Author's Note:

I'm afraid I must apologize to everybody. I uploaded this final part of Angels of the Tower back when it was supposed to be posted, but didn't realize that for some reason it never actually went live here on . I'm not sure how it happened, and I'm not sure how it took me this long to realize that it happened - either way, shouldn't have happened! I'm sorry it's late, but I hope better late than never - so here it is.

Epilogue

The evening sun was very nearly gone by the time Balthazar left The Master's Tower, but it was so dark inside the building that, as he left, he raised his hand to block the dull red light of the sunset anyway. As his vision adjusted, he could see Juangshi and Tadataka sitting side-by-side on the fountain in the square. They wore an expression of some small relief, but were anxiously looking past him to try to see if there was anyone else with him.

As Balthazar stepped forward down the stairs, he could see well the despondent disappointment and worry that crossed their faces when they realized nobody was following him. But what could he explain at a distance? So, hoping to put their minds at ease sooner, he broke out into a small jog.

"Master Balthazar… Areshmin is… gone?" Tadataka asked, as Juangshi stared blankly into the distance.

Balthazar shook his head. "No, not quite. It's different than we expected, but… I think everything turned out for the best."

A small puff of smoke burst out on the ground beside him as the Areshmin Chirithy revealed himself. Juangshi saw this and couldn't help but smirk in amusement. "After all this, The Master gave you a Chirithy? Why?"

Areshmin spoke up, startling the two Angels as he did. "Because it was the only way to save what's left of my heart. I am now tied to Balthazar, but I continue to live on."

Tadataka leaned down close with a wide smile in his eyes. "Areshmin, you look well! Quite healthy now!"

Juangshi, too, leaned a little closer to gawk at him. "Are you serious? Areshmin's one of these little guys?"

"It is true. It is quite an unusual feeling for me to be like this," Areshmin said, taking a small wobbly step forward, "But I will make do."

Juangshi sat back with a heavy sigh of relief. "Well, that's a load off my mind. So how mad was he?"

"The Master? No, he… he knew it was going to happen and he was ready for it. After I explained what happened he told me it went as well as could be expected," Balthazar said, crossing his arms.

"He knew? So he already knew about that whole weird fake Khosrow business?" Juangshi asked impatiently.

Balthazar shook his head, glancing back to the tower for a moment. "He's the one who brought the other Khosrow here to Daybreak Town, in fact." Both of them seemed too shocked for words, so Balthazar continued. "Apparently when The Master and Farah turned Khosrow it split his being into two halves, a Heartless and a Nobody. Once both halves were destroyed, Khosrow's true self was restored."

He turned around, looked up at the great tower. "He's up there right now, recovering and talking to The Master. The Master is leaving very soon, he tells me… and he says he's got another plan for Khosrow, but not here in Daybreak Town. I don't know what."

Juangshi's fingers gripped the stone fountain tightly, her knuckles turning white. "All of this… he was just toying with everyone and manipulating everything, huh? Well, good riddance then. We don't need any more of that."

Balthazar turned back towards her with a raised brow. "You really think things will be better here without him around?"

"Yeah," Juangshi said, hanging her head. "No. I don't know. It just drives me nuts what he's done."

"Do not forget, we are only here because of his assistance," Areshmin said softly.

Juangshi snapped her attention down to him. "Areshmin, I swear, if you weren't so damn cute right now I would kick you. I know that, but it doesn't mean the way he treated us afterwards was right."

Areshmin bowed softly.

Tadataka spoke up. "What of the Darkness? Did he have anything to say about that?"

Balthazar blew air out from his pursed lips. "Oof. Yeah, sort of. It's not great that it knows about the three of us now, four including Tomi, but The Master doesn't think that Darkness will make a direct move against one of us until it knows it can take out all of us."

"How much information does it have?" Tadataka asked softly.

"I don't know. I noticed it skulking about the tower even when we were Angels and never said anything… It sounds like a safe bet it knows how many of us there are. With Khosrow and Areshmin out of the count, there's eleven of us left. That means it has seven Angels left to identify."

"And when it does…?" Juangshi asked grimly, still gripping the fountain tight.

"When it does come after us… we have one last trick The Master has prepared for us. I don't know what it is, I only know where to find it. But he says it's only to be used as a last resort; use it too soon, and the Darkness will be able to find us again…" Balthazar explained.

Tadataka bowed. "Then those of us who have been identified can communicate with each other freely, but we must be sure to keep contact with the others to a minimum."

Balthazar nodded. "Yeah, I think the three of us and Tomi should be okay to be more out in the open with each other… but even when we suspect the Darkness has identified one of the others, we probably should keep acting as though we're strangers."

"Ah, it would be best not to confirm its suspicions so readily," Tadataka said with a knowing twinkle in his eye.

"Right, yeah. So how about the three of us try to meet up regularly. We can just do it here, two at a time, every couple weeks. If we're careful, we can keep an eye on everyone and hopefully we'll be able to tell quickly when the time comes," Balthazar explained.

Juangshi nodded softly, her fingers relaxing at last. "Yeah… yeah, that sounds good. I think that will work. So here again, two weeks?"

"Yeah. Don't go looking for the others, just… keep a look out and let me know if you notice anything off," Balthazar said quietly.

Tadataka bowed. "The youngest of our group does still spend much time with me, but I believe if I open a dojo and train many others it should help avoid suspicion. I will keep you informed."

"Thanks, guys…" Balthazar said with a sigh. "I guess that's it for now, huh? We all split up now and go our separate ways?"

"Live some of that life The Master told you to find!" Juangshi said with a chuckle. "You going to hang out with that Velcia girl again?"

Balthazar held a hand to his chin, nodding softly. "Yeah, if I can find her. You know, that gives me an idea actually." He shook his head, and looked back up to them. "Well, I guess I'll head off then. I'll see you guys another time. I… I don't really know what it means, but when I left The Master, he said 'May your heart be your guiding key'. It seems… fitting. So I'll say it to you as well: May your hearts be your guiding key."

Tadataka bowed softly. "As to you, Balthazar and Areshmin."

Juangshi smirked and opened her mouth as if to say something snarky, but thought better of it and stopped. "Right. Best of luck to you guys."

After one last look and wave between them the group went their separate ways, wandering off into the starry dusk of Daybreak Town.

Balthazar spent most of the next two days in the plaza in front of the tower, watching and waiting to see if Velcia would show up again. He tried to make sure he was easy to find, but after the first half day out by the fountain he'd discovered that sunburn was indeed still something that he needed to be wary of. Since then, he mostly kept to the shaded benches, trying to keep a vigilant watch.

Just after noon on the second day, as he sat calmly on the bench, he caught himself yawning. He shook his head. "Sleepy?" he muttered groggily. "That's unusual."

Areshmin appeared by his side, and sat down gently. "I believe I may be to blame, my friend. In my new form, I appear to have the ability to ward off nightmares. I have been thinning them out from the darkness inside, and you seem to have been growing calmer since."

Balthazar sat up. "No way? So… even Heartless can sleep?"

Areshmin nodded. "I do not believe it is necessary, but it seems like it is possible."

"Huh. Go figure. I guess the nights won't have to feel so long now," Balthazar said with a smile. He looked back down to Areshmin. "How are you holding up?"

"I have no complaints. This form is… peaceful. I am calm, and glad to be able to share that peace with you."

Balthazar nodded. "That's great. I hope the others all got a Chirithy, too. I'm sure they must have."

"Perhaps we can inquire with Master Ava, to make sure of it," Areshmin suggested.

"Hey, yeah, good idea," Balthazar said, looking back out into the crowd.

After some more time passed by, Areshmin eventually returned back into Balthazar's heart as he continued to wait patiently.

Suddenly, a voice spoke up softly beside him. "Balthazar? Is it okay to talk with you now?"

Balthazar jumped in surprise, and quickly turned to see Velcia blushing as her hand covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!"

Balthazar chuckled. "No, it's fine! I've been waiting for you, actually. Everything was taken care of, more or less."

Velcia took off her backpack and sat down beside him. "Oh, I hope I didn't make you wait too long. I wasn't sure how much time you were going to need, and I… I didn't want to make you feel rushed or anything, you know?"

Balthazar hummed softly, thinking back over the last two days out in the plaza. He shook his head. "No, not long at all. I don't mind waiting, anyway. I like it here in Daybreak Town."

Velcia sighed with relief. "Oh, that's good to hear. I hope everything went well for you."

"Well, I think it will be alright. Hey, if you don't mind… I have a couple things I wanted to talk to you about," Balthazar said.

Velcia's eyes went wide. "Oh no. I did annoy you, didn't I?"

"No, not at all. Actually, I wanted to ask you if you could add someone into your book for me," Balthazar told her.

"Oh! Yes, absolutely!" Velcia said, bouncing up with excitement. She reached down quickly and grabbed her pack. "Where are they? We can go see them right now!"

He shook his head. "Well, that's the trouble.. We can't. He's not with us here in Daybreak Town anymore. I think he'll be alright, but… I don't want him to be forgotten."

Velcia's face softened. "Is that what you were taking care of?"

"Yeah, sort of. Him and another old friend were both in a tough spot," Balthazar said, looking back up at the tower.

"I think adding him to the book would be perfect. That's just the reason why I wanted to do this," Velcia told him happily.

Balthazar smiled. "Yeah. I liked the idea before, but now after the last few days… I think it's the best idea anyone here has. There's so many people, so many stories… So many struggles and victories are lost to time. Part of me feels like, if we can record my friends into that book… Well, they won't be lost or forgotten."

Velcia smiled, pulling her legs up underneath her on the bench as she turned towards him eagerly. "Yes, yes that's exactly it!"

Balthazar chuckled. "I do still want to see the projected Worlds, of course, and explore Daybreak Town with you… but I feel like those books of yours are going to mean a lot to me, too. So…"

He looked back up at the tower, then over towards Velcia's gleaming face. "So yeah. I guess you're my party leader now, huh?"

Velcia gasped. "What? No! I don't want to be the leader!"

"Well, this whole thing was your idea!" he teased.

"But that… no," she huffed and folded her arms. "I'm not going to run a party all by myself. You better help me out."

"Alright, co-leaders then," Balthazar laughed.

"If we ever even find anyone else," Velcia said, face scrunching. "You're the only one who's been interested so far."

"Ah, we'll find them eventually. And if not… Well, we'll be a party of two then," he told her.

Velcia nodded happily. "Yes, that will do." Saying so, she reached down and picked up her backpack, opening it carefully and pulling out her notebook.

She cracked the book open gingerly, flipping through the pages until she found an empty spot. "First on our agenda! Tell me about your friend. Who was he?"

Balthazar smiled, and looked up to the balcony where the Angels used to gather and watch the town. "His name was Khosrow."

The End

Author's Note:

And so the Balthazar and the other Angels have left the tower. I've got more stories for them that I'm excited to get to some day, and I hope you've enjoyed reading this one as well. It's quite a different sort of story than what I've written before, but it's been so fun to work on.

Thank you so much for reading the story!