Fallen Kingdom

Chase stood in the ruined plains, where snow once stood, ashes had taken its place. 

Resting tiredly against a charred wooden pillar, of what once stood as the support beam for a mighty noble's home. 

"Hey..."

Michael greeted, with a drained look in his eyes. 

Chase paid it no attention, and continued his gaze toward the distance.

Equan and Gabriel arrived after, both looked worst off than the child of Everfrost by far.

It had been nearly two or so hours since the fighting had truly stopped, but to Chase it felt like only a few minutes. 

Hundreds of bodies lined the pathways through what was once one of the twelve kingdoms of Vallmora. 

The sight was horrible, but the stench was worst. 

"Where is Ricky?"

Gabriel asked, with a somber look.

Chase shook his head.

"Didn't make it..."

"Oh..."

That was a lie of course, Chase had sworn that he would give Ricky's disappearance as much honor as he could. 

He did not know where the man would flee to, but he knew that if he ever needed to find him, it would not be difficult. 

Ricky had left a note on Chase's bedside table, alerting him that he would always be a single letter away, and gave Chase some numbers of where to write the letter toward.

Soon Vivian arrived with Gemini of House Ironclad, Vivian had not fought in the war, but stood at the strategist's side. 

"Are you guys all right?"

No one answered, in truth how could they? 

They had all just witnessed one of the worst massacres in the history of Vallmora, dating back to what could have been the time of the first humans. 

"They didn't stand a chance."

Chase said sadly, gripping his blade's handle. 

Blood still dripped from Hero's Fang, with a single crack that had formed on the very edge of the blade from his clash with Sazir. 

He felt numb...

He had ended up not slaying his father's murderer out of anger, but out of mercy.

Which for some reason left a satisfied feeling, that rang through his nerves like a calm lullaby. 

He had not truly acted out vengeance, but freed a long lost family member from their eternal imprisonment. 

"Are you alright?"

Vivian asked, looking deeply into Chase's darkened eyes.

Chase nodded.

"The war is over..."

He looked around, and felt disgust threatening to overtake him. 

"This is wrong."

Michael spoke quickly, with a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"Which part? The part where we turned down their surrender and murdered everyone in cold blood... Or the part where we only pushed them back because you killed The Wendigo..."

Chase shook his head again.

"I did not think... No, I should not have chased vengeance..."

Gabriel shrugged.

"None of us could have ever known the extent the king was willing to go..."

Chase blinked painfully, not even bothering to tend to his fair amount of devastating wounds. 

He remembered what Rhysara had said in that cold basement, on how The Queen of Frostfang had died.

It was hard to accept, but perhaps it was true.

His search for vengeance was over...

He looked around again, watching smoke rise from the last couple of buildings. 

The castle of Frostfang had already fallen, and had failed to protect its royals. 

"Maybe my journey doesn't end here..."

He muttered to himself.

Equan finally decided to speak for the first time, as it was clear something was weighing on him.

"I'll follow you... Just say the word."

"No, not yet."

He admitted, feeling the carelessness of what had just been thought by the both of them.

Could they overthrow a king? 

Obviously not, Rider was a Paladin of the first tier, and some say that he is stronger than Leander, who is regarded as the fifth strongest Paladin in human history.

Chase's knees finally gave out, and collapsed to the ground.

Both Michael and Equan tried to help him up but his blood ran cold, and he waved them off.

He felt something strange, as he gazed up at the nearest mountain peak.

"I feel..."

"Feel what?"

Gabriel's eyes widened, and he looked around hesitantly. 

"Energy..."

Chase shook his head.

"Death."

"Where are Summer and Dragon?"

Chase quickly asked, pushing himself up to his feet. 

Then suddenly, the ground shook and a bright explosion of violet energy caused a catastrophic amount of damage to the peak of the mighty mountain.

'Not again...'