EPILOGUE: WITH TIME
Another year has passed.
Ishgard's secrets are revealed and history changes.
Ser Aymeric of the Temple Knights now lead The Holy See.
Ishgard's secrets are revealed and history changes.
Ser Aymeric of the Temple Knights now lead The Holy See.
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The sun shined brilliantly, warming up the northern morning. Placing a bouquet of flowers on Falorgeant's memorial, Clarielle stood back up and smiled softly. Instead of armor, she wore simple clothing and a beautifully sewn coat of wool. The breeze caressed her hair slightly and Clarielle turned to where the wind blew. Closing her eyes, Clarielle drifted away to a distant thought, reminiscing of days long ago - days filled with nothing but joy and laughter with her beloved. A moment later, the laughter of a little girl brought her back to the real world.
Running up behind Clarielle, Edith held onto the dragoon's hand and waved it to and fro. Clarielle, startled at first, looked back down at the young elezen girl and smiled.
Edith, curious as one her age could be, looked at the memorial and pointed at it.
"Miss Clarielle, who is that?"
With the question asked, Clarielle returned her attention back to the memorial and smiled once more.
"Ah, he was a very good friend of mine. Someone dear to me."
Edith tilted her head and then looked at the bouquet of flowers with admiration. "Pretty."
Clarielle laughed lightly. "Aren't they? Come, Edith. Let's say hello to Ser Marcus."
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Once at their destination, Edith looked at Clarielle with a questioning expression.
"Go on," smiled Clarielle. "Go say hello and don't forget to bring him the flowers."
Edith smiled widely, grabbing the bouquet of red and azure flowers from Clarielle. Clarielle then watched as the little girl ran up the hill to a view that displayed the beauty of the Coerthas landscape.
"Hello, Ser Marcus! I hope you have been well!"
In front of Edith was a memorial. Placed into the ground in front of the memorial, though covered in a bit of snow, was Marcus' halberd - the blade cleaned, shining from the sun's light. Next to the halberd was also a familiar object that Clarielle had seen long ago - Xydane's old axe. The weapon itself shared the same shimmering appearance as the halberd.
Marcus Vale. Xydane Vale.
They came to us seeking sanctuary. Now Halone has guided them back home.
They came to us seeking sanctuary. Now Halone has guided them back home.
Behind the Vale Brother's memorial were three others - Lord Viarre's son Maulcrioux and his two adopted sons Sigmund and Joellaut. Clarielle's heart ached a little. She knew the five grew up together under the House of Kalgaren and she feel sympathy for Viarre when he had to create one last memorial.
Placing the bouquet of flowers under the brother's weapons, Edith walked around them and knelt down to hug their memorial.
"Pa says "Hello" too! We are living with that nice old knight now so I have a room with a lot of books!"
Edith laughed. "I wish you can read me to sleep again."
Clarielle couldn't help but smile once more at the girl's words. As another breeze blew past by, Clarielle knelt next to the little girl and patted her head. "Come, Edith. Your father awaits. Let us go home."
As they both rose back onto their feet, Edith turned and ran off but not before waving goodbye to the memorial. Clarielle followed slowly from behind and for one last time, she turned back to the weapons.
"You take care of Marcus, Xydane."
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Somewhere deep in the Black Shroud...
Of course, this was just another average day of work for Kepps Keppers. Exploring and bringing back what might be profitable artifacts was the lalafell's specialty. To him, it wasn't stealing since technically, the artifacts no longer belonged to any living person of that sort and they were better being sold than covered in cobwebs. Though small like any lalafell, he was quite nimble and fast on his feet. Finding a way pass the roots and boulders into the abandoned cathedral ruins was one thing but tripping on the amounts of cracks the roots have forced themselves out from the stone floor was another. It was rather quite annoying.
Kepps frowned, scurrying ahead with difficulty seeing the halls ahead with whatever light managed to break through from the tree tops.
"Is that... a door?"
Eyes widen like white gumballs, Kepps sprinted forward and upon reaching the moss and vine covered doors, he began to push. It took a moment before he was able to force open the doors - though barely and for someone of his size, squeezing through proved no difficulty at all.
Making his way inside, Kepps realized that he had made his way into the main cathedral hall. Rows of vine and vegetation covered seats decorated the sides and in front of the seats was the missing half of what seemed to be a stature of some nature. Keeps shrugged, walking casually ahead as he began to look for anything useful.
"Now there has to be something around here. I can fee- wait a minute."
Kepps froze in his tracks. Slowly looking at the ground in front of him and then kneeling down, Kepps inspected what looked like a small puddle in front of him.
"Last I checked, water doesn't stick to your boots!"
Drops impacted the puddle and Kepps froze once more. Drops from above. With goosebumps going up his spine, Kepps slowly looked up...
... and the face of Taurus stared right back. Clinging onto the ceiling, the voidsent released it's hold and crashed onto the ground behind the lalafell. Kepps screamed, realizing that the creature had blocked the exit. Cowering back towards the statue, Kepp's forehead began to pour with sweat as the Taurus' beady eyes focused on him.
"I'm done for," cried out Kepps. "This is not how I wanted it to end!" Screaming at the top of his lungs like a little girl as the Taurus charged, Kepps closed his eyes and placed his hands in front of his face. Besides the sound of a thunderous crash in front of him, nothing happened. Wait, nothing happened. Still shaking uncontrollably with fear, Kepps peeked a single eye and then stared in disbelief with both eyes wide opened.
Standing in front of him was a knight - black and crimson in armor - who's massive sword ceased the Taurus in it's tracks. Kepp's mysterious savior roared and swung his blade back, hurling the Taurus to the wall - it's crash full of dust and debris.
Seeing the golden opportunity for escape, Kepps screamed and darted out of the cathedral main hall.
[THE END]