A Fabled Return [END]

[Inariel Myotis]

Without a second thought, Inari appeared before Hellan carefully unattaching her from the numerous fleshy threads. She was out cold, but alive, her pulse though faint still present. He didn't wish to use his blood to heal her, it's potency would turn her into something he would rather not see her become. She probably had enough of being enthralled by monsters. But that she still lived, that she was still here, was good enough for him. Amrit massive size began to shrink to that of a small fox once more.

"We did it Allen!"

Inari shouted out in glee, but he did not hear Allen return his enthusiasm. He could not hear nor feel his presence anymore.

"Allen?"

Amrit looked with a saddened grimace, he barely had the heart to tell him...the cost of such powerful magic.

"Inari..."

"Don't Amrit."

In that moment he returned to the temporal realm. It shimmered with gilden light from the Myotian tapestry, the once cracked fracturing skies had been mended and the red of the soul space was as vibrant as ever. However, Allen was nowhere to be found. Inari etched towards the tapestry where he heard Allen's voice slip into his mind.

"I pray you find it in your heart to forgive me one day Inari, but this...was the only way."

"No..."

"Please, do not mourn me...my memory was more than a fitting sacrifice to see that blighted creature banished from your blood. You were right... to embrace what is, to welcome what is to be, what was must be let go... The Moonscar was created from my emotions, so long as the memory of those aches persisted, the curse could not be broken. But...do not fret."

"Though I have wiped my stain from the Myotion tapestry, the last vestige of my heart rests within you. And remember, Minratha way still be saved... wait till the land heals, and she will eventually be born anew. Protect this place in my stead. Become the Gaurdian of Twilgiht it deserves...I am proud ...to have been blessed to witness the rebirth of our people. I leave it all to you, Crimson Crown. Walk... tall."

The realm dissipated with him back atop the Night Sacarium. It was true, in order to serve as the conduit for the purity spell Allen sacrifed his the very memory of himself from the archives...leaving only Inari and Amrit with the knowledge of his brave sacrifice.

"He...didn't wish for you to know...he feared it would dishearten you...me"

Inari stood tall watching as the green returned to the Black Forest once more. He placed his hand on Amrit head.

"You did well Amrit, lets...return Helena home."

"What about this place? What if someone else comes for the vestige?"

"I am... irrevocably tethered to this place now. The Moonflow runs through me as it does this land. If it is ever in danger I can return at a moment's notice...but the forest should be able to hold it own in the meantime."

"Inari...you've become strong...very strong."

"Are you well, Amrit? It's rare to receive praise from you."

"O-of course I'm well, geez, I'm just stating the obvious besides..."

Amrit stared off into the moon, the first time they'd been able to witness it since coming here. With the land's oppression ceased the lunar blessing returned.

"There's more to be done...so, don't start getting lazy!"

He turned his little nose in the air before dissipating and returning to Inari to sleep. This entire venture had tuckered him out and exhausted his CORE. For now, they returned to Grannis. The Elder hugged her daughter tightly.

"You...kept your promise?"

Inari eyes softened

"Of course, I gave you my word."

"And the hatred of the land...it's screams have quiet."

"I...have healed it, and the Moonflow is slowly regaining it's strength."

"Thank you, Gaurdian, it seems that E'vanoris trusted well."

"There is still much for me to do here, but I must return to Ars. But before I do...I will give you all one final boon"

He placed Hellena in her mother's care before weaving a string of ava. His body became encased in a mixture of silver and red light as before he touched the blighted tree. The Moonflow seemed from him embedding within it a seed. Its corroded bark began to wilt away readily replaced by a twinkling seedling.

"It will take time, but water this three once every full moon. By the rise of the 10 moons, the Goddess will manifest from this place. She will be...lost, disoriented. A newborn babe. Show her kindness and she will protect you. I will return with other guardians and we will protect you and her, for the rest of eternity. This, I promise. Can you do this?"

"It will be our deepest honor. I sure Hellen will be static."

"Thank you...this is where we part ways....for now."

With that Inari unveiled his wings and took off. Finally able to breathe the tonnage of a thousand-year trauma lifted. And the path to healing finally started.