Epilogue - Shadows of the East

The morning sun glittered across the sea and the snow blanketing Aenzia’s rooftops.

Off the coast, Vadonian warships lay packed tightly together, forming a broad ring around the bay.

Beyond them waited the ships trying to get through.

Hundreds of them.

From small sloops and fishing boats to large yachts, all with their sails furled.

Haku and Pan stood among several other onlookers on a terrace overlooking the harbor, their gazes fixed anxiously on the bay.

“Look!” shouted a man still wearing his morning robe. “Some of them are trying to break through again!”

A handful of nimble little vessels had raised their sails and were heading straight for the blockade, ignoring the warning signals from the warships.

Moments later, flaming arrows rained down on them, setting sails and hulls alike ablaze.

Pan’s eyes widened.

“They’re just opening fire on them, mm?!”

Several people nearby immediately shot her disapproving looks.

Two of the boats managed to slip past the warships and were soon racing unimpeded toward the coast.

“Some of them got through again…” another man growled.

“They should just sink all those ships before that can happen!” a woman demanded.

Several voices loudly agreed with her.

Pan swallowed.

“Come on,” she said to Haku. “Maybe we should see if Elda’s managed to find out anything…”

“Agreed.”

As they made their way toward the harbor office, Haku glanced at Pan for what had to be the third time.

“Are you certain you’re warm enough? You were in freezing water only yesterday.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine, mm!” Pan waved her off. “The way you rubbed my fur dry after the bath, I doubt I’ll ever feel cold again...”

Haku nearly stumbled.

“I-I just had to make sure you were completely dry again!”

“You were very thorough, that’s for sure, mm. I’ve never been fluffier.”

Haku’s face turned red as she stared straight ahead and walked a little faster.

Pan blinked in surprise before hurrying after her.

“Hey, wait for me!”

A short while later, they found their companion near the harbor office.

He was smoking as usual, keeping a close eye on the activity around the docks.

“Do we know anything more yet?” Haku asked as they approached.

Elda exhaled a stream of smoke into the cold morning air and nodded.

“If what I heard is true, they’re all civilians.”

His gaze shifted to Pan.

“Refugees, to be precise.”

“Refugees?” Pan repeated. “That many?”

“Mostly from Animsaka. Though apparently some are from neighboring countries as well.”

“And what are they running from?”

“I didn’t hear it firsthand, but apparently something destroyed their homeland. Entire regions have been devastated.”

“Something?” Haku pressed.

Elda looked from her to Pan and sighed.

“People are talking about… demons.”

Pan and Haku both went still, staring at each other.

For a moment, Haku seemed to search Pan’s face, as though trying to decide whether that could possibly be true.

Then she stepped so close to Elda that his cigarette nearly fell from his mouth.

“Demons, you say?! How many? Who is leading them?”

He pushed the Sword Saint back with a crooked smile.

“Like I said. Unconfirmed rumors.”

Haku fell silent.

But Pan saw her hand slowly curl into a fist.

Saw the change in her posture.

And saw that familiar light suddenly return to her silver eyes.

I don’t like that look...

Pan’s stomach tightened.

Is she thinking what I think she is?

“If demons really are behind this…” Haku murmured. “Then perhaps…”

She trailed off, but Pan could finish the thought for her.

…you weren’t brought here for no reason after all.

Haku slowly raised her head.

“Perhaps this world really does face some greater threat.”

Pan flinched.

“Haku…”

“I know.” Haku looked at her. “You made up the Demon Emperor.”

For a moment, pain crossed her face before she turned back to Elda.

“But that doesn’t mean there can’t be something on the same scale.”

Pan opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Maybe she’s right.

But if she starts believing she was brought here for that reason again…

Her gaze drifted involuntarily to Haku’s damaged scarf.

…are we just going to end up right back where we started?

A shrill cry cut through the air.

“KRY-AH!”

Their heads snapped up.

Heavy wingbeats followed, and high above the harbor, a griffin came into view.

Commander Dariuwos sat on its back, flying inland from the sea toward the city.

Moments later, the griffin began descending toward the castle in one of Aenzia’s higher districts.

Elda took one last drag from his cigarette.

“Whatever’s happening out there, I think we all know who might be able to give us a few answers.”

They set off without hesitation.

***

The three eventually reached the castle entrance, where two guards crossed their halberds in front of them.

“Who are you? Civilians aren’t allowed inside.”

“We urgently need to speak with Commander Dariuwos,” Haku began.

She glanced briefly at Pan.

“We, um… have a delivery for him.”

Pan and Elda blinked at each other.

We do?

“And where exactly is this delivery?” the other guard asked.

Haku visibly stiffened.

“W-well… it’s, um…”

As she looked around helplessly, Pan heard the beating of wings and the scraping of claws from somewhere inside the courtyard.

She leaned forward and cupped her hands around her mouth.

“HEY, COMMANDER, MM! ARE YOU IN THERE?!”

“What do you think you’re doing?!” one of the guards hissed.

Pan ignored him.

“HAKU, UH, I MEAN HAKUCHO WANTS TO SEE YOU!”

The guards had already taken an angry step toward her when the sound of boots striking stone came from behind them.

Commander Dariuwos appeared in the archway.

His stern expression immediately softened when he saw Haku.

“Let them through.”

The guards blinked in surprise but did as he said.

“So you made it here after all,” Dariuwos said with a weary smile. His expression grew serious again as he gestured toward the harbor.

“But as you can see, your timing could have been better.”

“Could you maybe tell us what’s actually going on?” Pan asked directly. “Are all of those really refugees?”

Dariuwos hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Everyone will know soon enough anyway, so… yes. Refugees from the eastern continent.”

Elda nodded toward the griffin.

“Then you’ve already been there?”

“That would be too far, even for a griffin.” Dariuwos folded his arms. “I went to Qinlana.”

Pan frowned.

Qinlana...

If I remember right, the island lies about halfway between here and the eastern continent.

“The situation there is even worse, so they’ve simply started sending them west.” His gaze dropped. “No matter how much I protested against it...”

“But is it true that they’re fleeing from demons?” Haku pressed at once, stepping closer.

Although Dariuwos looked visibly pleased that she was addressing him so directly, he managed to keep his composure.

“That’s what people are saying. But relations between Qinlana and Animsaka are strained. They couldn’t tell me much more either.”

He sighed.

“That means a royal expedition will probably have to go there after all…”

Haku immediately straightened.

“An expedition?”

Dariuwos nodded.

“To determine the cause of the refugee wave, establish contact with the affected states, and devise countermeasures.”

With a hint of regret, he rubbed the back of his neck.

“I’d actually hoped to be back at court before it came to this. But, well…”

“So you’re going there yourself?”

“That is what the king wishes, yes.”

Haku, Elda, and Pan exchanged a brief glance.

Haku nodded.

Elda shrugged.

Pan stepped forward.

“Any chance you still need volunteers, mm? As luck would have it, we’re heading east too.”

Dariuwos looked at her in surprise before his gaze shifted to Haku and the Triskelion pin at her collar.

Something changed in his expression.

“I see.”

Haku tilted her head slightly.

“What?”

Dariuwos’ eyes lit up.

“Perhaps your arrival here is less unfortunate than I first thought...”

He turned toward the harbor, where the warships still formed an iron chain across the coast.

“Since Vadonia cannot simply send soldiers into sovereign states, we’ll have to rely on adventurers for this mission anyway.”

He glanced back over his shoulder at Haku.

“And with another Diamond Rank accompanying us, we could keep the expedition considerably smaller...”

Dariuwos took a step closer.

“Hakucho. Once this expedition gets underway, I would very much like to have you at my side.”

Pan narrowed her eyes.

At his side?!

She cleared her throat pointedly.

“Ahem.”

Dariuwos turned toward her as though only just remembering that Pan and Elda were still there.

“Oh. The rest of your party can come as well, of course.”

Elda snorted.

“What an honor.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Haku replied with a smile. “I wouldn’t have agreed without them anyway.”

Pan’s ears lifted slightly.

She said nothing, but a small grin crept across her face.

“Great!” Dariuwos said. “Of course, there are still a few formalities to take care of and contracts to draw up. So for now, I ask you to remain in Aenzia.”

Dariuwos inclined his head.

“I’ll send for you once the details have been settled.”

A short while later, the three of them had left the castle behind.

They paused for a moment at the foot of the keep, from where they could see the city, the harbor, and the ocean stretching beyond it.

But when Pan’s gaze fell on the countless refugee ships, her stomach tightened.

Whatever they’re fleeing from…

I hope it hasn’t reached Panwan yet.

Haku noticed her expression and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Wherever this journey takes us,” Pan said, letting out a slow breath.

She looked at her companions.

“I’m glad we’re making it together.”

The smiles on their faces were answer enough.

Together, they looked out across the ocean.

And somewhere beyond the horizon, the East was waiting.

Along with whatever had driven hundreds of ships from its shores...

The End