[center][h1][color=mediumseagreen] No More Doubt[/color][/h1][/center]

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Zayd lived a long and prosperous life after the catastrophe that struck him in his earlier years. After going with Nadir, he learned the old man had once been a soldier and was taught how to fight with a blade for many gruelling weeks. During that time he dedicated himself solely to that pursuit but barely found improvement. Having all but given up on even trying to seek revenge, he was going to call it quits and become the coward everyone thought he was. Yet fate had other plans, for the Sylphi girl appeared again one night, this time badly hurt and in need of aid. 

She lay unconscious in the house of Nadir for several days before gaining enough consciousness to give a warning- They were coming. This cryptic message was not ignored and Nadir sent his family into hiding. He and Zayd stayed with the girl as night approached, bringing with it terrible howls and screams. A masked person approached the house after sunset and bade them to return the girl or die. They refused and the person, a man, said that they would die then.

They were then attacked by the same creatures Zayd had fought in the cave. Nadir was able to slay them with ease and Zayd held his own. Then came the true test, as a masked being entered the fray, moving at inhuman speeds. They quickly cut down Nadir and another went for the girl when salvation arrived. The Coven of Omun, wearing their gilded capes and sigiled eyes began to turn the tide. They managed to turn the masked ones and their demonic pets away but not before dealing damage of their own. 

The Sylphi girl was saved and came awake at the hands of an old friend, Elena. Now a coven witch. Zayd also finally learned the name of the sylphi girl- Nymi. They traveled with Elena and the coven to their ancestral home, where they would be safe for a time. There Zayd trained and grew in his strength as he learned about the west and where Nymi had come from and the vampire threat that pursued her. Her only crime- Had been running away from home.

There then came a siege of the Coven’s lands and it was decided in secret that the only way for innocents to survive was for Nymi to leave. Zayd would go with her and Elena as well and thus they left with no destination in mind, only that their goal was to protect the plant girl at all costs and stop the vampires.

Then began a lengthy journey of adventure and bravery, through thick and thin, through friend and foe, love and loss.

Though Zayd was only decent with a blade, his undying spirit and strength to endure eventually caught the eyes of a goddess and he was blessed and gifted with artifacts to aid in his journey.

After a few years of making a name for himself in the Gardens and the growing threat of an invasion from the west, they stumbled upon the stronghold of the vampires that had plagued them for so long. With his allies and the coven’s help, plus the timely arrival of the new Hash’Lahan’s army (Another story for another time), they were able to lay siege and wipe out vampires after a long battle. Their triumph came before those within could unleash a hellish army on the Gardens, blackening the soil for years to come. It was over, or so they thought...

Afterwards they had a fateful encounter with another vampire. They attacked her unprovoked, not willing to listen to any lies but this vampire was different. Herein lies that encounter…

The Journal of Elena, Smote and Ruin
‘When she arrived, the very air grew chill. She wore a mask like the others had but this one was different. It was golden, emblazoned with sapphires and a crest of spiralling lines upon the forehead. She was tall, taller then even Som and wore a cloak of white over a pale dress. We thought Ikam had been the vampires leader, that he had only answered to the vile queen in the west. Was this her?

She removed her mask, something that none of the other vampires had ever done in public. The woman underneath had a look of surprise. Like she had not realized others were capable of killing them. Zayd wasted no time and lunged for her at the beside the broken throne but she dodged with ease, even with his sundering sword cutting the air. She did not attack but pleaded with us to listen. Som and Bagar strung their arrows and Nymi with Syl unsheathed their swords. I began to cast an incantation that would have prevented her from moving but it seemed when she realized her words were going unheard, she did something… Unexpected.

That chill in the air? It grew worse and with a snap of her fingers, we froze. Our legs became entrapped in ice that sprang up to lock our hands. I began to speak quicker but cold ice wrapped around my mouth, silencing me. When that was done, when we were at the weakest we had ever been, ready for the kill, she sank to her knees and told us a story.’

Keeah had come and she brought good news. The vampire queen, Nalla was defeated and there would be no invasion. In fact, Keeah had come to silence the vampires there that had been causing problems. With that done and on uneasy terms, they departed with a greater understanding of power. An easier life was before them at last.

Som, Bagar and Syl all retired from adventuring. Som and Bagar opened a tavern in the Gardens next to Syl’s Joyf supplies shop. 

Elena eventually settled down in the Coven’s lands, where she taught students magic for the rest of her days, remaining good friends with her old adventuring party.

Zayd eventually settled down with Nymi, having found comfort and understanding between their shared trauma, which let them grow stronger together. He rebuilt his family's homestead and after being separated for years, a few cousins who managed to survive made their way home again. Nymi adjusted to the farming life and the two had several children, who were mostly human. They lived a very happy life together, with no more dangers or great threats to worry about. When Nymi passed, Zayd soon followed and died at peace, surrounded by his loved ones.

[hider=Summary]
A summary ending for Zayd, the Garden Hero.
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