The End

[Crayfishchris 751]

Some people, you can call them philosophers, you can call them scientists, or you can call them crazy, have a theory. They theorize that there are some people who are connected to each other via another force, an outside influence. That even if these people never come face to face, the simple action of existing and coming to 'activity' at the same time links each one uniquely. 

 

Most of these people are either burned at stake or sent to mental hospitals.

 

But hey, who knows? Maybe they are right...

 

 

 

 

 

The man once known as Kristian von Craw was dead. He was a mere footnote in history, a soldier who rose to greatness twice in assisting the elven nation of Conclave. He died a wanderer, fighting for money and visiting his four children, now grown up, every once in a while. He died of a curse laid upon him, a sword that aged him twice as fast, sending him to an early grave.

 

Kristian von Craw was dead, but he still walked the earth. The children in the nearby village called him the Crawfish, much as the children did in the village of his youth. Ager... that town was long gone now. It had died before Anthos did. He had outlasted a village. Strange.

 

His ghostly form wore the Valiant uniform. That was what he preferred to walk as. Though very few would ever notice him, he continued to walk his walk along the roads of Thales, guarding people from the spooks and demons of the night.

 

He protected his daughters and sons. They could not see him, but he continued to watch them, protect them from harm. Kelsey, Robard, Izzy, Maldric. Each one he would watch over until the end of their days.

 

And when they died, he would die with them, finally heading to the seven skies where the family could be together, and happy. No longer would they fight, or be angry, or hurt one another again. They could truly be together.

 

Although, when they died, Kristian had one question to ask them. One question that had haunted him his whole afterlife.

 

"My son, my daughter, you have passed on. You are no more. Your mark is left on the earth, forever. But let me ask you this... for all your money, fame, love, and adventure, tell me... was this life that you owned worth living?"

 

 

 

 

A lone high elf tore through the wilderness, his thin form slicing past undergrowth with each separate slash of the slick machete. He did not speak, for the only sound that escaped his lips with every swing was a grunt of exertion.  The figure stumbled into a clearing and fell to the hardened ground.

 

“How much longer, Braxus?” said Eleyas, tilting his head as he ‘followed’ him.

 

“Shut… up…” said the high elf, stopping and turning to face… nothing.

 

“Why? You’ve been wandering for hours upon hours… there’s nothing out here.”

 

“Just be quiet! Twenty-four hours a day, seven days an ulruan week, it’s your voice in my head! Just be quiet, be quiet, be quiet!”

 

Eleyas did as was asked of him, and fell silent. His form, drifting off to the side of Braxus’ vision, seemed downcast as it accompanied him. He looked up at the moon, his eyes glinting happily.

 

“Look at that… it’s so beautiful, llir.”

 

“The sky? We see it everyday.”

 

“Yes… but it’s the normal things in our lives, the ones that we don’t spend much time noticing, that make everything so amazing. We live in a… awe inspiring world, my friend. It’s good not to rush… and just appreciate.”

 

“Getting philosophical on me now?”

 

“You signed up for this.”

 

“I didn’t expect you to be so annoying,” Braxus said, wiping at his brow. He took out a water skin, and began to drink. The form of Eleyas, a construct upon Braxus’ mind, walked through the grass, weaving in and out with every separate breath of the wind. With a small sigh, he spoke, holding out his arms.

 

“I can only see the world through your eyes, Braxus. What you see of me is just myself tampering with your thoughts so you don’t think yourself to be crazy. I can’t see anything different from you, and I cannot feel what you touch. When you eat or drink, I feel the energy surging, all the reactions within your body occurring, but I cannot taste. I do not know what it is like any more. Slowly we become one, and our… memories merge.”

 

“Who were the Camoryns?”  said Braxus, leaning forward to look at ‘Eleyas’.

 

“Family… Artimec… Aniya… Au- Au… no… wait… I… I can’t remember very well any more. They’re just a haze upon my mind.”

 

“Don’t stress yourself. It’s just a side effect.”

 

“Will I lose who I am? Will I lose who they were?”

 

“Maybe… Yulnii and Ikur never told me.”

 

“Hrm… do they live in that city you always think about?”

 

“They did. I’ll find the new city, though.”

 

“Good. When you find them… care for them and be their friend. Nothing is more important than the people that we know and care for. I learned that lesson too late.”

 

“You’re always so dramatic, Eleyas.”

 

“Well… what would you have us talk about then?”

 

Braxus stood up, running a hand through his hair and starting off again, “I don’t know. How would you like the home to look when we get to my friends?”

 

“Hrm… I… don’t know why… but…”

 

The ‘two’ paused for a moment as the moon lit up the entire valley. The world suddenly became more beautiful as the creatures and critters of the night were revealed. Chirps were accompanied by squeaks, terrifying treelines and fresh flowers glinting in the late evening light. A full moon seemed to give the valley more life than the sun ever did. For once, the world was alive, and Braxus could feel it around him.

 

“I feel like it needs some yellow.”

 

 

 

"Veldrynnnn!" a voice called from upstairs, a twinge of annoyance marking it. Several miscellaneous items hit the floor down the stairs.

 

"What, Aunrae?"

 

"You left all of your things on the floor! How can you be so messy?"

 

"S-sorry," murmured Veldryn, his eyes downcast. Nothing was worse than a mad sister. "I'll pick it up."

 

"You better... and what's all this stuff for a girl named Ana?"

 

As Veldryn climbed the stairs, his eyes widened. He snatched out the letters from little Aunrae's grasp, and held it high so she could not reach it. With an annoyed expression, he stated, "Ana is the girl I'm going to marry, Aunrae."

 

"Oh! Love letters and gifts! She must really like you," the giggly little girl flopped back onto her bed, smirking up at Veldryn, "How come you never told me?"

 

"Because I met you three days ago, Aunrae. I didn't have the time."

 

"Oh, there's always time... for romance!"

 

"You're crazy, Aunrae."

 

"Just as crazy as you. What are you doing, Veldryn? You really should go to that girl! When's the wedding?"

 

"We're working out the final details."

 

"Awwww. Can I come?"

 

Veldryn paused, giving a small smirk in return to Aunrae, "Of course. I'll write her a letter-"

 

"Now! Now! Do it now!"

 

With a light laugh, Veldryn sits down and begins to write. Soon he'd take Aunrae to meet Ana, and all would be better with this world. Warriors and battles would have to wait. Family was much, much more important.

 

 

 

The baby Athri gurgled excitedly, balancing on his two stumpy little feet. With incredible effort, the baby lifted on leg, moving forward slightly. Losing balance, he tumbled to the wooden floor, letting out a cry. 

 

Yulnii rushed forward, scooping up the little child and bouncing him in her arms. The rich smells from the kitchen were what was drawing the baby over, and her as well. Gone were the days that Galanthil and she had mocked each other for their cooking over burnt bread and scalding tea. Now Galanthil was actually learning, and leaving her behind in the dust.

 

"What are you making?" she asked, stepping up next to him. Athri's grabby fingers knocked over several spoons and a bowl, and they went crashing to the floor.

 

"Surprise," grunted Galanthil.

 

"Oh? Not going to tell me, then?" she said, her voice rising in the joking tone they always took to with each other.

 

"That's why it's a surprise, stupid," he took up the tone too, a half-smile crossing his lips.

 

"You are such a chil-" her talk was interrupted as Athri grabbed at her mouth, pulling at her lips with chubby fingers, "No! Nonono! Don't do that, Athri, that's rude," over her shoulder, Galanthil was laughing.

 

Yulnii sighed, and then walked to the door. "I'll take Athri out for a bit. Don't burn the house down."

 

"No promises."

 

With a free hand, the door opened, and Yulnii stepped into the morning light, leaving behind the little den that was the Maehrindor's home. Maybe she would introduce Athri to Rosalie, or bring him to visit Ikur. There was always plenty to do in Celiante. For life wasn't perfect, but hey, it was worth something.

 

 

A knock came at the door of Dr. "Buggy" Fritz's house. When the door was opened a short haired, short-statured man stood, barely an inch above the short woman's height. At his side was a medical bag, and in his hand was a book, which snapped shut as soon as he realized the door was ajar.

 

"Alfonso? Is that you?" said the woman, readjusting her enormous eyeglasses, "I can't tell with... what have you done to your hair?!"

 

"Um.. Doc... I'm off to join the army. They need field medics... and... well..."

 

"Say no more, say no more..." the woman sighs, moving back, "You've come to say goodbye, then?"

 

"Goodbye, and thank you. I really... You helped me learn everything. Thank you so much, Doctor..."

 

"Oh, it's nothing, Alfonso! I just taught you medicine!"

 

Alfonso smiled, giving Fritz a joking salute. In return, he received a hug. The woman was a lot stronger than she let on...

 

"E-ergh... th-thanks, Doc..."

 

After being (gratefully) released, Alfonso turned and left, walking down the road to his new home and his new life.

 

 

Their paths never crossed.

Their eyes never met.

Yet many people claim that these people (and several others) were connected in a way that could not be broken.

For they lost many things and never reached many goals.

 

Kristian was barely remembered by history. He was simply a soldier, a name on the page.

Yulnii would never exterminate all mages. How could she, when magic was so prevalent in this world?

Eleyas would eventually forget everything about who he was and what he knew. It is the way of Fi.

Veldryn wouldn't become the world's greatest warrior.

And Alfonso wouldn't stop all fighting.

 

However... no matter what happened to them... their eyes shone a bit brighter, for they met their families, created lives for themselves, changed the colour palettes of random high elves, married their loves, and learned many of the world's secrets.

 

So while their lives were not done, they had a happy ending...

 

And there really aren't enough of those these days.

[monkeypoacher 8055]

+1

[Sambosefus 47]

Nice send off man. +1

[Heff 2460]

Ryan Darkwood buries an arrow at an old Lumi'drim's grave. Even if he was a valah, he was a cunning and honorable one.

 

 

OOC:
Cray, I have too much to say and too little ways to say it, you are one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE staff members and people Ive met on LOTC. You will be dearly missed by me and the community. I will continue to model my actions as a staff member and as a member of this community after you as great role model. Be nice to people.
 

[Vanir 693]

One of the best leaving posts I've seen. See ya around

[Pureimp10 5691]

Chris, I'll miss you.

 

You were fun to RP with and a great friend. You take care, buddy. 

[Tadmonster 54]

Chris...Thank you.

 

I wish I could put what I'm thinking into words, seeing you help me the way you did all those times. But I can't and I won't. Because everyone here has been touched by your work in a special way, and to tell you how I feel makes it seem as if that is all you have done.

 

So thank you...for everything.

[Glyc 234]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.