There was a brief moment of silence as the two eidolons gazed over the smoky remains of the Forgotten continent. The two were enjoying the brief moment of peace and savouring the victory of what had been a ferociously intense battle.
"Our work is done." Burmece stated, and looked over to the Dragon King. "You are dismissed Bahamut. Thanks for all the help."
Bahamut looked back at Burmece and grinned a toothy smile. 'Until we meet again...
The great Dragon King spread out his wings and took flight, and in a matter of seconds was beyond the horizon.
Burmece then glanced at the sea, which lay between the two Gaian continents. I must return to Cleyra...
There was an awkward silence as the Cleyrans and Burmecians stared into the distance at the mass of smoke rising across the sea. They had only just recovered their balance from the tremor created by the Terra Flare attack. Everyone in Cleyra prayed silently that the demon had been destroyed.
Their prayer was answered when the figure of Burmece could be seen flying through the sky towards them. When everyone saw the battered blue eidolon had survived the battle a loud cheer could be heard in the cathedral and throughout the Cleyran settlement.
Burmece flew right up to the front of one of the large openings in the cathedral and hovered so that he could address the people inside.
"My work is done. The great demon Aryelc is defeated." Burmece said with great pride. "I must leave you now."
"Wait!" The High Priest exclaimed, surprising the holy eidolon. "I do apologise for interrupting you like this, but I must ask for one last request..."
"What is it?" Burmece asked. He had a feeling he knew what this would be.
"Burmece, great holy guardian of the Burmecian realm..." The High Priest began, quivering from intimidation in the eidolon's presence. "I must ask you to restore the sacred sandstorm that has protected Cleyra since the days of old."
There was a long, agonising pause before the eidolon made its response.
"No."
The High Priest's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"I...beg your pardon?" The High Priest managed to squeak.
"I said no." Burmece repeated sternly. "The Cleyrans have spent too long hiding behind the sandstorm. They've forgotten all about the world outside."
"B-but..." The High Priest stammered in protest.
"I don't object to your ideas of peace and pacifism. In fact, I'm all for them." Burmece continued, ignoring the High Priest's protest. "Yet hiding away in the sandstorm won't do you any good. Gaia is at peace now, and you have Burmecia as an ally. You could spread your ideas of peace throughout the world and help create a better future for everyone."
"Yet the hatred that exists within humans and demi-humans against our people; the arts of war and destruction that has been practiced through the lands..." The High Priest faltered.
"You must learn to overcome that fear...No country wants war." The Burmecian King interjected. "My people will ensure your protection."
"But...what about our life of peace and solitude...?" The High Priest asked, rather troubled by this new prospect.
"The battle between Aryelc and I may have been intense; but Cleyra still stands." Burmece replied. "You can still live the quiet life you love, but it is only through exposure to the outside world that will allow you to overcome your fears and weaknesses."
"Is there nothing I can do to change your mind?" The High Priest asked, still feeling anxious about these ideas.
"No, but it is for your own benefit." Burmece replied with a smile. "The Cleyrans can now experience the wonder of the planet Gaia. Also, do not worry about hatred and acts of war. No matter what happens, I am always watching over you. I will act as Cleyra's ultimate defence if I need to. Just be sure to summon me..."
"Alright... I will do my best to follow this new path you have set for us." The High Priest sighed, although he did feel a little better after hearing the eidolon's words.
"Burmece!" The King called out, gaining the eidolon's attention. "My Lord, you've been hiding in Burmecia for all these years in the form of a Priest... Are you still going to act as an advisor to the throne?"
"I'm afraid I must retire from that position." Burmece replied, still smiling. "But I'll still watch over you, and I will still give you advice should you need it. Although if I were you I'd be more concerned about dethroning your son Puck."
Puck came back...? He actually took up his position on the throne? The King thought to himself. He excused himself from the room and left in order to hasten the preparations to return to Burmecia.
"Well, I have no more business here." Burmece stated. "I will let you get on with your new lives. Good luck." After he finished those words, his feet began to glow.
"Farewell my Lord...and thank you." The High Priest said.
The Burmecians and Cleyrans all watched as the Holy eidolon began to turn to blue, glittering dust. The blue particles then moved as a graceful gust of wind towards the jewel and entered it, causing the jewel to glow a bright white. When the particles finished pouring into the sacred stone it returned to its usual red glimmer.
The Burmecian refugees were quickly gathered together and many were thrilled at the prospect of finally being able to come home. Some of the Cleyrans decided that they also wanted to travel to Burmecia, in order to discuss how the great tree sanctuary should be defended. They also went to send scouts out for the two shrine maidens who were reported missing from Cleyra that Kildea had claimed had survived the Alexandrian attack with her.
Puck got the fright of his life when he saw his father walk into the throne room. After several explanations from the King and Freya about what had happened in Cleyra he settled down a little, although he didn't really want to believe what he had heard. Shortly the King had reclaimed his throne it was reported that Puck was missing from Burmecia once again.
Back in Cleyra, Kildea was telling all of her friends about her travels around Gaia after the Alexandrian attack and about what the outside world had been like. A small group of Cleyrans decided to travel to the secret library of Duagerreo a few days later.
In one of the beautifully made blue houses of Cleyra, Kildea had just finished talking to a small bunch of her friends. They were all getting ready to leave and bidding their farewells to Kildea. She was waving them goodbye from the door of house and remained outside for a brief moment. Looking around at the wonder of home, something she thought she would never see again. Then, something caught her attention as she looked around from the corner of her eye. She turned, and she could she a figure.
It was Blaine.
Kildea opened her mouth to speak, but Blaine then started to run away.
"Wait!" Kildea pleaded, pursuing him through the settlement. She ignored the odd glances she got from the other Cleyrans as she ran through the pathways and bridges.
Blaine was incredibly swift on his feet and managed to outrun her. She lost her sight of him near the entrance of the settlement and stopped to catch her breath. A sad expression was embodied on her face; she really wanted to give him her gratitude since the battle with Aryelc.
Kildea looked round for any more signs of him, but didn't find anything. She then pondered the possibility of him descending the trunk. It would be dangerous for her to follow, as the monsters from the plains had begun climbing the tree and making homes in the trunk. Yet despite this, she left the settlement. She started descending the ladders and made her way down the tree.
Being as cautious as she had been during the Alexandrian attack, she crept downwards and looked for any signs of Blaine passing through. She saw footprints, but they could have been left by the Burmecians who had left the settlement not long ago.
After spending a few hours looking round for Blaine, she began to lose hope. It was starting to get dark as well, and she was beginning to get tired. She didn't have anything with her, and she would have to return to the settlement at some point.
She then heard a screech from behind her, and she turned to see a massive black bird flying towards. Kildea gave a yelp and darted away to avoid the Zuu's talons. The bird flew up and turned around to try and swoop at her again. Kildea tried to run away, but the bird was too fast and managed to knock her over as it flew down a second time.
Kildea rolled onto her back, seething in pain from the charge, and filled with fear. She watched as the bird prepared to swoop again, hoping to finish her off. The Zuu flied straight towards her. Kildea screamed, but she then heard a strange noise, like a bolt of thunder. The Zuu screeched in agony and fell atop Kildea in a heap, dead. Kildea got back onto her feet, frantic to get away from the bird. She wondered just what had saved her. She then felt something grip her from behind and she yelped in surprise.
"It's alright! It's alright!" She heard a familiar voice. Her eyes widened and she turned to see Blaine looking right at her.
"Blaine! It's you!" She exclaimed, and hugged him. "Why did you run away from me like that?"
"I didn't want anyone to see me whilst I performed this ritual. I just wanted to look at you one last time before I did it." Blaine replied.
"Ritual?" Kildea repeated the word, unsure of what he was referring to. "Whatever do you mean?"
"My identity is known throughout Cleyra, and the King of Burmecia and some of the Dragon Knights know too." Blaine stated, looking rather anxious about something. "I don't want to do this...but I must."
"Blaine...what are you planning to do?" Kildea asked, sounding extremely nervous.
"Kildea...I will perform this ritual in front of you, but you must stand back and you must swear not to interfere, no matter what happens to me. Do you understand?" Blaine asked, deadly serious in his tone.
Kildea did not like the sounds of those words, and her ears dipped and she lowered her head. A solemn expression filled her face, but she had trusted Blaine whole-heartedly, even before he had revealed his eidolon form. She gave a nod, but stepped towards Blaine instead of backing away.
"Blaine...before you do this...can I just express my deepest gratitude. You've done so much for me and our race..." Kildea said, looking very concerned. "You've helped me do what I never would have dreamed of doing, encouraged me...I'll never forget these days..."
Blaine gave a warm smile after hearing those words. "I wouldn't expect you to forget them; memories are our greatest treasures..."
Kildea gave a slight smile, and she continued to come closer. "Blaine...I..." She had to summon up the courage to say the words... "I...love you..."
After saying those words, she leaned forward and kissed Blaine, on the lips, for a brief second. She ended the kiss as quickly as she had started it, and then walked away from him. The Cleyran Oracle followed her instructions and got away from Blaine, giving him the space to perform his ritual.
Blaine had been taken completely by surprise by Kildea's rather forward action. As Kildea moved away from him, he gave a sigh and closed his eyes.
Oh Kildea...it pains me to do this...especially in your sight. If only you hadn't followed me...
There was brief moment of silence, and then a sudden ripple of electricity visibly shot through Blaine. The oracle clutched his stomach, feeling pain and grunting through it. More electricity shot through him and the bolts of lightning leaping through his body were plainly visible. After more moments, Blaine fell to the ground and began to scream in agony.
Kildea was shocked to see this, but she had remembered her instructions. She could not interfere. Yet it was tearing her apart to watch Blaine suffering like this.
After more screaming, more lightning, Blaine's body began to flash a bright white. He gave a final agonising scream and Kildea had to shield her eyes from the flash. She looked out and saw that all that remained of Blaine were his blue robes.
Kildea could not believe her eyes, and she was frozen, still taking in what she had seen. He had destroyed himself!
Then, a movement could be seen in the pile of robes on the ground. A small, Burmecian head popped out of one of the sleeves. It was the head of a child. The child began to cry, and called out something in between sobs:
"Kil...dea..." The child wailed. "Kildea...help me..."
The Cleyan Oracle was cautious but walked up and held the newly formed child in her arms. She attempted to calm down the new child, holding it and sure enough, the child began to settle.
Is this...Blaine? Is this what he does to keep his identity unknown? He destroyed his own body and created another for himself...? Kildea asked herself, and she was right.
She picked up the "child" Blaine in her arms and began her return to Cleyra. Kildea was able to return to the settlement safety and a new life began for her and the Cleyran settlement. She took on herself to adopt the new incarnation of Burmece and live a fresh new life. This was the dawn of a new era in the history of the Burmecian Realm...