Epilogue A ~ The beast who fancied herself a dragon...

I sit in my bedroom, curled up atop my pile of gold. In the days since Kiel came for my life, I've decided a change of pace was in order for where I sleep. Mom and Dad now use the bed, and Exgrave and Renato rest against me-- with some pillows placed for comfort. It's more cozy this way.

Honestly, I feel more in my element like this. The bed was more comfortable, but I always felt strange sleeping on it-- like I was a pet, rather than the person who owned the damn thing. Chalk it up to me no longer being bipedal, I suppose. That... and as a dragon, I can't deny the fact I feel the need to protect my newfound hoard. It's an instinctive desire, I think.

On that note... I'd asked around about what happened during that fight. All the spellcasters I know-- Exgrave, Zephys, Narce --don't know exactly what to make of me. All of their detection spells register me as an aberration, yet aside from that outburst-- and the one in the spider's den, now that I think about it --I'm for all intents and purposes a dragon. I can only guess that it's like a fight-or-flight response, or something. Probably the result of Exgrave's spells going wrong, making me an aberrant dragon of some sorts. It's just a part of me, rather than all of me-- that's how I choose to see it. ...If that isn't the case, however; if I've always had that as part of me, then I have a lot more questions I'd like to ask my parents in the other world.

...I do still miss them, honestly. My sister, too, and both of her kids. My heart aches that I'll never be able to see them again. Sometimes, I find myself caught up in outbursts of grief-- for the world I'd thrown away. I'd never even had the opportunity to say sorry to any of them. I wonder if they still think I hate them.

But... that's the past. I can't keep lingering on it, as much as it's hard not to. I've got so much to do in this world, so much to make of this second chance that Exgrave has given me; I can't spend too much of my time wondering what could have been.

"Penelope."

I open my eyes, looking to Exgrave.

"It would be best for us to head out soon."

"Oh... of course."

I nod, rising to my feet.

"Mama?" Ren stops us at the door. "Where are you going?" I thought he was still sleeping.

"Ah, just... visiting an old friend." I don't have it in me to be truthful. "Go play with Crim for now, okay? Mama will be back by nighttime."

"Okay!" He gives me a big hug, before setting off to find Crimson.

It's still wild to me how much Renato has taken to me. I've reflected on this before, but I don't know if I'll ever get used to being an adoptive mother. I suppose I'm glad to have skipped a lot of the beginning aspects of childcare-- nursing, changing, et cetera --but I still feel wildly out of my element. I'm just glad Mom's here to help out.

In any case, Exgrave and I set out-- waving to friends and family, as well as to all the villagers we pass by on our trek.

...

Wait, is that the Ale-knights?

"...Hey. Big scary dragon." Risky notices me, and after prodding from Banger, walks over.

"Yes?"

"This village yours?"

"It's not-- but I'm its protector. My mom is the chief."

"Right..." They go silent, before looking over to Banger, gesturing them over to help. "'B, help me out here-- I don't think I can do this."

Banger walks over. I'd forgotten how imposing they are, given I was hiding in the dark the last time I'd seen her. Even Exgrave is a bit wary. They crouch down to speak to me, before defeating the purpose of the gesture by looking away out of nervousness.

"We... were wondering if it were possible for us to take up residence here."

I squint my eyes. "May I ask why...? Last time we met," I say, pretending the incident at Anson's didn't happen, "You all were trying to cut down this forest."

The rabbitfolk rogue and the robed cleric step over, the latter chuckling as she speaks. "Well, our reputation precedes us, it seems. But, it's nothing we can't do a little 'forgive-and-forget' about, no?"

The cleric sighs, cutting to the point proper. "We've been kicked out of every inn and tavern we can find-- as well as ones that we cannot. None of us are particularly knowledgeable on how to set up or maintain a camp." They press two fingers to their forehead. "King Pavrice has given up on ever hiring us after our previous skirmish with you, so even if we wished to give away information about this village-"

"Which we do not, to be clear." Banger interjects.

The cleric nods, continuing. "-they would most certainly not take us seriously in the slightest."

"What's going on, here? Aren't you two supposed to be heading out?" Mom walks in, confused. She looks to the Ale-knights, and starts to get concerned.

"These four wished to join the village."

"You're familiar with them?"

"We've... had a few run-in's in the past, yes."

"Then... what is your opinion?"

"Hmm." They're entirely unreliable as knights, their reputation preceding them in the worst way.

...But, that doesn't mean they wouldn't be a good asset for information gathering and protecting the village while I'm busy.

"As long as you four pull your weight around here, then I don't see why not." Hearing this, Mom nods, a smile returning to her face.

Banger moves to shake mom's hand. "Thank you very much, Miss..."

"Mae'poi." She shakes her hand.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Mae'poi." Banger stands up. "You may call me Banger Mash."

"Risky Mash, for better or worse." Risky gives a half-hearted bow.

"Franziska Rosebun-- Fran, for short~" The rabbitfolk rogue does a cutesy pose.

"...Cynthia. Cynthia Verus." The cleric hangs their head low.

I wave to mom, leaving her to figure out what to do with these failknights, before heading out of the village proper alongside Exgrave.

...

"Hey, Exgrave."

"Yes, Penelope?"

"I've been meaning to ask you a question, for like, the longest time."

They grumble. "If it's about the spells I had cast when reviving the two of us-- then yes, I did make a mistake with my calculations when preparing my own resurrection..."

"No, it's- wait, what?" I shake my head. "No, it's something different."

"Oh. Well, ask away."

"...What are your pronouns?"

They stop in their tracks, looking at me.

"My... pronouns?"

"Yeah, like-- didn't you ask me, way back when I was hatched, what my gender was? I'm asking the same of you. You don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable, of course."

"..."

They sit in silence, for a long time. Not uncomfortable, not upset, nothing like that.

"I've... never considered that."

"You haven't?"

"No. I have never felt the need to think about things like that, specifically in regards to my own identity. ...My activism came first."

"What about when you were a kid?"

"Survival came first."

"Ahhh. Right." I laugh a bit. "I was just asking because, y'know, Narce accepts whatever pronouns you give them, so I figured to ask what the case was with you."

"...Well, I guess I don't particularly care what pronouns you refer to me as, either. As I had said, it's not something that has crossed my mind."

I nod.

"What do you see me as?"

"Well, sometimes I suppose I'd see you as a woman. But usually, I never really considered you as even having a gender identity."

"Hmm. Well, that sounds right to me. Use whatever you see fit."

"Gotcha."

...

The Glimmering Woods. An absolutely beautiful forest. Under threat of being taken down by a greedy King.

Hopefully, we can get that all sorted out before anything bad happens. It'd be a horrible waste to convert this lush land into mere highways-- maybe the village can act as a wedge in those plans.

...

We're here.

The entrance to the cave that once held Poi Village. Some flowers have been left at the entrance-- presumably by Crimson. He's always so busy at work, behind the scenes. I'd say Exgrave should be kinder to them, but there's a part of me that knows the two of them mutually enjoy their rapport.

...I steel myself, and head in.

Unsurprisingly, it's still vacant. All of the bodies have been buried, but the wreckage still remains. It's really quite depressing.

Exgrave settles down, ready to say a prayer. Before they start, I speak up.

"I'm going a bit further in, to say my prayers."

"Of course." They understand where I'm headed, and give a simple nod.

Walking straight... straight... straight... then, a fateful left turn.

Her body's gone-- buried, as well. But, I know exactly where it was.

I kneel down. "I found him... sis. I found dad. He's... a goofball, like you. More temperamental, but I'm sure you would've ended up growing to be like him if you had the chance, too."

"He ended up becoming a battle chef, actually. Someone who uses alchemy to infuse food with magic. It's fascinating, honestly-- you would've loved it."

"He... loved you just as much as he loved your mother. Trust me, he tries to keep a strong face now, but he's hurting just as much as me about not getting to be around you anymore."

"I'm..." I sniffle. "I miss you so much. So much has happened, and there's a part of me that wishes you were still by my side to reassure me through it all."

"Wherever you are... just know that your sis is doing her best. She's living on, for you."

I laugh, tears starting to pour down my face. "When I'm older, this'll be my den. The castle's nice and all, but a dragon deserves a nice cave to keep her hoard in. I'll be able to be with you more, when that happens. Y-you better be ready for your little sister to come back, you hear...!" I fall to my knees, sobbing.

I don't know if she can even hear me. I don't know if she's even in this world anymore, or if she's moved on to the next. But... even though I know it's just a trick of my mind, for a brief moment, I honestly felt her placing a hand on my shoulder, before hopping onto my back and giving me a great big hug from behind.

...I'm glad I came here.

I say my prayers to Cala'mementi, before heading back to where the village was.

"...You ready to leave?" Exgrave whispers softly. ...It seems as though they were crying, as well.

"Yeah... yeah, I am-"

I stop, realizing I'm standing where our house was. Where our drawings were.

...They're still here.

The green dragon, the two-toned kobold, the beleaguered rabbit...

...

Some distant memories flood back; memories from some 20 years ago.

Me and Soleil-- my sister in my past life --used to draw, too. Fantasizing ourselves in different scenarios, different species and all that.

And you know what?

I always fancied drawing myself as a dragon.

Funny how that worked out.

A while ago, Elioxus-- or, I suppose, Narce (I still don't know which name to refer to them by, when I'm in my thoughts like this) had asked me a question.

Do I feel more like myself as 'Pento', rather than 'Penelope?'

...I think I do.

"Let's head out."

We gave each other a hug, before making our way back to the village.

Oh... right.

I'd been asked if I could name the village-- since I've done so much for those living in it.

To me... it was a no-brainer.

'Khil's Hope.'