makes its nest out of… well, rocks! They circle rocks together and make a sort of burrow using thatch and other fibers. Typically, they stay grounded, and their snow-white color helps them blend in with their surroundings during the colder seasons.” Smiling, Tearna turned and stepped away, “It was a nice reprieve to finally record a creature, but we still had a journey ahead of us.”

                Tearna frowned as they slowly picked their way across a wider, open field. There were semblances of a road stretched out before them, but it had long since overgrown. “After several days, we finally reached the lowlands we had hoped to reach. The landscape was… unsettling, to say the least.” Tearna shivered as she rubbed her arms anxiously, eyeing the thick mist, “Between the cold mist hanging overhead and the featureless, flat landscape, I genuinely started to expect seeing ghosts jumping out at us, and everyone was feeling more than a little on edge.”

                Shielding her eyes, she looked up into the mist, “While I couldn’t see very far, I at least had some clue about where we were. This was a lowland region in the mountains where the Eclipse had once thrived. On the other side of the mist, mountains would have towered all around us, and we would have been able to see a hilly and open field that would no doubt stretch for miles. This was the home of the Eclipse, and after traveling for most of the morning, we finally found our destination.” Sucking in a sharp breath, Tearna’s eyes widened as she noticed the silhouettes in the fog.

                Tall, rectangular shapes towered in the mist, what looked like ribs sticking up along their misshapen tops. Tearna swallowed nervously as she began to walk forward alongside the others, “What we saw at first was truly haunting. All we could make out through the fog were large, dark silhouettes, like the remains of colossal monsters standing in the mist.” Tearna’s eyes widened slightly as the mist began to thin, “As the mist began to clear, I started to understand why it had felt like a graveyard. We were standing in the ruins of the Eclipse’s capital city.”

                Numerous buildings became visible as the fog cleared away, but these were nothing like the cozy structures she had started to get used to. Before them were the remains of an immense wall, sections of it blown open with overgrown rubble littering the ground. The massive gates that had once blocked the main road were completely gone, the rubble that had been left behind cleared away to reveal the massive approach into the city. Though hundreds of years had passed now, large craters still dotted the landscape, many of them still filled with rubble while others had slowly become overgrown.

                “Seeing the entrance to the ruined city was a somber sight,” Tearna wrote, stepping up to the ruined gates. “There was almost nothing left of the gates, and what was left was… well, mostly burned away.” Her footsteps echoed as she stepped towards the wall and eyed the ruined landscape, “Though cleanup was done following the battle, not everything was taken away. The battlefield was still littered with the remains of the city’s defensive walls, and… we even saw where the emperor’s son gave his life to give us a chance of victory.” Tearna’s eyes traveled up to the wall, eyeing the massive section of it that had been blown open. Letting out a small sigh, she began to make her way down the main road, “Though hundreds of years have passed, a surprising amount of the city was still left.”

                Her footsteps echoed as she slowly traveled down the main concourse, most of the expedition splitting up to explore the ruins. Tearna gazed up at the stone walls lining the road on either side, leaving the main road sunken between the rest of the city, “I was able to get an idea of what the city might have once looked like. The main road was sunken in the foundation the city was built upon, making it look like a tiered city, but the buildings were immense.” She swallowed hard as she stared up at the one on her left, “They were just as big as the Archon’s palace, and there were dozens of them. In terms of architecture, they looked similar to what one might find in Orden, but their color was… well, eclipse.”

                Chewing on her lip, Tearna continued walking. Scattered around the main road were numerous examples of these massive buildings, most of them black in color with silver accents and other details still visible. They were just as tall as the towers of Orden, possessing the same swept-roof style and other familiar elements, but whatever splendor they had once possessed had faded away. Wind whistled ominously around a broken roof as Tearna stared up at it. Broken planks stuck out into the open, almost the entirety of the building’s side collapsed. She eyed the rubble around its base, wondering for a moment if she should record it, but deciding not to as she continued walking.

                “Not all the buildings we found were massive, of course,” Tearna continued, climbing a set of steps up to the second level the buildings were on. She squinted at some of the smaller buildings hiding in their shadows, “It’s hard to say how many normal sized buildings there had once been. Some of them were still in excellent condition, though, I quickly discovered that the interiors were empty.”

                Planks creaked as Tearna tentatively stepped into one of the buildings. Cobwebs covered some of the walls, and parts of the ceiling were broken. She stepped further inside, her eyes trailing over the stained floor and the moss growing in the corners, “Every one of these buildings had been emptied out after the battle, so it was hard for me to get an idea of what these places had once felt like. However… the one thing I did notice was how similar these buildings were to our own.” Frowning sadly as she looked towards the broken door at the back of the building, she turned away and moved back outside.

                “Most of the Eclipse city was haphazard piles of rubble,” she continued, writing in her journal as she looked at the landscape. Timber beams stuck into the air here and there amidst large piles of rubble, some buildings still partially standing while others had been neatly swept into piles, “It was clear that this once had been a packed city not too different from Orden, but there were only a few buildings left.” Frowning in thought, she turned her gaze east and squinted as she began to walk, “There was one place I wanted to find above all else, however, and it was quite easy to find.”

                A small frown rested on Tearna’s face as she slowly stepped into a large open square. Several expedition members were already gathered, talking in low tones as they stared up at the immense structure towering before them. Resting at the back of the square was what had once been the palace of the Eclipse Emperor. A shiver ran through Tearna’s tails as she looked the massive structure over, eyeing its dark aura and the odd, violet patterns woven into its columns. Taking a shaky breath, she began to write, “The palace of the Eclipse was every bit as massive as the legends said.”

                Tearna carefully made her way up the massive set of stairs leading to the entrance as she looked around, “The palace was designed in a manner that made it look like a collection of connected buildings. The main part of the palace was a massive, square structure situated right at the heart of the compound, possessing a violet covered roof and powerful, elegant sides. Standing tall on either side of it, however, were taller buildings. These taller structures framed it on its front corners while thicker, wider ones framed it from behind, and there was a maze of ramparts connecting them all that was truly impossible to navigate.”

                Tearna’s footsteps echoed as she approached the immense doors leading into the palace, both of them wide open. A shadow fell over her as she crossed through the threshold, eyeing the left gate before looking at the right, “Even after so many years, the palace still bears the scars of the Crisis, and I was able to even see hints of Caleia’s charge into its darkness.” A massive dent had warped the right gate, leaving it partially hanging off its hinge while rubble lay strewn about behind it. Frowning in thought, Tearna looked ahead at the massive, ruined violet rug leading down the center of the entryway, “Stepping into the palace was like walking into the den of evil itself.”

                A shiver ran down her spine as she looked up at the tall columns lining the massive hall, more than a few broken while tall windows towered on the walls, “With every step I took, I was reminded of what had once come into existence within these very walls. Many of the violet decorations associated with the Eclipse had been left behind, and most of the palace was… well, intact enough to have a firm idea of what it had once looked like.” Coming to a halt, she frowned up at the empty wall towering at the end of the hall, “Thankfully, a lot of the decorations, such as the portrait of the emperor, had been removed, leaving these ruins as what they should be; a reminder for us to never lose ourselves to darkness.”

                Wind whistled around Tearna as she slowly made her way up the ramparts, looking up at one of the towers as she climbed the stone steps, “After perusing a chunk of the palace’s interior, I made my way to the ramparts so I could get a better idea of the city’s layout.” She shivered as she rested her hands on the ramparts edge, her gaze trailing over the grid-like city, “I could see every road that had twisted and turned through its labyrinth-like form, and it was easier to appreciate its immensity from so high up. I admit, it was a bit dizzying, but it also let me better appreciate just how little was left.”

                Squinting in thought, she looked south, “It was about at this point that I suddenly realized something as I noticed an odd number of gaps in the city’s layout. At its height, the capital city had been very much entwined with machinery, so much so that factories were said to have dominated the skyline, but by the time we arrived, there wasn’t a single hint of metal to be found.”

                Hints of light flickered across Tearna as she made her way down one of the southern roads, not a single hint of rubble to be seen. She looked them over carefully with narrowed eyes, “After the Eclipse emperor’s fall, the crimson emperor decreed that all remains of their machinery be scrapped. I thought that had just meant dismantling their war machines, but what he truly had meant was removing it entirely from existence.”

                Tearna looked around with a frown as she walked through a massive, rectangular cutout in the city’s foundation. It was dozens of feet deep, her footsteps echoing as she walked. “At its height, these factories would have been monolithic structures designed to constantly churn out war machines for the Eclipse Legions,” she continued to write, wiping her hand across the smooth floor that had once supported the factory. “Though there was nothing remaining of these factories, the foundation they had once occupied still stood alongside hints of how their machinery connected with the rest of the city.”

                She peered carefully into one of the slots carved into the walls. Leaning one way and then the other, she stepped back and scratched her head, “From what I was able to discern, the city had once had a massive underbelly linking the factories together. What this underbelly was for and how much machinery it supported is beyond me, but it at least proves that this city truly was the pinnacle of technology, and their advancements were wasted on killing.” Taking a shaky breath, she turned away from the wall, “While I was disappointed to lose the chance to explore these factories, at least we can all take solace in knowing that they are truly gone.”

                Several hours later, Tearna draped one leg over the other as she reclined atop a large, masterfully hewn block of stone, the remains of the building it had once belonged to partially rising on both sides of her, “Visiting the ruins of the capital city was as somber as I expected, but I was able to take heart from the experience. At the end of the day, we can all rest easy knowing that our world is protected by the very heroes who saved us all back then, and we can continue moving forward to build a better future as one!”

                Pausing, Tearna frowned as she looked out at the field ahead of her, contemplating her choice of words. Several hours had passed now since their arrival. It seemed fast, but… there was simply not much left to explore. So much of the city had been decimated in the final battle of the Crisis, and the Archon’s words still echoed in her mind. Wind whistled around her as he stared out at the field just past the remains of the wall ahead of her, a small sigh escaping her. The shifting of rock suddenly drew her gaze to her right.

                “Hey,” Kai said as he sat down beside her. He watched her with a hint of worry as she nodded at him in response before looking away. Following her gaze, he looked back at her, “You doing ok?”

                “I’m… fine,” she finally said, lowering her gaze. “It’s just hard taking all of this in, especially since I have the added pressure of retelling this for all our people. It’s hard enough just coming to terms with it alone, but I have to somehow spin this for all our people!” She shook her head as she frowned at her journal sadly, “How do you put a positive spin on a graveyard?”

                Kai looked at her journal thoughtfully before looking at the horizon. After a moment, he looked at her and shrugged, “Can’t you just do what you always do?”

                “What do you mean?”

                “Whenever things get rough, you come up with this crazy spin about how ‘we’re going to build back up’ or ‘we survived all of this because we’re great,’” he said, smiling at her warmly. “I don’t know how to describe it, but… you have this ability to rally people together, kinda like you did to me in the marsh. I was just seeing this adventure as a job, but you… you managed to make me see it as an honorable responsibility.” Smiling in thought, he looked at her and chuckled, “I guess that’s part of what makes you so amazing!”

                Tearna blinked once, her ears rapidly heating. After a moment, she looked down at her journal in embarrassment, “Uh, right… I… I guess that is something I can do. I… I just need to think and-“

                “Hey.” Tearna stopped and looked at him with a start as he shook his head, “Don’t overthink it! Just write what you want and let that special part of you take over! You’ll end up saying the right thing like you always do!” He nodded for emphasis, “I believe in you, at least!”

                Tearna stared at him blankly as her heart fluttered briefly. Finally, she smiled back at him sheepishly, “That… actually makes me feel better.” Looking down at her journal, she looked over at him with a small smile, “Thanks for that, Kai… You might be a blockhead, but… you can be a sweet blockhead, at least.”

                “Sweet?” he asked, raising his brow as Tearna continued writing. Cocking his head in confusion , he suddenly took on an embarrassed look and looked the opposite way, “Y-yeah, I guess I can, right?! I mean, I’m a total idiot, but I know how to support my friends!”

                “Yeah, you really do,” Tearna echoed, completely missing his embarrassed reaction as she wrote away.

                Looking up at the sky, she looked over with a start as a call rang out. Packing up her satchel, she smiled and nodded at Kai before making her way to where the rest of the expedition was gathering. Moments later, they were marching away from the ruins of the capital city. As she walked, Tearna looked back briefly at the towering remains of the walled city. While her time in the ruins had been short, the expedition couldn’t go back on its promise to the Archon. They had seen what they needed to see, and now it was time to get on with their journey.

                “With the capital of the Eclipse behind us, it felt like the shadow that had been hanging over us for our whole journey had finally been lifted,” Tearna wrote. Wind whistled around them as they marched through a thin mountain pass, but none of the explorer’s seemed as beleaguered as before, all of them marching as if the weight of the world had been lifted, “For the entirety of this journey, we had been dreading seeing the ruins, but with it behind us, we were all left with a chance to reflect.”

                A small smile rested on her face as she sat atop a frozen rock in a tundra, “Our people have truly come farther than I think anyone ever could have expected. We have prospered in the shadow of a Crisis that left us broken, and through our perseverance and courage, we have arisen stronger than ever. Though we still have many wounds that need to heal, the shadow of the Eclipse has long since passed, and we can bask in the light of the new future that we have found for ourselves.”

                Picking up her journal, she began to write with a small smile, “But… there was another thing on my mind as well. This journey has been a chance for our people to regain something we all lost, but over this past month… I’ve grown as well.” She smiled a little more brightly, “I’ve grown far stronger and experienced things I never could have imagined. I’ve learned so much about our world and have seen hope growing in all places, and…” Her ear twitched as she looked over, Kai smiling at her as he sat down beside her. Taking the piece of bread from him, she smiled and looked down at her journal, “I’ve made friendships along the way that I cherish more than anything now. I’m grateful for my friends, and I’m grateful that this was an experience that we got to share together… but our journey wasn’t yet over!”

                Warmth rolled around her as she made her way down a tall slope, shielding her eyes as a smile shone on her face, “With the capital city behind us, we would finally be able to enjoy our journey and explore the world as fully as we wanted without the Crisis hanging over us, something I was truly grateful for.” Breathing a content sigh, she pulled out her journal, “For the dear readers that have followed along so far, I truly hope you have enjoyed this long journey, but we are far from finished! With the mountains firmly behind us, it was time to turn our gaze forward to a new, warmer landscape at long last! Our next stop was the Maldrezzan coastline!” Off in the distance, just barely visible on the horizon, waves crashed against a sprawling, sandy shore…