The entire Godswood erupted in fire, lightning, wind, water and ice... becoming utterly unrecognisable. There was nothing left. Not the Great Other, not Edric Stormfyre, nor even the Tree of the End. Only a giant crater where the forest used to be.
A complete and utter wasteland.
All of the observers behind the barrier had time to evacuate during Edric's chant, courtesy of Raiden's instructions and Ser Arthur's own shield, which weakened the explosion. The barrier around the Godswood had shattered in an instant, and half of Winterfell was a complete ruin, however.
The sun rose from the darkness, and the ominous clouds dispersed, presenting a clear blue sky for the first time in years.
Winter had ended... and spring came in its place, at long last.
[Edric's POV]
In his last moment, Edric glimpsed the future.
It was a beautiful sky. The most beautiful of all.
The crater in the Godswood blossomed with violet-golden flowers. They were luminous, pretty, yet surged with great elemental power. Raiden Shogun slowly descended, picking the most brilliant of the bunch. It sparked with electro energy... remnants of Edric's sacrifice.
She held it close to her heart.
"Was this world worth protecting, Edric?"
Raiden questioned, observing the sky. Edric's eyes widened as he observed tears fall from the goddess's eyes. He reached out, only for his hand to phase through her. He witnessed all of their mourning, from Ser Arthur to Daenerys.
"What is a knight to an Emperor?" He heard Arthur's thoughts. "There are as many knights as stars in the sky... but only one Edric Stormfyre."
With all of their anchors gone, the Colossus and great undead horde was greatly weakened. Ser Arthur led the defence against them with the royal forces. Those who had awakened to their own visions had retained them, making the Stormguard the mightiest legion of all. They alone had defeated a hundred thousand undead, defending the Wall without fail.
Viserion had burned a further hundred thousand while Ser Arthur, the Kingsguard and all the other elite warriors under the winged stag's banner crushed the remaining lieutenants.
As for the Colossus, Raiden Shogun dealt the decisive blow.
Humanity had won.
Almost… flawlessly, in terms of the bigger picture. More than half of the North had paid the price, along with every prominent house. The rest of the world was untouched, except for the effects of Winter itself.
Edric observed as the world prospered.
"You have achieved the most decisive victory of all... with so little of the world affected by this conflict that threatened its existence," Raiden Shogun reflected. "Everyone else prospers, those who worshipped you, those you fought alongside you, even those who hated and opposed you. They all live on and relish the fruits of your sacrifice. But what of Edric Stormfyre? Don't you... deserve to be fulfilled, too? Why is it that one's dream must fade so that all others may realise theirs..."
"..."
Edric watched the world fade to darkness.
Silence...
'So, this is the end.'
'All I have now are my memories...'
He watched where it all began. The day he returned, exhausted and drained. A day's end that would have only been followed by one all too similiar to it.
'Bum ass team...'
Edric smiled slightly, shaking his head. His inner desire for change had led to the fateful meeting that changed the course of his existence.
"Your entire existence, from beginning to end, is worthless."
The survey, the birth. The baby-face training with his little bow and reading through books.
"Impressive… very impressive, young Edric. You may yet be a formidable marksman when you grow if you continue shooting like that."
The fateful strike of lightning, and gift of Raiden Shogun's spirit...
A rocky beginning, for two of the people he treasured most.
"All my divine power has been suppressed to nothing more than embers… if it had not been so, you would have faced divine judgement for your insolence."
"What did I do???"
Edric laughed.
A visit to Tarth, a dance, a kind and bright smile. From standing alone to forming so many connections. The hopeful and starry blue eyes of a younger Edric were refreshing to see. He truly was a child, blissfully ignorant of the weight his fate truly carried...
"A due date gives everything meaning," He said, taking a glance at Raiden's. "Do you think I'd be working so hard if I knew I could live forever? The fact that I could roll over and die when I'm thirty is what drives me to make the most of what time I have."
'But even this youthful soul was not entirely unwise...'
"No one is going to save the day but you, Edric Storm. Or should I say Arthur Astley? You are the hero of this world, the prince that was promised."
'No pressure...'
"I'll get you a body, I promise." He threw the dagger and hit a bullseye on the target. "I'll find a way, even if I have to walk through hell and back. After that… you'll surely find a reason for existing. You might even find it before that."
'A promise and a blessing.'
Edric lifted his left hand.
'Blossoms of a bond unbreakable...'
An arrow fired, a roaring crowd and a gathering of companions.
"That's the best fucking archer in the known world!!!"
Edric laughed at Arthur's enthusiasm.
"You're my hero, Edric!"
He couldn't hide his smile as Alysanne jumped onto his past self. Getting drunk on Stag's fury, scrambling to fix my mistakes, these... were simpler times.
King's Landing would be the turning point. Crowned by glory and blood-stained triumph. Yet, the prince's crown came with a sacrifice. One tragic loss followed by another. A Storm's metamorphosis... and the loss of those hopeful eyes, replaced by steely, cold resolve.
A mountain of sacrifice, climbing to the top to see only a partial return.
A resignation, a decision for change.
Edric observed it all again, the entire scene.
"When I gather my banners for the Long Night, face the Night King and ultimately triumph... it will not be because of you." His past self paused, his black hair swaying slightly. "I will do it because it is my duty and obligation to all the friendships I've forged and will forge. It will be for the people who believe in me, who raise their swords and dedicate their lives in my name."
"I will not be their deceiving tyrant, who serves only his own needs and discards them when their use is over. I will not be the man who breaks their trust, crushes their beliefs, and carelessly throws them to the wind."
His golden Baratheon cape swayed under the heavy wind, shining with the light of his soul. Edric saw it now.
"I will fight for them as they fight for me. I will carry the ambitions and visions of all the good people who serve me, justly rule in their name, and give them peace and prosperity..."
"I will be their King."
Edric managed a smile, patting his past self's shoulder.
'And that... you were...'
'... till the bitter end.'
It seemed that even this lingering spirit's time was running short...
Edric lay down on the grass, looking up at the night sky.
"Was it worth it?" Raiden suddenly looked at him, questioning. "Being this noble, heroic, King..."
"Well, the Great Other's dead, isn't he? Future generations won't be plagued by his presence... an eternal conflict that would have continued until humanity was destroyed was severed. All for the price of one Edric Stormfyre... it's not too bad, is it? With Arthur, Daenerys, and you alive, the Realm is guaranteed to head in the right direction..."
"It's the best ending for so many others but me, and I'm okay with that. After all the suffering that I've caused to ensure this victory... I should bear the greatest blow."
Although Edric spoke those words with confidence, his eyes wavered as a few tears leaked through.
"As long as my descendants grow up in a better world, then... my life was well spent."
...
I would open my eyes to a clear black sky covered in countless stars. I was standing on top of a hill with one tree at its centre, golden-purple petals falling from it. What was this place?
"Quite the life, eh?" Aerion appeared beside me, glowing a blinding pure white as usual. "A once reluctant hero, embracing his destiny and becoming the greatest of them all... marching and paving the path to a brighter future for everyone else. A future he is uncertain to even see for himself."
"How far you've come, Edric Stormfyre. Even I have a sense... of pride at your growth. That does not happen often."
"Is this a strand of Aerion's hair talking to me?" I questioned.
"Oh, no... I am the real, whole thing. It is our first true meeting, in that sense."
"I see..." I nodded. "So, I've caught your personal attention?"
"Indeed. I do have some questions for you while we are here... do you think your life was fair? Was your end justified?"
"Unfairness of all is the fairness of the world. Very few get the truly happy ending they desire, and I am most certainly far from saintly. I did not die for the world, I died for those I cared about... and I would do it all over again."
"Of course, you would," Aerion smiled. "And yet, you saved the world, regardless of your reasons. Nothing will change that fact. You were the King of Heroes, the golden standard for all to aspire to. Your greatest deeds outshone your evil to the point that it was erased from history. What truly matters is the legacy a person leaves behind, for that is what lives on long after they pass."
"You were a victor, a knight, an emperor, a conqueror, a son of the divine and... the martyr that died for the world. Traditional heroes are not judged by their morality, but by their great deeds. In that, no one in your Planetos' history comes close."
"Empty words," I remarked, indifferent to all of that.
"Didn't you once want to be immortalised?"
"Once... but I realised that none of that truly matters. The life that I lived - the feelings, memories and moments that I experienced - that was where the true meaning of my existence lay, and not what I was remembered for long after death."
"I assume you remember my policy regarding prospects?"
"Triumph is rewarded while failure to live up to your talents leads to doom."
"Close enough," Aerion nodded. "You've more than earned your place, Edric Stormfyre. You are a worthy hero. Now, I shall live up to my end of the bargain, and grant you a worthy reward..."
A white portal emerged, inviting me to walk through it. My eyes widened with surprise. Could it be…
"The truth is, if I didn't hold you back, nor manipulate certain aspects... you would've crushed everything in your path," Aerion smiled. It was a genuine smile. "It's so troublesome balancing everything with you. Every time I set a barrier, you soar right above it... hahaha, I'll truly miss this game!"
"... What do you mean by that?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You've earned your freedom from my hand. Go on, see and live the futures you've created. This is... farewell, in a way. I'll see you if you ever desire to climb higher."
[Storm Magic 99.99 --> 100]
...
[Status, right before death]
Name: Edric Storm
Age: 20
Lord
Charm: 200 (Diplomat V - everyone's best friend, Romantic V - no woman can deny thy charm)
Leadership: 100 (Inspiring Leader V - your men would walk to hell so long as you led them)
Steward: 100 (Midas Touch V - anything you touch turns to gold)
Warrior
Athletics: 200 (Titan V - Your strength, endurance and sheer size know no bounds, Champion V - Your acceleration, speed, stamina and overall athleticism know no bounds)
Battle Instincts: 200 (Hyper Focus V - Ability to see into the future during battle, Demon V - You do not need to think to fight, you are the Warrior)
Warhammer: 200 (Thunderous Warhammer V - one warhammer blow is enough to break mountains, Fluid Warhammer V - you are one with the warhammer)
Knight
Sword: 100 (Swordskill V, you are one with the sword)
Riding: 100 (Riding V - able to ride anything with perfection)
Armour: 100 (Fortress V - Heavy armour barely weighs you down, greater defence and resistance to magic for all worn heavy armours. Crafted heavy armour provides greater protection and weighs less)
Ranger
Marksman: 200 (Sniper V, Skirmisher - Massive accuracy boost when using multiple arrows at once and while remaining mobile)
Scouting: 100 (Scouting V - Improves Greenseer abilities and allows to create a vast network of creatures to keep watch)
Throwing: 100 (Throwing V)
Smith
Blacksmithing: 100 (Blacksmithing V - Unlocks magic enhancement tree)
Engineering: 100 (Engineering V - Greatly decreases the time a great project takes to complete, its cost and improves the quality of any project that is built under your watch. Also gives a great improvement to magic enchantments you produce.)
Magic enchanting: 99 (Enchanting IV - ability to forge greater magic weapons)
Stranger
Roguery: 100 (Serpent V - Slithering away from conflict is simple for a serpent)
Trade: 100 (Merchant V - gold is easy to come by, wherever you are)
Medicine: 200 (Whole Of Body V - able to escape death where others would perish, Doctor V - There are few things you cannot treat)
Mage
Storm Manipulation: 99.99 (Stormlord IV 'Mussou Isshin / Wholehearted Dream' - The ability to forge weapons of the Storm, greater healing from storm elemental energy and grants greater energy reserves. Improves Raitei's duration and effect substantially)
Greenseer: 95 (Greenseer IV - Ability to bend nature itself to your will and grants you even greater greensight.)
Demon: 85 (Dragonborn IV 'Dragon Among Men' - Lesser men and women bend to your will easily, your physical and magic attributes are further enhanced, and your draconic blood is more resilient than any other)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...
[Storm Manipulation: 100 (Stormlord V 'Raijin / Storm God')]
[The Plane of Euthymia can be expanded into the real world.]
[As long as storms exist, so do you.]
[You are able to reform your body if it is destroyed, effectively being reborn.]