Chapter 39: Our Light is Hope

One Month Later…

Utua is finally starting to come back to life. The once ruined city is now bustling with smiling faces and busy hands. I can't help but feel a sense of pride and joy. A lot has happened since our victory over Katariel. It seems that winning that fight was just the beginning of a long road to recovery for Borikan.

Just a little while after the Demon Lord's death, the Royal Dusud Navy showed up with reinforcements and supplies along with Prince Agüeybaná. He looks much better now that the curse has been lifted, his normal deep umber color returning to his face. He looks like a proper prince again. It would’ve been nice if they'd been able to get here a couple days sooner but we were just happy to see more friendly faces.

There was a bit of an awkward interaction when we first met with the naval captain. He tried to come in and boss everyone around, essentially stripping power away from Prince Agüeybaná and Guille. One flash of the Void Walker Armor shut that down right away though. The navy quickly fell in line with the prince’s orders, helping to ferry people back to the main island and tending to the wounded with their expert healers. They also helped out with the search and rescue efforts from the other storm bunkers. There actually were more survivors as it turns out and it was lucky that we found them when we did. Their supplies had been running dangerously low. In a matter of days, parts of Utua were being restored by the combined efforts of the citizens and the navy. It helped a lot that they brought a few skilled wizards with them as well.

Guille and his wife along with a few select others have been promoted by the prince to be his new official council. Guille humbly refused the offer at first saying he wasn't worthy until the prince made it clear that it was non-negotiable. They’ve all been working tirelessly to restructure the government and bring order back to Borikan. I’m so glad to see Guille shining in that role. He’s a natural born leader and cares so deeply for his people. He’s earned it ten times over.

My party and I have been helping out where we can, mainly combing the city and surrounding island for any demonic remnants, luckily finding nothing. We also searched for a long time for any sign of Read or the ship but had no luck. It’s as if the ocean swallowed them up. I wish that we could’ve saved them, that we could’ve saved a lot more people. Once the deaths had been accounted for, we held a ceremony to honor them. Each of us lit candles for those we’ve lost, holding them up to the night sky and offering a prayer of peace for their souls. That night, the entire island was illuminated by tiny flames and the hopes that we can live on in honor of those no longer with us.

Camilla took a group of soldiers to the north and wiped out the remaining Orcs that had settled there. She seems to have adapted well to her new arm and is probably more dangerous now with her goddess gifted prosthetic than she was before.

Kizzik has been helping to re-establish the communication and intelligence networks. They use their clones as couriers to pass messages throughout the island. It’s funny to see so many of them running around with their bags of mail like postal service workers. I tried to press them further about the whole god thing but they’ve been stonewalling me. I guess everyone’s entitled to their secrets. Still, I hope it's not something that comes back to bite us later.

Rina has devoted the past few weeks to training up some new mages on the island. After seeing her amazing magic, several of the borikanos begged her for lessons and she obliged. She spends her days training a small group in the ways of magic, emphasizing offensive spells of course. She smiles a lot more these days which is nice. Since she was brought back from the brink of death, I can’t help but feel a deeper connection with her. It’s as if, in that moment, our hearts were linked. She’s definitely opened up a lot towards me since then. It’s nice, almost like we’re getting a chance to start over fresh.

We still haven’t been able to find any evidence of the cult that took over the cathedral which is a constant source of worry for all of us. We don't know how they did what they did or if and when they’ll strike again. As of now, the cathedral has been re-consecrated by some priests and no signs of demonic mana have appeared. Still, we all keep a pretty close eye on the place. I hardly feel comfortable letting my guard down just yet.

I have been at least a little more at ease though since my armor’s been upgraded. It feels pretty great not having to worry about mana crystals anymore. Camilla’s increased my training regiment quite a bit so I can keep up with the mana saturation. It’s not so bad though, I find it nice to push myself past my limits, seeing what I’m capable of.

I decide to take a little flight over Borikan for the evening. I can't help but marvel at the land as I see the lush greenery spread out beneath me. An emerald forest that teems with life and at its heart, a city of lights. It’s such a beautiful place, I’ll be sad to leave it soon. Still, there’s more work to be done. More places that need saving. I land on the peak of a tall mountain to enjoy the sunset. The sight of the island, bathed in the warm violet glow of the sun is reassuring in a way. It makes me feel that things will turn out for the better. I sit on the mountain for a long while before I hear Minnie’s voice in the back of my head.

[Hey boss! Woowww this view is amazing!]

It sure is. Glad you could share it with me. I chuckle

[I just wanted to give you a heads up. I think I finally cracked one of these restricted files. Wanna take a listen?]

I shoot straight up in shock. Holy crap, seriously?! Y-yes play it now please!

I’ve been desperate for any answers about Jazari for months now! Finally I can get some!

[One moment please. Annnd here we go!]

There’s a little static then the message starts. The voice that plays in my head now still sounds like Minerva, only… she sounds much older, more tired, depressed even. It's as if someone has drained all the light from her. It’s my Ai’s voice but I can tell this isn't the Minerva I know. This is a message from a real person.

<KSSSSHH… Hello, this is recording 86-T by Dr. Vega, Interplanar year is Z55081.

There are so many regrets that I carry with me, even now. We have tried our best to complete the gate but every attempt so far has failed. Not only that, our presence is beginning to harm this world in irreversible ways. That is the greatest sin I bear.. Bringing us here.

Jazari was never meant to exist in this world. We fled the destruction of our old home in desperation, not realizing the evil we would bring with us. That darkness we thought we escaped is part of us.

The abyss is already in our hearts.

We are Void Walkers after all.