EPILOGUE V. Day Shift

Nere tree blossoms fluttered through the springtime skies of El-Kera, suffusing the air with their zesty scent. Nestled in a glade on the Tuyen stratum of the Fields of Ekre, Stroth inhaled the natural perfume deeply, relishing a moment of peace. While there had certainly been quiet times on her journey to Aglostarros, only now was that quiet free of tension or anxiety. Her fears - getting caught, being too late, breaking something irreparable - all melted away at the border of the Ele Dominion.

Predictably, Tren Krellos hadn’t felt the same call to peace and resolution, instead regaining a taste for his old life. Leaving Stroth safe in the hands of the Ele diplomatic contingent, the Gunmetal Gyre had set out into the stars again, seeking the next great adventure - or at least the next great profit. To her great surprise, they had parted not just as allies but as friends.

The serene parkland was a far cry from the austere office she had said goodbye to just days ago, but Stroth still felt a stirring to activity, so she shifted her attention back to the notes set out before her. The Ele had begun sorting through the data obtained from the Centurions’ final days, in the hope that it would teach them more about isolated parts of the Dominion - and that something good could come from the cataclysm. The former Curator had offered to helm the research, and there was much to be done.

The day shift was just beginning.