Prologue

[Sky Yam]

Prologue

The human Eterna looked upon their finished work.

"It is done," Sky murmured, gazing at the spot where the seed was finally planted. They had created it correctly this time, and all had gone according to plan. The Eterna demolished the barrier between themselves and Riu, who caught Sky in his arms as she ran towards him.

"You finished?" he asked as they broke apart.

Sky nodded. "Thankfully."

Drew wiped some sweat off his forehead. "Now what do we do?" he asked. "Our roles are over until the next generation comes along."

"We have to spread this across the world," Joey said. "But...not as Eterna."

"Why not?" Star asked, but Sky nodded.

"Not as Eterna," she agreed. "This fruit must be shared as from a friend to friends, not as some sorcery from the Eterna. Don't you think that a well-meant healing gift would be much kinder than a remedy only the Eterna produce?"

Star nodded, considering Sky's words.

"So," Joey said, "it's time to disappear from the world. Just like the elvish Eterna did."  

[Sky Yam]

"Just as every generation of Eterna has done," Sky murmured, and Joey nodded. "We can no longer walk about the world as Eterna until the time comes for us to reveal ourselves again."

***

The journey back to Haruna seemed shorter than anyone had anticipated. The Eterna and Riu rested for three days, during which they took advantage of their abundant free time. At sunrise on the fourth day, however, they parted ways. Star and Midnight would travel the wilderness, Star with the dragons and Midnight with the wolves; Drew and Carol would stay in Germanoslovakia and maintain relations with Milantis while Reed would return to Hiraku; Joey would stay in Haruna while Alex, Aubrey, and Grant would travel the world separately.

"Where are you two going?" Reed asked Sky and Riu.

Riu smiled. "Well, Sky's going to help organize some things in Haruna and set her own affairs, and then...We're visiting the Western Sect and then the Eastern Sect where my dad grew up."

Reed nodded. "Sounds like fun," he said.

"Indeed," Sky replied, smiling. She and Riu and the rest of the Eterna turned to face each other.

For a while, no one said anything. Then Alex spoke up.

"Well, this is it, then," he said. "I'll see you all later."  

[Sky Yam]

Everyone nodded, and similar murmurs of "goodbye" were said from everyone. Then, little by little, all of the Eterna had gone except for Joey and Sky.

[Prologue/End]