**Chapter 17: The Healing**
The world had changed, irrevocably, in the wake of Malakar's defeat. The cataclysmic forces he had unleashed had left deep scars, not just on the land, but on the people who called it home. The earth had trembled with the weight of destruction, and the skies had rained down the sorrow of those who had fallen. But, as the days passed, there was a quiet sense of rebirth—a fragile peace that seemed to grow stronger with each passing dawn. The air, once thick with the stench of smoke and war, began to carry the sweet scent of renewal. The world was healing.
For Riven, the battle was far from over. Though Malakar was dead and the ritual to release the beasts had been sealed, the damage remained, both in the land and in his heart. The weight of the losses, of the comrades who had sacrificed their lives for a future they would never see, was a burden that would never truly fade. But with time, he knew that healing was the only choice.
Riven stood at the edge of a clearing, overlooking a valley that stretched out before him. The sky was clear now, a perfect azure with the warmth of the sun bathing the earth below. It was a peaceful scene—an image of the world before Malakar's dark influence had tainted it. Yet, despite the tranquility, Riven felt the ache of emptiness that had settled deep within him. Lia, Zephyr, and all the others—they were gone, and nothing could bring them back. The world might heal, but Riven knew that some wounds were too deep to fully close.
He shifted his gaze downward, where the once-turbulent forest now stood silent, the trees swaying gently in the breeze. Nature itself had begun to reclaim the land. New life was pushing through the cracks left by war, yet Riven couldn't shake the feeling that he, too, needed to heal. He needed to understand where his place was in this new world, where his path would lead now that the war was over.
His mind was a tangled mess of thoughts. The beasts—those powerful, ancient creatures—still roamed the lands, their fates uncertain. He had always felt a deep connection to them, something far beyond the violence of the war. The link between him and the beasts had been forged in blood and battle, but it was a connection that he realized now was far more complex than he had ever understood.
The memories of the battle with Malakar still haunted him, the way he had used the power of the beasts to save the world, to stop the ritual. It had been a desperate, reckless act—one that left a permanent mark on his body and soul. The scar that ran across his chest, the one that had been formed from the energy of the beasts, was a constant reminder of what he had sacrificed, what he had lost in the process.
But the scars on his body were nothing compared to the ones on the world. The balance had been shattered, and it was up to him now to help restore it.
He turned to see Astra, Veldra, and Nyx approaching him, their expressions solemn yet resolute. They had been his companions through it all—through the worst of the battles, through the moments of doubt and despair. And now, they were here to face the future with him.
"We're ready to move on," Astra said quietly, her voice carrying the weight of the truth. "But we can't do it alone. We need to rebuild—not just the world, but ourselves."
Riven nodded, understanding the truth in her words. The war had consumed them, and now, with its end, they were left to pick up the pieces of their lives. The world might be healing, but the people who had fought to protect it still carried the scars of the past.
"I know," Riven replied, his voice steady but filled with a quiet sadness. "But where do we even begin?"
Veldra stepped forward, her gaze firm. "We begin with what we know. We start by reaching out to those who still need our help. The humans, the beasts—there's still work to be done. We can't change the past, but we can shape the future."
Riven glanced at the horizon once more, the weight of his thoughts pressing heavily on him. He had always felt like an outsider, even among his companions. The connection with the beasts had always set him apart, but now, more than ever, he realized that this connection was a part of him that he could no longer ignore.
"We need to find a way to bridge the gap between the humans and the beasts," he said quietly. "Malakar's vision was one of chaos, but there is another way. I believe the beasts and humans can coexist, but it will take time. It will take understanding."
Astra nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "It won't be easy. There are too many wounds, too much hatred. But you're right. The beasts have been treated as monsters for too long. It's time for a new path."
Nyx remained silent, her gaze distant. She had always been the quiet one, the one who observed before speaking, but Riven could see the resolve in her eyes. She had always understood the deeper layers of their struggles, the ones that went beyond the physical battles. She, too, saw the need for reconciliation, though it was something that would take patience, and trust—qualities that were in short supply in a world still recovering from war.
"We need to bring the leaders together," Veldra said, her voice firm. "The kingdoms of the humans, the clans of the beasts—if we can create a coalition, we can begin to heal the rift. But it's not just diplomacy we need. We need to prove that the beasts are not the enemy. That the real enemy was Malakar and his twisted vision."
Riven thought about the beasts—those majestic, terrifying creatures that had once been his enemies, but were now bound to him in a way that was beyond understanding. There was no easy answer, no quick fix. The war had changed everything, and it would take years to rebuild the trust that had been shattered between the two races.
"We'll start with the Beast Clans," Riven said, determination filling his voice. "We need to meet with them. We need to show them that we are not enemies anymore. We're all part of this world, and it's time we start acting like it."
The group stood in silence for a moment, contemplating the road ahead. It would be a long and difficult journey, but it was one they had to take.
"We have no other choice," Astra said at last. "The world may be healing, but it won't be whole until the wounds of the past are healed as well."
Riven turned his gaze toward the distant mountains, where the Beast Clans were said to roam. He knew that this journey would not be easy. There would be resistance, there would be pain, and there would be setbacks. But he was no longer the person he had been before the war. He had changed, grown, and now, it was time for the world to change with him.
As the group made their way toward the gathering place of the Beast Clans, Riven couldn't help but feel the weight of the future pressing down on him. The road ahead was uncertain, but there was one thing he knew for sure: he could no longer walk it alone. The healing of the world—and of himself—would take the strength of everyone who had fought by his side.
With that thought in mind, Riven took the first step, ready to face whatever came next. The healing of the world had begun. And with it, the healing of his soul.