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The Aftermath

Aranis saw Karkas holding a frantic and crying Narati, who was lashing about and shouting Jek's name. By this time, Raine and Kazan had also meet with them after surviving their own battle. Narati was still trying to run towards the battlefield and his wail started to attract nearby people, who sympathized with his sorrow. Aranis, confused at his manners, said, "What happened?"

Karkas was unable to answer, but after a while, he said, "Jek...was killed by one of those machines..."

Aranis gasped and put her hand on her mouth, surprised that Jek could be killed so easily. Raine was also surprised and said, "Oh, no..." and walked towards Narati to try and calm him down.

"Where is his body?" asked Aranis.

"It's there. I can take you there."

"Yes." Aranis's heart was heavy, but she knew it couldn't be helped. Jek was killed, and that's all there is. There was no way she could turn back time and save him, even if time magic existed. He's gone...forever.

Despite of this loss, Aranis was indifferent about it, even if she was saddened. For an elf living in a post-apocalyptic world, she was hardened by the fact that people around her would die sooner than her. Many of them would not live until their natural death, being victims of this cruel world. Jek was one of them, as do hundred others. But, he was different. She had associated with him for more than others combined, and his death was impactful to her, like when her parents died. She felt like she could've saved him, but reality was harsh, and she must endure it.

The pointless battle took too much innocent lives (even if most of them weren't that much innocent). The crocs suffered the least because of their body and their general knowledge in fights. Others, like the mercenaries Jek hired, were all killed or ran away when there was a chance. Apparently, despite of the muns promised to them, it wasn't enough to prevent them running away. Unfortunately, they were also killed when their backs were turned.

Creolean Waters suffered many damage, but the civilians were unhurt, as they had evacuated. The town itself, and its surroundings, were miraculously unharmed from Aether as the human bombs the Agents were using were all out during their skirmish against the Collectives. Rebuilding was done after the townspeople had buried or otherwise burned the bodies. It was a harsh work, since the fighters in Creolean Waters were all killed defending the town, and it was particularly harsh for them.

Sorrow turned to hate, and they diverted their sadness to the captured Agents. Despite of Aranis's insistence that they should be left alone, the townspeople and crocs were not as kind, and her words fell into deaf ears. Ironically, as the town did not tolerate slavery, they promptly execute the Agents and burn their bodies without any ceremony, dumping them like trash. Other settlements, who joined the fight, also did something similar, and thus, it cemented the Agents of Tomorrow's legacy as the villain of everyone and disruptor of peace, despite of their attempt in creating a world of tomorrow free of magical dependence.

Argenon and Jared, the two remaining Agents who surrendered to the people, were surprisingly exempt from the execution. Apparently, no one knew of their involvement or even their affiliation. The only people who knew their true identities were Aranis, Jek, and Grazen. The crocs were oblivious of them, and the townspeople thought that they were just risk takers.

Late at night, Grazen told Argenon and Jared to leave the town before everyone realize their identities, for the hate to the Agents were still strong. He told them to go west, then south, where the clear sea water was, to start anew and to get away from all the hates.

"Just get away and don't look back," said Grazen while giving them a horse carriage. "If someone stops you, tell them that you are travelers. Do not use tech or anything those people use, or they will suspect you."

"Even you can't say their names, huh?" said Jared, though his remarks had no evidence of hate in it, for he, too, had no sympathy towards them.

"I'm not even one of them anymore." Grazen sighed. "Jared. Argenon. I'm sorry if everything becomes like this. These people are not ready to face the truth, and forcing them won't change anything. Extreme ends won't do good for this current world."

"But...even if..."

"People needs freedom, not a reminder of a past that's no longer them anymore," said Grazen. "I hope you understand, and I hope you two are not like that idiot who's standing in the middle of an open space."

"Yeah, we know."

"Keep your beliefs to yourselves, okay? Goodbye, and let's hope we can meet again."

Jared and Argenon walked towards the horse carriage, never to look back. The people had decided, and trying to change it wouldn't do them good. They rode away in the night, and the illumination provided to them were the funeral pyres of those who had fallen in the fight. Seeing them made them sad, knowing of their role in creating this much sadness.

"In the end, we are the one at fault," commented Argenon. "And yet, we live."

Meanwhile, near the funerary pyres, one was a specially constructed pyre made by the comrades and friends of Jek Barlow, of the victims of the battle. His body had been put amidst the wooden logs and dried flammable materials, the things that could burn quickly and without fail. The wolf's body was clothed with one of his favorite clothes, and he was made clutching his broken rifle, another victim of the battle.

Aranis stood near the pyre and said, "For years, I've travelled across the land, trying to find a place to settle and to live quietly, out of the violence and chaos. But that's not the case, and I'm drawn into it. That was before I met Jek, who has been living in such world for such a long time, ever since birth. Unlike me, who had seen a world before the war, he had never seen it, and he was involved in everything, and kill for living, like many others.

"But even then, I can't help to sense a kind of kindness within him. He wanted to be a farmer, retiring in a settlement he had made for himself, and for others he cared for throughout his journey. He had found friends, comrades, and even people who believed him, including me. It's a shame that the dream cannot be fulfilled now, but...I hope we can do it for him. Thank you, Jek Barlow, for the journey we have together."

Aranis then gulped, unable to find a good word. She couldn't continue, but then Raine stood by her and said, "Thanks for giving me another chance, Jek. If it isn't for you...I might've still be in a bar somewhere drinking like it's the second end of the world. If there is an afterlife, I hope you can drink and hunt like a wolf you are. Thank you...and goodbye."

Raine and Aranis nodded to each other, before the elf muttered some words and fire came out of her hand. She pointed it towards the pyre, and it quickly burn the pyre, with the body in it. They looked at it, with sorrow painted in their face.

Even if they were sad and was deep in mourning, they couldn't compare to the sorrow Narati had. Due to his state of the mind, he was unable to accept the fact that Jek was killed, and could only accept it 7 hours later, after he regained consciousness after fainting due to shouting and lashing about. When he came into, he at first looked around, thinking that he had just woke up from a terrible nightmare. It was only when he saw a bandaged and waiting Karkas beside him did the reality returned to him, and started to shout and cry again. Karkas stopped him from causing too much ruckus, but it was useless, so he stopped doing that and waited for the Fa'ar to calm down. In the end, though, the room they were in was destroyed by him thrashing about.

He stopped after seeing his hand, then Karkas, then outside. He started to shed tears again.

"This is...real, isn't it? Jek is...Jek is...dead," said Narati while clutching his head. "I'm...not dreaming, am I?"

Karkas couldn't say anything, even his usual comments. He had never seen someone full of sorrow like that before. Most people would move on easily, and carry on while remembering the dead. But Narati was different. It felt as if it was his first loss, and it was true. From here, Karkas realized how deeply hurt the Fa'ar was, for he had no other friends like Jek, one of the first people who cared for him alongside Raine and Aranis.

"Please just tell me," said Narati while looking at Karkas. "I know he is gone. I know he's..."

Narati returned to his personal crying again, which made Karkas felt bad for his suspicions to the young Fa'ar. He once heard that despite of how much you lie, you cannot fake your tears. Yes, people had said that even tears could be faked, but it was based on sadness and not based on anything (unless if it involved onions). What Karkas saw was a 16 years old rat person crying after losing someone close for the first time, and he couldn't deny that it was genuine.

This in turn caused Narati unable to say his parting words to Jek, but by that time, he had calmed down and accepted the truth. Jek Barlow, his best friend and brotherly figure, had died, and he could not change it.

After the mourning period was over, the group left the pyre, leaving it to become ashes and blown by the wind the next morning. It felt inconsiderate, but it was for the best. They would not be able to protect the urn containing his ashes if they were attacked all the time.

That was when Aranis told them her intention, which did not shock everyone except Narati, who was the only one who didn't know.

"But, why?" asked Narati. Aranis smiled and approached the young Fa'ar. She caressed his furry face while saying, "I can't abandon these people, right? And besides, you don't need me anymore."

"I still need you! You're my friend!"

"Yes, I know that. But it is best if you go on without me," said Aranis with a sad smile. "You still have Raine and Karkas. Be nice with them, and let them know if you have problems."

Aranis then noticed that Narati was holding his tears, even after trying to hold it in. The elf understood that, even if Narati looked like a rat and was one of the Chaos races, he was still 16, and was not an adult yet. She quickly hugged him, though she needed to bend down to do so since Narati was less than half her height.

"Do not hesitate to cry, Nara," said Aranis. "I know you are sad, and it's fine. We all are. But promise me that you will grow into a fine Fa'ar, and change your race to the better."

Narati slowly started to cry again, but this time, it annoyed Karkas to the point he grunted and left the place early. Raine stayed for a while, in case if Narati passed out again after crying his heart out. However, he found that he wasn't needed, as the Fa'ar held on.

"This isn't goodbye," said Aranis. "I'll be seeing you around."

"Do you know where we should start the settlement?" asked Raine. "This is Jek's idea, after all, and we still need to honor his intentions."

"He said that he preferred a flat land near the river, with not much ruins around that it contaminated the water. He wanted it to be a good source of water all year round. He also wanted to expand the Wanderers, so when the settlement grows, you can advertise your service to many settlements nearby."

"Uh...advertise?"

"Telling people about your services, so they actually want to use it. It's an old meaning that is not used much, but you'll get it. Some of the billboards around here are ads, so you might want to start with that."

"Any idea where that place will be?"

"Let's see...." After thinking for a while, Aranis said, "Ah, I remember! It's two days' travel by foot to the north, towards the northern sea. Like the river, the sea is not contaminated, so there might be other settlements nearby. I remembered that place used to be farmlands, and it might still has some nutrients for crops to grow. There are, however, some ruins, but they are what remains of old farms and boat docks. A little bit of work and it will be a good place to start."

"Any dangers?"

"Not sure about dangers, though, so be careful. I've not been to that area for two years, but I'm sure no one got an idea to start there since, well, you know the world is now. Just make sure you don't dump any waste into the river, or it will be the same anyway. The river is still full of non-mutant fish, so it's an ample food source during spring."

"Got it."

"Now, that's settled, then. I hope you can have a safe journey there. I won't be here long, though. Some other settlements also need help."

"It's a shame, though."

"Don't worry. I'll be around. Safe travels."

"You too."

Aranis and the rest of the Wanderers then went their separate ways, but they still looked back and waved their goodbyes, despite of it not being the last for them.

Driven by Jek's dream of settling down and live a quiet life, the remaining Wanderers, with the rewards given by the mayor for their help in defending Creolean Waters, start their journey towards the north, into a land they had never grazed before. It wouldn't be a safe and merry journey, but they would go on and honor their friend's dream.

And thus, the journey continues...