Epilogue
Alm - Emperor Albein
Alm returned to the Rigelian capital several days later, thousands of his subjects and the now-living Princess Anthiese in tow. The two married immediately upon return.
The emperor would spend over a decade struggling to keep Rigel intact through the ongoing crisis. Often unpopular, he would survive repeated attempts on his life before his efforts finally bore fruit, and Valentia emerged into a period of hard-won stability and a measure of prosperity.
Despite his skill and love for battle, and the wishes of his father, Rigel would fight few wars and win no great conquests under Emperor Albein II. When he was secure in his middle age he gradually devolved power to the elected Senate, which would become the dominant political institution in Rigel. From that point on, he and the future emperors would serve largely as figureheads. His long reign would invite sharply divergent assessments, but views would trend towards the positive with the passage of time.
Celica - Empress Anthiese
Celica would initially keep herself in her husband's shadow, uneasy in the unfamiliar country. Though she was a foreigner, she adopted the manners and traditions of Rigel and was never hated, though the true circumstances of her resurrection and role in the Archbishop's plot would never be uncovered.
Empress Anthiese was known for her faith and hard work alongside her husband - the continued worship of Duma and Mila resulted largely from her influence - but also for the recurring periods of melancholy throughout her life. She and Albein were known for their not-infrequent quarrels, but always succeeded in accepting their differences, and enjoyed great happiness. Their four children who lived to adulthood were known to be deeply gifted.
Lukas - The cold observer
Lukas remained in Rigel as the emperor's advisor, and close friend. His history of the War of 398-401 V.C., co-authored with a Rigelian general, came to be the authoritative resource on the war's battles and leading figures. His papers would often be remarkably critical of Emperor Albein, though no break ever occurred between the two.
He had an odd marriage with a Rigelian woman, with an adopted daughter and several children. The cold pair did their best to live a private life, with mixed success.
Sonya - The dubious witch
Sonya accompanied the imperial family, working in their administration, advising on arcane matters and hunting down the last bishops of the Duma Faithful. She would at first be something of a spectacle - if a terrifying one - though in time she increasingly resembled her old self. She had an odd, but happy, marriage.
Hestia - The affable witch
Hestia would live with her sister and her husband. She was known for her outgoing personality and raunchy wit.
Tobin - The bitter knight
Tobin returned to Zofia, furious at Alm and Celica whom he blamed for Gray's death. He served in the Zofian brotherhood of royal knights for his whole life and became famed for his skill with the bow and lance. He eventually reconciled with his two old friends in middle age.
Forsyth - The earnest knight
Forsyth served in the Zofian brotherhood of royal knights for his entire life. He succeeded Clive as its Marshal, though he was considered a better fighter than administrator.
Mycen - The emperor's man
Mycen found it difficult to repair his relationship with Alm and Celica, each for their own reasons. He became close again with Celica, though Alm would never regain all the trust he once had in his grandfather.
Conrad - The last Zofian
Conrad was delighted at the return of his younger sister, and gracefully raised no issue over the haste with which she married Rigel's emperor. Though always outshone by Albein and Anthiese, he ruled fairly. When he died childless, he willed Zofia to the two. Though his intentions were good, the act nearly set off a war, only narrowly diffused by the trust most senior officials in the bureaucracy and army still had in Albein. Rigel and Zofia would come to be held in the personal union of the Rigelian imperial family, though most real power lay in the legislative Parlement.
End Note:
Did I miss anyone
The saboteur in Duma's Tower was Nymec (i.e. Mycen), if that wasn't obvious(?)
Anyways. After playing SoV I wished there was a bit more nuance to Alm's personality. I'd been expecting him to be more combative from quotes in Awakening, and while I do love the dorkiness, he's just a bit generic in comparison to the more-flawed Celica. I thought a character who's genuinely friendly and loves people, but has a disturbing tendency towards violence, could be an interesting concept, and this grew from that. I suppose I sort of wrote Dimitri (or perhaps, say, Eren Yeager), though I planned the bulk of the story long before 3H was a thing.
Thank you for reading. Leave a review, tell me what you thought of it.
- QoB
