AN: Guest review response time!

Guest from the 28th of November and the 9th of December (going by your writing style, you're the same person. My apologies if that is incorrect): I've seen the concept you're describing before. While it is a very interesting one to be sure, I have no plans to write such a story. My next project is already decided, and I will publish its first chapter alongside the second epilogue chapter of Headmates. Nonetheless, thank you for the suggestion and for sticking around for the entirety of this story.

Epilogue 1: The Near Future

31st day of the Red Wolf Moon. Underworld, ball room of the Palace Spire.

It was Samhain, the long-awaited day of reunion between the living and the dead. It had been a chore and a half to have a new physical entrance for the Underworld set up in time to prepare everything for this day. Not only would this be a day of visitation, as it would be in every year to come, but it was also the date on which Sothis and I had set our wedding. Since this was a grand occasion, the preparatory work for it had been excruciatingly extensive.

Thankfully, Erebus and Nyx had had everything in hand. Their work was impeccable, and our sparse instructions had been followed to the letter. There were elaborate flower patterns arranged throughout the room. All of them were white, with the exception of two lines of red flowers which formed a path from the wide doors to the opposite end of the room to an altar. Between those lines was a carpet of royal purple, which was only fitting when one considered that this was a royal wedding. To accentuate the importance of the ceremony, there were also a tasteful number of gems and beautiful stones affixed to the altar; they were, among other things, rubies, emeralds, yellow and purple amethysts, polished pieces of obsidian, and blue diamonds. Considering the expert make of these decorations, Hades must have been pulled into the work as well.

That was not all, however. I could see the personal touch of many more deities around the room. Beautiful rune arrangements in Elder Futhark spelled out benedictions for the ceremony. Further writings in Sanskrit were there as well, and hieroglyphs decorated the doorways. The altar, however, bore the most peculiar script. On it were written Enochian letters. That language could be read by any God, but writing it was an ability that eluded anyone bar a select class of beings. This meant that we had a special guest.

"Is my Adonai pranking us again?" I asked.

Laughter could be heard from behind us. "What is life without a bit of fun?" asked an unfamiliar voice.

Sothis, who was with me, and I turned around. The being we saw was most definitely an angel, although we had never seen this one before. It confirmed my suspicions, at least, but was also cause for questions.

"Boring, I'd say," I answered his rhetorical question. "Who might you be?"

The angel bowed respectfully and said, "My name is Sandalphon. Metatron asked me to come in his stead since he is quite busy at the moment whereas I have some downtime."

Sothis hummed in thought, and then said, "Well, you are more than welcome to attend. Do you wish to officiate the wedding?"

Sandalphon shook his head and answered, "No, you've already made arrangements to that effect. I'm here as a witness and a guest."

While it would have been an honour to have him lead the ceremony, I was glad that he was not planning on doing so. We had already organised everything so that Ananke would be the one doing it. It would have been unwise and eventually very unpleasant to cancel that last-minute. It was for the best that things stayed as originally arranged.

"We're glad to have you in attendance, then," I said.

"And I am glad to be here. Now off with you two. Is the ceremony not about to start soon?" he asked.

I checked the time and nodded. "It seems so. Please excuse us."

After that short talk, Sothis and I left to take up our positions. We separated and went to the waiting rooms arranged for the wedding. While neither of us considered the tradition of groom and bride not being allowed to see each other before the beginning of the ceremony as anything more than hogwash, there were other traditions we wished to observe, albeit slightly changed. One of them was them was the bride being led to the altar by a male relative. That was why we had arranged for Manannan to do so for Sothis. She wanted to publicly acknowledge him as family, and this was a neat way of doing so. To mirror that tradition on my side, I had asked Psyche to lead me to the altar, as she was the only woman among the deities who had gifted me their domains. That was not tradition as far as I knew, but I had insisted on it for the sake of symmetry. Sothis and I were equals, and we wanted to show that.

The wait until then would be relatively short, just as the wedding itself. The ceremony was supposed to start an hour before midnight and end before the next hour. While both Sothis and I wanted to give the union the proper importance, we held no attachment to useless pomp and time-wasting wedding games. People from the world of the living were here to visit their departed loved ones, after all. We would not hog all their time with a boring procedure. There would be a short ceremony and a long celebration for the rest of the night, then. It would be a time of fun and merriment for all, not just the select wedding guests.

As of now, the guests we had invited from the world of the living were picking up their relatives and gathering for the ceremony. The first ones were already filtering into the ball room. Others would take a bit more time due to the size of their groups, while others wished to spend a bit more time with their loved ones before the beginning of the festivities. That said, it was about to begin.

The signal to start came in the form of music, specifically a song Sothis had composed a long time ago. As its merry tunes filled the venue, we were led out of the side rooms. As we were walked to the altar, we could see that the ball room was filled with many attendees; the guests of honour were situated closes to the altar. There at the end of the carpet, where it was situated, stood Ananke. The gentle smile she wore grew as we drew closer, and when we stepped onto the altar, she began the ceremony proper.

"We have come here to bear witness to the union of Sothis the Progenitor and Hyperion the Younger. I shan't ask if there are any who object, for no objection shall be borne," she said as her opening statement.

This was not quite traditional for weddings, but neither she nor Sothis nor I gave a damn. I loved the green-haired Goddess, and she loved me. Ananke was also determined to see this through without a hitch. Like Hell would we allow some opinionated loser to crash the wedding by asking for objections.

Ananke then went on, "Who leads Hyperion to the altar?"

Next to me, my only female patron answered, "Psyche, who has gifted her domain to Hyperion. I claim him as my kin and give my blessing to the union."

The primordial deity nodded regally and switched to the other side. "Who leads Sothis to the altar?"

The tall man at Sothis' side answered, "Manannan Mac Lir, who has proclaimed Sothis Queen of the Otherworld. I claim her as my kin and give my blessing to the union."

Once again, Ananke made a regal nod. "Step forward," she told Sothis and me. After we had done so, she continued, "Do you enter this union willingly, without coercion, forced participation or exploitative reasoning?"

"Yes," we answered in unison.

"Then face each other and say your vows," said Ananke.

We turned towards each other and took each other's hands. We gazed into each other's eyes, and Sothis nodded at me. I nodded back, and then my crown began to shine. Our vows would be binding.

"My dearest beloved Sothis," I began, "From this moment forth, I swear to hold you dear, to love you and stay by your side, in all times good or bad, to never let you go, to protect you whenever necessary, to heed your counsel, and to never let strife do us apart. I swear myself to you, for eternity and beyond, in life and death, in existence and oblivion, I am yours if you are mine."

Sothis replied, "My most precious Hyperion. From this moment forth, I swear that my love is yours forever. I swear to be as devoted to you as you are to me. I swear to be everything you need me to be, as you shall be to me. Neither life nor death nor time shall part us. The borders of eternity shall not confine our love, for I swear to be by your side beyond time itself. I am yours, and you are mine."

The crown flashed, and Ananke put her hands on ours. She said, "I have borne witness to your vows, and they shall be heeded. I bind you now to each other. Your fates shall be as one, irrevocably intertwined for all eternity. Seal it with a kiss, for you are now wed."

There was no stopping us from that point on. Sothis and I crashed into each other in a tight embrace, and we locked our lips. I was tempted to go quite a bit further now that I felt her body against mine, but we were in public, so I held back, just barely. When we separated, I could tell that she felt the same way.

"Blessed be this union!" proclaimed Ananke.

"Blessed be!" yelled a portion of the crowd.

I noticed that they were mostly Gods, but Sandalphon was among them as well. I was happy to see that. It never hurt to have the endorsement of so many deities, including my Adonai, if only by proxy. There was a surprise waiting for us, however, when one of them stood up and came to the altar.

She was a very attractive woman. I had seen her only once or twice, but I immediately knew who she was. Her name was Hedone, and she was the daughter of Eros and Psyche.

"On behalf of my family and all those whom your efforts have freed, I bless your union. Take it as my wedding gift to you. I hope you enjoy it. It'll last you forever, if you want."

She winked and left the altar again, leaving many to speculate what she had done. Sothis and I would find out later that night in our quarters. We ended up enjoying that gift a lot. For now, however, we knew nothing of it.

"The ceremony is hereby concluded," said Ananke before she stepped away from the altar, leaving me and my wife at the centre of attention.

"Let us celebrate! Dance and be merry!" shouted Sothis.

Cheers of approval went through the crowd, and everyone quickly did as she had ordered. So did we, in fact. We were soon on the dance floor, embracing and kissing each other as we danced. Sothis was overjoyed, and so was I. This first dance we shared as husband and wife would remain in our memories for all our lives. And so, the celebration became an example for future generations to emulate, or so I hoped.

There was, in fact, a young couple who hoped to find that joy for themselves by seeking help from a guest of honourS, as I would later find out. While at the party, Petra and Bernadetta found themselves in the company of Hedone and her family. After a short introduction, the normally shy Bernadetta went on her toes and whispered something into Eros' ear.

"I… would like to ask for a favour…"

He listened to her request as she others wondered what she was saying. His expression was intrigued, then bemused and finally, friendly.

"Yes, I think I can help you there, young one. I'd be happy to," he said.

1st day of the Ethereal Moon 1181. Garreg Mach, war room.

Mutual help was the main topic of the peace talks. With the utter annihilation of the Sages and Nemesis' army, there was technically no losing side left, and so there was little to be done in terms of sanctions. That did not mean that there would be no sanctions at all for the Nation of Agartha, but the focus was on how everyone could help each other rebuild. A better future for all was the desired result, after all.

To achieve this, leading figures and diplomatic parties from all belligerents had gathered. Faerghus, Adrestia and Leicester had their King, Emperor and Sovereign Duke respectively present at the table. Beon represented a political entity founded only a week prior, the Republic of New Nabatea, in his new capacity of Consul. Seiros as the currently reigning Archbishop was the representative of the Church of Seiros. Brigid's king had decided not to send anyone, seeing as he had decided to come in person. And lastly, Agartha had sent a diplomatic party headed by Kronya. The high ranks of all involved would ensure fast negotiations.

Observing these negotiations were sleuth of diplomats from foreign countries. Specific invitations had been sent to the King of Almyra, who had appointed Nader as his representative, the Tribes of Norweg who had chosen to remain in the far northern continent, and to Sreng. Tribal delegates from the latter two regions were therefore also present. Responding to an open invitation to all foreign nations were diplomats from Dagda, Albinea and Morfis. While the presence of any of these was not necessary for the negotiations, they had been invited because of the impact they would have on their countries.

Chairing the meeting were Sothis and Hyperion, the two deities central to the war. They were far from neutral in this conflict, but on the whole, they had no intention to treat any one nation preferentially. There were really no other mediators better suited to the task.

"Right then, since we're all here, we had best get started so we can get some results before lunchtime. I find that a meal helps thinking over proposals," began Hyperion with a chuckle.

The joke fell flat, but that did not stop him.

He continued, "The core goals of this conference are: 1. To establish stable borders in Fodlan. 2. To prevent further armed conflict between the nations of Fodlan. 3. To establish for these nations a foundation of continued cooperation and prosperity. 3. To put into place systems to facilitate such goals. And 4. To lay the groundwork for mutually beneficial cooperation between the nations of Fodlan and beyond."

Sothis took over from there and added, "There have been several proposals drawn up by various parties, including ourselves. You will find them in the dossiers you have been provided with. The names of those who have made these proposals have been omitted. Study these dossiers now, please. Reading the summaries should suffice before we begin the discussion."

There was a rustling of papers as the representatives read the specified parts of the documents. This process took a few minutes, and more than one raised eyebrow was the result. Various proposals gave cause to curiosity.

"I am intrigued by proposal #4," said Beon.

The proposal in question was one drawn up by Sothis and Hyperion, not that anyone knew. The peculiarity that had probably drawn Beon's attention was the interconnectivity of its make-up. It was one of the most ambitious proposals for a reason.

"Is it not a bit much?" asked King Keor, Petra's grandfather and King of Brigid.

He was probably the most qualified to ask this question since he was more or less uninvolved. Every single proposal had acknowledged Brigid's independent status as a solid fact. The point of critique was valid too. Proposal #4 was, after all, an unprecedented thing.

In a word, it called for the unification of the whole continent. A new, supranational entity would be founded for this purpose. It would be called the Confederation of Fodlan, and its primary purpose would be to bring its constituent nations closer together. Naturally, joining this Confederation meant losing a certain degree of autonomy for the member states. Membership was therefore to be voluntary, except for the Nation of Agartha, which would join as a stipulation of the peace treaty.

"Well, you'd be right in most cases," said Claude. "The general mistrust between nations the world over would make such a thing impossible, but with the people we have right here right now, it's not so outlandish."

Dimitri then spoke, "He is correct. This war has forged strong friendships between our peoples and between us rulers. This is the perfect moment to finally bury old hatreds and come together."

"I agree as well," said Seiros. "The era in which the Church of Seiros shapes the culture and society of Fodlan is almost over. With the Goddess returned to the world, there is no need for the Church to exert political influence beyond the borders of its state. Our purpose has been achieved, and it is time for us to step back in the name of peace and unity."

"It is for this reason that I am inclined to agree as well. I have always had my objections when it come to the Church and its doctrine. The society it crafted has sat ill with me for the majority of my life. So, to see that even they are willing to step back is reason enough for me to accept the offered olive branch. Our core goals are surprisingly similar as well, so I feel that this proposal is the way forward," said Edelgard.

Kronya spoke as well, "The Nation of Agartha also views proposal #4 favourable. We stand to lose relatively little and gain much, although we would like to negotiate one or two details about it. Overall, it's the one that gives our people the biggest chance at redeeming themselves."

King Keor inclined his head. "Very well. If you think that is best, I will withdraw my objection."

"Are there any other preferences?" asked Hyperion. "We have only discussion proposal #4 so far."

A debate followed. The pros and cons of the various proposals were laid out. While some of them were better in certain areas, they had drawbacks which were unacceptable or favoured one participant too much. The merits and demerits of the proposals were soon stacked up.

When the talk had died down a bit, Sothis raised her voice and said, "I believe that a consensus has been established. To make sure, however, we shall cast a vote. Shall proposal #4 serve as the basis for the negotiations from this point onwards? Raise your right hand for yes, hold it to the side for now, and do nothing if you wish to abstain."

The conclusion of the vote was a nearly unanimous yes. Only King Keor had chosen no side in the argument.

"Very well. I now call for a recess of two hours, as it is lunchtime. Have a meal and familiarise yourselves with the detailed contents of proposal #4. We shall continue afterwards."

Excerpt from The History of Fodlan by Leon Hemran, Adrestian historian, Imperial Year 1258.

Over the course of a full week, the negotiations to set the foundations of modern Fodlan were undertaken. The peace treaty which sat at the core of the talks expanded in scope and became the basis of an international legal code. Said code would be upheld by a new political entity: the Confederation of Fodlan.

The Confederation was founded with a constitution which set it above national law. This fact delayed Duscur's addition to its member list for several years; several decades in Brigid's case. While it respected any form of government in its constituents, ranging from the absolute monarchy of the Adrestian Empire to the fierce democracy of the restructured Nation of Agartha, no nation's laws could stand above the constitution of the Confederation. The hesitation some prospective members had was therefore not had to understand.

This supremacy over national law was thought of as a failsafe mechanism installed to prevent local or even national governments from cementing immoral practices in their laws. This proved to be a wise decision, as the Leicester Revolt of 1213 proved, during which a cabal of minor nobles seized Derdriu through legal trickery while the Alliance army was busy aiding Prince Khalid in a war of succession in Almyra. During this time, these nobles intended to permanently legalise slavery of non-citizens by further exploiting gaps in Alliance law. Their unconstitutional actions allowed the Confederation to declare the new Alliance government invalid and invade Derdriu. The consequence of this was a revision of the constitution which increased its authority further.

The power the constitution held had to be protected from corruption as well. Lady Sothis and Lord Hyperion had therefore instituted an appropriate mechanism at its inception. The constitution could only be changed by divine decree from Lady Sothis herself, or by popular vote following a two-fold system. Not only was the approval of over half the Confederations voting population necessary for the vote to succeed but also the approval of the majority of its constituent countries. The interests of less populous countries were thus preserved, preventing a "tyranny of the majority." This system has remained unchanged to this day.

Naturally, the formation of the Confederation meant a significant reduction to its constituents' autonomy. Concessions had had to be made before its inception. Some were more easily made than others. One party's demand was of special interest, however.

23rd day of the Lone Moon 1181. Shambhala.

I had not thought that I would have to give a speech in person when I had agreed to the stipulation of the Agarthan delegation. They had just wanted a boon, and I had thought to give it to them quietly, but Kronya had convinced me to make the whole affair more official. So, here I was, speaking to the Agarthan people.

"Denizens of Shambhala, citizens of Agartha, long has enmity persisted between you and the surface dwellers. Blood has been spilled for millennia, and much hatred has festered. Today, I am happy to announce that we have found an answer to this conflict, and it is this: Screw that!

"There will be no more bloodshed between the peoples of the surface and the Agarthans. That this is even possible is thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, including all of you. The people of Agartha have proven that they, too, desire peace. You have suffered for it, worked for it, and shown that you have the character for cooperation with other peoples. And so, you have proven yourselves worthy of my patronage, and I will reward you accordingly."

I spread my arms and started glowing with white-golden light. It was perhaps overly theatrical, but I could not help myself. Sometimes, I had to indulge a bit in dramatics. Although, considering that this was likely a big deal for the Agarthans, it was possibly even appropriate.

So, I continued, "As you have cast down your warmongering ways, you have seen the light, and so you deserve to live in it. To you, the Agarthan people, I now give the light. This I so decree as Hyperion the Younger, God of all the lights that dot the sky! Even beneath the surface of the earth shall shine the sun and moon and stars."

Then the light I had generated shot into the ceiling of the underground city. It spread across the entire surface. More beams of light shot off my, seeking and finding the ceiling of every level of Shambhala. Once there, the light shaped itself into the appropriate form and intensity. From this day onward, the artificial skies of Shambhala would be a perfect reflection of the real sky. The light would truly be utterly indistinguishable from the real deal, seeing as that was what it was.

As for the audience, they were in awe. The celestial bodies which now shone their light on them had never before been seen by most of them. To feel the warm rays of the sun on their bodies for the first time must have been exhilarating. I was happy to see them enjoy my gift.

My speech went on. "Now you are people living under the same light as all the others. Let this be a sign to live with them in peace and brotherhood. And never shall you be left alone to fend for yourselves. As Sothis watches over the Nabateans and the humans of the surface, so will I watch over you and the surface dwellers, if you so desire. The Nabateans are her people by blood, and I would have you be my people by adoption, so you and they may be brothers and sisters through the bond of Sothis and I. Let this be the hour of unity when we walk hand in hand into a bright future!"

Cheers and thunderous applause greeted the end of my speech. I was glad to see this reaction. It meant that the people had enough of the isolationism they had operated under for ages. Perhaps their ingrained xenophobia would also disappear over time. One could only hope, although I believed that it would take decades before they truly saw themselves as equals of their neighbours on a cultural level. Still, such change was bound to happen if they chose to retain me as their patron deity. It was a good sign for future generations.

4th day of the Great Tree Moon 1182. Imperial Palace, chambers of Ionius IX.

"Father, I think I'm expecting," announced Edelgard.

She and Byleth had married only two months prior. It had perhaps been a bit fast, but with assurance from Eros' band of fire that they truly were in love, they had had little reason to delay. In fact, Edelgard had wanted it to be done as fast as feasibly possible. The reason for this was before her.

Ionius was old and in bad health. He was bedridden, had been for months. His already bad health was deteriorating by the day. It would not be long now before he died. Edelgard had wanted him to receive the joyous news of her marriage before then. After having seen so many of her family passing away and in pain, fear, and terror, she wanted her father to be able to leave this world with a smile on his face.

And smile he did. "That is wonderful news, Edelgard," he said. "I will have to gather my strength, then. My life may be fading, but I wish to hold my grandchild in my arms before I die."

It was a bittersweet thought. The chance of him making it that long were sadly very slim. His body was already failing. They both knew these facts. Edelgard had little hope that he would see the child. That did not mean that she could not talk about it to him or involve him.

"I have talked with Byleth about names," she said. "If it's a girl, we wish to name the child Ionia after you. And if it's a boy, we want you to choose the name."

"Oh, my dear daughter. It does my old heart good to hear that," he replied with tears in his eyes. After a moment, he said, "Edgar. If the child is a boy, name him Edgar, after my grandfather."

Edelgard nodded. "We will," she assured him.

He smiled and said, "What a miracle it is to hear all this. I had not expected to see this day."

"I know what you mean. We were surprised as well," said Edelgard. "The medical examinations said that I was nearly barren. To conceive a child so soon was highly unlikely."

It had not been for lack of activity. She and Byleth had been very… enthusiastic with their attempts. She did not think it was appropriate to talk about this with her father, however.

"I'm glad you did not have to resort to the other plan. I know you did not like the idea of a concubine," said Ionius.

"Yes," replied his daughter. "Dorothea will still be a member of the household, but we will thankfully not be needing her in the capacity we feared we would. I do believe she would like to be called auntie by the child, however."

Ionius laughed. "Good, good. It is time that joy returned to these halls. I feel that better times are ahead of us."

Edelgard smiled at him and said, "I believe so as well. A bright future awaits us."

10th day of the Great Tree Moon 1182. Byleth's mindscape.

It was empty here. Hyperion and Sothis were gone from this space. Yet, they had left behind mementos of their time here, and Byleth found himself drawn to this place from time to time. Memories of the tumultuous times they had shared together came alive here.

"What a time it was," he said to himself.

These days, he was busy with court matters rather than military. It was slow-going, but he was learning. He still maintained and improved his martial skills, yet there was no campaign to be fought anymore. So, he had some free time now he did not know how to use. This usually led him here to reminisce a little about the journey head had undertaken to get where he was now in life.

He had begun as a mercenary. Living day by day, fight by fight had been his routine at his father's side. Then Sothis and Hyperion had entered his life. He had become a Professor, then a Knight of the Covenant. Through the war he had become a general as well. During this time, he had come to learn the meaning of love too, which had led to his crowning achievement: becoming the husband to the woman he loved. The two deities had been his companions throughout it all.

"I'm going to miss you two."

Laughter answered him.

He whipped his head around and found Sothis and Hyperion laugh and smile at him.

"Dear Byleth," said Sothis, "You won't be rid of us so fast."

Hyperion added, "Quite right, my friend. We're here to stay. We may have embarked on diverging paths now, but we are connected. Until you breathe your last many years from now, that will remain the same. And until that day, we'll stay headmates."

Excerpt from History of the Founding Years by Yelena Grata, Confederate historian, Imperial Year 3485.

Of the great historical figures of the time, a multitude of records have been made. A handful of the most important of these figures will be explored later in this work. Yet, to fully understand the historical texts of the time, it is worth knowing a great many more. Here, therefore, I have collated a short summary of these historically significant people and their accomplishments after the Unification War, as it has come to be called.

Claude/Khalid, Prince and later King of Almyra

Once the war for Fodlan had been won, Claude directed his attention to the internal matters of the Alliance for a while. He oversaw the dissolution of the Round Table conference and introduced the council of Leicester, a restructured version of the previous system which gave voice to representatives of the commoners.

After handing over the reins of the Alliance to Lorenz, he left Fodlan to assume his position as Prince of Almyra. He soon rose to the position of Crown Prince, which later resulted in a civil war once his father had died. He came out on top and became king. During his reign, he instituted a policy of successful foreign diplomacy. The resulting ties between Almyra and Fodlan became an unbreakable constant.

Marianne & Hilda, Margravines Edmund

Marianne assumed the position of Margravine Edmund after a decade of learning under her adoptive father's tutelage. She became a skilled orator and a highly popular ruler of her territory. She not only furthered the cause of humane treatment for animals but was also responsible for a renaissance of ship-based trade between northern Alliance territories, Almyra, and Sreng.

At her side stood Hilda, sister to the new Count Goneril (Holst). The two eventually married shortly after same-sex marriage had been officially recognised by the fledgeling Confederation's constitution. She worked mainly in the crafting of jewellery and decorative charms, which later expanded into a continent-spanning business. Records say that their relationship was as sweet as it was passionate, and it did not stay childless. The two of them adopted several war orphans, one of whom later inherited the title of Margrave Edmund after the couple's passing.

Ignatz, Knight Virtuoso

Ignatz became a travelling knight. His passion for painting remained throughout his life. Work and hobby found their combination on his trips for his family's trading business. After they had acquired a trade ship, he was often seen on deck. Learning to paint to the swaying of the ship at sea gave him a distinctive style which ended up revolutionising the art world.

This drew the attention of art connoisseurs the world over. Visiting artists brought word of Fodlan back to their homes, rousing interest in its culture. The Victor trading company eventually branched out, leading to art trade with Ignatz at its helm.

Leonie, Mercenary General

Despite the newfound peace of Fodlan, Leonie established a new mercenary company. She spent many months smashing bandit groups while the powers of the continent re-established order. She later found work escorting various trader caravans abroad.

Once her forces had swelled in numbers to such a degree that no contract paid enough to maintain it, Leonie instead moved it to other parts of the world. Although her mercenary army was always held on retainer by the Confederation, she made herself a name in Dagda, suppressing royalist revolts there and liberating the last of the slaves taken from Fodlan. Her actions did much to clean Fodlan's image in the eyes of the Dagdans.

Raphael, Captain of the Guard

Contrary to his family's wishes, Raphael did not become a knight. Instead, he found employ at various places serving as guard. The first long-term employment he found at the Gloucester estate, where he eventually distinguished himself through his vigour and charismatic nature. He was later transferred from the estate guard to the personal guard of Lorenz, the then-Count Gloucester.

Years or experience saw him rise to the position of Captain of the Guard at the same time as Lorenz became the Sovereign Duke, serving in battle during the succession war in Almyra and the expulsion of the rebellious nobles that followed. He saved his liege's life many times, which earned him more than enough money to give his little sister a life of luxury. He is remembered as one of the most virtuous and loyal warriors of his time.

Lysithea, Genius Scholar

With her lifespan restored, Lysithea decided to live her life in full. She was seen frequenting the Imperial Palace in Enbarr often, interacting with the Emperor, to whom she was a surrogate sister. There and in many other places, she conducted valuable research into the nature of magic.

Her discoveries in the field of magic remain revolutionary to this day. There is not a single individual who has invented more spells or written more magical theory than she. The innovations stemming from her catapulted the continent forward into a new age of utility and combat magics alike.

Lorenz, Ruler of Leicester

Western Alliance territory was devastated by the war's end. Lorenz took its restoration as his task during his reign as Count Gloucester. He was invested into the needs of the commonfolk above all while being highly adept at navigating the quagmires of noble politics. He married a peasant woman despite all protests from the nobility, further cementing his legacy as a man of the people.

When Claude left the Alliance and ceded the position of Sovereign Duke to Lorenz, he did much the same for the rest of the Alliance as he had done for Gloucester territory. Corrupt nobles and officials learned to fear his swift justice. After the failed revolt of 1213, he cracked down even harder, leading to government reforms which all but abolished noble privilege.

Dimitri, Just King

Although his ascension to the throne had been plagued by war, Dimitri eventually took to peacetime like a fish to water. He immersed himself in the task of legal and economic reforms. His strong sense of justice carried over into his manner of rulership. His popularity became widespread as the positive impact his reign was having on the country became more noticeable.

Among his greatest accomplishments was the restoration of Duscur. The short-lived Kleiman territory was returned to its native people, who later moved back to rebuild. While this earned him the ire of certain factions within Faerghus, Dimitri stayed steadfast in his beliefs and remained ever popular with the people.

Dedue, King's Bodyguard

Dedue stayed a lifelong friend and bodyguard of Dimitri. His devotion, loyalty and strength are remembered as legendary. He later also became the personal instructor of Dimitri's children once they were old enough to wield training weapons.

His virtuous conduct did much to change the public's negative outlook on the people of Duscur for the better. He is attributed much of the credit for the success of his king's edicts regarding Duscur.

Annette & Ashe, Administrators of the West

House Rowe was exterminated by the end of the war. Its territories bar Castle Gaspard had no rulers, and the west of Faerghus was largely unguarded. Appointed as Count Gaspard, it fell to Ashe to administer the territory.

Annette, his fellow Blue Lion, joined him in this task as a valued friend and welcome help. Although she was clumsy at times, she was a hard worker and capable leader. Together with Ashe, she restored the western Kingdom territories to their former glory.

Felix, Valiant Protector

Felix became a warrior of unparalleled prowess and strength. Although war in Fodlan was now a thing of the past, there were still tribes in Sreng who sought to raid from time to time. Felix was always there to defend Faerghus, fighting at the forefront.

As other tribes of Sreng began forging friendly relations with Faerghus, they often sent warriors to help suppress the raids of more hostile tribes. During one such joint operation, Felix fell in love with a warrior woman from Sreng. Their relationship and eventual marriage created a precedent which eventually led to friendly relations with the entire country.

Mercedes, Pious Cleric

Mercedes left the Kingdom to join the Church of Seiros. She quickly rose through the ranks due to her piety and studious diligence. Her gently and friendly nature made her extremely popular among her peers and the people alike.

It was not long after Seiros had stepped down from her position of Archbishop that Mercedes was promoted to Cardinal. Only a short few years later, Seiros' successor stepped down as well, leaving Mercedes the position of Archbishop. She continued the Church reforms of her predecessor with great success.

Sylvain & Ingrid, Knightly Couple

Sylvain and his betrothed, later wife, Ingrid became respected knights and earned much honour in the field. During the years when Sreng still raided parts of the Kingdom, they fought side by side at the front.

Once Margrave Gautier retired, Sylvain assumed a more administrative role. Ingrid remained a knight. She was nevertheless rarely out in the field, as she was often confined to their home for medical reasons; for their union was very fruitful, resulting in sixteen children. This large family tested and honed the couple's administrative skills. Under their rule, Gautier territory thrived as a producer of raw materials for the budding heavy industry of Galatea territory, leading to the development of great wealth in both.

Edelgard & Byleth, Legendary Emperors

Though their marriage was made in haste, it proved to be a lifelong commitment. They stayed true to each other and their family, which ended up with only two children, almost twenty years apart from each other. They did not regard this as a tragedy, and they claimed their entire lives that all the children of the Adrestian Empire were, in part, their children too.

They spent said lives living up to their self-given parental roles. Sweeping social reforms changed the way of the Empire forever, as Crests and noble lineage rapidly declined in importance. A meritocratic system of government was soon implemented. Disadvantaged people such as orphans, infirm individuals and the homeless soon found their lot improving through carefully tailored social programs. During the reign of Edelgard and her consort Byleth, the Empire experienced an era of hitherto unseen prosperity and happiness.

Hubert, Master of the Shadows

Hubert's life was marked by his unshakable and absolute loyalty to Edelgard. He served her until his dying day with nigh-fanatical devotion. He tolerated no threat to her or her family. It is said that whole legions of assassins found their end at his hands.

The espionage and intelligence networks established by Hubert count among the myths of these days. The exact details remain classified to this day, but their impact was enormous. At least five different wars can trace their origins back to him. The reasons are largely unknown, but it is speculated that these were retaliatory actions against the employers of the aforementioned assassins.

Dorothea, Mother of Orphans

Despite being an official concubine, Dorothea was never seen or heard frequenting the chambers of the Emperor and her consort. She was instead quartered in the palace orphanage, where she spent most of her days.

In the name of the Imperial family, she undertook many journeys across the Empire, establishing and overseeing orphanages in their name. She soon became known as the "mother without father." This was a mocking title at first, but she took it and made it her own. Soon, it became a titled of endearment. Many a statue was erected in her honour by those whom she had looked after.

Linhardt, Scholar of the Divine Blood

Linhardt forsook his noble title and heritage as soon as he could. He instead devoted his life to various topics of research, most prominently the field of Crestology. In this capacity, he became an apprentice to Professor Hanneman, although his attendance record was spotty at best.

His research led to significant discoveries into the nature of divine blood. The analysis of its properties he undertook was the foundation of most modern methods of treatment for blood-related diseases and Crest-related mutations in the human genome.

Caspar, Mythical Garrison Commander

When the Empire undertook its first exploratory missions southward of Morfis and westward of Dagda, Caspar was among the first volunteers to accompany them. He lived for a good fight, and the prospect of encountering pirates was enticing to his mind.

He became the garrison commander of the first outpost erected on the Uninhabited Continent (Vinala today). He held it against dozens, potentially hundreds, of raids from pirates and other seafaring bandits who sought to raid the newly erected and insufficiently fortified settlement. The city which later grew out of this outpost was named Casparia after him.

Ferdinand, Last Duke of Adrestia

Upon conclusion of the war, Ferdinand returned to Aegir territory to care for his people and his half-siblings. While they carried the trauma of their time in Nuvelle with them for their entire lives, they thrived under their brother's care. They administered his territory with him. Ferdinand's rule was known as fair, just and generous.

He never married, and neither did his siblings. When he died, over four decades after Duke Gerth, the Duchy of Aegir was dissolved. Ferdinand's legacy persisted, however, and he became an icon of justice throughout the land.

Petra & Bernadetta, Queens of Brigid

After receiving a favour from Eros, Bernadetta soon began reciprocating Petra's affection. Their romance was passionate and loving. They ruled Brigid together for nearly seventy years in a reign marked by unprecedented prosperity for the island country as it became a centre of trade.

Due to the extremely close nature of their relationship, they opted to adopt an heir with blood ties to their own family and at least one other clan. The chosen heir was the great-grandson of King Keor's younger sister. Their action set a trend for future generations. Half a century later, it had become common practice for clans to adopt an heir, even if the current head had children of their own. Brigid's politics were forever changed.

Monica, Undaunted Baroness

The loss of one of her hands barely bothered Moncia in her daily life. She retired from fighting and instead became the new Baroness Ochs after her father had abdicated and presented himself for trial for his illegal employment of levies during the war.

Although less significant that many others of her time, Monica still became a well-loved and skilled administrator. Her reforms were less of a social and more of an architectural nature. Her innovations combined fortifications with utility and public hygiene, a necessary concern wit her war wound bothering her from time to time. The Ochsian style of architecture remains her largest cultural legacy to the world.

Seiros, Beloved Older Sister

Seiros retired from her position of Archbishop shortly after the war. She continues to live in Zanado to this day, enjoying her retirement and enjoying the kinship of the Nabateans living there. The children of Lady Sothis and Lord Hyperion adore her and frequent her domicile often. Her own children and descendants are much the same.

Although she is no longer in the business of making history, the ecclesiastical reforms she launched before her retirement have led to a long-lasting religious peace between the many faiths of the world. Her memoirs, which she published herself, have become a legend for the people of the Confederation.

Cichol, First Grand Marshal of the Confederation

During the period of reorganisation, Cichol continued to serve as the headmaster of the Officers Academy and advisor of the Archbishop. Once Mercedes ascended to the office, however, he left Garreg Mach together with his daughter Cethleann.

The next time he re-emerged, he did so in Imperial Year 1190 at the Palace of the Confederation in former Acheron territory. There, he was appointed as the first Grand Marshal of the Confederate military. He formed it from the ground up in cooperation with Byleth and Jeralt.

Cethleann, Saint of Duscur

Cethleann stayed at her father's side at first, but she went her own way eventually. She became a healer of great renown, healing free of cost any she encountered.

Her path eventually led her to Duscur, where she finally settled down. It was due to her presence that Duscur joined the Confederation in 1188. She quickly became a cultural icon in the country, which she remains to this day. She continues to live in Duscur with many of her descendants.

Indech & Macuil, Recluse Duo

The two remaining Saints disappeared after the war's conclusion. To this day, they have not been seen again in person, although tales of them are heard every know and then.

What is known is that they produce exquisite weapons and armour to this day, sending them to Nabateans serving in the Confederate military. Their works remain the finest of those not made by divine beings.

Catherine, Devoted Knight

Never leaving Seiros' side until her dying day, Catherine is remembered as an icon of loyalty. Although her history is spotty, it is known that she spent her days in Seiros' company teaching aspiring young knights how to wield a sword.

Catherine's contributions to the annals of history are her service record in the Knights of Seiros and the school of fencing she founded after her retirement. Although swords have fallen out of use in the last centuries, her style is still practiced for artistic and recreational purposes.

Shamir, Hero of the Badlands

Shamir left the Knights of Seiros and Fodlan after Cyril had finished his apprenticeship under her. She returned to her homeland of Dagda, serving as an unofficial envoy between it and Fodlan.

Contrary to her wishes, her exploits in the bandit-infested countryside became the stuff of legends. After Leonie, she was the biggest contributor to peace in the rural regions of southern Dagda.

Cyril, Master at Arms

Much like Catherine, Cyril stayed devoted to Seiros for his entire life. After finishing his apprenticeship under Shamir, he followed them to Zanado. Little else is known about his personal life.

While in Zanado, he served in the city guard, rising in the ranks until he held the position of Master at Arms. The quality of the troops under his tutelage became famous throughout the land.

Hanneman, Father of Crestology

Although he was not young anymore, Hanneman continued his research into Crests with his new apprentice Linhardt. He remained engrossed in his work until his death in 1207.

Among his greatest discoveries was the creation of weapons mimicking Heroes' Relics without the need for a Crest or even a Dragon sign.

Manuela, Songstress Physician

After the war's conclusion, Manuela continued to teach at the Officers Academy for two more years. Later, she retired and moved to Enbarr, where she took up a job at a minor research institute. Her final retirement many years later was spend as a caregiver in one of Dorothea's orphanages.

The most significant discovery of her time at the research institute was the first grand formula of ritual magic chants. This combination of music and magic had not been seen before, yet its possibilities appeared endless.

Yuri and Jeritza, Lords of the Underground

Once the Confederation had been founded, its executive council recognised the need for observation of the criminal elements of Fodlan. Yuri was instated, under highest classification, as Lord of Underground Activities. His gang expanded to a continent-wide organisation which regulated criminals from within.

Jeritza joined him as one of his chief enforcers. The Death Knight was a fearsome figure that demoralised all opposition wherever he appeared. It is unclear whether he engaged in a romantic relationship with his employer eventually, but correspondence with his sister Mercedes appear to indicate as much.

Balthus, King of Grappling

The man famous for his gambling debts eventually took a steady job working for Yuri. He eventually managed to repay his debts thanks to egregious cuts to his salary. He found out only much later that these cuts were also funding a retirement fund Yuri had set up for him.

He became a popular figure at organised wrestling matches in his later thirties and continued that career for nearly a decade. The wrestling sports culture of the following centuries find their origin in his exploits.

Hapi, Stargazing Apostle

When the war had ended, Hapi returned to her home village of Timotheos. While she was there, she took up the study of astronomy and eventually joined the clergy of Hyperion.

The results of her studies were incredibly accurate star charts with such little margin of error that today's scientists are baffled at her ability to create them. In the process, she also managed to (according to records she left behind) unintentionally popularise the Cult of Hyperion. She disappeared shortly after her parents' deaths. It is unconfirmed whether she became a psychopomp or not, but eyewitness accounts say that she never looked a day over twenty-five.

Constance, Restored Noble

In late 1181, Constance took up rulership of her territory, and began to immediately revitalise its ruined capital as well as the underdeveloped rural territories.

Under her rule, trade with Albinea came to flourish once more. Trade with Brigid and Dagda grew as well, and prosperity returned to Nuvelle territory. Constance also continued to impress with her eccentric innovations in the field of magic. Her leather-to-liquorice conversion spell, while initially ridiculed, saved many a soldier's life in the field over the years.

Beon, First Consul of Nabatea

Gaining much popularity during the last battle of the war earned Beon the title of Consul of Nabatea. His seat of government was situated in former Western Church territory, where the Republic's senate convene to this day. Little else is known about his life.

His term of office lasted only four years, after which he did not accept his re-election. He nevertheless laid many of the foundations of the Republic of New Nabatea with his competent governance.

Jeralt, Trainer of the Palace Guard

After the war, Jeralt followed his son to Enbarr, where he became the trainer of the Palace Guard's fresh recruits. Only after nearly a decade of this service did he retire for good.

His service record before and during the war is extensive. The team system he developed changed the face of warfare for centuries to come, and his competent and caring leadership remains an example to all modern military commanders.

Jana, Captain of the Palace Guard

Much like Jeralt, she followed her little brother. She took command of the reformed Palace Guard and served in this capacity for many years. Although she remained childless herself, she helped raise the children of the Imperial family with great love and care.

While there is little in terms of exploits on her continued record due to the peaceful reign of Edelgard and Byleth, Hubert remarked her diligence and ability in his own records. It is likely that she served in many classified operations.

Lars, Valiant Knight

Lars continued squiring under Byleth for one more year. He was knighted immediately after, and became Byleth's personal bodyguard.

Not much else is known about him, only that his swordsmanship was among the best of his time, and that many new recruits learned to fear his ire more than Jeralt's.

Haran, General of Agartha

As the only high-ranking Agarthan officer left after the war, Haran assumed full control over the military of Agartha. He reorganised it to separate it from its policing function and trained new officers.

He eventually retired from the position after nearly twenty years of continued service. His army reforms severely reduced the number of vectors for corruption and abuse of power.

Philip, Nadja & Nikola, Clergy Beneath the Earth

The clergy of Hyperion continued their service to their God with much fervour. They spent several decades in Shambhala, serving as pillars of the community. They still frequent the city often.

As Agartha began founding new settlements in the strips of land in former Hrym territory they had been granted by the peace treaty, the clergy began to wander. Their work eventually took them all across Fodlan as the Cult of Hyperion increased in size.

Anselma, Cleric of the Underworld

Much like the others, Anselma continued her service to Hyperion and still does so. She did, however, move to Enbarr to live together with her daughter Edelgard and her family. She continued to stay there until her death.

Ever since, she has taken up office in the Underworld, where she helps keep order among the many souls of the dead. Communication on such matters is sparse, but it is said that she reconnected with Ionius IX in death, and that they have come together in genuine love.

Kronya, Goddess of Devotion

In the history of the world, there has never been nor will there ever be anyone as devoted to Lord Hyperion and Lady Sothis as Lady Kronya. After the war's end, she served as High Priestess of Hyperion for many decades, and later also assumed the position of High Priestess of Sothis (a position higher in the ecclesiastical hierarchy of the Church of Seiros but with absolutely no secular power).

It took many years for her to worm her way as deeply into her Gods' hearts as she desired, but she eventually succeeded. She was included in their union in a widely known but privately held marriage ceremony. Only a short while later, she was deified and became the Goddess of Devotion. Their union has remained childless by her own choice, but she is respected as a second mother by all of Sothis and Hyperion's children.

…

AN: Hello there, my dear readers!

I hope you liked where I went with this first epilogue chapter. I think I wrapped everything up. Should I have missed something or someone, I apologise. As it is, it's nearly time to say goodbye for good to the characters of this story.

The second epilogue chapter will likely be shorter than this one, although it will take some time for me to post it since I want to finish the first chapter of my next project and publish them both on the same day. They're hopefully out before the new year.

Once more, a big thank you to all my readers, the followers, those who have favourited, and the reviewers. Your continued support have made the journey of writing this story a lot more enjoyable than otherwise.

Well, that's it for today, folks. Until next time. Stay happy and healthy, everyone!