Epilogue: The Beginning

The castle started to explode. All around them bombs erupted, calling forth great billowing clouds of flame. The fortress was collapsing, falling, burning, and threatening to kill them all if they didnt escape.

"WERE ALL GOING TO HELL TOGETHER!" Cedric was yelling madly, oblivious to the fire. 

"We have to get out of here!" said Nerva. "WARP PORTAL!"

"Signy, take Lilian and go!" Altair ordered, thrusting his sister to the Huntresss arms and pushing them into the portal, where they vanished. He turned to Recia.  "RECIA, COME ON! LETS GO!"

"II cant." she said. There were tears in her eyes.  "I cant leave"

Nerva did not wait for anything. Hed grab Recia and jumped into the portal with her in his arms. Altair threw a final look at Cedric and Heavens Blade before jumping into the portal and allowing the flames to swallow them both.

Like a beacon in the night sky, the fortress burned. Altair, Lilian, Signy, Nerva, Recia and some unexpected survivors, Louisa, Diego and Deimyx, watched as the castle fell into ruin before their eyes.

Recia felt a dull ache in her heart as she watched her familys crest swallowed by the flames. Things were never going to be the same again.

Lilian knew what she wanted to become. After three weeks she passed the test set by the Swordsman association. She was a full-pledged Swordsman, using a special Water Tsurugi made by her brother. She and some friends from the Midgard Academy reunited to form their first party. And so Altair was alone again.

Recia and her companions were heartily welcomed into Firnheild by Wealthow, Theodoric and Sibyl. They were currently spending their time with other guildsmen journeying abroad in the continent of Amatsu.

But there remained one last predicament.

"Nerva?"

"Hmm?"

"You cant keep hiding for long, you know it." Altair spoke over his sherry.

Nerva laughed softly.  "Yeah, I know that."

"What are you going to do?" Altair asked.

"I dont know." Nerva shrugged.  "Maybe Id go to Amatsu for a while. Or maybe Ill return to Geffen."

"Why dont you show yourself first?" Altair spoke. "To Wealthow, Theodoric and Sibyl? Theyd rather see you and hear it from you than from others."

Nerva did not answer. Altair sighed.

"Thanks, Nerva." He said.  "Thanks for everything."

"Nah, it was nothing"

Silence.

Nerva stood up.  "I should go."

He left. Altair hastily paid for their drinks and followed him outside. Nerva was already mounted on his Peco-peco.

"Nerva, you cant hide forever." Altair told him.  "And I knowyou cant commit suicide. Youre not as low as that."

Nerva just flashed a mysterious smile from the sakkat. "Do me a favor, Altair."

"What?"

"Dont tell them." He said.  "I have the feeling things are far from being over. And so I shall see you again. Good bye, for now."

The Peco-peco started to dash, and in seconds, the bird and its rider vanished amid the thick crowd walking the streets of Alberta.

Finis