CHAPTER 49: GOOD NEWS

The Pomefiore reunion was the last, as the housewarden was much slower than before. Even relying on Jill's staff to help carry his weight, Vil also needed support from Rook and Epel who were walking at either side of him. He made a mental note to never look down on either one of them ever again.

"VIL!" the Pomefiore boys cried in excitement. "Vil, you're back!"

They initially believed that Vil's elderly form was some disguise or advanced makeup, as if he was cast as someone's stern grandfather in an upcoming film. But when they saw him close-up, the Pomefiores realized that this was all too real. And then began the slew of questions.

"Everyone, please, remain calm!" Rook cried. "I assure you, Vil will be alright!" But his voice shook with worry.

"Hey, you're crowding us!" Epel pushed off another Pomefiore.

"Epel!" Vil scolded, then coughed, nearly doubling over.

"…Vil. You've seen better days, huh."

Myron Wallace strode in front, with his purple-robed dormmates parting to give him space. Myron gazed sadly at the trio, then brushed a small lock of dark hair away from his face. "You know," he said, "a lot of people asked me what was going to happen to you. And according to them… it was this. Of course, nobody believed what they saw from me…"

"Always right, as usual," Vil harrumphed. "Why can't your predictions ever turn out well for me?"

Another Pomefiore boy spoke up from the back. "But… why are you an old man, sir? No one else is… I mean, Housewarden Riddle also looks older, but…"

"I made a sacrifice to save someone's life," Vil answered. "That's all that's important to know now."

"I was made housewarden in a rush because someone was trying to play the hero," Myron said dryly. His tone softened. "But… do you want me to stay on top, Vil? Or do you want to retake your place? I won't fight you on it—honestly, you could beat me in a duel even in that form."

"Good question," Epel said. "Vil's not a teen anymore, so he's too old for Night Raven…"

"I… I don't know what to do," Vil said quietly.

"Then let me give you a solution," said a familiar voice.

Vil turned to see none other than Malleus Draconia, with a small band of Diasomnias in tow. Jill Bones and Grim were there; the girl was resting against Silver's side. Riddle Rosehearts was also in the group, seeming expectant.

"The Daughter of Man told me about your heroic actions," Malleus went on. "Had it not been for your group's efforts, Grim's life would be null and void."

"Yeah, and the world would've been drowned in blot, too! Phantoms everywhere!" Grim added.

"WHAT?!" Sebek cried in his too-loud voice, jolting Jill upright.

"What were the Watchmen doing…?" Silver wondered, his face drawn with grief.

"Oh my. In that case, Briar Valley would've been destroyed as well," Lilia said gravely. Somehow he didn't seem surprised at the concept of world destruction. "In which case, it's only fitting that you receive a gift."

"What kind of gift?" Vil asked.

"Your life energy, of course," Malleus said. "I have more than enough vitality—so I shall share some with you."

He took both Vil's and Riddle's hands, and began to glow an unearthly green. The others watched in amazement as Riddle's hair reverted to red, and the wrinkles faded away from Vil's skin. In a few short seconds, the two housewardens were completely back to the way they were before this whole mess started. Malleus stopped glowing and dropped their hands with an expectant smile.

"I feel so much better… so much livelier!" Riddle said happily, pulling his fingers through his crimson hair. "Thank you, Malleus!"

"Thank you can't possibly be enough!" Vil was shaking in glee, looking at his reflection in his smartphone. "My youth, my life, my beauty, my career… it's all back!" He made a dramatic show of throwing Jill's staff to the ground, and then bowed humbly before Malleus. "You gave me everything back."

"The pleasure is mine," Malleus assured the two.

"Even so, I feel like I should repay you…" Riddle wracked his brain. "Oh! I could invite you all to our next unbirthday party."

"An unbirthday party… I've never been to one before," Malleus mused curiously.

"That sounds like fun! We may take you up on your offer," Lilia decided.

Vil was swarmed with his crowd of Pomefiores, Rook and Epel still at his side as always, celebrating his regained life. Jill could briefly see Vil hugging the other two Pomefiores tightly, with Rook dragging Myron into the embrace against the brunette's will. Just like a nightmare that faded away once you awoke… the gloom of the Isle of Woe was beginning to vanish piece by piece.

"I'd better get back to the Heartslabyuls, I know they're still worried about me," Riddle said. He gave one last thanks and then excused himself.

"Excellent job, Malleus!" Sebek said. "I'd expect no less diplomacy from Briar Valley's future ruler!"

"That was very nice of you," Silver echoed with a smile.

"Dang, Steve's got power to spare, huh?" Grim muttered to Jill. "I gotta train hard so I can keep up!"

"I don't think either of us could keep up with Steve," Jill laughed shakily.

Malleus turned back to Jill. "You've been through quite the ordeal," he said. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"You've done more than enough," Jill assured him. "I just hope you haven't been worrying too much when we were taken away."

"Malleus was quite worried indeed," Lilia chuckled. Malleus sighed at the reminder.

"I did see something interesting, though—a special arrangement of stars that happens once every few thousand years," Malleus admitted.

Jill's mouth hung open. "Whaaa?" she cried. "You mean I was stuck at Styx, and you got to see a super-cool star alignment that only shows up once for a few thousand years?" She pouted. "That's not fair!"

Malleus smirked. "Sorry. Maybe you'll see it in a few thousand years."

Jill was about to harrumph and curse the cosmos, but she noticed the faculty finally breaching the sea of students. All her teachers from her various classes, as well as her part-time boss Sam. Sam waved at Jill, which she returned, but the rest of the staff were busy in getting answers to this mess.

And then there was that familiar rush of black feathers not too far away from her.

"Mr. Crowley!" Jill yelled excitedly. She rushed to him, and the weary headmage raised up his hands to fend away a hug. "I was so worried, you were gone, and Idia told me you were at the TWMC, and—"

"Yes, I was," Crowley sighed. "Styx so generously dropped me off at the Committee headquarters, where I had to divulge the whole mess we've been keeping. The Skeleton Key, Minuet-Hand, the overblots, all of it. Suffice to say, nobody was happy… but at least we have many more mages on the alert."

"Good…" Jill admitted quietly. She supposed there wasn't much excuse to keep her skeletons in her closet, either. The ones that were forced to blot against their will… they deserved to know why.

"Hey, Jill, what're you whisperin' about with Crowley?" Grim demanded from the ground. "I wanna hear too!"

"Well—" Jill tried to say.

"THERE YOU ARE!" cried three voices. Before Jill knew it, she and Grim were hugged by the ghostly trio.

"Oh, we were scared to death… or scared to life? Afterlife? Bah, whatever!" Philip said. "We were so worried about you two!"

"We thought you would never come home!" Gregg said, and he started to shed large, translucent tears.

"Hmph…" Ezekiel was the first to pull away. "Still the pair of troublemakers, aren't you? To think, so soon after both of you tried to run away, you were both taken… and…" He sniffled, then turned invisible. "Don't look at me!"

"Aw, come here, you old fuddy-duddy," Jill chuckled, and Ezekiel showed up again for a tighter hug.

With everyone united and celebrating, two people's absences stood out. Idia and Ortho Shroud.

How were those two going to come back and help set everything else right…?