CHAPTER 37: A NEW DAWN

"It's over." I said as I reverted back to my human form. "It's finally over." We could only stare at the dust pile remains of the once intimidating Demon King. It took a few minutes for everything to process, but when reality set in we knew without a doubt that Fomortiis had been destroyed. Then, the whole army erupted into cheers. All the hardships we had faced were now behind us. Evil had been vanquished once and for all.

We took our leave of the Dark Temple and saw that the darkness of night was being destroyed by day break. The rising sun filled the sky with a beautiful mixture of crimson and gold. Everyone stopped to gaze at the breathtaking horizon held before us. It was as if the Heavens were celebrating our victory as well.

I still couldn't believe it. It was finally over. Peace had returned. The chaos had ended. Now, it was time to look forward to an era of tranquility and prosperity. The world I had been summoned to was finally restored. I did it! I fulfilled my destiny.

"Darain! What's happening to you?!" Zel cried out. I looked at my hands and gasped as I saw that I was fading away, just as Kaede had done after the battle.

"You're...disappearing!" Cormag shouted.

"Guys..." I said softly. This was it. I was going home…

"Darian, wait!" Knoll cried out as he grabbed my wrist, but his hand went right through mine as if I was ghost. He was speechless and I could feel tears well up in my eyes. I had hoped this whole time that Knoll would be able to go back with me, but apparently, it wasn't meant to be.

"I'm sorry." I said, realizing that this was the moment I was dreading. I choked back tears, knowing that this was the last time I would ever see my friends from this world again. "I guess this is...good bye..."

"Darian, no!" Neimi said through a sob. "Please don't go!"

"You can't go!" Colm shouted, practically getting right up at my face. "You're my friend! I'm not about to watch you disappear like this!"

L'Arachel put a hand on Colm's shoulder and pulled him away. "She doesn't want this either." She said gently. "Yelling at her isn't going to do any good."

Cormag saluted me. "Darain." He said solemnly. "I'm sure going to miss you."

"Me too. Things just won't be the same without you." Selena wept. "I just want to thank you again for pointing me in the right direction."

Zel whipped another tear away. "Why does this have to happen now? And right when we're about to celebrate our victory…"

Rennac sniffled a little. "You still owe me that money, you know. And now you're leaving me alone to deal with L'Arachel? You jerk..."

Lute didn't say anything at first but I saw a tear stream down her face. "I'm not good at saying good-byes." She murmured quietly.

Ross was crying. "See ya...big sis."

Both Eirika and Ephraim approached me. "It was an honor having you fight with us." Ephraim said.

"Thank you, for all that you've done." Eirika added.

Joshua placed his hand on my fading shoulder. "I never thought I would be saying this to you, old friend, but good-bye…"

Natasha stepped forward. "You fought so bravely to protect us all. You really are a great friend." She sniffled. "Take care, Darian."

Neimi was balling at this point. "I don't want Darian to go!" She cried.

"See, look what you did!" Colm shouted. "You made Neimi cry. Now you have to stay."

"I wish I could." I sobbed. "But...I can't."

"You said that you would be the light that guided me." Knoll said, embracing me as best he could. "Without you, I'm just wondering in darkness. Darian..I...I love you."

"I love you too, Knoll." I said weakly. "Good bye...everyone." Then I vanished into the air. Disappearing forever.

I found myself floating in space. At least I think it was space. It was like a void of darkness. Then I saw from the blackness, the form of a giant silver dragon.

"Cathriana." I murmured.

"Well done, Darian." she said.

"Thanks." I replied.

"Is there something troubling you?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I'm just going to miss everyone. They were the best friends I've ever had."

"It is time for you to return home. Your task is complete."

"I know...but..."

She smiled kindly and said. "It's never easy to part ways from the ones you love."

"Yeah. You're right. I'm going to miss them. They're all a part of my life. My dear friends." I wept a little more. "Everyone...Knoll...I..."

Everyone was sitting around in a large circle. Colm was poking a rock with a stick. Neimi was crying, Joshua was flipping a coin in his hand, and Natasha sat their quietly beside him. Cormag gazed into the morning sky while Selena was leaning against him, staring into space. Zel was polishing his lance and armor. Lute was sitting next to him, pulling off the wings and legs of a bug. Knoll could only glance around at everyone and Rennac was lying on his stomach, almost asleep. "This sucks." The rogue finally muttered. Everyone nodded.

"I wish Darian was here." Neimi said.

"Stupid Darian!" Colm shouted. "What good's celebrating our victory when you're not here with us?! You're the reason we're still alive!"

"She couldn't help it, Colm." Selena said. "She was just as sad about having to leave too."

"Things are kind of boring without her around." Cormag noted. "There's no one to be our little wise cracker."

"Yeah…" Zel agreed solemnly. "Now who's going to massacre Baels for us?" He chuckled bitterly.

"I think I just killed this bug." Lute said.

"Good for you." Joshua said unenthusiastically.

"Darian..." Knoll said longingly. "I'm so lost without you. You were my world. My reason for living. Darian..."

Everyone let out heavy sighs.

"I'm gone for ten minutes and you guys act like it's the end of the world!" I said as I sat down between Knoll and Colm. My friends stared at me as if they had seen a ghost. "What?" I asked.

"Darain? Is that really you?" Selena cried out.

Colm grabbed my cheeks and pulled. "HEY!" I shouted. "That hurts! Knock it off!"

"You're really here! You're really, really here!" He said happily.

"But how?" Cormag asked.

"I had a little chat with Cathriana and she decided that it would be best for me to stay here with you guys." I explained.

"Does this mean-?" Neimi began.

"Yes, I'm here to stay. For good." I said with a big smile.

Knoll wrapped his arms around my neck. "I can't believe it." He said, unable to hold back his tears. "Darian...I thought I lost you."

"You know me better than that." I said, feeling tears of joy trickle down my cheeks as well.

"Promise me that you will never leave me again."

"I promise." Then I was tackle hugged by everyone else. Once everyone got a hug from me, I stood up and my team walked along with the rest of the army. There were happy cheers from everyone when they saw me return. It felt good to see everyone again. I knew then that this world was my real home. This was where I belonged.

"I can't wait to get home." Rennac shouted. "Carcino here I come."

Knoll suddenly turned to me and said, "Darian, neither of us have homes. Mine was destroyed and…the disaster…I don't know when that will occur."

Reality decided to hit us like a speeding semi truck. Knoll definitely didn't want to return to Grado, and I never even had a home here. "So…where are we going to live?" I asked somberly.

"With us." Colm said. "Why don't you two live in the same village as Neimi and me?"

Neimi smiled. "Yeah! Lute said that Kyle invited us to live in Renais's capital."

"That sounds nice." Knoll said. "Yes, I like that idea a lot."

"I'm afraid that isn't going to happen." Joshua smirked. "She's going to be working for Jehanna's military. We need a great soldier like her to lead the royal knights."

"That's right!" I said, realizing quickly that I did promise him I would become a general of his army if I was able to stay in that world. "We did have a deal."

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Knoll asked.

"It slipped my mind."

"We just got out of war. Why would you want to join the knighthood?"

"Fighting's the one thing I'm good at." I explained. "I need to work hard and hone my skills, as well as pass them on to my future pupils."

He smiled and kissed my forehead. "Ah, whatever makes you happy."

"You just make sure to invite us to your wedding." Zel said as he put his hands on me and Knoll's shoulders.

Rennac then started nudging my ribs with his elbow. "Of course, that means you'll have to wear a dress."

"I'm sure she'll live." Cormag teased.

Selena chuckled. "If you would like, I'd gladly help you find a beautiful wedding gown to wear."

I looked at Knoll and blushed at the thought of getting married to him, but the idea made me excited and overjoyed. Knoll turned to me, took my hands into his, and asked, "Will you marry me, Darian?"

I nodded. "Yes. I'd love that."

Knoll wrapped his arm around me. He lifted my chin up and he pressed his lips against mine. Within only seconds we were less cautious and our kiss deepened and became more passionate. I never thought I would ever know what love was like. I thought to myself. I'm glad I'm able to experience it.

As Knoll and I broke apart from our kiss, I heard Colm and Rennac holler with delight, making a few jokes about the wedding. Joshua pulled me into a noogie and Natasha scolded him for it. Zel, Neimi, and Ross's joyful laughter filled the air as they watched the scene. Cormag, Lute, and Selena congratulated the two of us, them being the only mature ones in the group.

While the others excitement began to die down, Knoll wrapped his arms around me once more. I returned the embrace and the two of us remained that way for some time. He ran his fingers through my hair and I buried my head into his chest. Love, friendships, a new home, and peace that was rightfully won. This was the greatest day of my life. As I pulled away from Knoll, the two of us shifted our gazes to the sky. The sun was rising higher now, a true sign of a bright future before us.

And that's how this Legacy of Chaos, came to its end.