Far away, in the hidden village of Elowen, Elara gasped as a faint, red mark that had always lingered on her wrist, a scar from her earlier ordeal, vanished completely.
"The creep, healed?"
"Huh?" Elder Borin, Lila, and the others who were also waiting nervously turned their attention to Elara, confused by her remarks.
"I...I am getting better as well. The Creep... is completely gone. Look, Korgin, my skin is like yours now." Brinna, who was sitting next to them, jumped up and started showing her wrists to Korgin.
"Sis... you are really better," Kogrin spoke excitedly.
"Does this mean that Riku won?" Lysaria spoke, her voice tentative at first, but gradually increasing in pitch.
"Yes, that must be it." Another elf child nodded rapidly, and soon those emotions spread like fire.
A cheer went up through the village as the last vestiges of the plague they had all feared disappeared for good. They were finally, truly safe.
