Third Person's POV
The war between Heln and Yalki ended a year after Mia and the others joined the fray. The King of Yalki's head was hung at the gates of the Palace, and the commander of the remnants was quartered. All of those under them were killed and their bodies were burnt.
Ruby took her own revenge and personally reclaimed her throne by birthright. There were no congratulations or visits from the other Kingdoms. All that was sent over was food, tools and workers to help rebuild Yalki.
It took two years, post war, to get the entire Kingdom back to a place where they could begin to be self-efficient. They were, because of the King, living in past. Wooden houses were changed to smooth stone houses, dirt roads were changed to cobblestone roads.
The citizens replanted fruit trees since there was no space or soil for crops, and they were taught husbandry in order for them to sustain themselves since the food and livestock sent by the various Kingdoms were limited.
Melire didn't waste any time and moved to the Kingdom directly, to help his wife run the Kingdom since she had no idea how to run such a large number. Ruby reclaimed her name, the one her mother gave her. Lyria Grazie.
After Lyria was settled in, the young master gave one last order of assignments. Bira returned to Regila, Lai returned to Palari's side, Malek and Mia were sent to Palk. Once Evian became the manager, she no longer had her old identity, so she stayed. Tara returned to Yalki with Lyria and was working for her in the Palace.
Ojun fell back into silence. Naida resumed her position after missing for a few months, but she was mostly unharmed when she returned so no one took it into consideration.
On the beginning of the third year after the war, a letter was sent out to all Kingdoms from Regila. It was a proposition to convene in Regila's Capital in four years' time to discuss how to move forward with the Continent.
The only variables were Feri and Ojun. They always liked to keep to themselves, when it came to any conflict on the Continent. Big or small. Even though Kasian knew Feri most likely would decline the invitation, he still sent it out.
Feri went no contact with the other Kingdoms after the second princess spread the word that she was marrying the Crown Prince of Palk, Palin. Once peace was restored, Feri Kingdom instantly sent out a notice of cutting ties with the princess.
Every other Kingdom sent back a reply, agreeing to the meet.
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In the days of the war, Regila was calm. Even with the Queen Mother and the King dead, no one mourned them. They celebrated that the Grand Prince took over as King since they respected him much more than the King.
The children settled into the Palace quicker than they thought they would. Changes were made to suit their individual needs, but it worked out perfectly.
Kai stood in front of his mother's grave. He'd arrived and cleared around the weeds and tended to the flowers growing in the patch carefully. He didn't talk when he visited her. Just cleaned, sat, stared, smiled and left.
He never said anything said anything out loud. Not because he didn't want to but because he couldn't. When she was cleaned up and sent into the palace with a large procession, bad news came with it.
While they were cleaning her body, the burnt places began crumbling. Half of her body had turn to ash. Instead of letting other see her in such a state, Kasian decided to burn her to ashes and bury them.
Now all that remained of his mother was ashes that he couldn't even touch. Kai sat in front of the headstone and looked at the name carved. "Brother." Lion called out to his softly as he approached. Kai looked at him.
"I didn't expect for you to come her today." Lion said as he sat down next to Kai. "I couldn't come last night, so I came this morning." Lion nodded and looked at the headstone.
"Sometimes it feels like she's still alive. Watching me from a corner." Kai's lips twitched. "That's how I felt when father told me that about my mother, the one who gave birth to me died. I thought I felt her eyes watching me from a distance but now..."
He reached out and touched the stone. "It feels empty." Lion didn't say anything. He knew that his mother saw them as her own children. She treated them no different from him and Lia, so he in turn treated them like blood siblings.
Poloria's death was the hardest thing on them. All of them. The hardest part of all was that Lion kept up with his mother's wishes and didn't draw her face. He could only close his eyes and picture her smiling at him or the pride in her eyes when he accomplished something.
"It'll be her birthday soon. What do you think she'd like?" Kai asked Lion, knocking him out of his thoughts. "She liked jade and rubies." Lion paused. "There wasn't much material things that mother liked that wasn't tied to us in some way. Just those two that I can think about." Kai nodded.
"Did you ever go back to the house?" Lion asked. "Yes. Three days ago, I finally decided to. Why? Did something happen?" Kai started to panic. "No. Nothing happened. I was just asking. No one else went back so I was wondering if you went."
Lion stood up and sighed. "Let's go to the training field." He suggested and Kai stood up. "Let's go." After the two were far away, two figures stepped out of the shadows. "Are you going to tell them?" Kana asked Bira.
Bira knelt down and Kana knelt beside her. The two bowed their heads in silence for a few minutes before Bira replied. "There's nothing to say." She moved to stand and Kana grabbed her arm.
"Not just anyone can use the black shadow order. That person is important to them. Why not tell them?" Kana asked and Bira glared at her. "Why didn't that person directly expose themselves then? Huh?" Bira stood up.
"That is how you use your brain." Bira poked Kana's head. "Let's return."