Epilogue

The journey back to Aldelthorne was quiet. The citizens of Barathûn had yet to feel the effects of The Dark Lord’s death. News of his defeat had yet to reach them. As far as they knew, they still had a king, and were looking forward to a prosperous future with plenty of trade. They did not stop at Veltetion for fear of reprisal, but as the dim morning sun lifted, they could all sense a new dawn approaching for the region as they rode by. Their quest was over, yet the remainder of the trip seemed quaint. Laughter returned to the party as they enjoyed their moment of peace together, knowing it would perhaps be the only chance they had to truly enjoy each other’s company so openly.

Life had begun to return to The Verdant Shroud, small critters roamed the opulent land, and docile beasts even approached them out of natural curiosity. Renji’s hoshirin, Haru, seemed especially pleased with a friend she made of another, wild hoshirin. Another female with a jet black body. It followed them as they left the shroud and returned to Aldelthorne. From the outside, Aldelthorne looked the same as it ever did. Tall, strong, though quieter than before. The changes would be more visible when they approached, however.

Bodies were stacked high in several places. The remains of the guards that Balam had corrupted while he was pretending to serve them. The military force of Aldelthorne had been largely converted to his own puppeted force at great cost to them. Barathûn might be exposed to danger, but Aldelthorne was in just as much if not more danger. At the very least, they still had defensible walls in case they were ever invaded, but healing the damage that they were dealt by Balam’s treachery would take many, many years.

When the citizens noticed the return of their princess, cheers erupted through the kingdom. Her return meant the fall of The Dark Lord, but it also meant that the royal line was still intact. The Rose family had always been known to be benevolent and effective rulers, so the return of their late king’s daughter was a beacon to the people that hope was not lost; Aldelthorne would be revived, and they’d be in good hands.

The castle seemed to suffer the most damage. Whole halls were scorched, entire sections of the castle had fallen apart and crumbled, and some areas had even been looted. A funeral had already taken place for King Roland Rose of Aldelthorne and Hutch Ardenthal, even though there was no body to be retrieved of the latter, they had found his staff, cracked, but intact. A second, separate funeral was held so that Illya and her party may say their final goodbyes, and allow the public a little peek as to how their newest ruler would carry herself.

Calling a gathering, the citizens eagerly awaited the word of their soon-to-be-crowned queen. Standing upon the hill so that everyone may see her, Princess Illyandaril Rose looked over the crowd, taking in every face before she began. “Thank you all for coming today. Things have been hard, I know. My father was an excellent king, and an even better father. Not a minute goes by where I do not miss him.” Illya lowered her head, offering a silent moment of prayer to pass before she lifted her head back up.

“However, I know he would be proud. His people have endured, and I have succeeded in stopping the great evil that threatened us. I only wish it hadn’t come at such a cost, but we must live with what is around us. I pledge to you all today, as your future queen, that I will not only restore Aldelthorne, but see it to a new golden age. It will be difficult, and I will need the help of each and every one of you to help make this dream a reality. However, I’m confident that it’s a dream we can attain, because the people of Aldelthorne are strong. You survived The Dark Lord’s attack, and endured all that came after. If you can do that, then I know we can rebuild this kingdom and make it better for the generations to come. I ask you, all of you, are you with me?”

Cheers erupted from the crowd. The princess once known as a brat had grown into a woman during her absence. They knew now more than ever that they would not be let down, even if some still held suspicions about the Outworlder that accompanied her.

After Illyandaril’s coronation ceremony, her first order was to declare Renji as her right hand man, and Nemi as her left hand woman. She elevated Oliver to a captain, and offered Mariel the position of head maid. Mariel, however, declined, stating that she wished to serve Illya and Renji directly, though she would help manage the repairs of Aldelthorne, her greatest wish was to watch over them.

Hestia was no longer the apprentice. When she found her father, she showed him all that she learned, and even learned a few new things from her. The pride in his eyes consumed every last bit of anxiety he had felt over the course of time that she had been gone. Working together, the kitchen ran twice as efficiently as before.

With Renji at the helm, he was able to organize their ledgers and get finances under control. Barely stopping a famine just in time, he was able to help coordinate the people of the land. He made a point of going to see people on the streets, and even shared the cooking techniques of his world, along with what he learned from Hestia, with the people. Despite having less food than ever, the people didn’t starve, and the impending famine was avoided entirely. The general knowledge he had from his world served as an explosive boost to Aldelthorne’s economic growth, allowing them to get back up on their feet in just a few short years. In that time he even became recognized by the people as a paladin of Tiamat, even though she never officially gave him said title. The next time he saw her, her form was more like that of the statue that he first saw of her. The people’s faith in her had restored her.

Though that did not mean that all of their problems were suddenly gone. Other kingdoms had taken notice of Aldelthorne’s growth, and were it not for their pledge to assist the people of Barathûn, war would already be ravaging the land. Pressure was on from all sides while Aldelthorne maintained the appearance of military superiority. In truth, however, their forces were lacking in numbers, but again thanks to Renji’s knowledge, they were able to make up for their numbers through technology. Siege weaponry yet undiscovered in this land was developed, and the threat of it was enough of a deterrence to keep the other kingdoms at bay, for now.

Nemi was thrilled with her new position. She deciphered the seals that Hutch had left upon the archive, allowing her to pillage the unlooted wealth of knowledge. Working with Renji in developing the siege weapons that married the technology of his world with the mystic arts of this world, there was not a single dull day for her for years as she made the most out of life.

Illyandaril Rose was beloved by her people, and it was through her steadfast leadership and wonderful allies that Aldelthorne once again became the envy of Velgrath. While she put a lot of pressure on herself, she was truly happy. Her kingdom held a festival to celebrate the day of her return, a recurring holiday resplendent with festivals, dancing, and merriment.

Not all of their problems had ceased to be. Greater monsters lurked in the shadows, and the origin of the heart of corruption had yet to be discovered. Other kingdoms, despite keeping their weapons sheathed, were baring their teeth at one another, probing and seeking some form of weakness that might let them take the initiative while they could.

Furthermore, the people of Barathûn were undergoing a state of political turmoil. Several factions rose in power to try and claim land, and several more factions rose the stand against them. Civil unrest had become civil war in all but name. The grey lands had been painted red with fire and blood, and while Aldelthorne would send detachments over to try and restore peace, the fighting would continue regardless.

With Aldelthorne’s increased surplus of food of the years, food has been donated to those in need, and there have been direct efforts to assist the people of the land. There have been no attempts to officially occupy Barathûn, though many accused Aldelthorne of invading them under the guise of “aid.” It was a difficult situation for all parties involved, and it hurt Illyandaril’s heart to see how the people suffered despite her best efforts.

However, in spite of this, happiness wrapped around the kingdom of Aldelthorne, and at least for now it was secure. Renji had found people that loved him, and a greater purpose beyond merely living to see tomorrow. He no longer lived out of obligation, but a genuine wish to be a part of the world that he had found himself in, one that he prayed he would never be apart from.