Epilogue

Jarathia | Jarathia City | City Center | Night

Jarathia is aglow in lantern-fire and laughter. Stonecutters chip at two new statues in the central square—Hanla mid-strike, Nine with his hands in his pockets.

They step into the throng. Mersa waits beneath the Jarathia sign.

“Enjoy,” he says. “It’s a celebration in your honor.”

“Sure,” Hanla smiles.

On the podium, Sunthia stands with her Girasia. “This song is called ‘Fire and Ice,’” she says, her eyes finding Nine’s.

Jenna and Tyrese pull Hanla and Nine along by their sleeves, tugging them closer to the stage.

“Enjoy,” Avort says, arriving with a small nod.

“I cooked for you,” Jenna adds, eyes bright. “So—”

“And I’ve got a few stones for your ability,” Tyrese grins, pressing a pouch to Hanla.

Maxwell steps up to Nine. “We repaired Jerome’s sword,” he says quietly. “It’s yours to keep.”

Beatrix saunters up. “Oh—I forgot to tell you. Next week, I will also head to Souri. We’ll take the ferry together.”

Sunny runs over to them. “You were right, the Ice Mayor is super cool!”

Mersa grins.

Sunthia strums along, her voice rising clear over the square.

Nine and Hanla stand shoulder to shoulder in the crowd, bruised and bandaged, but smiling bright and enjoying the night.

Jarathia | Jarathia City | Docks | Morning

The day of departure dawns bright over the docks. Every quarter of Jarathia crowds the pier. A hulking ferry idles with outstretched ropes and gangplanks, chimneys breathing out white.

Sunthia steps up to Nine and Hanla. “I will fight. And you will return and give me your answer.”

“I promise,” Nine says.

She nods, then turns to Hanla. “Make sure he doesn’t find another girl. He has to wait for me.”

Nine blinks at Hanla. “Wait… She knows—”

Jenna cups her hands and hollers from amidst the crowd, “Everybody knows, you airhead!”

Mersa squints. “What? Know wh—”

At his side is Sunny.

Tyrese elbows him. “Hey, Mersa, I know you’re just as capable as him, but don’t tell me you’re an airhead too.”

Maxwell leans in and whispers, his words making color run up Mersa’s cheeks. “Wait, for real? They are? That’s so cute—”

Avort drifts toward the gangplanks, hands behind his back and watching. “Souri? Interesting choice.”

Beatrix waves from the ferry rail. "We're about to leave—finish up already!”

Sunthia hugs Nine, Nine hugs her back. Afterwards, Hanla folds Sunthia into her own embrace as well.

Mersa raises his voice over the pier. “And hey, don’t worry. Social crises are still better than economic crises. So we’ve got this! Next time you visit, it'll be a brand new Jarathia. We’ll strut our true beauty!”

“VISITS US AGAIN HEROES!” Sunny shouts.

“I hope so,” Nine says.

“Bye,” Maxwell adds, simple and soft.

Nine boards with Hanla. On deck, Hanla plants her fists on her hips and bellows, “Silver Sky! Confirmed badasses!”

The island answers as one: “Badass!”

Town Courtesy | Mansion | Two Months Later

The doctor sits opposite Sunthia; Faisc perches beside her. A small mirror flashes in the doctor’s hand.

“Look,” he says, passing it over.

Sunthia raises the glass. One iris stares back in a warm brown. She gasps. “No way—my eye color!”

“You’ll be with us for longer after all, sister,” Faisc says, grinning.

“The treatment does work,” the doctor murmurs, dark circles drawn under his eyes. He sighs. “I’m sorry I can’t yet find a way for you to use magic again.”

Sunthia shakes her head. “No—that’s more than enough to give us hope.”

The door swings open—Harima sweeps in, wearing a black dress, Jenna, and Chays close behind.

“Sunthia, Sunthia!” Harima beams. “Silver Sky has ranked up again, in Souri!”

Chays waves around a folded paper. “My daughter skyrockets through the ranks! Come on, I’ll show you the article.”

Jenna rests a palm against her belly and smiles. “Your sister really is an impressive girl. I hope you’ll be like that too.”

“I hope not!” Chays laughs. “My heart nearly gives out, each time I read about her deeds.”

Sebastian and Joachim join them.

“Come on, you know the type of person she is,” Sebastian snorts.

Joachim nods. “She punched the life out of us for twelve whole years. So—she’s fine.”

Faisc lifts his chin. “Because she’s a hero and Nine is too.”

“Our heroes,” Sunthia agrees.

Souri | Tavern

The room smells like dust and lemon spirits. Nine lounges around in a rugged black vest, Jerome’s sword slung across his back; Hanla tips a Stetson low, straw at her lips, in a white tank and scuffed black pants. Their brooches glitter on the table—SSS.

A girl in a travel-stained cloak drops onto the bench beside them, her own brooch stamped with a single S. She slaps a newspaper down. “Can you read that for me, Hanla? I’m tired.”

Hanla squints, grinning. “Mirraissa? Mhhm, okay.” She skims it, then taps the headline. “Jarathia’s Economical Wonder—blackwood exports and high-grade fire and water stones.” The next one makes her smile widen. “Silver Sky reaches Triple-S Rank after beating the great desert dragon - how long before they reach Epic Rank?”

Nine leans in. “And?”

Hanla’s voice softens. “A doctor in Regona found a cure for the red dust syndrome.”

“No way,” Nine breathes out, shoulders loosening like a weight has been lifted. “I’m so glad.”

“A true happy ending,” Hanla says—and then stands, flipping the paper closed with two fingers. “Silver Sky—time to depart! More adventures are waiting for us!”

Mirraissa pushes to her feet. “It‘s time, I guess.”

Nine rises too. “Leader’s calling.”

Hanla tips the brim of her hat. “Vice leader, let’s depart!”

Their brooches catch the light as they push through the swinging doors, and step into the heat and endless horizons of Souri—already moving toward the next adventure.