Epilogue

Emi didn't remember much of what happened next, only being carried to the infirmary by a pair of strong arms and looking up into a pink-flecked gold eye. However, she did remember waking up in a bed next to Saffa. She was lying in a bed across from the unclaimed girl.

The girl's eyes were open. She was awake. Her eyes were wide and curious.

"Glad to see you're awake, kid," Emi said gently, getting down from the bed. She immediately felt woozy and almost fell over. She was caught by a pair of familiar arms. Emi swiveled her head and looked up into a familiar face.

"Whoa, Emi, you're in no condition to walk on your own now. Being drained like that is bad for you."

"Thunder," she breathed. "Did we win?"

"Cthulhu's just a crater now," he replied.

In the next bed, Saffa tumbled out, tried to stand, and toppled over onto his stomach. Ametha, sitting nearby, lifted him up onto her back and carried him piggyback out of the room.

The little girl sighed. "Look, I don't know who you people are. I don't even know who I am."

"That's fine," said a familiar voice at the door. Calythé strode in, grinning. "That happened to me once."

"You know, maybe I can find out who I am. I'm going to go out into the world," the girl announced, jumping out of the bed and walking unassisted into the entrance hall. Emi, leaning heavily on Thunder, followed her.

"Wait!" Saffa cried weakly. "Won't you stay?"

"I'm sorry. I need to find my purpose," the girl said. "Thank you for saving me." With that, the girl touched the doorknob. Suddenly a giant ruby appeared over her head. Her muddy gray hair and eyes turned sparkling red. Then her robe shimmered from purple to scarlet. Finally a pair of flaming wings sprouted from her shoulder blades, and there stood a miniature version of Embrea, looking thoroughly bewildered.

Thunder handed Emi to Calythé and addressed the little girl. "I know who you are. You are the one who was prophecied to come. The Rebirth of the Ageless One. Hail, Renata Embrea Fireborn, She Who Rose from the Ashes."

The hall erupted into cheers. Ametha dropped Saffa and screamed with delight. Emi gave Thunder a big, warm hug. Saffa stood up, walked over to Renata and kissed her entirely by mistake. Calythé started to cry.

Suddenly Ramisse barged in from the room. "I found the last page of Embrea's will in the bed!" she cried, holding up a small piece of paper.

"Read it," Calythé ordered.

"It says: 'Finally, to Thunder Zevulon, I leave my duties as headmistress of the Guild.'"

Everyone cheered again. Thunder stood atop a table and said, "Who wants to hear my first order as headmaster?"

Everyone quieted down. Thunder was silent for several seconds, then he pumped his fist in the air and bellowed, "We need a FEAST!" The hall exploded in cheers.

Later...

Thunder gently took Emi by the arm and led her outside, away from the tumult of feast preparation. They crossed the garden to a low stone wall. Thunder helped Emi over the wall and sat next to her. She leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I thought you were very brave," she whispered in his ear.

"You were braver," Thunder murmured back. "You're one of the reasons this is still here." He gestured with his arm at the peaceful forest below them; bunnies and slimes hopped peaceably through the grass and trees.

Suddenly he shouldered her off. "I have something to show you," he said, reaching to his eye patch. Thunder took the patch with four fingers and gently lifted it off, and Emi looked into Thunder's right eye for the first time. What Emi saw amazed her. She did not see scratches, an empty socket, or even another eye. She saw - everything. Everything that ever was, ever had been and ever would be. She even saw herself looking into Thunder's eye.

"Put the patch back on," she said, frightened. "I liked you better with the patch."

Thunder lowered the patch. "I traded my eye for ultimate knowledge. That's what you saw. I know everything and see all."

"So, why do you have the patch?"

"It saves me a lot of headaches. Plus, it looks cool."

"I certainly think so," Emi giggled, and at that moment he leaned over and kissed her.

When their lips parted, Emi said shyly, "I've always had a huge crush on you."

"I know," he said warmly, tapping his eye patch. "I've always known."

Above them, the clouds threatened rain and the heavens broke in two. Great cascades of water poured out of the sky, drenching Thunder and Emi to the skin in seconds. Emi's peppy green pigtails were plastered flat to the sides of her head and Thunder's creamy blond hair fell into his eye, making him look like a wet cyclops. The two lovers looked at each other and laughed, and Thunder swept the laughing Emi up in his arms and kissed her again as the warm rain sang around them. Saffa and Renata flew out of the chimney, holding hands and laughing. Topaz and Ametha walked out of the guild, arms flung wide to catch the rain, and the six magicians' love kept them warm for a long time.

MEANWHILE...

He descended the shaft into a large obsidian building, dimly lit by the lava all around him, and was escorted by demons to the large central chamber. There, writhing in agony, was a tremendous pile of putrid flesh that almost reached the ceiling. He smiled.

"Patience, my beautiful abomination," he said soothingly. "Your time will come soon." The pile of flesh's rheumy eyes blinked open and its mouth gaped, revealing long, dirty teeth. And it roared...

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2!