Epilogue

Inside of a bank in New Marias, three men quickly grabbed the sacks of money that they'd forced the bank's workers to put together for them.

"C'mon!" one of them men said. "Hurry up! Before those damned Conduits—!"

He suddenly was silenced by a figure who slammed into him and sent him flying behind the counter. Moving quickly in dark clothing, the figure leapt high into the air to avoid a shotgun blast, and then slammed their foot into the second man's face. The third man got behind the figure and started to choke them with his shotgun, but the figure kicked out their leg and hit him in the groin. The third man cried out and released his shotgun, and before he could back away the figure ducked low and swept their leg around, effectively using enough force to break his leg.

The figure held out their two hands and lifted the three shotguns from the ground, a blue aura surrounding both the guns and the figure.

"What about 'those damned Conduits'?" Kayce Grey asked. "I'm sorry; I attacked you before you could finish your sentence." Kayce levelled one of the shotguns at the first man's face. "D'you wanna finish it?" she continued darkly.

The man shook his head quickly. "N-No!"

"Good." Kayce brought the gun away from his face, but kept it pointed at him. "You guys're lucky that it's me you're dealing with, and not my mother. She'd give you third-degree burns just by lookin' at you."

The men gulped all at once. Kayce did all she could to continue to look like a threatening badass without bursting into laughter at them. It didn't take long, but when the police arrived, Kayce was already late.

Letting the cops take over, she waved to the few she knew (through her mother, of course) and flew off to the west. It wasn't far; a few hours by train, but only half an hour by flight, at the speed she was going. She felt relief that the government had gotten rid of that stupid barrier that caused nothing but trouble. The government was content that, without a barrier, the students could defend themselves.

It had taken a few months, but when everyone went back to school at the new school year, they had to take the classes that they'd missed the previous year during Bishop's Reign, as they were calling it. Everything, and everyone, eventually went back to normal. The wounds were gone, but there were scars. But everyone helped out, acting as a bandage with each other.

Kayce's phone suddenly rang. Slowing down slightly, Kayce reached into her trenchcoat's pocket (one that she was using the night before and absently grabbed it in the morning) and pressed the "Talk" button.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Where the hell are you?" Violet Chance screeched at her, making Kayce pull the phone away from her ear. "It's almost started! Hurry your ass up!"

"Well, sorry that I had to stop a bank robbery with hostages. Next time, I'll ask 'em to postpone it so I can get there on time. You know thugs; they're so accommodating."

"Haha, smartass." Vi groaned. "Hurry! Your mom just got here, and she's got your thingy!"

"It's not a 'thingy'! It's a—!"

"Whatever!" Vi interrupted swiftly. "Get. Your. Ass. Here."

"I'll go as fast as I can," Kayce promised, and disconnected.

Speeding up (and taking care to put her phone in her pocket), Kayce rushed to the Conduit Academy and managed to land without any problems.

Well, until Victoria landed on top of her.

Digging her six-inch heels into Kayce's shoulders, Victoria flipped and landed in front of Kayce.

"Oh, sorry," she said, flashing Kayce a smile. "I jumped here, and you landed exactly were I was going."

Rubbing her shoulders vigorously, Kayce bit back a pained cry, and instead spoke in an unnaturally high voice. "N-No! It's fine! It didn't hurt at all!"

"You're a damn bad liar, Kayce." Victoria smiled. "I'm just glad I'm not the only one whose almost late. C'mon; we've got to go change!"

Victoria and Kayce rushed towards the main yard of the campus to join with the crowd that was gathering (though Kayce didn't know how Victoria could run so well in those monstrosities).

Kayce finally found her mother, Joan Grey, who handed her the blue robe and squared hat. "Get changed!" Joan chided, and pushed Kayce towards the dorms. "And hurry your ass up!"

"Got it!" Kayce exclaimed, running towards the dorms.

As soon as Kayce opened the door, Vi launched herself at her cousin. "You're late, dammit!"

"I know! Everyone's telling me that!"

"Then get your ass changed!"

"Then stop stopping me from changing!"

After she threw the huge gown/robe over her head and jammed the rectangular hat on after it, Kayce hurried down the steps and joined Victoria and Violet, who were already lining up.

Vi directed Kayce to her place (since Kayce was late and didn't hear the order) and then hurried back, sending Kayce a nervous but excited smile.

Kayce, as she was waiting, reflected on the years that had passed. Now, she was eighteen years old, and attending the school that had nearly killed her. It had already taken so many of her friends. It seemed wrong that she hadn't joined them.

"I don't wanna leave any roses on any graves. Keep your promises."

A few hadn't been able to. Kayce remembered when she'd attended their funerals, a scant week after their nightmare was finally over. There wasn't anything left of Nicholas, even to bury.

"Nicholas Jeremy Young XIII."

"Seriously?"

"No. My middle name isn't Jeremy. It's Atticus. Okay, your name!"

"Kayce Joanna Grey. The first."

Kayce smiled at the memory as they started forward. She'd learned, over the years, not to ignore what had happened, but to learn from it. Embrace it. It was a part of all of the students now. New and old.

"I was a little disappointed, at first. I was hoping for a few more Paragons this year, but... You'll do."

She felt bad that Mina never got to graduate, but she managed to leave with a smile, helping people, like she always did. It was what had made her a leader, and a damn good one at that. One to be rivalled for decades to come.

"But those people had better be damn good and come through for the team. I'm not gonna be happy about any more losses to the Sojourns! So, we'll call you up one-by-one and see what you got. Anyone who doesn't make it up to snuff will be cut immediately. Afterwards, those of you still remaining will go one-on-one with me. We'll see how long you last. And no powers! This entire season of basketball is clean. If you use powers, you'll be cut! I don't care how good you are! Got it?"

Ellie was exactly what Kayce's mother had said people like her were; tough but fair. Kayce remembered how she'd felt when she met both Mina and Ellie; they were people you wanted to follow and trust, because you knew they'd watch over you. They'd help you, they'd be family to you, in a way your family could never be.

It took Kayce a minute to register that they were already at the stage, and Violet had just been called up. Mr. Wallace handed Vi a scroll and then shook her hand firmly for a picture. She was soon followed by Victoria, and then Stephanie Wallace (who, as it turned out, actually didn't have any relation to Mr. Wallace at all).

And then it was Kayce's turn. After everything, it seemed eclipsed by what had happened two years ago. Graduation almost meant nothing to Kayce, but she was determined to enjoy it, if not for herself, but for the people who hadn't made it that far.

Kayce shook Mr. Wallace's hand as she took the scroll from him, giving him the trademark smile she'd been known for; a simple smile, but one you could trust. Kayce, after the incident of Bishop's Reign, had returned to the Conduit Academy as Mina and Ellie's successor. She became the captain of the Paragon basketball team and the Paragon team leader, as the survivors of the suicide mission had backed-up Kayce's claim to the title. They trusted her, more than anything.

Mr. Wallace held Kayce's hand for a moment longer. The old man seemed close to tears, but he forced them back and clapped a hand on Kayce's shoulder. All of a sudden, Kayce heard someone start clapping. And then someone else joined in. And then more.

Kayce was confused at first as she looked at the crowd of people who started to stand as they clapped. She recognized them; some were students who'd stayed behind on the suicide mission, some were parents of the survivors, some parents of the dead, and others were everyone else who'd come to see the last generation of the Bishop's Reign renegades.

In fact, when Kayce had returned to school the following year, that was what the survivors had dubbed her, and they'd convinced the first-years to call her that as well: Renegade, the Paragon team leader.

The clapping didn't stop. Kaye turned and saw her fellow graduates clapping as well, each one smiling at her. She felt out of place, but so she wouldn't feel bad about the applause she was getting, Kayce directed most of the clapping towards the memory of her fallen friends; those she'd known, and those who she hadn't.

Kayce left the stage and sat beside Vi. The clapping finally died down, and the graduation continued. Afterwards, Kayce hugged her parents and held them close. Lance Grey kissed his daughter's head and then said how proud he was of her, followed by Joan arguing that she was prouder.

Trish, who had graduated the previous year, gave Kayce and Vi a big hug before Alec and Dana Chance could get to them, but as soon as Trish released the two Alec and Dana swooped in. Over the course of the ceremony, honorary diplomas were given to the parents of the fallen, even if they were part of Bishop's Reign.

The party that night lasted into the wee hours of the morning. Kayce eventually found herself leaving it for some fresh air. She didn't feel right celebrating it without the people she missed the most.

"You're Kayce Grey?" a man asked as he stepped out of the shadows.

Kayce stared at him as he approached. The man was dressed well, in a grey suit with a blue shirt and black tie, but it was his cloudy-grey eyes that captivated her and rooted her to the spot. His black hair was smoothed back for the occasion.

Nicholas? Kayce thought automatically, but as the man came closer, it was evident that he was much older than her friend.

"Yes," Kayce answered him when it became apparent that he was waiting for one. "I am."

"My name is Nicholas Atticus Young XII," he announced. "Your friend, Nicholas, was my son."

Kayce closed her eyes to stop the onslaught of tears that were certain to come. "Hello, sir."

He held up a hand. "Please, don't be formal with me. I have no right to be called that by you."

"But—!"

His hand stayed up, so Kayce shut her mouth. "I saw you once," Mr. Young said, "at Nicholas and James' funerals. I heard what you said then, even though your voice was barely above a whisper when you said it. You felt guilty for their deaths. Not so much James', I'm sure, but Nicholas'."

Kayce hung her head. "I killed them. I killed them both. I didn't mean to hurt Nicholas, but his blood was still on my hands." She paused for a moment. "His blood still is."

Mr. Young put a hand on her shoulder. "Miss Grey, you took my sons from me."

She nodded. "I did. I'm... I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for." Kayce looked up at Mr. Young. He was looking over the campus, not at her, but it was like she was still the centre of his attention. "James needed to be stopped. As his father, that was my responsibility, but I let you, a sixteen-year-old, take that responsibility. I should have been a better father to him." He stopped. He seemed to be pondering his words just as much as Kayce. "As for Nicholas... even if he'd survived, you would have taken him from me eventually. Nicholas was smart—he found a way to mail something to me, just a week before James took control. I couldn't give it to you at his funeral. It seemed like something for another time." Mr. Young handed me an envelope, but continued just as quickly. "Nicholas' death was not caused by you. You were being used as a weapon. Nicholas' death is on James' hands. I have no question of that. So, I came to offer you my hand in gratitude, Miss Grey. If you need anything—absolutely anything—call me, and I will hasten to your aid. You helped my sons, despite what's happened. I can never repay you for such kindness."

Before Kayce could say anything, Mr. Young left. Kindness? she thought with doubt. There was no kindness there. I killed Bishop in cold blood. It was my hands that killed Nicholas, even though I don't remember it.

Kayce examined the envelope with her fingers before she opened it. Inside was a letter; a letter from Nicholas to his father. Kayce read it in silence. It seemed that Nicholas was close to his father, despite how he'd said they disagreed sometimes, and he'd never kept a secret from his father. They trusted each other unconditionally.

"Hey dad.

Before you say anything, yes, I did sneak this letter out. It's done now, and I'm sure you appreciate it and you won't punish me for bending the rules (at least, I hope not!). School's fine. I like it a lot. James hasn't done anything yet, so I'm hoping that this year will be fine.

"I especially like History class. I know you're wondering why, because I'm the absolute worst when it comes to remembering who did what (I thought Hitler was an architect for the longest time!), and you're undoubtedly confused.

"Well, not to brag, but I met someone.

"I know that you said it'd be best if I met a nice, non-superpowered girl close to home, but I can't help it. I thought I should let you know, since I'm going to ask if she wants to spend Christmas with us. I was hoping to invite her family. I know I'm jumping the gun a bit, but I'm hoping that she'll say yes (and I hope you'll agree).

"Her name's Kayce Joanna Grey. She was born and raised in New Marias, and yes, before you ask, she is Lance and Joan Grey's only daughter. She's spectacular, dad. A lot like when you were describing mom to me the time you'd first met her.

"I want to be friends with her first, though. So, even if it doesn't work out, I want to be with her.

"I've included, in this letter, a drawing I made in History class while watching her. I'm actually surprised she'd only mentioned it once, when we'd first met. It wasn't even finished then. No judging, dad! Send it back as soon as you can, too. I want to give it to her later, but I just thought you should see her, since it's hard to get digital things out of this damned barrier.

"Your son,

Nicholas."

Kayce read the note again and then fished out the other piece of paper in the envelope. She closed her eyes after she saw it and leaned her head into it. It was her, sitting in her desk, in History class. There was a pencil in her hand, and her head was resting on her chin thoughtfully, but you could see one of her eyes.

Kayce folded it up again, and noticed one more piece of paper. On it, it read: "Something extra I found for you." It was signed, "XII."

She opened it up and found another drawing, but this seemed to be something that Nicholas had drawn in his free time. It had her and Nicholas, both were laughing, and they were under the shade of a tree, pencils and notebooks in hand. Kayce folded the paper, forcing back the tears caused by opened scars, and looked towards that tree that they'd been under two years ago. In a sparkling white outline, she was more than surprised to see a young man with black hair, dressed in a black suit with the tie untied around his neck, and a few buttons on his white shirt undone. His cloudy-grey eyes rooted Kayce to the spot, just like his father's had. Behind him, other spectres started to appear. Mina Dain, in an orange gown; Ellie Donovan, a purple gown adorning her shoulders; and Julian Reynolds, a black tux done-up right.

Nicholas Atticus Young XIII walked, or, rather, floated towards Kayce Grey. He put a hand on her head, whispered some words to her, kissed her cheek, and then disappeared. This time, for good.

The next day, Kayce was more cheerful than previous days. She surprised many people, who were used to seeing the sad husk that she'd been after Bishop's Reign. She was, once again, Kayce Grey.

She would remember the words that Nicholas had said to her. Even if his image, and the images of her friends, had been her imagination, she'd remember.

"Live, Kayce. Live as well as you can for as long as you can. Don't worry; we're waiting for you."

"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come." ― Rabindranath Tagore