Welcome to Gaia! ::

The entire Order had gathered in the teleportation chamber for this bittersweet occassion. Acolytes young and old clustered wherever they could around the small room, some watching down from the stairwell, and many more unable to press directly into the proceedings - they waited upstairs in the enchantment center, straining to hear the words being spoken down below. The crowd was, helpfully, very still and silent.

"It is with sadness that I bid you this fond farewell, my friends," the Guardian was saying. The inverse of her counterpart - the Sentinel - she was a woman who radiated a hum of elegance, kindness and grace. Her long, blonde hair was piled on top of her head, and her shimmering blue dress wafted with the slightest movement, as if in a breeze. "You have done more for me than I could ever have hoped."

A strange, sad look passed over her face. "A thousand years of siege, ended in a few short months... somehow it never occurred to me that my brother might be his own downfall in the end. I always thought... well. I don't know what I thought."

"His greed and ambition destroyed him, just as it does so many others," replied the Overseer in his deep, measured tones. "Does it really come as such a surprise to you?"

"Greed and ambition can reward as much as they can destroy. Which is why... he had to be stopped," the Guardian replied quietly, "There... was no other option, was there?"

Lorika took a couple of steps forward from her place in front of the crowd, stopping deferentially just behind the Overseer's shoulder. "There was no other option," she said firmly, bright pink eyes serious as the grave, "While we slept, he was enacting his plan to destroy both of our worlds. It was what he'd wanted all along. If he hadn't been stopped, everyone everywhere would've perished."

On the floor above, the Alchemy Master, Thomas, was leaning with his arms crossed against the wall, separated from the crowd. "She's right. Monsters need to be put down," he said, provoking a sharp 'Shush!' from Lacine, who'd also stayed behind.

The Guardian's eyes travelled from the Overseer, to Lorika, and then along the rest of the faces in the crowd - all of those who had fought alongside her, who had risked their lives to remove her brother from his seat of tyranny. They were not even of the Mirror World. They hadn't needed to be concerned with her war, but they had risen to the threat, totally unselfishly. Her vision began to blur as tears welled up in her eyes - whether they sprung from happiness, gratitude or regret, she couldn't quite tell.

Blinking them away, she reached out and clasped the hands of the Overseer and the High Priestess in turn. "I will never forget you, my friends. You have done such a service for me and my world, and my people. We will pass down tales of your greatness, heroes of Gaia."

"We'll never forget your courage either, Guardian," the Overseer replied, "I'm not sure I would ever have recovered my strength if it were not for you and your late brother. The history of the Order has your imprint upon it, pressed deep. We will forever be your allies and comrades in arms."

The Guardian nodded and clasped his hands anew. "I cannot thank you all enough for your kindness. But I believe it is time that I leave this world once and for all."

She addressed this next part directly to her reflection, the Sentinel, who stood moodily next to the small cluster of elves, both dark and light, at the forefront. "We were never meant to meet. Reflections must always be kept in twain."

She approached the Sentinel as she said this. Her real-world counterpart stared back at her, not inviting conversation. For a moment it seemed as if the Guardian might reach out to touch her. Then the moment passed, and she turned sharply away to face the two dark elves. "Jessie," she nodded, "Cressa. You showed remarkable fortitude during the final confrontation."

Jessie glanced uncertainly at Cressa, who just nodded back at her. "Thank you. But honestly, I was not as strong and put-together as I should have been. In fact, I am rather ashamed of how useless I was!"

She gestured extravagantly and smiled, theatrical even admitting defeat. "My friends, however, were magnificent. You owe everything to them, and nothing to me."

"We all did our best," Jessie said sternly, looking at her, "Including you. It was not exactly a usual situation. You weren't the only one at a disadvantage."

"Always the voice of reason," the Guardian smiled, taking his hands, "I'm afraid I might feel a little lost without your guiding wisdom when I return. Cressa, you would do well to listen more to your friend," she said, taking Cressa's hands.

"Ohh, I always listen to him," she replied loftily, "I take his advice into consideration. And then routinely discard it."

Jessie rolled his eye, and the silent crowd broke out into snickering. Lorika giggled with her hand covering her mouth, and before the laughter could subside the Guardian was moving around the crowd, taking the hands of the Ordonians and speaking words of parting and comfort.

By the time she was finished with her farewells, the sun was setting outside the large, clear windows - some of the only unenchanted, outdoor-facing windows on the ground floor. Orange light streamed into the enchantment center, casting shadows that were reminiscent, almost, of the strange, twilight, hyper-real quality of the Mirror World, to which the Guardian now returned. She embraced the Priestess and the Overseer one last time before turning around and stepping towards the large, ornate mirror that took up most of the wall beneath the stairwell. The portal between worlds.

She stopped before entering it, turning back again. "I shouldn't need to tell you this, but once I've passed through, there's no turning back. I will destroy the portal on the other side, and you must destroy this one." This elicited a few gasps, from people who hadn't expected this - including Adeline, who had crafted the mirror herself.

"But you can't!" she squealed, "There's no other artefact like this upon Gaia! We all poured so much magic and time into it!"

"I know," the Guardian replied, "And I thank you for your trouble, but I must ask you to never share your method with any other Gaian - human, elf, magician or civilian, or anything or anyone inbetween. You're right - this is the only artefact of its kind, and it will die upon my return."

Adeline's face fell. "But if there's never another mirror, we'll never see you or any of your Order again..."

"Exactly. That's how it has to be. Our worlds can never meet. There's too much opportunity for discord, and as orders of Law, we just can't have that, can we?"

"As sad as the thought might be, she's right," the Overseer agreed, calm as ever. "I knew this was coming. It's what we have to do."

"Don't be unhappy on my account... this is a joyous occassion!" the Guardian smiled, "We've won! My people will be celebrating when I go back. Promise me you'll all do the same?"

"We promise," said Lorika. Around her, people nodded their assent, including Adeline, whose face was covered in glistening tears.

"Then it's settled," the other woman said, with an air of finality. She looked again towards the mirror - towards her home - and then back once more. "Take care of yourselves, my mortal friends. And immortal, too!"

Then, smiling back at them all, she stepped through the mirror and was gone.

Silence passed through the room, mournful and oddly empty, like a relative has just passed on. Ardelle looked around the crowd, appraising, and then leaned forward to whisper something to Cressa. She didn't have to lean far for it to reach her keen hearing. Cressa looked around as well, and then clapped her hands once, abruptly ending the silence. "Alright, everyone stop crowding around! I don't think you all need to be here to see this. Shift yourselves! Get out!"

"I agree with the lady elf," the Overseer intoned, "Young ones, leave. Prepare yourselves for a great banquet! You do not need to be here any longer."

Slowly, and with some protestation, most of the Order filed out up the stairs. Some stayed behind - the elder members, ones who had fought longer and harder for the Order than anyone else. No one requested that they leave. Thomas and Lacine joined them, watching silently but intently. The Enchanting Mistress, however, had left, trailing tears in her wake. Seeing her creation destroyed was obviously too much.

The staff members conferred for a short time. Then, the Overseer and the elves came forward. Lorika kept her head bowed, as if praying. "From violence it was created, and by violence it shall end," the Overseer announced. "Captain; My Lady, if you will..."

Jessie drew his sword. Cressa held out her hand to it for a few long seconds until it began to hum, surrounded by a faint, rainbow-coloured aura that played tricks on the eyes of anyone who tried to look directly at it. Cressa took her hand away, and then, with very little further ceremony, Jessie brought his sword back and thrust it, crashing foward onto the reflective glass. Magic met magic - no normal blade could have shattered it - and the pane broke at once, smashing into glistering dust. Totally obliterated in less than a moment.

It was the end of another adventure... but, perhaps, the start of a new one.

Evelyn whipped her head around at a touch on her neck, heart beating quickly. No one was there. Of course no one was there. She was alone in her locked room. Then what could it have been? She reached her hand around and felt the nape of her neck and found the source. Her hair. It had been three days since she was forced to cut it all off and she still wasn’t used to it. She hadn’t had short hair since she was old enough to walk, and she constantly forgot about how little hair she actually had now.

She let out a distinct sigh and for the umpteenth time that night considered magicking her hair to another style, another cut, another color…but she just couldn’t do it. For some reason, it seemed right to celebrate their victory with that battle wound showing. No one had seen her hair since she had to cut off the burned and chopped bits, and she wasn’t sure how they’d react. She briefly had considered just magicking it to grow out to its original length, but…well, she dismissed it as soon as it came to mind. This was the battle scar that she would force herself to deal with. When she could look in the mirror without flinching, she would be better. That was the plan anyway.

Evelyn walked over to her vanity and looked in the mirror. She didn’t look tired. She didn’t look upset. She didn’t look much of anything, if she was being honest with herself. She silently laughed at what her old nanny would think. She’d lament over how thin she looked, how her eyes were blank—but mostly over the loss of her hair. Evelyn shook the thought quickly and smiled. There it was—the sparkle. The shine that she was missing. She hadn’t realized she wasn’t smiling. That was silly of her.

“Well, Evelyn, darling,” she said to herself, trying to copy Nanny McCray, “in order for you to enjoy yourself, you need to leave your room.” She laughed aloud this time, the smile reaching her eyes.

She exited her room, locking it with a silent spell, and rushed to the main hall, realizing she was far later than she intended. She entered the hall just in time to catch Lorika’s speech, a grin plastered to her face at the sight of the woman. Lorika’s speeches always made Evelyn feel better. In fact, Lorika’s speech was exactly what Evelyn needed that night. She would enjoy herself. She wouldn’t let the nightmares get to her tonight. Nothing would get to her except the music, the laughter, and the smiles of her fellow Ordonians. She quickly made her way across the room, looking for someone to talk to.

Evelyn smiled at the woman in front of her. Her face darkened for a moment at the mention of her hair, but she didn’t let it stay for long. “Thank you! I didn’t exactly choose it, but I’m definitely glad you like it. And do you really like my dress?” she asked, spinning in a circle to show it off completely. “Thank you! But I must say, yours it just as pretty—if not prettier. And you know that we’re all here for you! If you ever want any sort of new dress or anything, I’d be happy to help,” she grinned.

“Oh, and, Lorika, your speech was simply lovely! One for the books. I hope someone got it down for our history,” she continued, moving to hug her friend.

Evelyn looked to see who the Priestess was waving at and breathed in sharply. It was the Combat Master, Jessie. He had always frightened Evelyn deeply, due to his position—his deadliness. But now—there was no way she could hate him. In fact, she owed him her life in a way. He had been the one to rescue her from the shadows of her own mind…it was a debt she didn’t think she’d ever be able to repay.

“Priestess,” Evelyn began softly, leaning to keep prying ears away, “what would you think if I were to take a few lessons in combat?”

For a few brief moments, Evelyn considered not telling her. She considered lying to the marvelous woman in front of her and telling her that the battle meant nothing to her. Perhaps come up with an elaborate lie that she felt like she had fallen out of practice in stage-fighting or that she just wanted something to tone up muscles. But she dismissed it entirely. Lorika was concerned for her, and she couldn’t just dismiss it. In fact, the fact that she even considered it seemed to solidify her resolve to tell Lorika.

“Well…yes. But it’s hardly party conversation I’m sorry for bringing it up,” Evelyn responded with sincerity ringing in her voice.

Evelyn nodded once, admitting to Lorika her nervousness around Jessie. She knew she didn’t hide it well. “I am edgy around him, aren’t I?” she sighed, breaking down and letting it out. “It’s just…well, it’s somewhat frightening, being around someone who could kill me before I even knew it was happening, you know? But I think…I think I wouldn’t mind talking to him now. He…he’s very caring, isn’t he?”

Evelyn sighed and shook her head. “Perhaps I might be able to meet up with you sometime and discuss…discuss what happened during the battle.”

Evelyn turned red instantly and gasped, covering her mouth. Tears started forming in her eyes. “Oh my , you don’t think he realized that I was scared of him, do you? He just has this presence…I’d been misinterpreting it and fearing him rather than feeling protected like I should have. I’m so awful. I can’t believe I let myself be frightened just because he’s so skilled. I should have respected him more because he was skilled. Oh, I can’t believe how dreadful I’ve been. I’m a horrible person.”

Evelyn covered her face with her hands for a moment before pulling them away, and continuing. “Oh, I probably do need therapy or a very therapeutic trip to town, you’re right.”