Epilogue - Diary Extract III
Day Three.
Three days of this. Three days of pure Bowerstone. Three days of peace, with no struggles, no collar, no Commandant, no officers. Three days of just... nothing. It felt more incredible, more pure, than I could ever have imagined in the shadow of the Spire. I can feel this place healing me, just as Theresa said it would, a healing that can be performed by neither Will nor potions. This was mental healing. Wiping away the past and setting a shining light on the future.
I am amazed how much is coming back. It took me only a few hours walking these streets before I knew them by heart, and a trip to the older part of the town brought back many deep-set memories that I'd thought were long lost. So little in this town has changed, a few new statues, new people, a few changing of hands in houses, but, apart from that... everything is just... right.
One thing has changed - I guess that the citizens of Albion are not as obtuse as I thought. A passing chat with the Town Crier gave me a vital piece of information: they know who I am. And, you know what? I'm not even worried. Jaina-Blade Blade-Jaina, what difference does it make? If Lucien hadn't already made the connection, he sure as Avo will have now. His pet sorcerer is broken out by yet another Will-user? He's hardly stupid. He'll know.
The thought, which once would have filled me with unease, now powers me with a sort of grim expectation. I know now that it was always going to lead to this. This was always going to happen. And, though our victory came at a price, Garth is free, and we're only one Hero away from ending this for good. The thought spurs me on. We're nearing the end.
The Hero of Skill... the third Hero... Theresa told me Hammer had obtained his location, mainly from her tour of all of Albion's bars, it seems. Bit of a legend, then, our Hero? Maybe. Seems a little odd, though. Hannah hadn't even known about her prowess, and Garth had the sense to keep quiet about it. His powers of Will are astounding, as is Hammer's pure strength and vigour. They are both forces to be reckoned with.
I find in myself a deep anticipation at finding this new mark. From Hammer's ferocious, unbreakable enthusiasm to Garth's dry sarcasm, no matter how grateful I am to them both, one hopes our Hero of Skill will be a new breed. Though, with Theresa's prediction - the Thief - maybe those hopes are wasted. Of course, he still is a Hero, and I cannot condemn him yet. I will reserve my judgement for our first meeting, which Theresa has told me must be soon. Despite her obvious anxiety to get out quest back underway, she has kept to her end of the bargain - she has allowed me seven days.
Seven days. Depending on how it goes, those days could either drag so slowly or go past like lightning. And with the children... things get so much more complicated.
I've met them. I've met my beautiful Rose Marie, my handsome Mattie. They're turning into proper fighters. Carrying their mother's blood, Michael said. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Carrying a Hero's blood. Michael said it was good.
Tomorrow I'll take them to Bower Lake for a picnic. We'll sit by the stream and I'll teach Rose Marie to fish and help Mattie with his aim, teach him to take out beetles on the other side of the river, and Avo help any bandit that interrupts us.
Blade is back.