Immortality couldn’t be a greater gift.


    Scores of people cheered Tendrith as he marched.


    “Thank you, savior!”


    “Bless you!”


    His heavy golden armor reflected the blazing fires of ruin just beyond the village – the carnage that he had defended them from. But his blonde hair, tied into a ponytail behind his back and funneling out of his helmet, remained clean, set, and straight, as though he had never fought.


    Tendrith waved to the crowds with some managed composure, but a wry grin leaked out of his fair face. “It is my pleasure to answer the call of the fine people of Mirahan!” He shouted, unsheathed his sword, and thrusted it into the night sky.


    The peasants roared, “May Ateria shine light on us all!” and Tendrith joined them on that cheer. He continued walking, smiling in the crowd’s fervor, and his mighty steed approached - Hart. His skin was a fine sheet of brown, and hair dirty blonde like sand. The horse seemed to know that it was about to leave and came out of the wooden stable, which his partner was next to, tending to her own steed.


    “Smart boy,” he whispered to his horse. He turned to his partner. “Vera!” Tendrith greeted while ruffling Sunflower’s hair, “You miss the celebration!”


    The woman of Ateria huffed in an even voice, “I miss nothing. You take too long. It is time to return.” As ever, she stood tall and as straight as a board, even under the weight of the heavy longsword on her back. “The High Palace calls us back.”


    He glanced at the lines of people that they had saved with excitement. “It took three days to get here, and you want to return already? Savor our victory, Vera! We labored and risked ourselves for it, after all.”


    She didn’t respond and jumped onto her own white horse. “Then I will return alone. While you laze with the mortals.”


    After a few moments of hesitation, Tendrith hopped onto Sunflower. “I’ll go with you,” he sighed. “If we must leave, then I will go with you.” And Vera’s horse trotted with Tendrith in tow.


    The Kingdom of Mirahan was a pleasant and peaceful one that enjoyed proximity to the High Palace, gaining from its protection. As such, the journey home was sweet and short. The fiery aftermath of their battle fell onto the horizon, and the wooden straw huts of the village were left how they were – protected from danger. The two had completed their mission, so they dashed with their strong unmatched horses over green and rolling hills. Above, white stars shone over them in a clear night sky and Tendrith’s and Vera’s golden armor reflected the silvery starlight, outlined in the dark like a beacon.


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    Three days of hard travel, but none that Tendrith wasn’t accustomed to, passed swiftly, as they do with immortals, and the green hills gradually became spotted, and soon cluttered, with the giant trees of the Everlasting Forest. Out of the ground and against the pull of the earth, wide and thick brown trunks rose high into the clouds. Then there was no blue, no clouds above, and it was replaced by a sheet of golden leaves and brown branches that hardly allowed the sun to come through - a golden sky. The spiral stairs of Manor Ateria curled up the largest tree – no, a wooden mountain – and headed into the forest canopy beyond Tendrith’s sight.


    “It’s unusually silent,” Tendrith remarked, stopping in his tracks.


    Vera lifted her hand, slowly rubbing her fingers against each other as if to gloss over the air between, and resumed walking towards the Manor Ateria’s entrance. Her brown hair remained still as she marched, and her golden armor clinked.


    “What is it?” Tendrith started. “What do you feel – “


    “Boo,” a tiny voice whispered behind Tendrith, a point pressing against his back, and a head full of golden hair popped out in front of him. In one fluid motion, Tendrith spun and grabbed the wooden sword out of the kid’s hand. As he grasped it, the other jumped onto his back, giggling with laughter.


    “Twins!” Tendrith roared, a smile on his face. He pulled Falari, who had a surprisingly strong grip for his age, off his back and threw him into the air with his Aterian strength. Falari’s grin faded, and his blonde hair wildly fluttered as he was swept far above the ground. Below, Tendrith’s fury turned onto Keori. Her wooden sword was now in Tendrith’s hands, and her golden eyes widened.


    She began to sprint away, giggling. “Catch me if you – “


    One of Tendrith’s muscular arms hooked around her waist and pulled her into a carry. In the other, he caught the screaming Falari on his shoulder. The two were captured.


    “What now, twins?” Tendrith laughed.


    “We already killed you!” Falari shouted with a proud smile. “We won!”


    “I don’t think so,” Tendrith said in a singsong voice.


    “Don’t!” Keori protested.


    “Please!” Falari said. “It’s unfair!”


    Tendrith grinned, setting them on the leafy floor, “And?” Tendrith feinted a lunge, and they reeled back, paling, and hastily ran towards the steps of Manor Ateria, yelping along the way.


    “Appears as if you have more training to do, Tendrith,” an amused voice sounded behind him.


    “Galandale!” Tendrith greeted as he turned. The tall man stood in a white robe, contrasting beautifully with his dark skin.


    Tendrith wanted to be apart of Manor Ateria forever, but his mind flew back to the village, whose people would fade with time like the many others he knew. He wondered if eeventually Galandale would fade. Tendrith shook his head. Probably not.