:::
*Chapter 36*
Epilogue
The Final Ending
Rays of the early morning sun trickled through the forested shade of a small garden sanctuary. The floor was a shallow pool from the garden's waterfall feature of the garden. Here would be the last time the Shepherds would come together again.
"These flowers are gorgeous. Thank you."
"Glad you like them." Liz chirped as she handed the bouquet to Athena.
"Father, are you really going?" Mark tugged his father's scarf.
"Yeah, gonna show little you here and A-chan the world. Can't stay cooped up here forever."
After a time of silence, Krom approached Priam and the siblings.
"Come back and visit, alright? You are all always welcome in the Ylissean Royal Family, especially Athena-chan. I'll make sure you are to be we-"
(-/*PUNCH!*/-)
"Quit while you're ahead," Priam advised the KO'd Krom.
In Athena and Young Mark's gentle smiles, everyone saw traces of their old friend and love.
The bouquet graced a small memorial stone in the middle of the garden.
"Mom ... Dad, Mark and everyone else are here with me today. The sky is gorgeous, just like how you dreamed it for me. I am sure tomorrow will be just as beautiful as well. Someday this vast world will move past everyone, but the time they spent together under this blue sky, will make this life an eternity worth living.
::: /Fin/ :::