Epilogue

Epilogue

Sage raised the black stone overhead, carefully placing it atop another. Just like Tetris, she thought, smirking as she placed another stone in place. It was slow work, even with her magic, but it was comforting in a way.

The manor was beginning to take form after weeks of work.

“Why don’t you just create it,” Wraza sighed, watching her meticulously placing stone over stone. “It’s going to be lopsided when you’re done.”

Sage ignored her. She preferred to build it this way, instead of just wishing it into existence. Though she could, she’d created the Blackwood castle that way - using the images she’d seen in books and some of her own imagination. She’d built it in Reinshire, just on the outskirts of town, and for the last two years, it’d served as the Guild’s home.

She’d also built a few buildings in the Twin Cities and helped shape the harbor into something better suited to the people’s newest trade - spices.

Minx gave the seeds and plants to the farmers there, and they were fast becoming popular in the Witch Kingdom in the south. Even the Elves to the east were delighted by what Elinar brought them after returning, and there was talk of opening trade there as well.

But this - this she needed to do with her own two hands. Or hands and magic, since just using her hands would have taken her forever.

Victor raced over, the Wyrm following closely behind, chattering as the half-Demon boy chased an electric blue butterfly. His eyes were his mother’s, but she could see Naru’s face as he ran by.

Winter had been hard on the land, but with spring in full force, they were finally able to enjoy all the Black Mountains had to give.

Peace.

Sage dropped another stone, then stretched out her back, the ebony pendant around her neck swaying as she did. It sang against her neck, swirling with shadowy magic that crept around her shoulders.

“Alright, alright.” Sage sighed, pulling the pendant off and wrapping it around the Wyrm’s neck. It chittered back, then raced off into the gardens, Kami’s dark magic trailing behind as he took her soul for a quick run around the grounds.

Minx watched them, smirking. She had two similar ones on her neck, only the gems were silver. She brushed her long chocolate hair from her shoulders, soaking up the sun. It had been a few months since they’d seen each other - travel without a Tear took much longer here.

Minx had reclaimed Leox and spent a year rebuilding and reforming the city with Alec’s help. There were still some factions of rogue Hands milling around, and occasionally they tried to stir up trouble, but Minx was quick to put an end to it. She split her time between Leox and Vinciei’s city in the north - which was thriving now that the barrier was gone. They opened a port there to trade with the Elves and the city was growing.

“How’s it looking?” Sage asked, knowing Naru and Gabriela would hear her. A light breeze was her only response - and she nodded in understanding.

They’d kept Gabriela and Naru’s gem together for obvious reasons. Wraza and Rhea had taken them over the winter, showing them around the cities and getting their input. After two years, Wraza and Rhea were ready to hand over the responsibility of running the cities to the people. They would act as consultants in the future while they moved to the Vizar region, where they would be implementing the same strategies there.

Minx stood up, stretching. Sage eyed her growing belly - it was strange seeing it still.

Two more months and she’d be having it. Back home in their birth world, nineteen was still considered young to start having kids, but in this world, no one batted an eye. Besides, she’d be twenty by the time she had the kid. Her heir was cutting it dangerously close to sharing her birthday.

Sage went to join Wraza, and Rhea beneath the shade of an oak Minx grew.

Rhea was curled up next to Wraza in the soft grass, her pirate hat on her chest as she napped in the warm afternoon weather.

Sage plopped down next to them, sighing.

“It’s going to be a hot summer.” She mused.

Wraza snorted, “Dreaming of PC again?”

“AC,” Sage corrected. “Sometimes I miss it - but then I remember what I got in return for giving up air conditioning and TV.” She cocked her head back, throwing her a toothy grin. “Your face when I annoy you.”

Wraza rolled her eyes. “You gave it all up for that.” She jutted her chin towards Kade, shirtless and sweating in the sun. His tanned skin glistened and Sage felt her breath hitch in her chest at the sight. No amount of time could dull his ability to take her breath away.

Wraza hooted in laughter at seeing her expression. “See?”

Sage rolled her eyes and changed the subject. “Grace-”

“Is fine,” Rhea yawned, stretching out.

Sage met her eyes. “She’s welcome here, you know.”

Rhea smiled back, “I thought we agreed she’d be better off with the Hag for a while.”

“I know, I just-” she started, but then shrugged. She wasn’t sure what she thought. That she didn’t trust the six-year-old? It seemed unfair to say so.

After finding gems to place their souls and gifts in, Sage thought it best to also return the stolen magic Kami had.

In doing so, once she got to the little sliver of power stolen from the Railors she was surprised to find it had a place to go. With Vinciei dead, they all assumed the Railor line was gone, but the stolen power called out to someone.

A six-year-old girl living in an orphanage not far from Leox. A distant blood relative of Vinciei’s, who with her gone, would come into the Railor power at seventeen. It had been decided that the girl would stay with the Hag - the most neutral person they knew, for now.

“It’s not like Vinciei’s soul can influence her. Not from all the way over here.” Rhea reminded her. Sage nodded, looking in the direction of the Blackwoods. After finding Grace, it had been decided that the souls she harbored should be placed in gems. She put Vinciei in one and buried it in the Blackwood cave, then used her magic to bring the mountain down over it, closing the cave and the dead portal forever.

They took turns wearing Gabriela and Kami with the hope that one of the Maidens would find someone to bestow their gifts to. Then their souls would be at rest, free to go where they wanted.

They could do that now if they wished it. Sage and the others had tried to get them to do it, but the Maidens both refused. They wanted to pass on their gifts to new bloodlines - ones they felt would be worthy of the gift before passing on.

Vinciei wasn’t given a choice. Sage bound her soul to her gem using Kami’s gift, and she made sure it would stay like that forever.

Victor’s great-grandmother hobbled over to the picnic table, laying out dishes for lunch. Alec followed close behind, carrying a giant roasted pig.

Everyone got up, rushing to the table for lunch.

Sage hung back, watching as they all sat down together.

Things had been quiet the last few years, and a part of her hoped and prayed it would stay the same.

She felt Kade approach her before she felt his hand on her shoulder.

“Hungry?” He asked, smiling down at her. His lilac eyes glowed in the shade of the oak tree as he offered her a hand. A light band of magic swirled over his wrist, reminding her of what he’d given up.

Immortality. He’d sworn it off in a midnight ceremony where they bound themselves to each other again; a blood oath, binding their souls to one another.

In life. In death.

She took his hand, a twin band of magic on her wrist, and stood up as he brought her to him, embracing her in a warm, sweaty hug. The bond flared between them, burning bright and hot as she clung to him.

The year they’ve lived without it seemed like torture, but it was needed. They had to know this was what they wanted in the end.

A mortal life, bound to each other, their fates intertwined until they both drew their last breath.

It still made life interesting - if she got a paper cut, he’d come running, as usual, to scold her for being careless. But then he’d kiss the cut as it healed, and she’d smile. There were no more battles for them - paper cuts were the worst they had to worry about.

“Let’s eat,” Sage said, then led him to the table where Victor was busy stuffing his face with honeycakes.

She sat among her friends and looked forward to a lifetime of paper cuts and messy faces. Of no TV and indoor plumbing, or pop bands and cars.

Because she had something more precious.

She had a real home and a real family.

She had magic.