Wizards Aeterna
The Battle for Everything
Chapter Nine: Epilogue
I will give thanks to You, o Lord,
For though You were angry with me,
Your anger turned away, and You comforted me.
I will trust…
And will not be afraid.
We've taken many great losses. Our secret is now known to the whole world, casualties around the world ranged in the thousands, our home was nearly destroyed, our faith was shaken, our belief in ourselves nearly crumbled, Justin's world was forever changed, and I'm still learning to forgive the horrors my dark side committed. The machine was destroyed, sending all the demons and nightmares back where they came from. Gancanagh's remains, after the explosion, were locked away and turned into a black hole by The Elders. The world is rebuilding, for the first time, with its people united. All who survived the assault began to work together to repair the damage, give proper burials to the innocent, and make amends with their family and friends. The wizards soon came to forgive themselves, accepting that there was nothing they could do. Though many went into exile, those blessed with magic reintegrated into society, whether they had blinded or deafened themselves or not. After so many years of hiding, the truth came out to the world, and through that truth, we were all able to make amends. Our fears of hatred and persecution went unrealized.
After coaxing from The Elders, my family and I stepped forward, allowing the world to see us, as well as our friends for what we truly are: humans. Alliances formed over time; slowly, but with hope. Without the prejudice of those around them, young wizards began to reveal themselves to the world, and magic filled the air and the night's sky. All of humanity and nature came to know the blessing of magic as well as our true nature. The Elders, for the first time in recorded history, entered reality and restored The Lair and our portal. The Council then welcomed Justin as one of their own, having seen his abilities and faith grow through his struggles. Justin turned them down to remain home with Juliet and our family. I, on the other hand, was given a great blessing and curse: I was going to help integrate the enchanted ones with the rest of the world. The Elders said I was the chosen one for the assignment. My parents, Max, and Harper promised to do whatever they could to help me.
Reports went out that the statue that was once Stevie Nichols had vanished during the attack. No one knows what happened or what became of the stone. I like to think she came back into the world and lived the rest of her life in peace. Harper and I stayed the best of friends. She helped me when I struggled the most, and our bond stayed strong.
With the demons gone, the world felt safe once more. As for me, I always held onto that old photograph, letting it serve as a reminder to how good people really were. I learned to forgive myself, which made all the difference in the world to me. As of now, we stand on the brink of a new world: A new life. A brave new beginning in the world we knew. We never forgot the past, but we all tried to keep our eyes on the present, so that one day, we'll have a better future from what we built.
My name is Alex Russo, and this is not the end. Closing her diary, Alex left her room and joined her extended family on the terrace. Standing side by side, Theresa, Jerry, Max, Juliet, Justin, Alex, and Harper watched cascading rainbows of fireworks burst into the night's sky. Holding Dragon in his arms, Max smiled at his big sister. Together, the extended Russo family watched as a new era was born through their actions and those of their allies.