CHAPTER EIGHT: THE WHEEL IS COME FULL CIRCLE

A few hours later, at Althena's Shrine, Dyne and his friends had fully recovered from the harrowing ordeal of the past few days. The Goddess Althena stood before them, her eyes and her smile shining as bright as the Blue Star itself.

"I and the people of Lunar can never thank you enough for what you have done this day," she said. "No other Dragonmaster in Lunar's history has had to face such power, or such evil. The four of you should be proud."

"Uh...thanks..." Dyne stammered, hypnotized by Althena's beauty.

Ghaleon stepped forward. "My lady, with all due respect, when we defeated Amalek, his spell was broken. Yet this was the same spell that destroyed the Blue Star. Why, when Zophar was banished, did the spell not disappear then?"

Althena sighed. "It was too late. When the spell was in effect for a certain amount of time, it became permanent. Even I was powerless against it. Although it has now faded with time, the damage was already done. But you were able to stop Amalek before that time limit ran out. Therefore, when he was gone, the spell lost its power."

Ghaleon nodded, although his expression was skeptical. "And what of Amalek?"

"I believe we've seen the last of him at last. None can escape the seal placed upon The Void by The Black Dragon."

"What about Zophar?" Lemia asked. "If his agent could return, what about Zophar himself?"

"In time, he may grow strong enough to return as well. But even his evil can be destroyed forever. As long as humanity continues to hope and fight for what is right, evil will never win."

Althena smiled playfully. "And now, I think it's time for you to return to Meribia. You're missing your own celebration."

The four bowed, and left the Shrine. Dyne paused to take one last look at The Goddess, smiled, and followed his comrades.

*****

From the lookout tower in Meribia, a guard called to the crowd below, "They're here! The Four Heroes have arrived!"

As Dyne and his friends entered the Meribian gates, the crowd met them with thunderous cheers and applause. "Long live The Four Heroes!" they shouted over and over again.

Dyne looked at his friends with an amused expression. "The Four Heroes?"

Mel laughed. "Hey, it's catchy."

A massive outdoor banquet had been prepared, and the feast lasted long into the night. At one point, Dyne noticed some Meribian officials speaking with Mel, and some mages from Vane and Black Rose Street speaking with Lemia and Ghaleon. One of the mages was Remilia Ausa, Lemia's mother.

Mel walked up to Dyne, a huge grin on his face. "Dyne, guess what! They've asked me ta become the new governor of Meribia! Can ya believe it? Looks I'm giving up the pirate life for good now!"

Dyne smiled. "So you're taking the job?"

Mel looked at a lovely blond aristocrat who was one of the magistrates of the city and smiled awkwardly. She returned the smile. "Yeah, I think so," he said. "I'm ready to settle down now. I've had enough of maraudin' and hidin' and the like. Besides, as governor, I can help out my fellow beastmen, and get rid of some of the laws that allow them ta be discriminated against."

Dyne followed Mel's gaze to the blond aristocrat, then shook Mel's hand. "If anyone can pull it off, it's you. Good luck."

Mel wrapped him in a bear hug. "Hey, ya make it sound like I'll never see ya again! Don't worry. Ye can drop by any time. Especially if there's another adventure to go on."

"Sure thing."

Lemia came up to them, Ghaleon following close behind. "Dyne!" she said excitedly, "My mother has asked Ghaleon to become the new Premiere of the Magic Guild of Vane!"

Dyne's eyes widened in amazement. "Really?"

Ghaleon tried to appear nonchalant, but couldn't keep a proud smile off his face. "Well, I'm next in line for the job, anyway. I still have a while before I start moving in."

"Yeah, but still..." Dyne laughed as he tried to find something to say. All he could come up with was "congratulations."

"Thanks. It will be nice to finally return to Vane. Perhaps I've been away too long. It's good to have a place to truly call home."

For some reason, Ghaleon's words made Dyne unhappy. It took him a moment to realize why. Mel, Lemia, and Ghaleon were going to settle down now, have homes, and get on with their lives. But where was he supposed to go? Where could he call home? He hadn't been back to Burg in a while, and he was sure he would be a stranger there.

He shook himself out of it. He should be happy for his friends. For their efforts, they deserved their rewards. And besides, it wasn't like he hadn't gotten anything himself. He was the Dragonmaster now. While he knew the responsibility would not be an easy one, it was one that he was proud to bear. Still, the Four Heroes were now separating, and Dyne had always hated goodbyes.

"Well, I'll be heading off too," Dyne said casually. "You guys take care of yourselves, okay?"

Ghaleon looked at him curiously. "Where are you going?"

"Especially without us?" added Lemia with a smile.

Dyne shrugged. "I dunno. Wherever fate decides to lead me."

Ghaleon saw the look in Dyne's and realized what he was thinking. "Dyne, we're all friends here. We stick together."

Lemia nodded. "My mother offered you a home in Vane. That offer still stands."

Dyne smiled, thanking The Goddess for giving him such close friends...no, more like a real family, the kind he wish he had always had. "You've got a deal," he said to Mel.

They shook hands. "All right," Mel said with a laugh. "Enough of the emotional drama. Let's get back to the party."

They went over to a nearby table, and each took a glass of wine. "I'd like to propose a toast," Dyne said to his friends. "To more adventures, more heroic deeds, and to the power of our friendship that united us. May that power hold us together in all our years to come, and allow us to safeguard The Goddess and all of Lunar."

The glasses clinked together, and the four of them drank. As Dyne thought of The Goddess Althena, her lovely smile, her enchanting eyes, he sighed dreamily. Could it happen?

You never know, he said to himself. As Ghaleon said, Destiny never takes you down the road you expect it to.