Chapter 183. Epilogue
One year later. Ba Sing Se Two. Memorial Day.
The people and society as a whole had not yet fully recovered from the cataclysms that occurred a year ago. Some still woke up in the middle of the night with racing hearts. In their terrifying nightmares, it seemed as though the elements had finally consumed them.
According to scientists' calculations, the planet had grown by approximately thirty percent. New mountains and islands had emerged, but dozens of cities and thousands of villages had also vanished from the face of the earth. For example, the Fire Nation's islands lost all their cultivated territories. Catastrophic volcanic eruptions covered the entire archipelago in lava, forming one massive island comparable in size to Australia.
Unfortunately, due to rising water levels, Tienhai City and many other coastal cities were submerged under tons of water. The other half of the settlements not destroyed by natural forces were also in poor condition. During the earth's movement, Ba Sing Se split into two unequal parts. The smaller portion of the city came to rest a thousand kilometers from its original location.
Shaya was one of the fortunate mothers whose children had safely returned home. Even though her son was already twenty-two, she would never stop seeing him as her little boy. For an entire week on the flying island, she prayed to every god and ancestor she knew, begging for her child's safe return. Perhaps someone above heard her sincere prayers, for she could once again hear her son's grumbling voice when she addressed him too affectionately.
The worst was long past, but memories of those times still visited her. Like many others, she had anxiously awaited the changes promised by the authorities. And they did not take long to arrive...
Through the small windows, which the residents took turns approaching, a true apocalypse was visible. Monumental buildings crumbled, massive holes appeared in the ground, and strong winds began to rock their island. No one could sleep on the first night of the elemental chaos. Looking at their beds, it felt as though they were voluntarily lying in their graves. Of course, after some time, nervous tension and physical exhaustion forced them to rest. According to her friends from other cities, she had been lucky; some smaller islands had fallen victim to massive tornadoes and hurricanes. Fortunately, such outcomes had been anticipated, allowing them to avoid the worst. Healers standing by had handled the rest.
After a hearty breakfast, she and her sullen son stepped outside. She did not press him with unnecessary questions, knowing full well that not all his friends had returned. Vast streams of people solemnly marched toward the Memorial Park—a new complex where the names of all the brave heroes who had sacrificed their lives for a brighter future were etched into massive stone slabs.
The families who had lost relatives during the destruction of the Spirit Realm mourned the most. Exhausted from days of conflict, not all practitioners and mages could cope with the new calamity. Many found themselves at great heights in the middle of the ocean; the unluckiest ended up near active volcanoes. Those who could not be found within the year were presumed dead, and their names were also carved in stone.