Chapter Twenty Nine:

Navihm blinked his eyes open. Water was dripping on his face from somewhere. Slowly, he became aware of his raw throat and an aching nothingness in his head and chest where his magic usually resided.

He managed to force his eyes open, squinting against the harsh light. The world was white for a moment until a silhouette slowly came into focus. The shadow was saying something. At first, all Navihm could hear was muffled noises and a sharp ringing. Abruptly, everything snapped into focus.

“Good morning, Princess,” said Hart, who turned out to be the silhouette hovering above Navihm. Hart made a teasing kissy face a his cousin.

Another drop of water hit Navihm cheek. He could now see that it was dripping from Hart’s soaking hair. Navihm attempted to move but stopped when his head reeled, the world spinning wildly. For a heartstopping moment he thought he was dreaming, or dead. His heart gave a painful thump, remembering his grief for his cousin.

Hart placed a wet hand on Navihm’s cheek, reassuring him of his solidity.

“Aren’t you supposed to be dead?” Navihm asked his cousin. He could only manage a hoarse croak. He’d scraped his throat raw screaming for Hart.

Navihm slowly became aware that he was laying in a slightly charred crater on the edge of the river. The earth was warm under his tender muscles.

“I can swim.” Navihm lifted one eyebrow skeptically. It was all he could manage if his current condition.

“Okay, fine. It turns out water mages are useful to have around if you are drowning,” Hart elaborated.

“I'm glad you okay.” Navihm lifted his arm weakly, laying a hand on Hart’s cheek. “I’d hate your parents to have to live with the shame of having a son die without having a chance to defeat his little cousin in one on one combat. I still owe you that rematch.” Navihm reminded him. Hart smiled softly, pressing Navihm’s hand more firmly against his cheek.

“We both know that tournament was rigged,” Hart teased. “You won on a technicality.” Navihm laughed breathlessly, stopping as the movement pulled at his tender ribs. He let his hand fall back to his side.

“What happened?” Navihm asked. His memories of the last moments of the battle were fuzzy. He remembered Hart being dead and a ship sinking beneath the waves, everything after that was slippery; he couldn't seem to focus on it.

“You sunk a Somal ship by yourself,” said a new voice. Kaia. “Then you either froze, knocked out or set on fire every single enemy within the city limits, all at the same time.”

Navihm blinked. He vaguely recalled throwing up a huge ward around the city, targeting the invading soldiers. After that was just cold and silence. The amount of sheer power Navihm had drawn on to take down every invader had sucked the warmth right out of the very air. Navihm was surprised he’d survived channeling so much power.

He no longer wondered why his energy reserves were so depleted.

Professor Ward looked on as they lifted Navihm onto a stretcher. He was unable to do much more than sit up on his own after the incredible amount of power he used. The professor had never heard of an individual causing so much devastation over such a vast area. Most mages could not perform magic on something or someone they couldn't see. Navihm’s odd mix of magics obviously allowed him to not only sense people from across a huge area, but also attack them.

Professor Ward thought back to what Enfeitar Naeva and Keitra, the Prophet of the Second had said. Both had been convinced that the invaders would be defeated by uniting forces that had not yet been bound towards a common goal. Naeva thought that it was Genticus and the Lowlands working together that would bring down their enemy, Navihm was convinced that this meant that Genticus needed the Nomad’s help.

Professor Ward now understood that the prophecy was referring to those forces within Navihm; elemental and spiritual.

Navihm spent a lot of time amongst the trees surrounding the city. They reminded him of the forests of his home. Throughout these long visits, Navihm would connect to the earth and trees, drawing on their energy and replenishing his wells of power.

Kaia had followed Navihm on one such visit to the woods. She found him lying on a patch of grass, staring up at the trees. She lay down too, her head next to his and her feet pointed the opposite direction.

Navihm didn't take his eyes of the sky.

“The healers say you are doing much better,” stated Kaia, though she didn't sound much convinced.

“My magic levels are almost as they were,” Navihm admitted.

“But you are not okay.” It wasn't a question. Kaia always could tell how Navihm was feeling. She read his aura more easily than anyone else’s. More than that, she was always able to tell the reasons behind what he was feeling.

“I’m not much cut out for war,” Navihm whispered. This ordeal had been hard on him. Violence, like that of war, went against Navihm’s nature.

“That isn't all,” Kaia said softly.

“I just want to go home.”

“That isn’t all,” Kaia insisted. She turned her head to face Navihm. He copied her action, staring into her unwavering eyes for a long time.

“I know.” Navihm didn't need to say anymore. Together, they got up and made their way back to the Tenth. They would pack their bags and make one final journey before they could rest after this war.

Navihm needed to go see a widow he had left back at the Nomad’s camp. He owed Ira and Bohan and their child too much to leave things how they were.

Kaia would be by his side as she would be always.

The End

This almost didn't get put up today, I struggled getting out of bed because it's cold as balls (it's 12*C right now!). Anyway, I hope you like it and thanks for sticking with me all the way through this.

Bonus!

Of course, now that I am right at the end I think of a million bonuses I havent included but I'll stick to just one main one.

Ira has a boy. She names him Navhem, the Nomad equivalent to the name Navihm. Navihm, knowing how tough it is for a child to grow up without a father, puts his education on hold and postpones his marrige to stay with the Nomads for a few seasons and help Ira and the baby. Kaia stays with him for a while before returning home.

He continues to visit the Nomads, at least once a year, sometimes staying months. Both Kaia and Hart go with him occasionally. They start calling Navhem NuiNav, which means 'little Nav' and eventually start calling Navihm 'MorNav', or 'Big Nav'. As Nui Nav gets bigger, he starts calling Navihm "Tio MorNav" or "Uncle big Nav".

Again, thanks for reading. Your feedback would be greatly appreciated and your support has been wonderful. This is the first thing I have ever written and honestly, I didnt think it would be so well received, so thank you for that.