Epilogue
#14 of The seven Days of Fire
Epilogue
The 7 days of the fire lasted almost 70 years in total. During the course of the conflict, almost 80 percent of the remaining population was destroyed. The entire ecosystem of the continent collapsed. Towards the end of the first conflict, 45 years after the Seven Days of Fire began, scientists from a border duchy developed a method that allowed them to purify the contaminated earth. They wanted to use genetically modified plants to filter the poison out of the soil and store it in a stable form so that it could then be disposed of. The other peoples were against the use of plants because the results were very variable and the plants tended to emit a poisonous gas when converting the toxins in the soil. The scientists, driven by the thought of putting their plan into action, scattered the seeds for these plants over large parts of their duchy. They didn't have to wait long for the seeds to react to the toxins. The poison in the soil, many times stronger than that in the laboratory, corrupted the seedlings and the plants grew into towering trees at a breathtaking speed, emitting a toxic gas called "miasma" that ate away at a person's unprotected lungs in seconds. The scientists did not expect this reaction. The researchers were also completely surprised by the ability to reproduce rapidly. Within just a week, the plants spread far beyond the borders of the duchy. The inability to get anywhere near the trees and the fact that even major attacks by bomber formations caused practically no damage enraged the other peoples. Fearing that the forest could also threaten their land, the empires that had not yet been affected began to take protective measures, during which the empires that had already sunk into the forest, fleeing the forest, invaded the unaffected areas in large numbers. A new war broke out over the remaining, rapidly narrowing living space. Meanwhile, the forest, later known only as the "Sea of Rot," continued to spread. Its spores were carried by the strong wind to distant areas and formed other smaller forests, which then spread further from there.
While mammals and humans were unable to survive in the forests, another interesting development occurred among insects. They grew to many times their normal height and appeared to be further genetically modified by the "miasma" that constantly surrounded them. Within a very short time, a large number of new species emerged, immune to the poisons of the forest and stronger, more intelligent than their fellow species had ever been. While nature went its own way, man continued to fight with himself and did not recognize the danger that really threatened him. Only a few scientists continued to study the forest. Among the few fruits of this research were the prototypes of breathing masks that were used everywhere after the 7 days of the fire; They were the only way to survive in the "Sea of Rot". Another achievement of the researchers was a kind of whistle that could be used to direct the insects to a certain extent. This pipe was not actually used until more than 20 years after it was finally discovered.
The 7 Days of Fire not only changed the entire continent politically, but also the entire nature, the ecosystem and the entire geography. Over 70 years of war have left their mark on the rest of the population, who struggle to cram into the sparse, habitable spots in the "Sea of Rot". The weak bond between the few tribes that survived is only held together by the fact that everyone knows about the consequences of war and hatred. The level of civilization on this continent has declined to an almost medieval level. The residents basically limit themselves to simple agriculture and livestock breeding. Simple crafts and sparse trade are all that remain of the once most developed civilization. Some tribes, 12 in number, have retreated into the forest and live in harmony with the forest and have entered into an amazing symbiosis with the trees and the insects.
Almost 1,000 years will pass before a small people unites the people in the chaos of the newly ignited war and leads them into a great, new future. In the ancient prophecy it is written:
"A young girl will come. Dressed in a foreign dress, which is blue like the blood of the Ohmus. It will descend from heaven, carried by a white bird, and land in a field of gold. It will speak the language of animals. It will speak to people's hearts. It will unite the people. If they prove worthy, she, and she alone, will lead the worthy people to paradise, where they will live as they once did before the 7 days of fire. If the people do not prove themselves worthy, she will lead the insects against the people and judge them as God has commanded her."
However, whether and to what extent this prophecy comes true is another story that it is not my place to tell.