Iris and Evelyn walked in unison on the wide path made of stone, almost sparkling under the bright sunlight. Not a single other shadow was in sight as everyone had dispersed earlier that day after the exercise had been completed. Trina, as always, had managed to take all the demonic creatures that participated that day back to the Land of Tenebris on her own, a task she always did gladly.

The two shadows had decided to stay back for a while, sitting in the comfort of the Earth, but chose not stay for too long as they had duties to go back to.

"Come with me to Paliv Verasel for a bit."

Evelyn caught a slight glint of mischief in Iris's eyes as she said those words, piquing her curiosity and halfway convincing her to go with the girl.

"We do not usually go there as we shouldn't disturb it. Why now?"

"I think now is a good time, considering that it is nearly time for the departure. I know Paliv Verasel is aware of everything, but I think we should speak to it once before it all takes place."

"That makes sense, but is that really the reason?"

Iris laughed - such a gentle laugh hers was, like it was simply another sound of Nature - and responded with a smile

"Also, Audrey just told me to go there."

Now Evelyn was really curious, but she controlled her urge to sprint there and was happier to accompany Iris, anyway.

The path to Paliv Verasel was made of a stone that felt otherworldly, its colour a deep grey just a shade darker than Audrey's eyes. The path had developed only a few months ago, as if it had grown overnight. It propagated no aura, no energy, no information from which anyone could discern anything as if it were an illusion, but it felt more real than anything else in the headquarters.

Like a shadow.

Every time Evelyn walked her gaze would be on the horizon or the sky, but this was the one path that always kept her attention, allowing herself to be lost in thoughts which were usually empty, as if her mind was being pulled in a vacuum. This time, however, a familiar spark of energy compelled her to look up once she was close enough to her destination.

Her energy increased its pace and hands vibrated. Her pupils dilated and her sight was fixed on the familiar figure that stood beside Audrey.

Shock. Evelyn started feeling human.

The shadow forgot everything else and, like a swift gush of the wind, ran forward. She hugged the figure immediately and pressed her face against his shoulder, closing her eyes tightly. Evelyn did not care how human this action was - she never disliked humanity in any sense, any way. She wished to never let go, but she also wished to see his face.

"I have missed you so much."

Evelyn wore an enormous smile as she let go, looking deep into those yellow eyes. His hair was as messy as ever and he still was incredibly short compared to her, but somehow it felt as if his eyes were at the same level as hers, as if perception made that difference in height insignificant.

He smiled back, the only thing he could do because for the first time ever, he was at a loss of words.

"Hello, Elek."

Iris's voice was like a melancholic melody, but those words felt so incredibly odd and surreal and...

Wonderful. 

Elek turned to the girl who was only slightly taller than him, offering a deep smile, the likes of which Iris had never seen before.

"Hello."

Hearing Elek's voice was wonderful on a whole other level for the other three shadows. It was a voice that Iris was hearing properly for the first time as she was far too young when he was still around.

Iris then remembered he was the first shadow to ever carry her to safety. Her chest grew heavy in a manner it had never before, and her body felt ever-so-slightly shaky. She had been brought up in a manner so different from the adults that looked after her, not experiencing the world as humanly as they did, but at the moment...

"How have you been doing? Where were you? How are you here? Why are you here? Not that I'm complaining, of course. Wait, what? Are you real?"

After her flurry of questions, Evelyn proceeded to poke Elek, an action that the latter could easily evade but chose not to. His smile grew into a grin and he simply turned to Audrey in response, cuing Evelyn to do the same.

"I think we should wait for the remaining three," Audrey said, hardly able to contain her own smile, not that anyone would forbid her from displaying it.

"Two of them are already here. Galen, you can turn yourselves visible now, I could sense you at the same distance I would have seen you."

Galen and Conrad were already by Elek's side by the time they turned visible, each looking at the shadow in question with the expression he would want to see. His mere presence was somehow comforting for the two of them and a time when he wasn't there with them now felt so, so odd, as if it such a time shouldn't have ever come.

"There's Trina!"

Evelyn rushed in her direction the moment the words escaped her mouth. She picked her up and ran back, coming to a smooth stop before she set Trina down on the ground.

"Are you mental?" Trina asked in a plain tone as she got up on her legs, forgetting the question the moment she saw Elek.

"The answer to that question is something I'm sure hasn't changed in the time I've been away. In short, yes," Elek responded and Evelyn couldn't even send her usual glare his way.

"I know there is a lot to catch up on as friends, but we are short on time and should proceed with the next steps now. Audrey filled me in on what has happened since Vlad's death, and how the world is changing."

"What do you mean short on time? Are you only here for a limited amount of time?" Trina asked immediately, here eyes fixated on Elek.

"We are all here for a limited amount of time," Elek started with great care in his voice, "but what I am referring to is the demonic creatures' and Ariana's time. Only a week left, now."

"Right."

The first thing Elek then noticed was the doubt in Evelyn's gaze, but it left as quickly as it came.

It was easy for Trina to come to terms with what was happening - as long as Azrael was fine, she was fine - but Evelyn was afraid she was fooling herself.

Will she be okay to let go of Ariana so easily? Should she be okay?

"You all still have my black book, right?" Elek asked a question he knew the answer too, earning that glare from Evelyn.

"Of course," Conrad replied, holding it up with his right hand. "You could see it in my hand, couldn't you?"

Elek shook his head. "I still cannot see it, but since you pointed me to the right direction, I can sense it. All of me isn't present here, yet."

Elek held his hand out and Conrad placed the book on it. The moment the two touched a flame seemingly emerged from the shadow's hand and engulfed the book, transforming the black to a fiery red. Its make was stronger and it enlarged, and a familiar word appeared on its front.

Entity.

It only stayed long enough that everyone could get a glance of the transformation before the fire turned into a black hole and the book disappeared. The yellow in Elek's eyes deepened as did his presence, something all had failed to notice was lacking.

The slightest bit of something in the world of Time, something that wasn't a part of him as they knew him before, but was fundamental now.

"Now it is."

The sunlight pulsated. Warm, cool, warm, cool. 

Elek's smile deepened at the bizarre expressions of his friend. He had thought being away for so long would have numbed him, but at the very least, he felt deeply comforted by his friends' happiness of seeing him again.

"Ask away. I will try to answer as much as I can."

"Where were you?" Evelyn did not give anyone else a chance to ask, though it was the most popular question, anyway.

"That is a bit difficult to say. I was in a void between reality and the Shadow Dimension, but some of the Land of Grace was extended there. So I suppose I was in a bubble of Time and nothingness. That is the best way I can put it."

"Does that mean you properly experienced the fifteen years that have passed since you left?"

"Yes. And I didn't leave, Evelyn. I properly died. The thing is, death with Shadow Beings isn't as restrictive as it is for other creatures when we are in our pure form. The influence of humanity is why we have a concept of death in the first place. 

"If any Shadow Being were to 'die' now, they could come back. I suppose it is more accurate to say that death for us has shifted in meaning and practicality in these fifteen years, so what happened to me back then was more like slipping into a timed coma with the mind awake but all senses shut down until the body can sit up again. Waiting for the right time. And you all know why now is the right time."

Evelyn's breathing was a little shallow now, but the wind around accompanied her breaths and made them steady again.

Any question any of them had had disappeared now, as if none of it mattered. He was back and that was great, but he was back to complete the duty that remained.

It may have been the first time that an analogy Elek had presented was not good, but that was only because no right example existed. Were the events that would transpire a first? Will they ever happen again? It doesn't change the fact that they have to happen now.

"Were you alone?"

The look of concern that came to Trina's eyes disappeared as soon as the asked the question - this was Elek, being alone had never been a concern for him. Elek saw all of it and was grateful his friends did not worry about such silly things regarding him.

"For most of it, yes, but Aqdas was there at the start."

"Okay."

Trina chuckled suddenly, hiding her face as she did so.

"I'm sorry I... I don't know what to do and how to feel. I think I feel good."

"That's a good thing. I am glad you feel good," Elek replied, patting Trina's head.

Thinking and feeling is not bad. Be in control and embrace all that comes your way, while we are still here.

"Shall we head back to the headquarters now?" Elek asked and the six responded with a single nod in unison. 

All seven shadows turned towards the largest building that sat on the horizon, shifting to the path that was designated for the place they had reunited at. The path was wide enough to accommodate all seven of them.

From the left: Conrad, Trina, Iris, Elek, Audrey, Evelyn, Galen.

Seven of the Shadows of Nature that took care of the seven lands, together for the first time. 

They headed to complete their duty, walking in unison.