Crushing the gem and scattering the powder, Malin gazed at the city of Tappahannock. There, one pillar of light after another lit up, the sight of powerful souls reaching their end. They had survived eight millennia in this wasteland, and today, they finally reached their conclusion.
The wind from the East Coast swept across the plains, and in Malin's eyes, those wraiths not yet incinerated, those heaps of ash, were all lifted by the wind at that moment.
"Our past is a tragic past, a history filled with blood and tears. Repeated destruction has interrupted our civilization's progress."
Malin kneeled on one knee at the roadside's edge.
"Our present is a cruel present, filled with hopelessness. The upcoming Tide of the Dead once again forces our civilization to confront the abyss."
Malin looked upon the pure girl before him, lit by holy flames. Having endured the process of Purification, she wore a beautiful dress. Holding a soul gem, she stood barefoot, smiling at Malin.
