Wait, what? Shouldn't this be it, then? There's an air of finality, we've reached the end of our story, so where's the epilogue?

"...Pento, dear."

"Penelope..."

"Yes?"

"What- ..."

Both mom and Exgrave are speechless, neither of them sure of how to process the fact I've got a harpy on my back now.

"Oh, right. This is Renato."

"Ren!" He giggles.

"I see." Mom holds her head with her free hand.

...We're going to need to talk about what happened, aren't we?

"Here-- go play with Blubbo for a bit before bedtime." I crouch down, letting Renato off my back so he can play with Blubbo in the bedroom. "A-And don't try eating him! He doesn't taste good!" ...I speak from experience when I was younger. After closing the door behind him, I and the others move further down the hallway to escape earshot.

Once we're sufficiently away, mom speaks up again.

"Past life or not, you're way too young for this."

"On top of that," Exgrave interjects, "This will absolutely get in the way of your training."

"I know, I know..." I sigh. "But he's an orphan. I don't want him to suffer that kind of loneliness."

Exgrave clenches their fists. "I worry that you may be spreading yourself thin, Penelope."

"You think I don't feel the same??" I raise my voice. I can't tell if they're upset at me or as stressed out as I am, but I'm starting to be done with being told off for every little thing I do.

The hallway falls silent.

"...S-sorry." I take a breath, trying to regain my composure as best I can.

"I'll help as much as I can." Mom speaks softly, with that smile she always gives to reassure me even in the darkest times. "I'm still proud of you for taking on this responsibility, even if I'm worried it may be more than you can handle right now."

"What else happened on the mission?" Exgrave asks. "I notice... you've liberated quite a number of individuals."

"Yeah, we managed to free everyone Anson had under captivity. It was... dicier than I expected it to go. B-both me and Zeph got our minds controlled..."

Mom pulls me into a hug. "It's an awful feeling..."

She never liked having other people enter her mind-- I'm starting to see why.

"Yeah... Crim killed Anson, too."

Exgrave hangs their head in disappointment-- not with me nor Crimson, but with the situation at large. "...I would still prefer it if these situations were to be dealt with non-lethally, but I take it that the mind control situation forced his hand?"

"...We both had collars activated on us, yeah."

"Unfortunate." They sigh. "At least it was not you that made the killing blow. I would never forgive myself if I allowed you to become like my parents."

...

"I wonder..." I chuckle. "Am I gonna get one of those fancy paintings done of me at some point?"

"Would you want one?"

"Mmmm... once I feel like I've earned it."

"Of course." Exgrave looks in the direction of the hallway that leads to the main hall. "What are your plans for all those you've freed, if I may ask?"

"They want to start a village. At the base of the mountain."

"A village?" Mom seems surprised ...and a bit uncomfortable.

"Some of them felt weird about living here, but didn't have anywhere else to go." I shrug my shoulders. "It makes sense, I guess."

Exgrave chuckles. "Much as it fills me with disappointment, I do not blame them."

"Do... do you want me to help with that, too?" Mom asks.

I'm caught off guard-- she's offering without me even asking? "Aren't... you spreading yourself thin, now?"

"It... runs in the family." She smirks. "I ran a village of kobolds while raising you and Khil. I can handle running a village of beastfolk and raising a harpy."

"If you think you can... I was going to ask you about it, but I felt bad."

She laughs, amused. "Well, I appreciate your concern for me, dear." She boops my nose teasingly. "Even if they don't want me as their leader, I'll still try and convince the Vales to help out with the food."

I'd make a joke about her reading my mind, but... well.

"Thanks, mom."

"Of course."

"Am I interrupting something?" Crux notices us all standing in the hallway. "I can wait if that's the case."

"Oh, no you're not." I smile. "I was just catching the others up on everything that happened today."

"Right, right."

"Crux'nub..." Mom turns to face him. "How long has it been?"

"Three or so years, Mae. ...Three or so years." The two of them exchange a hug.

"I'd just wanted to say thanks for raising Khil while I was a captive."

Her smile falters a bit. "It's... no problem. I'm very sorry for your loss."

He closes his eyes. "I'm just glad she had a great mother while she was alive." He smiles a bit. "And, a great sister."

"We'll have to catch up tomorrow-- I missed having people from the village to talk to."

He chuckles, opening his eyes once more. "What, are Ele and Vek not interesting to talk to, anymore?"

She laughs. "You know what I mean."

"Of course, of course." He yawns, before giving a wave. "I'll be off for now."

I let out a yawn, as well. ...Right, it's almost dawn and I've yet to even sleep.

"We should all get our rest before long." Exgrave also yawns-- it must be contagious. ...Wait, were they staying up for my sake, as well? I had to wake up mom just so she didn't get startled by the barracks being full in the morning.

"Oh, Exgrave."

"Yes?"

"Teach me more about Cala'mementi sometime, if you're not too busy."

"You... really wish to learn more about her?" They're just as surprised as before. They must've thought I only prayed to her out of fear tonight would go horribly.

"Of course."

...They were right to think that, but now I have a genuine interest in seeking protection under her, now. The less people that have to deal with what I experienced, the better.

Exgrave pauses, shocked, before gesturing for me to crouch down.

I do... and they pull me into a close hug.

Are they... sniffling?

"Thank you... Thank you so much, Penelope." They're... actually crying. "I am unbelievably ecstatic to have summoned you to this world."

I laugh a bit, caught off-guard by their sudden forwardness. "Y-you're welcome. I'm glad, too."

We all finally set off on our separate ways for bed.

Surprisingly, despite having to correct my sleep schedule from the damage I'd inflicted to it, the next few days I've slept absolutely beautifully. It's a nice reprieve from all that's gone on up to this point.

Most of the people who were staying here, as expected, ended up leaving to start their village. I've kept a watchful eye, helping out as much as I can, but I've also been busy trying to take care of Renato as well. ..I do want to start my training sooner rather than later, but I also understand after everything that's gone on how important it is to have time to myself. And... my adoptive child.

Have I ever considered the idea of being a mother? In my past life, sure. It's kinda hard not to when you're the aunt of two adorable little girls. ...I hope they're doing well. I wonder if they know I'm gone. ...Do they even remember me?

...

...Regardless, it's something I've thought about before. But, I never really thought that it would ever happen to me, especially with how much my life had fallen apart back then. But now? Taking care of a harpy child?

I'll admit; there's a part of me that's become endeared to the idea.

He rarely ever leaves my side. It makes sense, given I'm probably the first person in a long time who's shown him compassion-- after what little Anson's done for him. I'd probably be on the clingy side too, if that happened to me. ...I don't really know what I should be teaching him, or how to teach him anything, but at least for now I don't need to worry about that. He's already pretty occupied just exploring the castle, playing around with Blubbo and wandering the great forest (with my supervision, of course).

Maybe at some point I'll get him some combat training, but only for self-defense. There's no way I'll allow someone this young in my army-- period. I may be a beast, but I'm not a monster.

"L-Lady Pento...!"

Zephys snaps me out of my self-reflection, having rushed into the library to find me. Right-- I was trying to find books on harpies-- anything to help raising Renato.

"Yes...? What's wrong?"

"It's an emergency-- you need to come with me." She seems genuinely scared. Quickly setting aside the book I was holding, I follow along with her, rushing out of the castle.

"T-tell me what's wrong, Zeph."

"S-someone's here. They're looking for you."

Someone? If it was someone we knew, she would've just said it already.

"...Brysen?"

"No, I... I don't know who she is. She wouldn't give her name-- she just kept demanding I find you. ...Said something bad would happen if I didn't take you to her."

I... really have no idea, then.

Leaving the castle, a spark of anxiety starts to form as we keep moving down to the base of the mountain. Nothing bad's happening to the village... right?

...

...Right?

Pushing away my anxieties, we eventually arrive at the forest-- where people were setting up their village. Nothing out of the ordinary, other than... her. The person who was looking for me.

A short, black-haired woman, covered in gothic makeup and clad in an elaborate lacy black dress stands before me, seemingly having waited impatiently for me.

"There you are. Pento, right?" She speaks in a hushed tone.

"...Do I know you?"

"You don't."

How curt. I squint. "Then why were..."

Wait.

Wait a minute.

She's holding something in her hand.

Is that...

...

A slave collar?

...

"...Slader."

She smirks. "You catch on quick. Kiel Slader, by the way."

"You're here to continue the family business, then?" I look at the collar.

"Tch." She spits. "Why would I ever want to carry on with any of that bullshit?"

I tilt my head. "Why are you here, then?"

"You killed my mother."

...

In that moment, everything clicks together.

She throws the collar into the air, snapping her fingers.

The collar beeps, light flickering rapidly before-

BOOOOOOOOOOOM

It explodes, creating a massive fireball in its wake. My legs buckle from the sudden blast of pressure.

Leaves and branches above us catch ablaze, a wildfire quickly spreading.

She holds out her hand, manifesting a small, inky black void that grows bigger, reshaping itself to form a spear.

Grabbing it in both hands, she enters a combat stance.

"Get ready to meet her in hell, bitch."