The aftermath was fine.
Eryndra didn't collapse, and the people weren't particularly alarmed.
Now, those would've been the words Riley would've wanted to say to anyone asking about their current situation.
Unfortunately, saying that would require lying through his teeth.
Because in truth?
Day Zero was a complete mess.
See, it was one thing to witness a strange beam of light. In a world governed by magic, even entire skies changing colors wouldn't necessarily trigger panic. People had seen magical catastrophes, festivals, leyline storms, and enough absurd phenomena to become somewhat desensitized over time.
But a pillar of light visible from practically every territory by anyone possessing at least one functioning eye?
Oh, and all of that accompanied by a quake powerful enough to shake the entirety of Eryndra?
You'd best believe it sparked talk of the end of the world.
The atmosphere shifted almost overnight.
