In the instant Galena struck Rau with the final blow, every elf in Tomiro experienced a burning pain on the tops of their hands and the tops of their feet as the marks of Rau dissolved completely. Even the marks on the heads of every chief torlic dissolved, leaving the chieftain wondering why his race had decided to join ranks with the evil dictator. Dropping their blades, they returned to their homes where the now greatly reduced earagos, dwelled. The narooks, mauks, and tookoos also faded into nothing, having been fashioned by Rau with the help of the intunerics for sole purpose of controlling his slaves. The dark creatures that were never named had been created from the nightmares of elves and made real with the stones they harvested for Rau. Like every other creature born of the dark stones, they dissolved, following their creator into the empty void of no return.
In the following months and even years, Tomiro returned to its former splendor and glory. The elves began to use magic again, changing the world they once lived in to one worth living in.
Creatures that had long disappeared such as the favored pet ferrets, began to creep out of their hiding places and return to the elf villages. Twoit, Galena’s beloved pet, was the first to make her grand appearance. She danced in delight the moment Galena crossed the unseen line of Blackwell’s domain and the rest of Tomiro, much to Galena’s joy and relief.
The remains of the elf army returned to their villages to reunite with their family and friends, spreading the tales of Galena and her triumph over the wicked god and his creation. The ones who perished at the hand of the dark creatures, were never seen again. Many believed the gods had taken these elves home with them, the ultimate reward for their sacrifice in the war against everything they stood against. Although their families mourned their deaths, they rejoiced in the fact they were so richly rewarded.
Tark and Taura returned to their village with their young daughter, Silva. It was there that Tark continued to train elves in the art of fighting. He never let the elves forget the terrible price of not being able to defend oneself against dark creatures. He believed it was his personal responsibility to make sure no elf was ever unprepared again, because peace would not last forever. He and Taura had many more children to add to their already precious family.
Morgo returned to find Venia. He was pleasantly surprised when she recognized him and even smiled. It was still many more months before Venia would completely rejoin the elf world, but when she did, she embraced Morgo and returned the love he gave to her. Her young son Jamin began to call out for Morgo as his dad, even before Venia came around. A year later, to Galena and Tark’s utter joy, Morgo and Venia were united as commitment partners. They decided to settle down in Tomeka with Tark, Taura, Galena, and Elenio. Morgo helped Tark train armies, but spent most of his time working on the complete history of the reign of Rau so that future elves would never forget.
Many of the elves returned to their own villages to continue training their own family members with the exception of the underground elves. With the help of Nina and Lars, all but the oldest underground elves formed their own villages in the world above. Several of them traveled around Tomiro teaching elves from the different villages how to use magic more effectively as Morgo had with Galena.
Galena and Elenio finally went through the commitment ceremony with all their new friends and families present to witness the happy occasion. The celebration that followed lasted for several weeks, making it the longest celebration in the history of the elves. Together, Galena and Elenio created their tree home in the clearing where they used to train for hours at a time when they were younger. Galena remained powerful, with magical abilities that outstripped more than a hundred elves. Elenio, as he had threatened repeatedly, used his magical abilities to help Galena whenever the time arose, but also to get even with her for all the times she sent him flying through the air, into trees, and sending objects up his nose. For the first couple of months, elves refused to visit them in their home for fear of what would happen if they got in the way of Elenio and Galena’s ongoing prank war.
Together, they had many children of their own. Their children also had magical abilities that equaled Galena’s, much to Elenio’s delight. He felt they were creating a new breed of elf that would be very hard to beat even without Tark’s ongoing training. As to continuing with the sword, Galena decided she’d had enough fighting to last a lifetime.
Without the mines to wear away the life of the elves, their life spans continued to lengthen until they were practically immortal once more. The land of Tomiro prospered again, and was the jewel of the gods, by far their most beautiful possession. The greatest change evident by their enslavement was the elves’ attitudes toward one another. In the days of Lamiria, grudges were common, and pride easily wounded, but after the triumphant return from lifetimes of enslavement, life took on a greater meaning. It was now nothing to take for granted, and forgiveness was a much more common concept. The elves never forgot what it was to wish for more time with loved ones, of a time when fear ruled and the desire to be with family was the strongest emotion possible. They no longer took their magic for granted, but cherished it as a skill to grow and something to always be thankful for.
As to the Sword of Lumina, it disappeared completely. Some said when Galena plunged it into the heart of evil; it dissolved into nothing, its job finally fulfilled. Others said Mira called it back, hiding it in the cave once more and making it available if the need should ever arise. Still others said that light can only be contained for a short time before it must go into the world to destroy the dark as only the light can do. Galena never knew what to think, but learned to accept it as a mystery just as everything was when dealing with the Sword of Lumina.