Book 4: Chapter 64: Dawn |
Michael sat down in the middle of the battlefield, looking around at the thousands of dead all around them. He was tired, but he could already feel that great reservoir of faith and prayer within him being restored. He peeled off his helmet, holding it loosely in his hands as he took a deep breath. He looked up at the blue sky above and smiled at it, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face.
He heard something flying toward him and raised his hand catching a canteen that felt cold to the touch.
“No one wants to see their hero die of dehydration just after winning,” said Ollie with a smirk.
Michael smiled at him and uncorked it, tilting it back and letting the ice-cold water fall down his throat. He’d remembered reading back on earth that room temperature water was best when someone was really tired, but there was what was best for your health and what was best for your soul and cold water was what was best for his soul in that moment.
They’d managed to kill all of the remaining rift creatures. Some had run, others had fought till the last. Michael was certain the harpies and flying insects would be a problem later, but they’d certainly be less of one than the rifts had been. He extended out his focus, trying to detect even a hint of rift activity and he found nothing, just the reassuring presence of the gods.
He poured some water over his face, washing away sweat, grime, and blood.
Ollie blinked at him. “You look…different.”
Michael nodded. “I thought that might happen. Wish I had my mirror.”
Ollie frowned and muttered a few words creating two portals, one on either side of Michael’s face. Through it he was able to see what he looked like.
“My looks match my soul,” he said calmly. “Not the same as it was and changed by who I am here.”
“You sure you didn’t just want to be a silver fox and the gods just had your back on it?” asked Ollie.
“It’s possible. They’ve got a surprisingly good sense of humor. At least Nykas does.”
“If you say so,” replied Ollie in deadpan. He walked closer and sat next to him. After some time, Pyotr and Marcus approached.
“There you are,” said Pyotr with a smile. “Lot of people looking for you.”
“Give me just a few minutes,” Michael replied, still leaning back.
“I’ll smuggle you away in a corpse cart if you want me to,” said Pyotr, moving to sit down next to them. “May not be the worst choice. People love heroes, but disappearing martyrs are on a whole other level.”
“When are you going to start cleaning up the mess?” Marcus asked as he sat down as well. “I mean, all this land is yours right? When are you going to take responsibility for it? It’s been minutes since the battle ended.”
Michael chuckled. “What were you saying about a corpse cart Pyotr?”
They shared a laugh and sat in silence among all of the carnage of the previous day. It was odd, sitting there among the dead, feeling relief even as crows began to land so that they could feast.
After sitting in the quiet for nearly an hour Michael pushed himself back up and the other did the same. Then they all began to walk out of the battlefield where the majority of people had been gathered. All the eyes went to them as they got closer and Michael could feel more faith and hear the faint whispers of prayers in his ears as he approached.
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Before anyone could react to him though, Blake ran forward toward Ollie wrapping him in her arms and planting a kiss on him, the weight of her armor making him fall backward, only barely catching himself with a barrier and pushing himself up as he returned her kiss.
Michael smiled as he continued walking forward with the others. King Marlo moved to greet him, some blood staining the breastplate he was wearing. He hadn’t intended to engage in direct combat, but clearly he’d had no choice.
He moved forward and he and Michael clasped wrists, then after just a moment Marlo shifted his grip and held Michael’s hand high.
A cheer went out and very suddenly everyone charged forward toward him with relief and joy. People were openly weeping in relief as they jostled one another, embraced men and women that they hadn’t known before that day, and even laughed uncontrollably.
They were all swept up in it for sometime until gradually everyone settled and order was restored. Several people went straight out to help recover bodies, and Michael joined them. The work was grim and tiring, but Michael took no breaks. Each body he recovered he would restore and make whole so that they could be properly identified. Having spent the battle in tune with each of them, he felt a pang in his heart for each one.
The first he found was a young man, barely twenty, who had left a sister alone to go fight. Another was an older woman that had been part of a mercenary company, she’d had a ritual to smear just a bit of bear foam across her lips before battle for luck. One was the old man who’d volunteered to fight with only a desire to help his fellow man in his heart. Michael carried each of them with dignity, burning their faces into his mind so he could remember their sacrifice and taking note when there was family that would need to be told or taken care of. He’d make sure it was done.
Gabriel joined him, taking special note of each of his own men that had died. He was able to name each and every one of them, and his secretary followed him, noting what honors would be given to each and every one of their families for making the ultimate sacrifice. Michael saw Trina and Tain working to gather people as well, seemingly comforted by one another's presence as they walked the fields of the dead.
Others took breaks, but of course, Michael kept working until every single person was identified and saved. He took the time to bury many of them himself and by the time he was done he was looking out on a massive field of the dead. He knew his healing had saved many, but as he looked across them he wondered how many more he could’ve helped.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the flower Alyssa had given him. Somehow, beyond all reason, it had made it. It even looked a little green still. He walked out to the center of the now massive graveyard and gently placed it on the ground. Standing there alone, he closed his eyes and said a prayer. He’d said many, for each and every body he’d laid to rest, but those were shared. This one was private.
As he finished it he heard the sound of small footsteps behind him. He gradually opened his eyes and turned to see Aza standing behind him.
He bowed slightly. “Prince Aza.”
Aza shook his claw at him. “No. This one should never bow to me. Not after what you have done for my people.”
Michael smiled. “You helped us just as much. You were willing to sacrifice everything for your adopted world.”
“A familiar attitude, eh?”
Michael chuckled.
“I wish to thank you. You were already considered a friend of my people, but to save so many more of us. You could simply have burned them away, but you took the time to help them. You shall have our loyalty, always. Any favor you ask of us, we shall do our best to grant.”
Michael shrugged. “Just live well and be kind. I can’t ask more than that. Though maybe I’ll visit your new lands with my grandkids at some point. I may ask for some help with that then.”
“It is done,” said Aza, nodding. He moved around to the purple flower on the ground and placed a clawed hand on it. “And I can do this for you and your people.”
Michael felt a surge of magicka and watched as the flower grew back into the ground, then suddenly began to multiply. In a matter of moments that field of graves that had been in front of him were covered in a sea of purple flowers.
“Thank you.”
Aza nodded and scurried away back to his people.
The next morning Michael made his way to Gabriel’s tent along with Ollie, Marcus, and Pyotr.
Gabriel cast a silence enchantment and crossed the table to hug each of them. “Dad. Uncles. I wasn’t expecting you all. How’s the cleanup going?”
“Finished as of last night,” replied Michael.
“Ah. Are you all here to say goodbye then? I’m sure you have a lot to deal with back in Old Hume’s capital. Your holdings are all clear now, after all.”
“That’s the plan eventually, but for now my only priority is seeing my grandkids,” replied Michael.
“The rest of us are just hoping for soft beds and ridiculously extravagant meals,” added Ollie.
Gabriel smiled at them. “We can make that happen.”