Epilogue (First book)

Lacilius hurried through the deserted streets of Aradeyn, getting farther and farther away from the central square with every passing moment. And with every passing moment, he drew closer and closer to the city's main gates, where it would be easy enough to blend into the crowd and escape Tsagat at the first opportunity.

He abruptly turned right and saw the long-awaited stone archway of the gates.

A faint flush returned to the necromancer's face. He leaned on his staff and, with renewed strength, hobbled forward, already seeing his salvation.

"Where are you headed, mrrr-Lacilius?"

Emerging from the nearest alley, a large black cat suddenly appeared before the necromancer, with whiskers like a tiger's and the manners of a wealthy aristocrat.

"Or perhaps you'd care to tell me your real mrrr-name?" Krumcius suggested, blocking his path.

"I… I don't understand what you're talking about, animal," the necromancer replied curtly, and a faint flush once again touched his pale face.

"Oh, I think you mrrr-understand perfectly well." Krumcius gave the necromancer a murderous glare, making him flinch. "Release Lacilius, Amorr." The cat bared his long fangs. "Otherwise, I'll rip your throat out."

The necromancer froze for a moment. Then he lowered his head, hiding his gaze against the ground, and a moment later burst into laughter like a madman.

"Ha-ha-ha! Caught me! Caught meee! What can you do! Snared me like some filthy whore!" Steam once again poured from the necromancer's mouth, while his eyes changed to dark blue. "So how? How long ago did he figure it out? How long ago did you see through me?! How exactly did it happen? Tell me, Krumcius! Tell me!" The so-called Amorr took several steps toward the black cat, but quickly stopped when he realized the other was in no mood for games.

"I don't know exactly when Yan figured it out. And even if I did, I'd be an idiot to tell you, Amorr," the cat snapped. "So I'll repeat myself: begone from the necromancer. Otherwise, I'll tear your mrrr-throat out."

Lacilius—or rather, whoever was currently controlling him from hundreds of worlds away—immediately grew more serious.

Well, as serious as he was capable of being.

"At least tell me this: did Yan like my performance?! Did he like my love?!"

"Oh yes, he liked it so much he's itching," Krumcius replied. "Insane cretin. First you bumped off the poor Queen's hubby, then convinced her the Beyond would bring him back, and in the end caused complete chaos across an entire world… All just to prove…"

"MY LOVE?" Amorr interrupted.

"Madness," Krumcius cut him off. "You Destroyers of Good are all insane."

"There are no 'not insane' people in Existence, my dear Krumcius." Amorr grinned at the black cat.

The cat remained unfazed.

"Begone."

"Make me!" Amorr rasped, excited steam once again pouring from his mouth.

And Krumcius did exactly that. He lunged at the necromancer, and a moment before his fangs touched Lacilius's Adam's apple, Amorr abandoned his body.

The stunned necromancer collapsed to the ground and finally looked around through his own eyes.

He saw a city he did not recognize.

And a black cat.

"K-Krumcius?" he said in surprise. "What are you?.. What am I?.."

"Doesn't matter, mrrr-Lacilius." The cat waved him off. "Just a bit of advice for the future. Choose more carefully who you share a bed with. Otherwise… mrrr, we'll have no end of trouble."



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Yan sat at a table in the completely empty tavern, counting the gold coins lying on it.

"Not much," Yan drawled sadly. "I'll have to steal some more."

Thud.

A large pint of beer suddenly landed beside him.

"What? I didn't order anything, actually," the rogue said.

"On the house." Degemon rolled his eyes while simultaneously sweeping every coin off the table.

"Hey, you said it was 'on the house'!" Yan protested. "Are you fucking with me?"

"That's payment for taking up space in my tavern," the demon replied.

"But there's nobody here except me!"

"That's exactly the point. You're the only one here," Degemon declared. "Which means you're scaring away all the creatures that usually come by for a drink."

"But I don't have anywhere else to be alone and get some rest!" Yan protested.

"You lie as easily as you breathe." The demon grimaced and returned behind the counter.

He was right. The Devil's Back of Beyond really wasn't the only place where Yan whiled away his days doing absolutely nothing. It was, however, the safest, seeing as it existed in the space between worlds and constantly changed its location. It was an excellent establishment where it would practically be a sin not to sit around and ponder the complicated matters of being and moral dilemmas.

"If you've got nothing to do, get a job, Yan!" Degemon finally shouted from behind the counter.

"Hey! I was working just recently, actually! Saved an entire world! And razed a magic academy to the ground. Isn't that enough for you?"

"Then find another job!" the demon roared, and as though obeying his command, the door to The Devil's Back of Beyond suddenly flew open, letting the bright starlight of the dark half-space pour inside.

"Um, excuse me, are you Yan Di Wonderwalk?" asked a low, almost squeaky voice.

The rogue quickly spun around and, grinning from ear to ear, asked:

"Well, depends on who's asking?"


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A special thank you to Yumya, lolitroy, and Mara. Seeing actual people read, react, leave a comment, or simply keep liking chapters is exactly the kind of thing that makes me want to continue sharing the story.

Book 2 is already in development, and I actually have a number of chapters written. The problem is that the book itself isn't finished yet, so I don't want to start posting it now only to suddenly stop halfway through the story.

So maybe a little later, once I have enough of Book 2 ready, I'll come back and continue posting. People like you genuinely make me want to do that.

And an extra thank you to Yumya for sticking around and continuing to read chapter after chapter. I notice it, and I really appreciate it.

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Jriri, with respect.