"Everything is perfect. Bring them to the green."
After ending the call, she turned to Amanda. "It is time."
They made their way down the stairs and walked toward the green, which was already packed.
"Quite the turnout," Alena said, approaching with E.T. in her arms.
"It is a joyous occasion." Annani kissed her eldest daughter's cheek and then her youngest grandson's before shrouding herself and her Odus in invisibility.
As she made her way to the stage with Ogidu and Oridu flanking her, no one saw them approaching. She liked to make a dramatic entrance—not for her own ego, but to give the proper weightto the event. She climbed the steps and waited for the right moment to drop the shroud.
She saw Kian leading the group out of the pavilion and toward the green. Carol and Lokan looked tired but happy, and Carol's hair was brown instead of blond. Behind them came the Egyptian contingent, with Kalugal gesticulating wildly as he no doubt regaled everyone with tales about the artifacts they had just passed in the pavilion.
But it was the three warriors who captured her attention. Esag walked between his companions, his tall frame and flame-red hair impossible to miss. His eyes darted everywhere, taking in the crowd, the decorations, the sheer number of immortals gathered in one place.
When they were close enough to the stage, Annani dropped her shroud.
The effect was immediate. Esag, Davuh, and Roven dropped to their knees as one, heads bowed in the ancient gesture of fealty. The crowd murmured at the sight, as such formality was no longer practiced in their modern world.
"Rise, my friends," Annani said, her voice carrying clearly across the green. "We do not kneel here. We stand together as family."
Esag looked up, his eyes glowing from within. "Princess Annani... I never thought..."
"Rise," she said again, more gently. "Come up here and join me so I may properly introduce you to your new family."
Kian helped guide the overwhelmed warriors to the stage, Carol and Lokan following.
"My beloved family," Annani addressed the crowd, her voice carrying without the need for amplification. "Today, we celebrate two homecomings. First, my nephew Lokan and our brave Carol, who risked everything to keep us informed of our enemies' plans."
The crowd erupted in applause. Carol performed a perfect curtsy and smiled at her crowd of admirers, while Lokan waved like the prince he was.
Annani waited for the applause to die down before continuing. "We are also welcoming three newcomers, who have carried the flame of memory through five thousand years of solitude. Esag, who was my Khiann's best friend, has turned into a master artist and keeper of our history. Davuh and Roven, both Guardians and loyal friends. They believed they were the last of our kind, yet they persevered. They honored our memory in stone and in their hearts."
The applause was thunderous, and Annani waited for it to subside before turning to Lokan. "Would you speak?"
He stepped forward. "Carol and I are just glad to be home. Thank you for the warm welcome."
"Home," Annani repeated. "Such a simple word for such a profound gift. Esag, Davuh, Roven—this is your home now. You need never be alone again."
"Thank you." Esag bowed, and his companions followed.
"Do you want to say a few words?" Annani asked softly.
He nodded and stepped forward, clearly overwhelmed. "I... we thought everyone was gone. For five thousand years, we lived among humans as ghosts. I carved figurines to remember thefaces of those we believed we'd never see again. To stand here, to see this..." His voice broke. "Our people survived thanks to you. You built a community. A family. You carried the torch that had almost been extinguished." He paused, collecting himself. "I carved figurines of the dead while you created life. You preserved not just memories but our entire culture. You gave our people a future when we thought there was only the past. Light in the darkness, hope against despair."
"We all did our part," Annani said. "You preserved our history in stone. I preserved it in flesh and hope."
She turned back to the crowd. "Let me introduce you to some of those who make our future possible. My daughter Amanda, who organized this beautiful celebration."
Amanda waved, smiling brightly.
"My daughter Alena, whom I call the true Clan Mother, for blessing us with fourteen children."
Laughter rippled through the crowd as Alena lifted her baby. "And perhaps more to come."
"Fates willing," Annani agreed. "We are not merely surviving. We are thriving. Each child born, each Dormant discovered, each refugee given sanctuary—they all add threads to the tapestry of our future."
She raised her arms. "Family found, hope sustained, future secured. These are not just words—they are promises we make to each other. We are all family."
