Epilogue

-Gray-

I was confined to a bed, in a dark room.

Pipes attached to my body kept my lungs full of air, not fluids.

Tubes attached to my stomach kept my body fed when my throat didn’t work.

Wires buried beneath skin, constantly doing… something…

Monitors beeping constantly, displaying information that was always worse than it was last year.

My hands struggled to rise, my fingers slow and weak as I pressed buttons on a controller, mindlessly watching a screen across from me display an adventure of epic proportions.

I should never have been born.

No child should have to watch their father’s face get more haggard with every new device attached to the kid.

At least my mother was always with me, a cool comfort in the dark. A gentle touch in my confusion. A steady rock for my withering memories.

She was the only one there when I last closed my eyes.

Could anyone blame me for how I acted when I woke up in a dark room, with one of those air masks over my mouth? I ripped it off my face and threw it across the room.

Or at least, I tried to. As soon as I removed it and tried to sit up, I began coughing again. Tears built in my eyes as I fought against spasming lungs. I could only hold it back enough to see the specks of black fluid hitting my hands with every cough.

It’s official. I was sick.

Great. Just great.

“Gray?!” Aurelia barged into the room, like a light shining in the darkness. She wasn’t wearing her armor, and her smile felt like the best thing I had ever seen. “You’re awake!” With a flick of her hand, light returned to the room, and she rushed to my side, urging me to lay back down. “You should take it easy. You were completely drained of magical energy when I got to you. I shared with you some of mine. How do you feel?”

The magical energy explains why I was able to burn away the flecks of black on my hands before she noticed.

“I’m fine.” I said, giving a grin as I struggled to sit back up. “Just a little weak. Don’t worry, it’ll pass.”

“It’s your sickness, isn’t it?” She said out of nowhere, her face looking somber.

It killed me inside to see her look at me like that! I hated that look! I didn’t want pity! I didn’t want to be treated like I was sick! I can still move! “Nah, this always happens when I’m drained of magic. Don’t worry, it’ll pass!” I repeat.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” She asked, her hands still holding me down as if forcing me to stay in bed was somehow helping.

“Y-yeah! Food! I’d love to eat some food!” I also wanted to know what was going on outside, but food came first.

Aurelia smiled softly at that. “Okay, but stay here. I’ll be right back.”

Of course I shambled out of the room as soon as she left. My legs weren’t useless yet.

Though as I looked at the random hallway I was in, located somewhere within the palace, I figured I’d probably collapse before I could get anywhere meaningful.

But, I still had an ally, one I could always rely on for mischief. I brought my fingers to my mouth, ready to whistle. I had no idea if Fulgora could hear it, but I wouldn’t put it past her.

“You’re up.” The prince surprised me before I could whistle. I turned around to see him, not in armor, but in a casual, yet regal, outfit. He stared at me, as if studying me.

“Yeah. I am. How long was I out?”

“About a day. Here, let me bring you to the kitchen. I’ll fill you in.” Without asking, he moved an arm under my shoulder, pulling me forward like I was wounded.

Within minutes, we were in the kitchen, chefs and servants moving around us as I gobbled down whatever food was placed in front of me. “So the goddess hasn’t repaired the cave system yet?”

“She’s been really busy clearing all the tunnels first.” He just snacked on a small biscuit. “The city being exposed to the air doesn’t change much.”

“Except for the fresh air?”

“Yeah, except for the air. Actually, I was going to ask my mother to leave it like that. I think…” At my eyebrow raise, he continued. “I was talking with Aurelia, and Fulgora. I realized that… I was spending too much time in the mountain, if my views could be so easily influenced by the dark. And I have you to thank for that.”

“I don’t think my call to action was that inspiring…”

“Oh no, not that. It was the spiders you saved. Even as the city was collapsing, I saw them, carrying people to safety, healing the injured, even if people were afraid of them, or yelling at them, they still tried to heal everyone. I… I never realized how low I thought of the spiders in the caves, and it makes me wonder, what else have I been ignorant of?”

“So you’re going to be traveling with us…”

“So I’m going to be joining your group. I’m eager to see what else the world has to offer.”

“And to get back at the Trifecta…” I said with a snort.

“Yes, and to get back at the Trifecta for their crimes against my people. Just because many of the demihumans in the mountain worship the Pariah Gods, doesn’t mean it’s okay for them to be treated that way. And many of them are already helping in rebuilding efforts.”

He pulled out a scroll from a sleeve, unfurling it before me. It was a complex blueprint, showcasing a city layout… I think. “To that end, I’m having the city be rebuilt to be the first fully multi-racial city in the world. I’ve been talking with every species I can, figuring out their living preferences, and I think I’ve designed something that will work for everyone! I can’t wait to show Mother during the festival soon.”

“I was told a little about this festival. It’s supposed to be… the one day of the year the whole city emerges from the mountain to celebrate the goddess, right?”

“Yes, it’s also the one day of the year the goddess allows herself to leave the mountain, which does lead to many cave-ins without her holding them up. It’s the only time we can directly receive her guidance. And to think I nearly ruined it with my behavior…”

“Why did you think that singing without instruments was better than the traditional way?”

He blushed, looking away from me. “Mother said that she liked my voice last year, and that I didn’t need to learn any instrument that would mask it…”

So he’s bad at playing instruments then…

“Well, here’s hoping we stay long enough to enjoy the festival!” I said with cheer, raising my cup up.

“I already convinced Aurelia. She seemed to be in a great mood with Ash dead.”

Ash… right, that was Shaddy’s real name, wasn’t it? Did I confirm he was dead? I was having trouble remembering… “How do we know?”

“Her goddess told her. Light and Shadows are linked, after all. Twins, even.”

“Huh…” Man, things like these really made me wish there were libraries so I could actually do research. I still know basically nothing but what I’m told and what I see. “Hey, what’s your name?” The best way to learn is to ask.

“My name? Ferris. Ferris Stonesinger. Nice to meet you, Gray.” Wait, did Aurelia and Fulgora have a last name? Man, why did I never ask?!

Ferris’ looked at a door in the kitchen for a moment, before putting his ear to the wall, listening. “Aurelia is coming. It sounds like she’s mad. C’mon let’s get you back to your room.”

“Aww, but I want to be lectured…” I whined softly, but Ferris was already pulling me along with a laugh.

“I’m sure you’ll get an earful when she finds you already in bed. But for now, you still should rest up. You don’t want to miss the festivities in a few days, do you?”

“I’ll be fine.” I waved off his concerns. “I’m already better anyways.”

“Says the guy whose legs were shaking the entire time in the kitchen. Or who’s only been taking shallow breaths this entire time.” Ferris looked at me as he said that. Before a smirk grew on his face. “Aurelia definitely needs you to be better. She’s been fretting over you all day. I’m sure she’s cast healing magic on you more times than a priest would for an injured man.”

“Really?” I said, maybe a bit too happily. I was already thinking about how to get more of that care, even if I still hated being pitied.

Sure, maybe it’s pathetic, but I don’t think it’s surprising what I feel for Aurelia.

Ferris dropped me off at my room, waving to me as he walked away. “We’ll talk later. I’m curious to learn more about you. And Fulgora said we need to get you some armor, so leave that to me. You go get some sleep! Don’t be afraid to ask the goddess of sound for help if things get too loud! She’s a kind one.”

Right, that was a power I had now. I could still feel her blessing flowing through me.

Whatever. I’ll deal with that later.

I walked into my room, closing the door behind me, and glancing at the shadow on top of my bed. A slimy, wispy, shadowy figure, with the only discernable detail an eye with a silver slit for a pupil. The lights in the room were dimmed, making the shadows stretch and writhe around me.

I approached, shoulders sagging as I collapsed on the bed next to it. “Ugh… please tell me you have something for me. My limbs feel like lead.”

Shoggoth’s tendrils gently flipped me over on the bed, coiling around my arms as shadowy chasms form across my skin. Once they reach my eyes, they turn black and my pupils take the same design Shoggoth’s had. “It was a tad earlier than I expected, but I finally absorbed one of the Pariah Gods. While I wished for the goddess of blood, Shadows will do for now. Congratulations, you’re now the Champion of Shadows. I’d suggest keeping it a secret.”

Already, I could feel Shoggoth sharing their strength with me. Power flowed into my body. My limbs felt heavy, my lungs restricted, but now I had the strength to overpower it for now. “Aaah, that’s the stuff.” I melted into the bed with a smile, taking a deep breath. One of Shoggoth’s tendrils was brushing my hair while the others pulled some sheets over me.

“Scarlet, Chosen of Blood, will likely be the next opponent. She’s got machinations in play for the Kingdom of Air… That steampunk city is not going to be the best place for you.”

“Steampunk? That sounds awesome.” I murmured with a smile on my face.

“Yeah, except the air is so bad there, everyone wears masks.”

“Oh crap… This energy came at just the right time.”

“Other than that, everything’s going according to plan. Just hold off on firing pure magic for a while, okay? It’s making you sick. Your body isn’t strong enough to handle the power you possess.”

“Yeah yeah mom. I’ll keep that in mind. You want me to wash behind my ears too?” I taunted with a wave of my hand. “Focus on setting everything up, and I’ll worry about keeping alive.”

“Gray, I swear-” Aurelia burst into the room, but Shoggoth had already slipped under the blankets, melting into the shadows while I pretended to be asleep. She just sighed. “Ugh, what am I going to do with you?”

Aurelia sat down next to the bed, and ran a hand through my hair. “If you don’t get better soon, I hope you are prepared to be lectured until your ears fall off. Running around while sick… you truly are a fool.”

I opened an eye just a crack to see Aurelia’s faint smile as she spoke. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stop my own smile from forming, and soon I found her hands tightly around my throat.

“GO TO SLEEP.” She commanded, and before long I found my eyes drooping.

I may be sick, but I’m not giving up this adventure.

I’m not giving up on Aurelia, because she isn’t giving up on me.

Because I loved Aurelia, more than I could bear.

I was ready to fight for the days in the future where there was no more fighting. Where I could spend time with the princess who wasn’t carrying the world on her shoulders.

And I got the feeling, she was waiting for that day too.

But tonight, for the first time in my life, I found myself curious to see what I’d dream with her here.