Prince Tarron of Faenluna

Ironhand 10005, Ammangoan

Prince Tarron watched as Ranger General Ryul gently carried Syndra out of the palace grounds. He wished it never got to this, but at last, revenge was hers. Turning back to look at Eigengrau, he nodded.

"Yes, I'm ready. I saw it at last, my wife's revenge over the Usurper King. Though why does his name escape me?"

"Vordea has seized his very name from history. He will remain forever unremembered, Tarron." Eigengrau said with an evil laugh. "Tarron, I do want to apologize, though."

"For what?"

"This was the worst possible future. It was not supposed to end up like this. You should have reigned for hundreds of years, and been remembered for the rest of time as King Tarron the Wise. It was not supposed to end in your death, and the near extinction of House Valmaris." Eigengrau said, sounding remarkably sad for a monotone Goddess. "I should have intervened more strongly."

"Eigengrau, you sound like a mother, holding regrets over the actions of her child." Tarron said gently. "We have to make mistakes to grow."

"At least I was able to save Shandalar." Eigengrau said, looking down. "A future without Taenya Valmaris would have been too dangerous."

"Far be it for me to judge the actions of the Gods, but you seem genuinely upset about this." Tarron said, placing a hand on Eigengrau's shoulder.

"It will keep getting worse, and all of it is due to the betrayal of House Valmaris. The Ashen Empire should have never existed, neither the Kingdom of Gilnas at its present size. The conflicts are inevitable at this point, and everything will spin out of control."

"And all you can do is watch as the mortals continue to hurt each other for all eternity, because you didn't make a single intervention a thousand years ago, is that it?" Tarron asked.

"Yes. I had high hopes for this kalpa, you know. I even entombed Emperor Lazarus to make sure the knowledge of soul magic would die with him." Eigengrau said, sighing. "No matter. There is always the next kalpa. Come along Tarron, King Xolarand has been waiting for you for a very long time."