Everlasting
It was a typical day in late autumn. Dawn came upon Epsilon as a single ray crept over
the slender blades of grass, moist with fresh dew from the night before. Shades of reds
and violets filled the sky as the sun reached for higher ground, awakening the trees from
their slumber. A solitary leaf had lost its vibrant color and now fell to the earth, crinkled
and auburn.
Elven children ran and laughed as they made their way to the well for water. They waded
through the tall grass, letting their hands run over the soft flowers as they went.
As the sun crept on, yellow rays of light made their way through the air and shone on the
pale face of the elf that lay beneath a partly barren tree. The leaves were still clinging
onto the branches, their green disappearing as orange and red took over. One of the
children running through the grassy field slowed herself and looked with mournful eyes at
the elf resting beneath the malorn. He opened his eyes slowly, feeling the early rays of
sun beaming down.
Gone.
The dream ended as he opened his eyes, gazing into the world in which he lived; the sky
stripped of color and light, becoming a lifeless black. Epsilon had not seen a glimmer of
sun in weeks; ever since the Mortals had won the war. He looked up at the sky shrouded
by dark clouds. The air around him was speckled with black ashes the chilling wind carried
with it, and a sense of dread hovered over the land. Remembering the child in his dream,
he lowered his head to the charred ground; it was nothing but dirt and single, burnt
blades of grass. The Mortals had slain thousands of his kind, including his children, as well
as destroyed their beautiful enchanted lands. Moving to stand, he placed his hand on the
bark of the malorn behind him to catch his balance. At his touch, the branch crumbled to
dust. He lifted his head and saw the singed bark surrounding the leafless tree.
The elf always dreaded going on with the day, but forced himself to bear it. The one
comfort he had was when he slept at night, he would see his homeland once more as it
was before. In his dreams, he would be at peace and utopia; Mortals had no power over
him there. He would not let the memory of Epsilon fade.
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