I was returned to the land of the living, and was greeted by a familiar sensation when I woke up. I laid on Fatima’s lap as she gently brushed my hair. “You’re finally awake, Vo– um, how should I call you?”

I looked up at her, and genuinely smiled, “Eric is fine. I don’t want anyone close to me using titles. Then again, you made up the nickname, so you can use whatever you want.”

“I see. I feel honoured to have you think of me like that, Eric. So,” she continued brushing my hair, “now that the gods have sent us back, what do you plan to do with your new life?”

“Truly, that’s not important. But I do want to find the others who helped me beat Apollyon. I want to help them live fulfilling lives. And you as well, Fatima. I’d love for you to teach me, but I’d love for you to lead your own life and follow your own dreams even more.”

“Now, now, neglecting yourself isn’t good either,” she warned me.

I sat up, “It’s not that. It’s simply an order of priority. You guys will not live forever, but I’m immortal now. For now, my goals are your goals. So, Fatima, what do you wish for?”

“Ah, well, it’s, kind of farfetched. You won’t laugh?” she seemed a bit skittish about it.

I threw an arm around her shoulder, “Fatima, I just became the fucking Guardian of Worlds, the Voidchild. Do you really think your dream is farfetched for me?”

“G-good point.”

~

After I died, my Light Links in Adrasteia, Mandy, and August had all disappeared. Now I had to find them the hard way. Well, I didn’t, but I just felt like asking around anyway; it felt like doing normal things was good once in a while. Arcane magic was so convenient that it made me wonder how I lived without it.

It turned out that August went back to his old home in Aquan. Coincidentally – or maybe not, who knows? – I also woke up in my old home after Zan sent me back. August was working his old forge. I walked in and helped him a bit with the fire as if we didn’t just save our entire realm. “Sup,” I said.

“Sup, man? Nice dress,” he complimented yet insulted my new robe that had a nice purple colour and yellow accents here and there.

“Hey, so,” I was about to ask him the same thing Fatima asked of me, about plans for the future and such. But his face was filled with tears. “Geez,” I hugged him, “you big oaf. I know man, it’s hard.”

It wasn’t only me that lost their family.

Sometime later, we sat on the bench in the yard where we usually did years ago. “Plans huh?” he pondered. “I guess it’d be a good idea to do something. For now, I think I’d rather just live simply.”

I snickered, “Yeah, I’ve been thinking to do the same thing. Once I get Mandy and Adrasteia what they want, I’ll follow in your footsteps.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Well,” he put a fist up, “we’ll get there together, man.”

I fist-bumped him, “Of course. Drinks tonight?”

“Damn right,” he grinned.

~

“What I plan to do?” Adrasteia pondered after I asked her. “Honestly, after Apollyon and Emily, I never really thought about it. Well, there is one thing.”

“Oh? What’s that?” I leaned in.

“I kind of, always wanted to start a family of my own, you know?” she said squeamishly.

I furrowed my brows in slight perplexity, “Uh, that’s a pretty normal thing?”

“With a dragonkin guy,” she specified.

“Oh,” August laughed, not at all expecting that, “you got scaly tastes, huh?”

I remembered Et Draco and rubbed my chin in thought, “Well, I know a bit about the insemination of dragons, so if you get problems to conceive, I might be able to help. And,” I playfully tapped her with my elbow, “I know a guy.” After I introduced her to Saeryn, I left things to them.

The question of whether or not I’d have to be rid of her because of her knowledge in soul magic was the first thing that we conversed about, but, like me and August, all she wanted was a simple life. Apollyon and Eblis were defeated, and Emily was no longer amongst the living when it came to being a lower existence. All of Adrasteia’s major goals were either completed, or null and void.

~

I palmed my face, “I’m sorry, but what?” I asked Mandy to repeat her atrocious statement.

“I want to die,” she said, without a hint of jest. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to kill myself or anything but, I just want to reunite with Emily. I’m not even supposed to be in this realm. My job is done, you’re the Guardian of Worlds, right, Voidchild? So, I just want to go back to the afterlife.”

“Damn, lady, that’s heavy stuff. I think I’ll have to ask about that for you, okay?” I stood up and stretched, “Just chill out for now.”

Well, I did ask Zanthia about it, and she was fine with it, which blew my mind. The goddess of life allowing someone to die? Seemed a bit contradictory. Later that night, Mandy would disappear forever, but on agreeable terms, so it was okay.

~

August and I sat in the corner of one of the few bars that was still in business and had a few mugs in the guise of cloaks and cowls. Many worlds, cities, and towns were messed up. The economy was wrecked in some places with such mass death, but I held my hand on helping anyone. It might’ve seemed like I was an uncaring jerk, but I figured saving the realm was enough of a favour anyway.

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It was so relaxing to unwind with a good draft next to my best buddy. The light music, dark nights, and festive but reposeful atmosphere brought us back to good times that we thought were gone forever. I hadn’t smiled so much in a very long time.

I knew harder times would come for both of us. The haunting and cold space in my mind made me tremble every time I thought about how empty it was. No Hydra, who loved me for so long. No Dawn, who was more than willing to even face the gods for me. No Donna, who introduced me to the beautiful yet horrifying world of magic.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine how August must’ve been feeling. His daughter was such a spark of joy, even for me. And Melissa, who abandoned her home world to start a life with August and gave him a cosy home again after he lost Shyla. And of course, who could forget his mom, who literally drank tea with the scariest orc, Moken the Wanderer, as if making friends was naught but second nature to her. It still amazed me to this day.

~

August and I sat in the Order of Magic’s head office. Every day was rather chaotic ever since Apollyon appeared, but it felt like helping out the coalition worlds was even more hectic. I could see the distinct and rather overt signs of stress about Pyro’s face; he became the leader of the Order ever since Volt passed away and has been doing a great job getting other worlds back together. It disheartened me to see him like this, and I found that my little vacation away from self-imposed responsibility was coming to its end, kind of. I sent some clones to each world that needed help with rescues and repairs. “Don’t burn yourself out, man,” I warned.

“I’m a fire mage,” Pyro shrugged, “it’s what I do. So,” he leaned on his desk and folded his arms, “what will you do?

“Ah, right, this is Fatima,” I introduced the Apostle, “she has interest in educating mages.” I stood up and walked over to Pyro, “I consider her life more important than mine. Make sure she is untouchable. I’ve already spoken to King Maxwell about special treatment for her.”

I was a bit paranoid, sure, but Fatima’s magical ability was absolute trash. In exchange for all knowledge on magical matters, her ability to cast spells above a certain mana requirement was removed permanently. Not even mana potions and enchantments could help her. Her limit was placed by an arcane seal that was cast with soul magic by Emily herself. In exchange for sealing her magical prowess, Emily granted her all knowledge on magic and eyes that saw truth. Because of this, there was no one in all the worlds who could teach magic better than she could.

Of course, I kept a Light Link in her, just in case she needed my help.

August and I removed the rest of our destroyed houses and instead built more housing complexes for people affected by Apollyon’s bullshit. In just a few weeks’ time, Methelia, as well as most other worlds and cities, were prepared to have burial rites for their dead.

In a couple months’ time, August and I gave Calla ‘Bad Ankle’ Hugh our shares of K&A so she now had sole ownership of the business. Of course, we still helped her out, and she in turn helped thousands of people by creating jobs and supplying people with potions, clothing, and enchanted goods.

The forests were full of new sprouts and seedlings, so Aerellis wasn’t as upset as she was before. She, like many others, called me Guardian or Voidchild. My fame shot through the roof, even in worlds I’d never been to. Anyone who met me before was able to see the fight between Apollyon and I in Emily’s little world. Apparently, that world can be used as a hub to communicate with every other world, and through some arcane magic, a clear image of the fight could be seen by anyone who ever had a conversation with me.

Sometimes I wondered if Emily foresaw all of that and put things in place so my position as Guardian would be indisputable.

All the reverence was nice, but exhausting, especially now that I was trying to live more of a normal life. Ah, right, a normal life. August sought that in Hyzek, and did quite well for himself. I on the other hand would wander around different worlds to keep myself busy, but would never forget to visit August. He was doing a lot better, perhaps the change of scenery helped him accept what happened to his family.

On one of my visits to him, I found that he was on his way to a coming-of-age feast he’d been invited to. I decided to tag along for a while, and we ended up in a rather upscale venue with dozens of tables set up. I stood far off and observed the dogmas with pride; it was reassuring to see August become accepted like that. Well, with that quint, he’s basically a god here, I reminded myself. After all, he, who had no business being seated at the main family’s table, was right there with them as if he was family too.

There were many times when I wondered if I’d ever be able to return to a life like that, but I shunted that thought. I wasn’t perfectly happy, but for the most part, I was happy. However, I wasn’t sure if creating any new connections would be the right thing for me to do in my state. I scoffed mentally. Dawn wouldn’t like this, I thought. Donna would also encourage me to seek happiness. Well, for the time being, I was happy just looking at things from afar like this.

My vestment’s bright colours made me blend in with everyone else, so I wasn’t very alert when it came to my surroundings. Honestly, with life finally catching a breather and prosperity reigning as king, I too relaxed a little.

“It irks me to see you standing by yourself, drink-less,” someone said to me.

I looked to my side, “Herona Telonis, right?”

She smiled, her freckled nose wrinkling just a bit, “You remembered. I’m flattered,” she gave me a glass of wine. “Hmm,” she raised her glass a little, “to life?”

“Aye, that sounds good,” I raised my glass and knocked it together with hers. “To life.”

~Five Years Later~

Life, such a fickle thing. August and I clinked glasses and reminisced about the past for a little, whilst watching forward at the future. Freya, the tank from First Flight, somehow reconnected with August. It was obviously a very passionate reconnection because we looked on whilst she played with their daughter. She was unapologetically energetic; sometimes I pondered about August’s methods for keeping his sanity in check.

Herona flung her arm over my shoulders and joined us for drinks. She’d become a fine mage due to my tutelage, which was expected. What I didn’t expect was becoming her fiancé. Well, I guess that’s how August felt as well. Herona and I didn’t have a young one running amok just yet, and truthfully, I had my doubts about something so heavy. August truly amazed me with how he was able to continue his life, but I guess we all progress at our own pace.

Well, I was content with being a godfather for the moment.

On the anniversary of our families’ death, I’d visit their tombstones, often at night to be alone in peace. I had no idea if they were able to hear me in the afterlife, but I still just spoke as if they could. I’d catch them up on what happened in my life, until I grew knackered. I didn’t quite move past the pain my family’s death branded me with. Often times, I’d wonder if it was something to get over in the first place.

I rubbed Anjali’s tombstone and looked on at the others beside it with heavy thoughts. There was so much ruin, so much devastation during the months-long fight, that finding their skeletal remains was impossible. There was nothing underneath, because there was nothing to bury. It hurt me to lose them. Over the years, I pondered many things, but two particular questions swirled about my mind every time the memories of my family or the horrors of Apollyon revisited my mind.

Apollyon wasn’t killed. He was an immortal being through and through, as was his master, Eblis. Instead, they were sealed by my barrage of voidlight. When would they return?

Zan, the god of death, explained that the gods of creation had total control over the realm. That meant they had total control over the life and death of all lower beings. Why was it then, that creatures such as Eblis and Apollyon were allowed to live? In fact, why were they even created?

Those doubts of the gods weren’t exactly fitting for me, the Guardian of Worlds. Why was there a need for existences such as Eblis and Eliora? I didn’t know, but those unanswered questions tugged at my mind more frequently as the days passed by. I knew I’d seek answers to them soon.

It was getting late, and quite brumal out in the open cemetery.

I yawned. Hmm, time to go home. I dressed all the headstones with flowers and called it a night. “Well, I’m off. See you guys.”