Unbound

Elowen stood in the warded storage room that had been transformed into a teleportation chamber, marveling at the roots that covered the walls just as much as the Shadowgate that swirled at the far end. Above all else, she was fascinated by the magic involved. Like the Seal before, the sigaldry in around the gate was well beyond her conception of inscription, let alone knowledge. Not to mention the incorporation of the Spirit Tree—Elowen couldn’t wrap her Mind around how that might even be possible.

The enormous plant was endlessly charming, like something out of a fairy tale. It was the kind of magic that Elowen had hoped for when she'd arrived on the Continent, well before she'd learned the cruel realities of life there.

The vault was crowded, mostly by blue-cloaked soldiers that called themselves the Legions of the Fiend. They bore interesting weapons and armor, the latter matching even if the former was somewhat random. The Grandmasters were there too, flanked by one or two of their Master Tiers, and set off to the side. They were talking animatedly amongst themselves and even smiling, all of them clearly eager to be there. Elowen had enough dealings with them to know why.

He was finally leaving.

The bane of their existence, all because he made them work together. Elowen shook her head. She still couldn't believe what Felix had accomplished in a few short days.

"Was this truly the best decision?" Tern asked her for the tenth time in the last two hours. "I am not a leader."

"Yes, you are," Elowen assured him. "You stuck to your guns when no one else would."

Tern raised an eyebrow. "My what?"

"It means standing your ground, even when the entire Violet was against you."