Epilogue

His eyes opened, and darkness greeted him. It was almost as if he was still sleeping, but the pain shook through his entire body and it was enough to know he was indeed back from the slumber.

He struggled to sit up, holding his stomach with laboured breath and noticed bandages all over as the bed sheet slumped down. His hand traced the bandages, he was covered from head to toe.

An almost silent breath came from the foot of his bed, sending chills down his spine. He couldn’t remember what had happened after the fight with Täter, had he died? Was he in another world right now? Or, had they failed to truly defeat the Scourge, and he was here to exact his revenge. With bated breath, he took an unlit candle from his bedside and lit it, filling the room with a weak amber glow. Relief filled him, Leona was sleeping there, sat in one of the chairs with her arms spread out on the bed.

To his left, Franz was mumbling in his sleep, something about booze or something. His injuries were worse than Arata’s, his leg in a cast and heavy bandaging covering him. Still, seeing them both after everything that happened gave him more relief than he knew he’d ever feel, and his eyes began to well. “We did it… right?” He whispered.

Plotgerät emerged through the door, opening it quietly as to not disturb their slumber. “Ah” she noticed Arata as she moved further in and smiled as warmly as the fire on his candle. “Did I wake you?”

“No. Just, bad dreams I guess.”

She quietly walked past Franz, tracing her fingers across his face as she went and sat by his side. She cautiously took his hand in hers, holding him a little closer, and for the moment peace was all this room had, a silent calm.

“I don’t know how I could ever repay you, Sir Reinhardt.” She whispered. “Not only did you free me from Sir Täter… but you brought him back. After everything that happened I thought I’d never see him again.” The flame wavered in the air, almost a mimicry of her words. She still couldn’t face him, she couldn’t take her eyes off her love for a second, not again.

Still, her gratitude was overwhelming, and Arata felt a little more emotional. “At every step in my life, I’ve been useless. Bad grades and an even worse record for sports. I couldn’t be a doctor, or a firefighter. I couldn’t make people happy with anything but my words and yet… even there it was like I was reaching out to no one.” Without her noticing, he wiped away the tears that had started forming with his arm and laughed awkwardly. “I’m supposed to be a hero right? No payments needed!” His voice raised a little and Leona let out a soft, cute sound like she was purring and climbed further up onto the bed to the point she was basically no longer in the chair, all while still sleeping. Both Arata and the Princess stifled their laughs.

“My dream.” Arata continued. “It was always something vague but at the heart of it, I wanted to feel like I was doing something worthwhile. Like I was making people’s lives even a little bit better. It didn’t need to be a lot, one would do… as long as I could make them smile, that’s all that mattered.” As he was talking, the Princess could see his eyes water a little again, but she decided not to mention it, smiling warmly again.

“Thank you… Sir Reinhardt.”

*-*-*

It took three full days of eating, sleeping and eating some more to get back to a normal state. And, on the fourth day after their face-off with the kidnapper Täter… the Palace was in celebration. The entire town was invited, and the royal hall was packed. A feast would be too tame a word for it, this was a banquet to end all banquets. And, once everyone had their fill, Arata, Leona and Franz were rewarded for their service to the Kingdom.

The King had looked like a shrivelled old man the last he’d seen him, but now, he was like a grizzled warrior with the muscle to match, and a kind face to go along with it. Franz was the first called up, and with no booze in his system he was shaky to the point he was quietly telling himself not to trip, much to the amusement to all in attendance.

“Sir Franz.” The king called. “You were to stand here before, and be called Hero. Now, you stand before the Queen and I, worthy of that title and so much more.”

Franz took the knee, holding in the waterworks as best he could. “Thank you, your highness.”

The Queen met him, holding her hand out to him and pulling him to his feet. “We will forever be in your debt, and, though it may not be nearly enough of a reward… here and now, in this Kingdom and all others, you shall be known as… The Hero, Franz!”

Cheers erupted in the hall. They chanted his name into history, forever Franz would be remembered as a man of selflessness, courage, and an unwavering drive to do what was right. How he didn’t break down and sob like a kid, even he wouldn’t be able to believe it.

He stepped down with them still calling his name, with the blushing Princess waiting for him. The King hushed the crowd, a surprise still waiting to be revealed. And as the hall quietened, he spoke. “Lastly, and certainly not least of all. There was another that was there when our daughter was saved. And, she gave, literally everything she had to save her.” You could hear his voice waiver, choking up but trying to hold steady.

Leona wasn’t even paying attention, instead choosing to pig out at the leftovers while no one was looking… or at least, as she thought they weren’t looking. “I would call Miss Leona to the throne!” The King announced, and with cake still in her hands (yes, both) and filling her mouth that was now wide, she stood dumbstrucken.

Once she had put down the other two slices and finished off the one in her jaws, much to the quiet laughter of all in the hall, she knelt before the King and Queen. He drew his sword, the ceremonial sword of his family, encrusted with gemstones rare even to the ultra rich. And, he placed it on her shoulder. “Two of the warriors that saved my Plotgerät are Heroes. And, as you too were pivotal to her rescue, going so far as to sacrifice yourself for your friends… I think it only right… that your name also be written in the book of legends.”

Her head lifted at the speed of light, her lip quivering, her eyes watering. “You mean?” She asked, too shocked to finish the question.

“Let it be known, in this Kingdom and all others, you shall be known… as the Hero, Leona!”

Cheers erupted once more, but Leona did not handle it as well as Franz, and watery eyes turned to bawling.

*-*-*

The night continued for hours. And, the party was dying down. Civilians returned to their homes, guards took their leave as the night shift took their place. The Queen had to literally drag her husband to bed, after all the drinks he was another moment away from crowd surfing… a sight she dared not witness.

Arata was relaxed on one of the many overly comfy chairs in the hall with a flagon in hand, half full. He took a hearty swig, reaching the bottom with no problem. Even here, his alcoholism was helping him drink others under the table, he didn’t even feel dazed. He could see Leona, drinking and laughing loudly, joyfully telling everyone she saw she was now a hero, and it warmed his heart.

Franz had tapped out from the drinking long ago, passing out on another of the sofas around, his head unintentionally resting on the Princess’s shoulder. She’d gone bright red as it happened but, she was at ease now, taking his hand in hers and resting her head on his as she slept with a warm smile.

He left the party alone, wandering the castle in the dark and finding the gardens at its heart. Niedlich ran around in the distance, chasing butterflies and squeaking joyfully, a single tear fell from Arata’s eye as he saw him go, and he saluted.

Eventually he found his way to that tree, the heart that had started this quest. Fireflies swarmed above bathing the tree in a soft orange glow, humming above gently. It’s roots bore green lights that flashed inconsistently, only softly enough to be noticed and leave the tree dark. At its centre, lights began to spin, and he could see beyond it, to the world beyond. It was a ticket out of this world.

“A week ago, I’d have jumped in that portal with no hesitation.” And yet, he was hesitant. The step needed to be taken and yet, it was not.

Franz, Leona, Queen Anna, the King, Princess Plotgerät… leaving this place… “I’ll never see you again, will I?” He asked quietly, a saddened smile offered to no one. “What am I saying?” He laughed. “To them, it’ll be like nothing had happened. Their Reinhardt will take over and I’ll be home…” Speaking it made it real, made his heart hurt, made the tears fall.

“No matter what happened… you’ll all forget me, huh?”

The silence allowed him to breathe easy, the wind, a soft zephyr that seemed to comfort him. “I can’t stay here. I’m no hero, I’m a mangaka. This is the end of this story, I’ve seen the panels end, and the author’s final notes. This isn’t my ending… its the real Reinhardt’s to live.”

Though his heart told him to turn back, to find those he now cherished and hold them tight… he stepped past the boundary, through the portal.

“I’ll never forget you, any of you. So for now…”

“Let them enjoy this Epilogue.”