Epilogue

After everybody was gone, Raphael truly realized that materially, they didn't have much now. Only their bags of clothes… their rapiers… some money to live for some times and a horse. But their old possessions… all lost… Raphael got slightly depressed.

-Well, we don't have much now… I lost all my books… I suppose it is a fitting punishment, I deserved it…

He looked sadly at Amy.

-But you lost all your things too… I'm sorry…

-Don't grieve for me, father, the Duke permitted me to bring some of my personal possessions: My favourite doll… my personal creations… my… said Amy as she was going through her bag.

Suddenly Raphael thought about something and seemed panicked.

-Your drawings! Did they keep it?

-Do not worry, father, I know how you hold on to them, I took them… Both old and new… and I also have this for you…

Amy took out one of Ivy's book that she had kept hidden all along from everyone between some clothes.

-You told me this book was very interesting and you didn't have the time to finish it, so I stole it.

-You… stole it?

-Yes. I had too. It was not permitted, so it means I stole it. Nobody noticed.

This book was the one Raphael had read something about soul, about repairing or fabricating a soul… He didn't quite understand but he thought it could be useful for his wounded soul. Now he would be able to read it in peace and try to understand it… He may need the help of some other books to decipher and understand all but the important and rare book was this one. He would acquire the others later.

-Amy! You saved me! said Raphael hugging her. You're so kind! I love you! You're the sweetest girl in the world! What would I be without you?

-I love you too, father. Glad you like it. Now, what do we do?

Amy walked to the horse and patted its muzzle before she continued.

-Where do we go?

-If you don't mind, I would like to go to China or Philippines to meet the monk and priestess' masters… I want to see if I am completely purified. And in three months, we should be back to see monsieur Dampierre in Paris… He told me he had something to propose me… I do not know what exactly but we will see…

-And how will we live during these trips?

-I could try to live on my medicine… Selling my services to sick and wounded people along the way… To cure people and somehow repair a part of what I destroyed…

But Raphael wondered if seeing his patients' blood would give him some blood urges… Maybe he should do this profession just after he met one of the wise masters… to know if he is completely healed… But they needed money to live… He needed to gain some… He added:

-Amy… In case I… became fascinated by a wounded person's blood, could you tell me? If you see my gaze turning strange or me acting weird… Well, maybe not, don't come near me then. If I act strange, you better stay far… I wouldn't want to hurt you too…

-You? Hurt me? That would never happen, father.

-I'm scared to become vampire again… I think you are completely healed, all went well and they didn't come back for you, but why did they have to come some more times to purify me in my room? Why do they want me to see their master? If I was not completely healed, I don't want to see you as a potential drink…

-That would never happen, I trust you too much. Even in the worst conditions, you being completely possessed, enraged or anything, you would not hurt me.

Raphael looked at Amy and smiled weakly.

-You really trust me… Merci… But I do not trust myself…

And Raphael told Amy about the time he hurt himself and licked his bleeding wound in his cell. Amy didn't seem impressed.

-Father, don't worry. We will go see those mystic masters and you will be fine. Maybe you are already completely healed. They only said they would like you to go there, not you had to go there.

-Why did I lick my blood then?

-Memories of your past life. Siegfried told me he often saw his right arm turn into the monstrous arm he had as Nightmare. But he doesn't really have it. It just comes like this. You have been traumatized…

-Maybe… Well, we will go in Asia anyway… There is this beautiful garden in China I would like to show you, Amy…

-Fine, I would like to see it… But could we go to Japan too? Do we have the time? Maybe I could meet Setsuka… Could I have an umbrella from Japan? They have very pretty ones…

-Of course, ma chérie. I do not know if we will have the time to do everything… but we will try… I wonder if I will meet Taki? I would like to see her again… To show her that I am healed… That I am human again… Though with our deal, I do not know if I will ever see her again…

Raphael was remembering his fights with Taki, against her and beside her… It sure wasn't boring… Suddenly some thought hit him:

-Euh… But I only know how to speak Chinese. If we go to Japan or another Asian country, we shall have to learn new languages… Are you prepared for this, Amy?

Raphael knew Amy didn't like to learn languages.

-That's okay father, I'll try…

She then gave him a charming smile.

-… Or you will speak for me… I know you will be happy to learn it…

-Amy… You shall have to make some efforts as well…

Amy pouted and reluctantly said:

-Alright… I will…

-Very well. I am proud of you, ma chérie. Now we agreed we would first go in Asia, so we will have to take a boat to go faster. Too bad Kilik and Talim were not here and we lost some time… But now, let us go to the nearest port… We must go south. In Italy…

-Venice?

-Non. Venice is not really on the path. It's more south than where we will go. I think it is south of Rome…

-Are you sure? It think it's there…

-Non. It's south of Rome.

-Whatever… Monsieur Dampierre wants us to visit this city one day. It's supposedly beautiful…

-Maybe one day. But not now. We do not have the time.

They mounted on their horse and began to ride toward south, travelling back through Germany, then Austria before they reached Italy.


While in Italy, Raphael and Amy feel on a macabre scene: Some wounded people were lying down on the road. A coach with a broken wheel was on the road near the wounded people. Raphael quickly noticed the people were not only wounded by the accident, but some bloody fight also took place. It must have been some brigands attacking the passengers of this rich coach. Raphael got down from his horse.

-Stay on the horse, Amy. We do not know where are the brigands, so if they come back, just flee.

-I would not flee without you.

-You may have to flee from me too… All this blood here may trigger my lust…

-Do you feel thirsty now?

-Non. I feel nothing for now. But as I will see the blood from near, smell it, touch it… I fear, I will become crazy. Yet I have to help them… I also want to know if I am healed… But just in case, Amy, stay on the horse. If you notice I become crazy, ride away, leave me here. If I regain my mind, I shall try to find you but just approach me if I look sane…

-Papa… you are taking too much precaution. I told you I trust you.

-Very well… Now I shall try to heal them…

Raphael went toward the wounded. He tried to quickly spot the more wounded first. One of them was a very beautiful lady with a low-cut blouse, completely showing her neck, her very beautiful neck. She begged Raphael on a pitiful tone to help her.

-Per favore… Help me… I think I'm dying…

Raphael went to her.

-Fear not, Madame, I shall help you. I know medicine.

He looked at her wounds while thinking he would have loved such a neck if he still was a vampire… After examining her to see the gravity of her injuries, he tried to reassure her while taking care of her wounds.

-Do not worry, you are not dying. Your wounds are not mortal.

As he took care of her wounds, he kept repeating her:

-Everything will be fine… Do not worry, everything will be fine…

In fact, Raphael was saying that as much to her as to him. As he wiped her blood and took care of her wounds, Raphael realized he didn't feel any bloodlust. He continued to give her proper cares then went to another wounded. After he finished with all the wounded, his hands were all bloodied like his clothes but he was glad he hadn't felt any bloodlust at all.

-I must be really healed now…

One of the wounded regained consciousness and asked Raphael to come near.

-Grazie… We have been attacked by brigands… Can you… accompany us to the city, per favore?

-Your coach is…

-Yes… Could you repair it, per favore?

-Euh… I do not really know how to take care of a broken wheel…

Raphael felt stupid. He knew how to take care of their wounds but didn't know something probably as simple as to repair a wheel. Yet maybe it was not simple either… He never did those kinds of manual jobs… Commoner jobs… The man continued:

-There is a spare wheel on the top of the coach… and the tools are there also… You just have to change it, not repair the wheel…

Must be simpler, thought Raphael. The man then added:

-I… want to reward you for your kind services… Once in the city… We will go to my manor…

-That… is really kind…

Raphael went to the coach and tried to change the wheel.

-Want some help? asked Amy, still sitting on the horse.

-Non merci. Stay on the horse for now.

-Why? Do you feel something?

-Non, but in case.

-You're too worried, father. Then I'll continue keeping watch for brigands.

Amy was more or less keeping watch; she patted the horse while Raphael changed the wheel. Once he had done it, he carried everybody on board and told Amy to ride on her horse beside him as he will drive the coach to the city. On the way, Amy asked him:

-So father, finally, all went well?

-Yes, I am glad! Everything! I didn't feel anything and I successfully changed the wheel!


They finally arrived in the city. Some guards welcomed them to Venice and asked what happened. The man who promised the reward to Raphael began to tell the guards they have been attacked by brigands while Amy told her father:

-They said Venice.

-Yes, I heard. So… this is Venice?

Raphael was embarrassed as Amy looked at him while outlining a smile.

-I was right, father.

-Well… It seems I was wrong… This is Venice… Indeed… Well, I learned something…

The man then politely asked him to drive the coach to his manor and indicated the way. Some guards came with them to really get the victims' full testimony. Raphael didn't like to be surrounded by guards but he told himself he had done nothing wrong this time so he had nothing to fear from them. While going through the city, Raphael took a casual air and began to look around.

-Well, the city is beautiful indeed…

Amy understood him and replied:

-And not at all where you thought it was… You shall have to make some efforts, papa… Learn your geography… she said, mocking him.

-I just made one mistake, Amy… I was just so certain it was south…

-And where is Lisbon? A hint? Not in Italy.

-Well, that is easy, on the coast of Portugal. A little south but near the middle… answered Raphael on a slightly annoyed tone.

-Plymouth?

-South of England.

-Now something more difficult… And Luxor?

-In Egypt. If you follow the Nile…

-Okay, you're doing fine. It's acceptable.

-But even if I didn't know about Venice, you'll still have to learn some language in Asia. Don't take it as an excuse to skip your lessons.

Amy outlined a smile.

While continuing to go toward the manor, Amy suddenly saw something pinned on the wall.

-Father… Look.

Raphael looked at where she was pointing and noticed a wanted poster. He immediately recognized the face on it as it was too recognizable with the top hat and the funny moustache: Dampierre!

-He is a…?

He turned toward one of the guards and asked:

-Who is that man?

-That is Lord Geo Dampierre. He tricked many people pretending to be the famous Alchemist of the Ages, a jewel mender, a miraculous psychic…

-A miraculous psychic? asked Amy in amazement.

-Yes, he even once pretended to be an archbishop from Rome! He's a real con artist, extorting money from people but for now, he is on the loose. We haven't seen him for about three years… Yet we know he still roams around sometimes…

-I wonder where this horrible criminal may be now… said Raphael, mostly amused by this discovery. Even if Raphael began to wonder if Dampierre tricked him with his daughter story, he thought that this man was really funny and he did try to save his life in Walachia with his plan. But it was a luck that the creditor also came at this time… Suddenly, Raphael wondered: Dampierre may have done more than he thought…

They then reached the manor. The rich man asked them to follow him inside his mansion where he would reward them. After they got paid, while they climbed down the stairs of the grand hallway to get out, Raphael happily showed the money bag to his daughter.

-Amy, our money for the ship! We will now have enough! Hahaha! Everything is going so well!

-Yes. Even cities supposed to be more south appear so we can visit…

Raphael made an annoyed expression.

-Amy… Please…

Amy chuckled. Raphael took a proud stance and continued to speak:

-At least, I do not make mistakes very often. So you cannot mock me too much. Enjoy it while you can.

-Papa, you know I love you… I would not joke with people I don't like.

-I know, my sweet butterfly… So you want to visit? Maybe we can stay tonight…

-I heard some people talk about some festivities tonight where there would be some fireworks display… It would be interesting to see… I have never seen that before…

-Indeed. Well then, let us stay for the night and enjoy the show! Let us enjoy some festivities before we travel east to visit the world! Tomorrow we shall take a boat and go east. For now, we relax! Are you hungry, Amy? What kind of pastries do they have here?

So that night as people in Venice celebrated some event unimportant to Raphael and Amy, they celebrated their own event; the end of their curse and the return of their humanity.


I gave my all in this story and I hope you enjoyed it. I did enjoy writing it but now I shall relax and enjoy your fantastic stories for those of you who have some. I still don't know if I should do a sequel later about SCV. I didn't want to continue but now I wonder, I feel inspired. I already began to write something... But it may be darker… not sure… SCV seems darker… But for now my story ends like that so if I would not continue, I hope it may do some acceptable ending.

OKAY Late news, I decided to continue with my story and am already writing chapter 7 of Raphael Sorel's Endless Warfare.

For those who do not know, the book Amy gave to Raphael was something Ivy was really supposed to have since her father took a part of her soul between SCIII and SCIV so she had to get some kind of new soul... But she is supposed to have got her revenge on her father between SCIV and SCV.

Dampierre's wanted poster also really exist in his stage in SC Broken destiny which is in Venice.

I would like to thank everybody who read my story, I hope you enjoyed it until the end. Endings are not really my thing. I would like to thank again all those who put my story among their favourite or in their alert, that is very kind of you. All those who reviewed and said comments here or on deviantart, thank you it was really appreciated. I'm sorry if I forgot to mention some people sometimes but I do thank you all.

I really love you all and wish you all a Merry Christmas and mostly a Happy New Year! May you get everything you wish for :)