The Beginning After The End Chapter 529: The Beginning After the End

TurtleMe

ARTHUR LEYWIN

The rhythmic, muffled thrum of the train as it tore through the subterranean passage numbed my awareness, isolating me from the world beyond. Within the tunnel's darkness, the only illumination came from the soft glow of our cabin’s lighting artifact and the occasional blur of a lit maintenance bay flashing past the window. Tessia was asleep at my side, her head resting comfortably on my shoulder.

Half a year…

It felt like an eternity and a mere heartbeat all at once. The pace of change had been staggering. Fresh governments had risen, alongside breakthrough technologies. For the average person, the very foundation of existence had shifted into a new paradigm.

The sight of Epheotus hanging in the sky and the Relictombs Spire piercing the horizon hadn’t been greeted with universal joy. The world’s newfound leadership was struggling just to maintain order and keep the flame of hope alive in the populace.

I wasn't entirely certain if the asuras’ tendency to stay hidden was helping or hurting. To the masses, they were figures of dread, though a vocal contingent in Dicathen argued that these asuras should rule us as god-kings rather than leaving our fate to "lesser" representatives. Paradoxically, the correspondence I received from Seris and Caera—specifically Caera Denoir, the President of the Alacryan Assembly—suggested that Alacryans were far more hostile toward the prospect of asuran lords than the Dicathians were. It was logical, I suppose; they had already endured life under Agrona.

My attention shifted from Tessia’s serene features down to her midsection, where her hands were folded. In this quiet moment, knowing exactly what to look for, I could discern the faint curve of her belly. Moving with extreme care so as not to disturb her rest, I laid my palm against her stomach. It was far too early to feel any physical motion, yet I could sense the tiny sparks of life within her, distinct from her own aura. There were two.

Pulling my hand back, I leaned my head against the cushioned headrest and shut my eyes, a faint grin on my face. I turned my focus inward, beginning a meditative ritual as natural to me as my own breathing. Drawing upon my internal strength provided a sense of mental and physical clarity. I experienced that same comforting radiance Ellie often spoke of when Boo bolstered her through their bond.

As my senses sharpened, the train’s vibration and roar grew louder, yet my heightened concentration allowed me to filter out the chaos. I could now perceive minute details: the tunnel walls outside seemed to slow down, and I could feel the life signatures of my family members in their respective cabins throughout the train.

I pushed my limits further, and a soft light began to emanate from me.

“Mm,” Tessia groaned softly, shifting her head as the faint luminescence danced across my skin. Without opening her eyes, she murmured, “Try to sleep, Arthur.”

“My apologies,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to her hair. “I’m far too restless. We’re getting married in only three days, after all.”

“We are already married, or has your memory failed you?” she countered, her eyes still closed.

“Wait, we are?” I tapped my chin, feigning deep thought. “That small ceremony in the garden? You, radiant in white? Those massive goldfish leaping from the water in the background? I’m afraid I have no recollection.”

A smile blossomed across her face like ripples on a sunlit pond. “You are incredibly cheesy.”

I gave her side a playful poke, making her flinch. “But you adore cheese,” I teased.

“Rey and Rin are the ones who love cheese,” she retorted. Opening her eyes, she sat up straight and moved her hand to her stomach.

Her words hit me with the force of a physical strike, and I had to consciously force myself to inhale. Reynolds and Rinia Leywin. I was truly going to be a father.

I took a heavy swallow, feeling winded by the sudden rush of emotion.

A small crease formed between Tess’s eyebrows. “Have you eaten a single thing since we got on? Your body isn't capable of surviving without sustenance and rest anymore.”

I scratched the back of my neck, forced to admit—at least internally—that exhaustion and hunger were setting in. “I’ll find something to eat. I just wanted to finish a few rotations. Besides, I didn't want to move while you were sleeping on me.”

She poked me back in the ribs. “Don't you dare use me as an excuse,” she joked, “as if I haven’t been sending Hela to hunt you down with snacks at all hours just to keep you alive. There’s an entire carriage on this train dedicated to food service; you might as well use it.”

I held up my hands in mock defeat. “You’re right. I’m trying to do better—to look after myself.”

She bit her lip before leaning back against my shoulder. “Have you made any new breakthroughs?”

I hesitated. We had both been so overwhelmed that I hadn’t given Tessia a full update on my progress. As the de facto leader of the shattered elven people, she was burdened with Elenoir’s political dealings in this new, complicated world. While the surviving elves hadn't formally established a government, they had all looked toward Virion and Tessia as the last of the Eralith line. Tessia had stepped up, doing everything in her power to ensure that once the land recovered, every elf would have a place in Elenoir.

She often joked that being married to the savior of the world gave her quite a bit of political leverage to work with.

“It’s… difficult to tell,” I confessed, trying to remember the last time we’d spoken of my training. “The final traces of Myre’s will have vanished, but I haven’t felt any ill effects on my physique.”

Mana thrummed through the cabin. “The aether feels dense around us, but it doesn't seem to be circulating much within you. Just a bit of mana, like everyone else,” Tessia observed. Though she remained a white core mage—her sessions with Varay were productive but hadn't yet triggered Integration—her perception had been sharpened by her previous connection to Cecilia.

I remained silent, scanning our small quarters. The train’s interior was elegant and warm, lacking the clinical feel of something Gideon or Wren might design. The walls were crafted from polished, dark wood, and the seats were upholstered in soft green leather, designed for both comfort and safety.

I’m starting to sound like Gideon giving a sales pitch, I thought, amused.

“Arthur?”

Tessia’s voice pulled me back. “Right. Sorry. I was just admiring the detail of the carriage.” Without King’s Gambit, these lapses in concentration happened more often. It was a lingering side effect of overusing the godrune, which I hoped would eventually dissipate. “I’m fine, truly. I feel… good. Better than good.”

“I’m relieved.” She laced her fingers through mine. “If this channeled life force—this ki—allows you to stay by my side for a long, long time, Arthur, then I’m behind you. I’ll help in any way I can.”

“Mmm…” I looked into her teal eyes. “Have I mentioned that I love you?”

A corner of her mouth twitched as she fought back a smirk. “Once or twice.”

The train’s momentum shifted slightly as it began an ascent. Suddenly, the dark tunnel fell away, and our cabin was flooded with morning light. The sun was still tucked behind the Grand Mountains to the east. From this vantage point, the Relictombs Spire was visible at the edge of the horizon, rising majestically from the mountains to the southeast.

“It looks like we’re nearly there,” Tessia noted, her voice tightening with nerves. “This is the last moment of peace we’ll have together for a while.”

I nodded, tracing my fingers along her arm. “I’m still not sure why I agreed to stay in Xyrus to help Vanesy integrate aether into the new curriculum.”

She let out an unladylike snort. “Yes, you do.”

I looked at my wife with a grin. “I know this is just a public show and not our actual wedding, but we never got a real honeymoon. I should just go to Elenoir with you. Everything else can wait. My vows to Fate… I’m not even sure it’s the right time to obsess over aether. We need more research on the new Relictombs. I could still change my mind…”

She shook her head, her expression turning serious. “It’s only a couple of months.” My eyes drifted to her belly, and her gaze softened. “I’ll be alright, and you’ll be finished long before these two arrive.”

Anxiety tightened my chest. “Then I’ll skip the trip to Epheotus afterward. The high lords can manage one meeting without me—”

“Arthur Leywin.”

I gripped my hands into fists, trying to settle my nerves.

Tessia took my face in her hands and pulled me into a kiss. I leaned into her as she drew the tension from me like poison from a wound. When she stepped back, I slumped into the leather seat and let out a long sigh.

“The asuras are even more confused than we are,” she said, echoing my own previous sentiment. “We both know they can’t hold a summit without you. You said it yourself: they are being forced to adapt at a pace that terrifies them. That makes our world vulnerable.”

“I know.” I gave her a playful pout before looking back at the window. We were too distant to see the Spire’s base, where it had consumed the ruins of the Wall and the surrounding peaks, but its sheer scale was breathtaking. The Relictombs Spire made even the Grand Mountains look small.

“But… I already saved the world, didn’t I?”

She laughed, a melodic sound that still made my heart race. “Let’s just get through this so we can focus on Reynolds and Rinia when they get here, alright?”

We held each other and closed our eyes, our breathing falling into a shared rhythm. The moment was short-lived, however, as the carriage doors swung open with a sharp, expensive-sounding crack, causing the window curtains to tangle.

“Oops,” Chul remarked as he squeezed his massive frame through the doorway. He dropped into the opposite seat, stretching his arms across the back and crossing his legs. His mismatched eyes sparkled in the light. “My brother, I still fail to see why we travel in this burrowing maggot instead of flying. The trip to Xyrus City would have been much faster.”

“Chul, it’s polite to knock before entering a room,” Tessia gently reminded the half-phoenix.

“Oops,” he said again. “Your culture has so much to learn. I shall commit myself to mastering your many, many, many bizarre customs.”

“How is that a—never mind.” Tessia glanced at me with a private smile. “Regardless, we’re glad you’re here. Gideon went to great lengths to prepare this specific train for our arrival in Xyrus.”

Xyrus Academy hadn't officially reopened, but Vanesy had offered to host our second, public wedding there. I hadn't felt the need for a public spectacle, but Tessia eventually convinced me—after being pressured by various officials—that a public celebration of our marriage would serve as a symbol of hope for the continent.

Ellie appeared at the door, yawning as she slumped into the seat next to Chul, nudging him to make room. “Moon and stars, I’m still aching. When you trained with Kordri, at least you were in that ‘soul realm’ thing. I wish I wasn't using my physical body for this.”

“True. I just had to endure dying repeatedly,” I joked. “Do you remember what that feels like?”

She turned pale. “Right. Never mind.” Her gaze shifted to Chul. “I forgot to ask—will Naesia be at the ceremony?”

Chul nodded, a wide grin spreading across his face. “She will be part of the asuran delegation.”

“Just a heads-up, it’s poor taste to get engaged at someone else’s wedding,” Ellie teased.

He grunted, leaning back. “My people do not move so quickly. A courtship can span decades, or even centuries.”

Ellie laughed out loud. “Really? Because just a while ago, all those asuran princesses were circling my brother like starving halcyons.”

“Wait, what?” Tessia sat up, her eyebrows shooting up. “Princesses were pursuing Arthur?”

I rolled my eyes and pulled her back toward me, having heard this joke far too many times.

Chul simply shrugged. “Sometimes one waits for the prey to come to them; other times, one must strike like the Hades Serpent to secure the prize.”

Ellie snorted, shaking her head. “Prey, is it?”

“And occasionally,” Sylvie interjected, appearing at the door with Regis, “even the oldest beings lack the perspective for true grace or wisdom.”

“Aren’t you technically an infant for your species?” Regis chuckled from behind her. “Chul is probably five times your age.”

Sylvie nudged him with her hip, smirking. “Calculating age isn't so simple for us anymore, is it?”

Tessia patted the seat, gesturing for Sylvie to join us. “This is why exchanging ideas and values is so vital. While Arthur represents us as an archon among the high lords, Mordain says it’s up to us to lead the charge in building ties with the asuras of Epheotus.”

Sylvie sat down and took Tess’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “They are resistant to change. Much of my grandfather’s work was ensuring they remained stagnant.”

“It’s the truth,” Chul added, his deep voice echoing in the carriage. “Until the asuras stop seeing you as ‘lessers,’ it’s dangerous to give them power over you. Their respect for Arthur will only take an alliance so far.”

As the conversation moved into familiar territory, my mind drifted back to the window. The train skirted the base of the Grand Mountains. A road ran parallel to the tracks, where dozens of carts and travelers on foot were heading south. Most stopped to watch in awe as the train roared past.

According to the maps, our ascent meant we were nearing the Xyrus station. Waiting for us would be a whirlwind of preparations, endless requests for meetings, and the constant, draining need for reassurance from every side.

In an hour, I knew I’d be longing for the quiet of this cabin.

After that, there was the work at the academy and the summit of the Great Eight. I also had a mountain of requests from the Alacryan Ascenders Association regarding structural changes now that the High Sovereign was gone. Then there were the invitations to join various adventuring guilds in Dicathen, an audience with the new dwarven king, and a statue unveiling at Mirror Lake that I had been avoiding for months.

It was never-ending.

It would settle down eventually, and Tessia was right: fulfilling these duties was the only way to earn the time we needed as a family. But that wouldn't be the end of it. In many ways, the true work was only beginning.

And not just the work of being a parent, I thought with a smile.

The Everburn Fountain in the Spire would keep emitting aether until the void finally collapsed. This flow powered the Relictombs and the djinn’s ancient machines, while the Rings of Epheotus were now stabilized by a balance of gravity and aether, preventing another collapse for centuries.

However, keeping my promise to Fate required more than just the fountain. It was a temporary fix, not a permanent solution. Without more ways to release the pressure, the fountain might eventually fail, leading to another disaster.

The true value of the Spire lay in its archives. Widespread aetheric usage would allow us to safely drain the aetheric realm at a much faster rate. With the dragons’ help—led by those like Vireah and her mother—our odds of success were high.

Once Fate was satisfied and the aetheric realm’s pressure was stabilized, the world would truly be out of danger.

Except, of course, for whatever it was that Kezess feared. That thought made me stiffen. I hadn't considered Kezess’s warnings in weeks. My one regret was not having more time with Myre to understand the full picture. But it was hard to prioritize the vague fears of a megalomaniac god when so many immediate problems demanded my focus.

“And yet, one of us isn't saying a word. Won't you share with us, my brother?” Chul asked.

I blinked, realizing that my mother and Virion had entered the cabin while I was lost in thought. I hadn't even sensed them coming.

As I tried to understand the topic of conversation, Ellie gave Chul a playful punch. “He’s my brother. That’s my name for him!”

I stood up, stepping over Regis as he moved into the center of the floor, and motioned for Mom to take my seat.