The Passage of Time

Another twenty years passed. The Eternal Elves had taken firm root in this land, and all kinds of buildings full of Eternal Elves appeared across the continent.

After a busy day, Ganaide was preparing to rest when the communication stone, silent for twenty years, suddenly sounded.

"Hello, my brother, can you hear me?" Apophis's voice came from the communication stone, but unlike twenty years ago, it was no longer full of strength.

"My brother, is something the matter?" Jarod was delighted to hear Apophis's voice.

"Do you have time now? I'd like to see you," Apophis said.

"Of course. Keep the communication stone connected, and I'll locate it from here." Jarod asked no further questions. After telling Apophis what to do, he began locating the communication stone so he could teleport.

Once Jarod was ready, he cast the spell, and a portal connected the two continents.

After making sure the portal was stable, Jarod walked through it. The world spun around him, and he found himself back in the Eastern Kingdoms.

But the place he had teleported to was different from what he remembered. It was not in the town, but in a forest.

"My friend, you're here," Apophis, now over fifty, said to Jarod.

Time had left indelible marks on him. His back was no longer straight, his muscles were no longer what they had been, his face was wrinkled, and his hair had turned gray.

"Hello, my brother. Why are we meeting in the forest instead of in town?" Jarod sensed that the vitality in Apophis's body was no longer as vigorous as it had once been. It was like a candle flickering in the wind, on the verge of going out.

"My brother, it doesn't matter where we meet. After all these years, you're as splendid as ever, while I've become an old man," Apophis said with a smile.

"We elves live a long time. For the Druids among our people far away on another continent, a few decades are no more than a nap, and sometimes not even enough for that," Jarod joked.

"All right, let's talk about our homelands." Apophis sat down on the ground and motioned for Jarod to sit beside him.

Jarod sat down too, and the two old friends, who had not seen each other in so long, began giving each other a brief account of what had happened back home.

Time always passed quickly in the company of a good friend. Before they knew it, evening had fallen.

"All right, brother, you should go back. I've had a wonderful time today," Apophis said as he stood.

"You won't let me stay here for the night?" Jarod asked.

"No. Didn't I just tell you? Things have been a little different among the clan lately."

"Mm, tell me if you need my help." Jarod understood that the mages and warriors among Apophis's people had been at odds lately, so he did not insist on staying.

"I'll be going, then." After saying goodbye to Apophis, Jarod opened a portal and went back.

Once he saw Jarod leave, Apophis headed toward the town.

He wondered when the conflict between the warriors and the mages had begun.

At first, the two roles had clearly been able to coexist peacefully, so why had conflict arisen later? Had he been right to introduce the profession of mage at all?

Apophis returned to town and went back to his residence, the finest house there.

In truth, Apophis had kept something from Jarod. After his clan gained the profession of mage, it had begun to expand.

Now, Apophis had unified this entire region, which was why his vitality was already so weak when he was only in his fifties.

The hidden injuries accumulated over years of warfare and the clan affairs he handled in ordinary times had kept him from getting proper rest. Together, the two had brought Apophis to his present state.

"Chief, you're back." The guard at the door came forward to greet Apophis when he saw him return.

Apophis nodded to the guard at the door and walked inside.

Apophis went in and sat down in the seat that symbolized his position as chief.

The seat was not comfortable. It was somewhat hard and cold, yet it was something people yearned for. He looked at the map on the table, where vast areas had been marked as his clan's territory.

Power was a fine thing. It had turned a pure warrior into someone full of ambition and desire.

Looking at the realm he had conquered, Apophis was filled with satisfaction. He no longer even felt the discomfort of the chair.

Even if he departed now, he would have no regrets. He had made his clan immensely powerful, achieving something greater than all the chiefs before him.

Whenever he thought of this, he grew very excited.

"Someone!" Apophis called.

A soldier at the door heard Apophis's call and entered.

"Chief!" The guard came in and saluted him.

"Go and summon Leo and his wife." Apophis sent the guard to summon Leo and his wife, the most respected couple in the clan.

"Yes, Chief." The guard received his orders and left.

Leo and his wife were the most respected people in the clan, holding high standing among both the warriors and the mages.

Leo was Apophis's own nephew. Apophis had no children, so he had passed all his warrior skills on to Leo, who had lived up to expectations and learned everything his uncle had to teach.

His wife was Lilith, the little girl Jarod had praised back then. She had lived up to her talent and was now the most powerful mage here.

It was purely through fate that they had come together; otherwise, the two would never have become a couple.

A while later, the guard led Leo and his wife inside.

"Chief, I've brought them," the guard said, saluting Apophis.

"Good. You may leave." Seeing that Leo and his wife had arrived, Apophis dismissed the guard.

The guard left at the chief's command, but he looked at Leo and Lilith differently.

His gaze was full of admiration when he looked at Leo, but when he looked at Lilith, it was mostly filled with fear and distaste.

This was actually the norm in Apophis's clan. Mages and warriors disliked one another, each believing the other was holding back their development.

"Leo, you're here." Apophis rose from his throne, but he had been sitting for a while, and standing so suddenly left him unsteady.

"Uncle, are you all right?" Lilith stepped forward first and caught Apophis.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm just getting old," Apophis said with a smile.

"Why didn't you help Uncle?" Lilith kicked Leo.

Leo did not dodge. As a warrior, it was his own fault that he had failed to notice his uncle was unsteady.

"All right, wife, I was wrong. I promise it won't happen again," Leo said with a smile, admitting his mistake to his wife.

Seeing how loving his nephew and niece-in-law were, Apophis was very happy.