"The Destras Cataclysm occurred eight thousand years ago. It's what turned the world into the Envenomed Wastelands."
Adelasta's usually impassive demeanor cracked, her orange eyes widening in realization.
"You don't mean—"
Elyonari nodded grimly, her gaze locking with Adelasta's.
"Yes, Adelasta. Our side quest said we would understand our purpose in the Epoch after finishing it. Now, after everything... the desert, the trials, the deaths, I see it clearly."
The group, worn from their trek and the horrors they had faced, watched Elyonari intently, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Her words carried an ominous weight, as if the air itself grew heavier.
"According to ancient Elven records, three hundred years after the Destras Cataclysm," Elyonari continued, her tone sharpening, "the Solar Eclipse of the Three Moons occurred. Records from that time are scarce and fragmented, but as an elf princess, I have access to fragments of forgotten history passed down through my kind."
"What does this have to do with the dragon?" One of the students asked, their voice trembling. "And the city?"
Elyonari inhaled deeply, "Everything. There are ancient mentions of a white-scaled dragon, one that heralds annihilation and rebirth. A Tower of Black Crystal rising from the sands. A battlefield on a shore, close to the ocean. And... an army uniting to challenge a deity of frost and death who seeks to undo the world known as the Frozen God."
Adelasta frowned, her brows knitting. "An army? A Frozen God? That sounds like ancient myth, not—"
"Not history?" Elyonari interrupted. "Perhaps. But myths are often truths we've forgotten how to see. According to these legends, they came together to stand against the Frozen God's forces. No one knows if they succeeded. The only thing the records say is that both sides paid the ultimate price. The armies were obliterated, and the land itself was cursed. Both sides lost."
"And this city is...?" Adelasta pressed.
"The same fallen city," Elyonari said quietly. "The battlefield is here. The final battle will happen exactly at this city."
Just then, a massive holographic notification appeared in front of everyone for them to read.
[Main Quest Unlocked!]
[Epoch Cycle Quest: Create A New City.]
[Difficulty: Death Threatening.]
[The Five Runic Tribes will arrive exactly at the fallen city after a few years. Before then, create a new city that will act as their final stand. However, you will face a lot of Krepsunas who will wish to tear the city down, including the dragon.]
[Main Participant: Elyonari Mintheris.]
[Mission: Create the city using your own abilities.]
[Main Participant: Adelasta Viaca.]
[Mission: Lead the Enlightenment Students into defending Elyonari as she creates the city once more.]
[Main Participants: Denisia Andelaris and Natalis Andelaris.]
[Mission: Guide the Runic Tribes into the city while defending them.]
[May you survive this Epoch, brave ones.]
______
The notification blinked out as abruptly as it had appeared, leaving the students stunned. They exchanged uneasy glances, some whispering frantic questions, others merely staring at the ruins in the distance with growing dread.
Elyonari let out a long sigh, her fingers brushing over her Reliable Compass as if searching for reassurance.
"So," she said dryly, "it wants me to create a city? On this beach? Ha… this Epoch Cycle is asking for too much. And the twins aren't even here yet. How am I supposed to—"
"Trust in it," Adelasta interrupted.
Elyonari turned to her, the sarcastic remark she was about to fire off caught in her throat.
"We have years to prepare," Adelasta said simply. "The Cycle wouldn't set this task if it weren't possible. Can you do it though?"
Elyonari's lips parted as if to argue, but then she closed them again. Slowly, she nodded in response.
"Yes. Thanks to... well, never mind. I can do it but it's not just about building the city. It's about making it a fortress. It needs to be a place that can withstand dragons and Krepsunas. And we have to protect it until the tribes arrive."
Adelasta smirked faintly. "Then the plan is simple. You build, we defend and survive. I'll handle the students and make sure they don't get in your way... or die needlessly."
Elyonari tilted her head, a faint smile creeping onto her face. "So, you're volunteering to be my bodyguard?"
Adelasta gave a rare, soft laugh.
"Hardly volunteering. This is the Cycle's will. And besides," she added, her tone turning sly, "it's not like you can handle all this on your own. Someone has to keep you out of trouble."
"Fair enough," Elyonari said, rolling her eyes. "So the plan is simple. I can't believe I'll be spending my next few years constructing a nature city. Better than fighting and surviving, that's for sure. Thank goodness Vastarael took my out grocery shopping so I have enough supplies to last me for years, even after I had to share with the rest for the past 29 days."
Adelasta wasted no time gathering the remaining students.
"Listen carefully," she began, her voice cutting through the waves and wind. "This is no longer about survival. We have a mission and if you want to live to see the end of this Cycle, you'll do exactly as I say."
The students stiffened, a mix of fear and respect keeping them silent.
"Elyonari will be building the city that will act as our stronghold against the enemies to come. Your job is to support her. Mages, you will be under my command to provide protection and create barriers as needed. Fighters, you will defend the builders. Scouts, you'll keep watch for Krepsunas or other threats. You all have roles and I expect you to fulfill them without question."
She gestured toward the ruins. "That city is where we'll be setting up camp. We move at dawn. Rest while you can, because tomorrow, your endurance will be tested. Because after tomorrow, we'll be literally changing history."
°°°°°°°
As Elyonari and Adelasta were receiving their missions...
Two beings were being chased by superhuman guards.
"Why are those freaks so fast? Humans aren't meant to be this fast!" Phaenora exclaimed as they ran through the lush green forests.
Yes, green. Why?
The dense canopy above them scattered specks of golden sunlight across the ground, painting the lush green forest with an almost serene beauty... if you ignored the thundering footsteps of superpowered guards hot on their trail.
Vastarael, his white hair plastered to his forehead from sweat, glanced back over his shoulder, his golden eyes wide with panic.
"Are they still—"
"Yes!" Phaenora snapped, her voice tinged with exasperation and a touch of hysteria. "They're still chasing us! And they're fast. Stupidly fast! Why are they so fast? Humans aren't supposed to be this fast!"
She leapt over a thick root, barely keeping pace with Vastarael, who seemed just as horrified by their pursuers.
The guards were blurs of motion, dodging trees and rocks with a grace that made Vastarael question if they were even human.
The pair had been thrown back in time by the Fallen Bridge, landing in a world that shouldn't exist: the Erna Isles, in their prime, before they froze over and became the desolate frozen world it was now.
The ruins they'd expected were anything but. Instead, they'd found sprawling forests, vibrant landscapes, and… a civilization of humans who seemed to have unlocked cheat codes for life.
These weren't the frail, magic-reliant humans Vastarael was used to seeing in the present. These were ancient humans, primeval and terrifyingly efficient.
The underbrush whipped at their legs as they sprinted, the sounds of their pursuers growing louder.
Vastarael's breath came in gasps, his body aching from the relentless pace. Even as a child of Nexuses, his usual advantages were failing him. These humans were relentless, like predators locked onto prey.
'I think I understand why ancient humans on Earth used to hunt mammoths like it's nothing,' he thought.
"This is humiliating!" Phaenora cried out, clutching her side. "I'm supposed to be helping you, Vastarael! But I feel like I'm gonna die first!"
"Less talking, more running!" He shot back, his tone strained.
Behind them, one of the guards vaulted over a fallen tree with terrifying ease, his feet landing soundlessly on the forest floor. His eyes locked onto Vastarael, his expression unreadable but determined.
"Why aren't they getting tired?" Vastarael hissed. "We have been running for three hours nonstop at top speed!"
Phaenora groaned, her face contorting in frustration.
"I told you! They're ancient humans! This must be before the Destras Cataclysm. Back when they were in their prime and could, you know, hunt things like massive creatures and us apparently!"
"Great. Just great," Vastarael muttered, ducking under a low-hanging branch. "Any bright ideas, oh wise one?"
"Run faster?"
"That's not helpful!"
The forest seemed to stretch endlessly, a maze of towering trees and thick vegetation that offered little in the way of true cover. Every now and then, Vastarael would spot an opportunity, maybe an uneven slope, a patch of thorny bushes, and try to use it to slow their pursuers.
But the guards navigated these obstacles with ease like they lived in the forests.
One particularly agile guard nearly grabbed Phaenora's arm, but she yelped and twisted away at the last second, diving into a patch of buttress roots.
"I hate this! I hate this so much!" She wailed as she scrambled back to her feet.
Vastarael gritted his teeth, his frustration boiling over. He skidded to a halt and turned, his hands glowing faintly with essence as he prepared to fight.
"Vastarael, no!" Phaenora yelled, tugging at his arm. "Are you crazy? You can't outfight them! These guys are practically running on prehistoric rage!"
"I can try!" He snapped.
"No, you can't!" she insisted, dragging him away as the guards closed in.
By some miracle—or sheer luck—they managed to lose their pursuers after diving into a narrow ravine and crawling through a series of caves. Vastarael collapsed against the damp wall, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
Phaenora flopped down beside him, her usually radiant demeanor dimmed by exhaustion. She was still adjusting to her physical body and the strain of their ordeal was clearly taking its toll.
"That was…" She paused, gasping for air. "…the worst thing I've ever experienced ever since I gained a physical body."
"Same," Vastarael muttered, leaning his head back against the rock.
For a moment, there was silence between them, broken only by the distant sounds of the forest. Then Phaenora let out a weak laugh.
"You know, I thought being sent back in time would be kind of cool. Like, we'd explore ancient ruins, meet some historical figures, maybe pick up a legendary artifact or two."
Vastarael shot her a tired glare. "And instead, we got chased like deer by a bunch of overpowered cavemen."
"Yup."
Another pause.
"We're so bad at this," Phaenora added.
"Yup."
Despite their exhaustion, the absurdity of their situation finally hit them and they both started laughing, the sound echoing through the cave. It wasn't the triumphant laughter of victory. It was more the desperate kind that came from narrowly avoiding death.
But for now, they were alive.