Diane shook her head.
“No need,” she replied. “I am not going with you, Malfiess.”
“What?”
He stared at her in surprise.
“But what are you going to do? Where will you go? The Earth is your home, isn't it? I thought that your refuge in the Void was just a temporary shelter.”
“It was. I only used it while I was performing my assigned task, which was to do my best to save the elven race.”
The mage looked at Simon, who grinned back at her.
“And that assignment has been completed. It didn't end the way that I had hoped it would, but at least your race has survived. I am very happy about that.”
She sighed and leaned on her staff, finally allowing herself to show how exhausted she was.
“Now I want to join the others who have volunteered to fight alongside Simon against the Darkness,” Diane continued. “We have much to do to prepare for those battles and time is passing quickly.”
Malfiess nodded reluctantly.
“I understand,” he said slowly. “I wish you both well. If you need us, any of us, you know where we will be.”
Both mages smiled at him and at the other elves.
“Yes, we know,” Simon replied. “Now, brace yourselves. Gating from here to the Earth can get a little rough. Farewell.”
Both Ethmira and Chase waved and Callius hugged himself as if bracing for the worst. Malfiess simply watched Diane, an undefinable look in his eyes.
Simon tapped his staff on the ground and the elves vanished in a flash of silver light.
“Elven magic again?” Diane asked him.
“Just in case,” Simon replied. “Now, we need to get home too. How are you holding up?”
She chuckled.
“You know me too well,” she said wearily. “I feel like I could sleep for a week, and I'm starving. But the first thing I want is a bath. I'm filthy.”
“Covered in glory, you mean,” Simon corrected her with an amused look in his eyes.
“Really? I never knew that glory could smell so bad,” Diane said tartly. “Did your elemental friends think to install a bath in this new house of mine? Or did it slip their minds, considering the fact that they never need to bathe?”
“It has all of the amenities,” Simon assured her. “And be nice to Kronk. He spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to get everything just right for you. He likes you, you know.”
“I like him too, but what does an earth elemental know about decorating?”
“More than you might think. He spent about two weeks discussing swatches with Aeris.”
Diane burst out laughing and Simon grinned widely.
“Seriously? Two weeks?”
“At least. So if you want to change anything, be gentle about it. Suggest, don't order. He'll happily accommodate you if you treat him nicely. As I said, Kronk is fond of you.”
“I know. I'll be nice, I promise.”
“Good. And speaking of someone being fond of you, I saw the look that Malfiess gave you just before I sent him and the others back to Earth. I think that you have made a conquest there.”
Diane looked startled.
“What the hell are you talking about? Malfiess isn't fond of me. We had a good working relationship for a very short time, but that was it.”
“Was it? Okay then. But I've seen that look before. I think that he might end up pining for you for quite some time.”
Diane gave him a stern look.
“Simon O'Toole, you may have Changed when you were in your sixties, but I was almost ninety when it happened to me. So show me the respect I have earned, young man. That elf isn't 'pining' over me, so give it a rest.”
Simon raised his hand defensively, a look of wide-eyed innocence on his young face.
“Yes ma'am. I will, ma'am. I'm sorry, ma'am,” he said with obvious insincerity.
They stared at each other for a moment and then both mages burst out laughing.
“Okay, that sounded pompous as hell,” Diane wheezed as she leaned on her staff. “Pretend I never said that.”
“I would have taken you more seriously if you didn't look so young yourself,” Simon chortled.
“Good point.”
“Anyway, we can talk more once we get you settled in and we both get some rest,” Simon said as he swept his shaggy mane of hair back off of his face. “Ready to go?”
“More than ready.”
“You did a good job here, Diane.” Simon told her as he raised his staff. “But now the real work begins.”
“I can't wait,” she replied eagerly.
Simon tapped the ground with his staff and they both vanished. Nothing remained alive on the once-beautiful world of Trillfarness but vile corruption and mindless hunger.
But the elves had survived and evil had been thwarted once again. And somewhere out in the Void, the old gods of Chaos seethed with rage and plotted their revenge against all mortals. And a little demi-god named Aldric dreamed of what he would do to the elves and the humans when he met them again one day.
I will show them, he said to the endless Void. I will show them all.
The End
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