Days after their departure, in the same room, pitch black to the unaccustomed eye, did a sign first appear. A dull flickering of emerald light shone into existence in the once soulless orb. It was nothing more than a dot and near unnoticeable to even the trained visionaries.

But, its effects were clear and unquestionable.

A light tremor would disturb the settled dust with each flash it created. The chair that had been thrown across the room would be slowly pulled across the ground towards the orb, leaving a trail behind it.

For twelve days and thirteen nights, this occurred without a single person ever entering this sanctified room. It was left to its own machinations. Only on the thirteenth did the world recognize what might have happened. Even then, it was only because there was an immutable sign that had appeared.

A Golden Aurora lit the night skies above, nearly blotting out the moon in its entirety.

Many had learned of the Golden Tide’s demise, and even more had suspected it with no response forthcoming. No pigeon flew in from the direction they marched. No messenger with a ruined horse, near death from exhaustion, rode in from the distance. Neither was there a single mage or aura master claiming they heard words in the manasphere.

Deathly silence was the only response from the great Tide that had been. With their disappearance, they left behind vacant buildings, halls, and training fields. Many a fort and patrol route were abandoned and left to nature's ploy, that was until those who wished to usurp their once glorious reign rushed to fight for the spoils of a dead adversary.

It was only the natural way, or so they claimed in front of King and Princes.

But, even with the appearance of this great sign did they finalize their hoarding of the filled coffers and unattended lands. They moved in soldiers, three parties of vastly different colors.

White as Innocence.

Azure as the Oceans.

Crimson as Blood.

The Golden Tide was no longer the powerhouse it had once been. Just remnants of its former glory were left after this massive battle to decide the fate of the Human and Aemoh worlds. They no longer had the power to withstand this brutal absorption of their assets.

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Kafier rushed down the halls of the palace. His old body moved with an urgency he hadn’t felt for a quarter of a century. But, this was far more important than the few aches he was going to feel later.

His cane led his way, with the help of mana, he navigated straight to his lord's office. He looked around in the darkness to finally find the silhouette he was most familiar with. There were others, but he could not spare any time for their sensibilities. He had great news today. One that frightened him more than brought him hope.

“Prince Baligdeh! I have news of great import! Listen to my message!” Kafier bumped into a few of the people that had been socializing, but his shout had done its purpose. The First prince recongized him and rushed to him.

“Senior Kafier! What are you doing? You’ll fall ill again if you strain your body this much again.” The Prince’s concern was heartwarming to hear.

Yet, Kafier had to push it to the side. He pulled his lord to the hall were they would have some privacy. It was important that few heard this, even if the enormous sign just last night had occurred.

To them, it could have been a sign to show the final demise of the Golden Tide. The last hurrah before it existed no longer in the hearts of the people. But, he knew better.

No, he saw better.

A monster had been created. A single man so powerful, he covered the horizon of his Sights. That aurora was not to show the demise, but a warning to all those who dared salt the grievous wounds the Tide had suffered. For he had seen Gadvier’s shadow within the Gold background.

It had hidden well, but for those who had lived long enough to see the great terror, it could never hide itself.

Woe onto those who stand before him.

Woe to those who plotted against him.

Gadvier’s Woes would devour the legends of this time if let loose once again.

Baligdeh had noticed the desperate urgency and followed in silence. “Senior. What happened to have shaken you so?”

“The Tide lives, My Prince. They live.” Kafier’s harsh whisper made the prince wince.

“We all saw the final light-”

“No! I see the horizon! I see the Golden Tide creep closer to us. Its retribution knows no bounds!” Kefir pleaded. He knew he sounded like a madman, but what was he meant to do?

“Senior Kafier. All the Great Seers gathered and looked into the Manasphere. They noticed nothing out of place.” Baligdeh said. He worried the old man had gone senile.

“Gods above! Come! I’ll show you what I saw! Come, boy. Hurry!” He literally dragged an unwilling prince behind him. To some this was worth the executioner's block, but he could not care less. He had to save his lord and warn him of the coming storm. A warm welcome and treasures to appease him would go a long way, he hoped.

Once they reached the prince's room, they quickly made their way around the many luxurious furnitures and onto the railing just outside of the open sliding windows. He stood at the edge as he moved his mana and pushed into the Prince.

It was forceful and crude but got the job done.

The prince gasped, his eyes widened and drops of sweat slowly formed on his forehead. “What the hell is that?”

“The Golden Tide comes. With him an entourage of mighty soldiers that would shake the core of our system. But that in itself is not the most frightening thing about this all. No-”

“What's that red outline? It is so well hidden, I barely noticed it.”

Kefier gripped Baligdeh’s shoulder with significant force causing the Prince to yelp in surprise. That connection in mana broke and both their eyes dimmed from the light that had once covered it. Kafier looked him in the eyes, unwilling to break eye contact. The importance of this moment was beyond his scope of understand, but he had to impress it onto the boy before him.

“That, young prince, is death. A wrathful angel waiting to reap the lands he allowed to grow wild. Beware of him with whitened hair for Gadvier’s legacy lives again!”

“The children’s story? Gadvier and the founders? The single man that took twelve of the greatest warriors of our history just to seal him. Away?” Baligdeh said. He looked pale, but a hint of disbelief still covered the edges of his eyes.

“I did not stutter boy! Gadvier’s essence has finally returned!”