Chapter 9: Epilogue
And as history went on, all these Rune Bearers felt the freedom of a mortal life. They understood more what death meant, and what life was about. The could now relate to Luc's dream of not living to see a lonely end, and they could understand the First Firebringer's motives for abandoning his rune to live a real life. It was a beautiful thing for all. Although it did seem like fate really had brought them all together, life was now much happier.
Freyjadour returned to Falena and abolished the rule of the Queendom. He founded not just a Kingdom, but a whole new government, where the people could choose the ruler. Without the Sun Rune, their whole land was changed.
Lazlo returned to the Island Nations, where the legend of Rune Cannons no longer bothered anybody. The islands had no more enemies, and they could live in peace from Armes. Lazlo no longer had to fear imminent death, he could live his life as a normal human.
Jowy and Riou left on their own adventure. They forgave each other for fighting again. They had said that Nanami was waiting for them at the most peaceful place on the Earth, and they were going to find her. Jilia and Pilika waited as well for Jowy. They were both released by their runes' competition and could truly be the best friends, and brothers, that they always had been.
Tir McDohl went to find Gremio, Pahn, and Cleo who were also waiting on a country nobody knew where. Tir ended up becoming his old self since he was no longer plagued by the Soul Eater. He constantly thought of Ted, but lived out the rest of his life to the best he could, making sure he lived it up enough for Ted's memory too, so that nothing was in vain.
Nash was always heralded as one of the greatest warriors because he could wield the Sturm and the Grosser Flux, and even though he knew he could be an asset to any army, he decided to give up that life to dedicate it to something more meaningful. He was deeply saddened by the loss of Sierra, but lived a life constantly thinking about his true love.
Jeane opened a fake rune shop where she would tell people the history of the world and all her experiences with it. And this is what she did until the day she died, and she was happy to do it every day.
Sasarai returned to Harmonia, where he had declared all the tacticians their own entity. He allowed them to go throughout the world and make decisions for people so that the world could live in peace. Sasarai became the Head Bishop of Harmonia, where he settled the nobility and let them become a peaceful nation.
Futch returned to his homeland but it was never the same again. There were no longer any dragons because the rune was gone, but he found happiness when he decided to marry Sharon.
Leknaat was now a lost soul without her rune. She wandered the land looking for a purpose but found none, until one day, Zerase found it in herself to forgive Leknaat for her plans. Zerase and Leknaat traveled the world together, enjoying the things in life that they never thought humanly possible. Windy eventually killed herself, not able to handle the fact that she no longer had power.
Edge was now just a normal warrior without his Zodiac Sword, but the Sword had posessed him with a new kind of excitement for a challenge. Edge now just used a normal broad sword, but went around the world slaying any obstacle that seemed to stand in his way. People would sing about his legend and tell stories about his adventures for many years until finally Viktor and Flik reunited with Edge. The three continued to travel and witness war and fighting, but always lending a hand to those in need. It was their fate to do so.
Hugo and Chris were married and raised a wonderful family. Chris always remembered her father and his struggle. Thomas became the leader of the Grasslands, and eventually raised up with the help of his assistants, Louis, Melville, Hugo, Chris, and Geddoe, a strong and wonderful empire. Geddoe became one of the greatest Generals of all time, drawing parallels to Georg Prime, who even looked almost alike. He was a merciful general, and created one of the most united armies the world had ever seen. He was the survivor of two Fire Bringer Wars and one of the chosen ones to lead the people. Melville also lived a life of adventure, bragging to everybody about how he saved the world by bringing down Hikusaak. He grew up to be a cowboy of a sort, looking for quick excitement and fun. He gambled and drank and loved to have fun with the ladies, but he never once lost himself in these activities. He dedicated himself to become a better person whenever he could, so that he could live up to his reputation. And Louis became one of the greatest knights of all time. He was a masterful tactician. He became Geddoe's right hand man, and almost a second father to Chris' children. He was as sly as Percival, dedicated as Borus, agile and quick as Roland, as tough and big as Leo, as smart as Salome, and as inspiring as Chris. He had truly become the embodiment of the Six Knights of Zexen, was a hero to all across the land, and taught people that royalty did not mean power.
Nobody in the world matched up to what Hugo grew to be though. All these former rune bearers were heroes in their own way, but Hugo surpassed anything anybody else did. Hugo continued to grow not just mentally, but physically, nearing almost seven feet tall. Once his children were much older, Hugo left civilization and went to live in the wilderness for a few years. He came back bigger and stronger than Hallec. He looked like a hero. When he came back, he had told people about his time meditating in the mountains. He came to the conclusion that All Men Are Brothers. After growing up in a socially challenged grassland, and meeting the heroes from all over the world, Hugo became the greatest leader for any kind of human suffrage. He went around and gave hope to all the Kobolds, Dwarves, Beavers, Lizards, Wingers, Humans, and any other kinds of species. He traveled the world, reached every continent, visited orphanges, raised money for towns, defended people against clans and robbers, and became an enormous figure head. He treated everybody like a brother, with love and respect. He created hospitals all over the world, promoted peace instead of war, created trade between countries, began a world-wide committee that became known as a League of the Nations, promoted religious ceremonies, and in effect created a much more peaceful world than would have been. He was loved for his actions, and he eventually died after a deep meditation. He had sat down in the middle of the burned down Karayan Village for nearly a month straight in deep meditation. Chris and Geddoe had found him right before he died. When they came to him, they realized he was now skin and bones and tore him out of his meditation. When they asked him what he had been meditating about, he replied that he was looking for the answer that would free people from their internal burdens, ones that were universal and not rune-induced. When people heard that he was dying thousands flocked to hear his final speech.
Hugo lied there dying, saying these final words, letting Geddoe yell them out to the crowd for Hugo was much too weak. He said, "Those freed from resentful thoughts will surely find peace because if you can forgive everything you will certainly understand everything. All that we are is the result of what we think and what we think we can become. Our peace comes from within. Do not believe what others say, no matter who it is, unless it agrees with your own reasoning and common sense. Rather, teach this truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity. Because at the end of the day, after the glorious Sun has set beyond the golden hills, and the animals have lied down to rest, and the stars have budded in the sky, even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely, because when you realize how perfect everything is, you will tild your head back and laugh. And remember, the way is not in the sky, the way is in the heart. You must be the change you wish to see in the world, that is how to live life to the fullest." And after saying this, he died, and his message lived on forever.
In the end though, after all the True Runes were gone, Good and Bad still remained. It was the way of the world, but this time strength was achieved through hard work, and nobody feared inhuman power. It was a much different world. Good and evil always remained though. And just as neither good nor evil ever totally conquered one another, nobody really knows if Yuber and Pesmerga ever ended their duel. They continued to fight after the Final Battle at Harmonia, and people across the world would see them battling, running, and sparring through various towns across the globe. It did not look like malicious fighting anymore, just something out of pure habit. Everybody knew the two were intertwined, and that they were both equally strong.
Yuber and Pesmerga taught the world moral lessons though, about the constant fight for good and evil. And with these moral lessons, the people in the world never ever once in the future, forgot about the True Stars of Heaven who risked their lives to protect all those to come. And in the future of the world, each Hero was given their due respect in every way imaginable.