Months have passed now since their fight with Alexander which had sealed the fate of humanity and saved the world. Most of them were already healed from their injuries while the others who weren't completely healed, only suffered from mere scratches now.
Harold and Warren had become close friends over the few months and Sian couldn't lie that she didn't feel Jealous watching them spar against each other. She wanted him all to herself and she didn't care if she was being selfish. She had finally understood her feelings and come to accept them. They were genuine and she knew this because she had never felt this way before. Maybe it was because she spent a huge part of her life in the darkness, hiding from the same humans that they had fought for.
Inferno had decided to go into a year of exile to make up for his sins and had urged everyone not to stop him and everybody had respected his wishes. Mostly because they didn't trust him and didn't want an untrusted entity amongst them but they still respected his decisions.
Caleb had also left, claiming that he had some things he had to attend to but he had promised to be back. They all probably knew where he had gone to. Edmund had recently been teasing him about a new girlfriend and they all knew it was more than just teasing. Caleb had confined in his best friend about his love life but Edmund had taken it as a joke instead.
They occupied Nathaniel's mansion since after the battle and everyone had been at ease since then. Lucas and Hayley had their space and did things that was best known to them. Nobody tried to spy on them or butt into their business. They were the scariest couple amongst the entire team and even Harold had softened up a little. He wasn't always so serious any longer and didn't burden all his problems to himself. He trusted his colleagues better this time and was more open to them.
Everything was seriously going very well.
*****
It had been exactly nineteen years since their battle with Alexander and they'd all gotten acquainted with their individual lives. Inferno had returned after a year as he had promised and the following year, Edmund had left with his father. They wanted to know each other better and renew their father and son bond. They'd constantly write to the others, keeping in touch every month or two.
Lucas and Hayley had gotten married that same year and so did Sian and Warren. The former had also left, purchasing their own house and setting out to build their own family. Hayley was already pregnant with her son at this point and everyone had congratulated the couple.
Harold had gotten married to Warren's sister. Their friendship had grown so much that the two were practically inseparable. Warren had introduced his best friend to his family and the two had fallen in love at first sight.
He was totally with the idea of them getting married as soon as possible, there was no man he could possibly trust his sister into his hands if not Harold.
Caleb sadly never returned after he had left, he did write back to them informing them of his progress and all. Apparently, he had left to tour the world with his newly found love and this had been his childhood dream. But as time went by, they had lost touch with their friend and guessed it was probably distance that must be the problem. They didn't want to assume the worst.
Sian was married with two sons now, twins if to be precise. Aaron and Nathaniel Stone. They were both seventeen now and were almost full grown men but she would never let them go. Her son's were her most prized possessions and she would give her life to protect them. Lucas and Hayley had also birthed a son, a year earlier than her and his name was Robert
The three of them had grown together doing everything together and they had termed them the new generation Triumvirates. Harold was in complete disagreement.His daughter was only twelve and he could almost regret not getting married sooner.
Just like his mother, Aaron had possessed the element of water bringing their headcount to two while Nathaniel was his father's replica.
Robert was just like his father also, gifted in sword skills and close combat and was easily the strongest amongst the three of them.
The world was speedily developing and use of elemental powers was slowly dying out even though the human fear, jealousy and hatred didn't. The Elementals were slowly building in number and even though they were still in hiding, most of them didn't hide their gifts and have begun to help the commoners in their daily tasks to make a living.
Sian laid by Warren's side, his hand still wrapped around her waist. He slept like a log not even moving for once while he did or maybe he just didn't want to let go. It was already morning and the rays of the sun had woken her. She gently unchained herself from his prison and made for the kitchen.
The twins were already up and they never left each other even at their age. She was kind of jealous, neither of them looked like she did. They all took after their father except in character.
Aaron was older but he was the timid one, always calm and never spoke unless he was meant to, while Nathaniel was the complete opposite. He was a literal chatterbox and never stopped playing. They were the perfect match for each other and made up for what the other lacked.
Even though Aaron was timid, there was no hiding that he possessed talent far superior to his energy filled brother. His calmness and collectiveness made him a battle genius and a master strategist even nearly winning against the likes of his father with only mere intellect.
Nathaniel was a power house from birth, he energy reserves were way bigger than an average Elemental's and he had shown that potential from birth. He was always the first to finish every task and sometimes, even helped Aaron finish his just to make enough time for the two of them to play. He was definitely Nathaniel's reincarnation.
The two boys chorused a greeting to their mother who walked hastily towards them opening her arms for an embrace but they didn't yield as expected. They were growing and growing distant from her every day but she didn't give up, if they didn't come to her then she will go to them. She reached the two and wrapped her arms around them both returning their greeting with pecks on their cheeks.
They both frowned their faces groaning as their mother filled their faces with kisses before letting go
"You don't have to do that everyday, were grown ups now" Nathaniel spoke after their mother had torn away from them.
She turned back, glancing at him wickedly through the corner of her eyes,
He recoiled into his shell, fully understanding the meaning of the stare he got. He was not going to retaliate at her actions else no breakfast.
Aaron sat beside his brother restraining himself from laughing as he watched the drama between the two. He always backed his brother up but not against their mother. Their father was a lot more playful and less scary and threatening than his female counterpart and so it was a lot easier to retaliate and joke with him and get away with. But it was suicidal to even try it with their mother. Her eyes alone spoke of the capabilities she held inside of her and she wasn't willing to hold back.
Warren surfaced an hour later, only waking up when he smelt the aroma of cooking food. It was already an alarm to him and it woke him just in time to prepare for work almost everyday but it was the weekend today and there was nothing better than spending the whole day with the love of his life and his replicas, his sons.
They had breakfast quietly only communicating with their cutleries.
Robert stormed in minutes after they had finished their breakfast, already prepared for training
Robert was a gifted swordsman, possessing both brawls and brains. He had been taught swordsmanship ever since he was able to hold up anything and Lucas had made sure to see that his son surpassed him. He wasn't a member of the legendary Triumvirate but his son was now and if he was going to be a part of that legendary group, then he wasn't going to be weak.
He didn't overstress the child, neither did he force him into training, his son was simply born with the fire in him and he was only helping to fan these flames until they could scorch the whole earth. Even if he hadn't had a year experience above the twins, they would still not be able to make up the difference in power scale between them.
At the age of sixteen, Robert was already going toe to toe with his father and sometimes securing victories against him. And now he was eighteen, Lucas was sure his son had surpassed him. Warren groaned tiredly at the sight of Robert already understanding why the boy was here, it was time for training and he wanted to spend a little more time with his wife and have a little rest but here he was about to burn off all the calories he had just taken in. But either way, he couldn't refuse them, his time was already past and if anything should happen, then it was up to this generation to take care of it. And if they weren't strong enough, then it was the end for them.
Sian watched as the three boys walked into the open field behind their house. The memories of her youth flooded back in her head. She never knew time moved so fast. It felt like yesterday where she was fighting alongside her friends and the memories, the laughter and emotions shared after their victory. She closed her eyes and turned up to the sky hoping that her heroes were up there watching down on them and hopefully, guiding them.