As soon as the news that Farynn was captured spread out through the battlefield, the soldiers stopped fighting. Farynn’s men surrendered and were guided to sit down in the field between the encampment and the fortress where the cavalry met each other in battle.

Farynn himself was dragged chained up to the encampment. He tried to resist, but after no one else would stand for him, it was useless.

He was treated with the respect his position held, the uncle of the duchess and brother to the regent. He was confined to a luxurious tent guarded by elite soldiers who could hold him if it were needed.

Karynn and Kazan had the same treatment. Karynn was a high priest and Kazan was a count. Firynn himself stood guard over his old master.

Victory was finally theirs, however, the time pressure the spirits imposed on them made their losses much greater than they expected. Even though the soldiers celebrated their victory, it was bittersweet since a lot of them also mourned their lost friends.

Faralynn herself was not happy at all. She only had a sorrowful feeling after seeing the dead being prepared for the funeral rites. She felt responsible for their deaths.

"How’s the arm?" Matthew asked Faynn after she left the healing tent.

"It’s good." She was succinct. "I’m out of work for the next few weeks, though."

"It’s good that the war is over then." He said, walking with her.

"Where’s Lynn?" Faynn asked, finding it odd that Matthew was there instead of with his girlfriend.

"She’s showing respect to the dead." Matthew explained. "I didn’t think it would be proper for me to be there."

"Nonsense." Faynn dismissed his worries and guided him to the area where the dead were being treated.

Priests prayed while casting spells upon the dead, blessing them to prevent them from becoming undead and suspending the decay of the flesh so that they could be mourned by their families.

When Matthew and Fynn entered the tent, Faralynn’s eyes shone, but she remained still in respect to the ones crying the loss of their friends and loved ones. She held fast their hands when they approached her, but didn’t say a word.

After the prayers, they left and retired to Faralynn’s tent where Erin and Mia slept on her bed while Helen and Tina played chess in silence on a beautiful table.

The game arrived with the humans in Nuilynn, but spread like wildfire through the elven nobility. Soon tables and pieces with elven aesthetics were everywhere, but the rules stayed the same.

Faralynn finally got out of her armor with the help of Faynn. She stretched her body, feeling her muscles stiff for being too long dressed in the restrictive gear.

Without saying a word, she got on bed and cuddled with Erin and quickly fell asleep.

"It’s finally over." Tina whispered, trying not to wake up the sleeping women.

"Yes." Matthew agreed with a deep breath while sitting on a chair.

"What happens now?" Helen asked after moving her white bishop.

"We have to deliver Farynn to the spirits. Faralynn has to go to the capital and be ordained by the Queen. After that, Farzan will act as a regent while Lynn can return to Earth." Faynn explained, standing by Tina’s side and analyzing the game.

Tina moved her pawn and Faynn made an ugly face.

"Checkmate." Helen said, moving her rook.

Tina exasperated, getting up and holding her voice to not wake the others.

"I thought you’d be better at this." Faynn chuckled, surprised that the genius Tina was a bad chess player.

"I get distracted easily." Tina justified herself. "I’m better with more complex games." She added, taking out her phone and showing Faynn an electronic game.

While Tina showed the elf her game, Matthew drifted into a deep slumber.

"You left it behind."

Matthew heard a duo of voices. A male and a female.

He opened his eyes to find himself back in Haeresis. He could smell the rot again, feel the overwhelming darkness and see the distant graves on fire.

"My sword, Matthew. You left it behind." Belial said, holding his shoulders, a female hand on his left and a male on his right.

Matthew’s blood froze. He looked behind himself to find the demon king looking at him with their red eyes.

"I didn’t have much of a choice." Matthew defended himself.

"Don’t lose it again." Belial said, while the female part of them gave Matthew the dark blade back.

Matthew held the sword and nodded.

"Why?" He asked, but Belial didn’t answer.

Before Matthew could ask again, he woke up with movement around him. He opened his eyes to see Faralynn being dressed by Erin and Mia in an elegant purple and green dress.

He lifted his hands to clean his eyes and noticed that he was holding Belial’s sword in his hand.

"You’re awake." Mia noticed while pulling Faralynn’s corset strings tight.

"What’s going on?" Matthew asked, confused.

"Put that away." Helen pointed at the sword as she passed by his side carrying a silver necklace with the Laufgraan leaf hanging from it. "You almost cut me."

"Sorry." He said, storing the sword in his Inventory. "Why are you getting dressed?" He turned to Faralynn.

"The Lady of Sif is here." Faralynn answered. "Faynn, sharp him up." She added.

Matthew was dragged out of the chair and was forcibly dressed in clothes that matched Faralynn’s.

The whole encampment stopped to see the strange entourage that was entering the camp. A green almost naked woman with foliage for hair led a procession of fairies, dryads, nymphs and a wide assortment of animals through the tents.

A blue winged fairy showed her the way to the war council’s tent where countess Azan and countess Mayan were waiting for the spirits.

"Where is the dukeling?" The green woman asked as Azan and Mayan bowed to her and showed her the way inside the tent.

"Lady Faralynn is getting ready to meet your ladyship." Azan said.

The Lady of Sif ignored the chair offered to her and sat down in the air. Soon a shrubbery sprouted from the ground forming into a throne for her to sit on.

"Also. Bring me ruffian." The green woman commanded.

Faralynn came in shortly after with Matthew just behind her. Both were dressed in fancy clothes.

The elf greeted the Lady of Sif with a deep bow, and Matthew copied her.

"My lady." Faralynn said, waiting for permission to sit down.

"I heard you won against your kin." The green woman said, gesturing for Faralynn to sit. "Congratulations." She added sarcastically.

"Thank you, my lady." Faralynn thanked despite the irony.

"And the fae? Where is she?" The Lady of Sif asked.

"I’m here." Ffyr said, getting out of Matthew’s necklace. "I was taking a nap."

The green woman smiled at Ffyr, a rare break in her stern look.

"I heard you got injured." She said.

"It happens, but I’m fine now." Ffyr shrugged and sat down on Farzan’s empty chair, putting her feet on the table in front of her.

"I’m glad." The spirit leader said.

When Farynn got inside the tent, he too was well dressed. He was being escorted by Farzan.

The elf looked surprised seeing all those spirits there and their leader right there. Ffyr was pushing some chocolate for the green woman to eat who obliged the fae with gentle gestures.

"What’s going on?" He asked.

"Is this the one?" The Lady of the Sif asked, swallowing the sweet offered to her.

"It is." The blue winged fairy said.

"What’s happening?" Farynn asked again, looking at Farzan.

"I’m sorry brother." Farzan said with a remorseful voice.

"I don’t understand." Farynn said, his demeanor changed from the defiance he showed when he lost to a confused tone.

"Uncle." Faralynn called him. "Your plot to use the Earth Dragon against us angered the Sif. They demanded that you pay for your sin and I agreed to deliver." She explained.

"Sin?" Farynn asked, his confusion turning into anger. "What sin?!"

"Two eggs." The Lady of Sif was succinct. "Do you know how long it takes for an Earth Dragon to lay eggs? Two thousand years." She didn’t wait for him to answer.

"So what?" Farynn defied the spirit.

"You were right, Ffyr." The Lady of Sif turned to the fairy. "We should punish the ones responsible. The dukeling is truly innocent. This fool is the one who should suffer our wrath."

"Wrath? For what? Eggs?" Farynn protested.

No one said anything to defend the elf.

Suddenly, roots sprouted from the ground entangling his legs. He struggled and tried to get free, but the roots were too strong for him to resist.

"Wait!" He pleaded, but the roots just kept growing around him, now circling his torso. "Brother!" Farynn looked at Farzan with tears in his eyes.

Farzan just avoided his stare.

"You are making a mistake!" He pleaded again, but the roots circled his mouth, silencing him.

Farynn struggled for a long while until he was completely covered by roots and vines. Then, when he stopped moving, leaves sprouted from the mass of circling roots lifting the tent and letting the sun shine on those inside.

The whole encampment could now see a strange looking tree that sprouted in the place Farynn was on before.

"He’s not to be disturbed." The Lady of Sif said, getting up and looking at Faralynn. "He’ll stay here for four thousand years, two for each egg lost. Heed by this and your debt to the Sif is paid, sons and daughters of Laif."

Without saying a word more, the green woman and her entourage disappeared in a blink of an eye.

"Let it be known to all." Mayan said to all around them. "This tree is not to ever be disturbed."

Farzan placed his hand on the wood that was now his brother.

"I’m sorry." He whispered.