The journey back from the Ynnungaap was spent in silence. VS Unity was battered but Eirn had assured everyone that it could still take them back to Pellow Village, and he and the other gnomes were keeping an eye on things below deck while the Hero, Izaac, Riadne, Yashta and Mazurek remained above, each trying to process what had just happened.

A flash of yellow light drew the Hero's attention, and they turned to where Pandora had appeared back from the Plane of Elemental Spirits. "So?"

Pandora shook her head, her expression sombre. "He isn't there."

They hadn't thought that they could hurt any more than they were, but her words still send a dull thud of pain through them. "I don't understand! I thought Soulweavers go to the Plane of Elemental Spirits after they die!"

"They do," Pandora replied softly. "I don't know why he isn't there." She lowered her head, reaching out to the Hero through their bond. "I'm sorry…"

Izaac looked up from where he was comforting Riadne, who was lying in his lap and covering her face as she wept quietly. "Someone has to notify his family."

"I will do it."

"We didn't take Vaal…" Mazurek mumbled.

The Hero's expression tightened. "He ran away. I don't care about him."

Footsteps sounded on the deck, and attention was drawn to Eirn having joined them. "Sorry to interrupt, but we are reaching the vortex. The Void Drive is powered up by the Ynnungaap Core energy, we might be able to pierce through, but it will be a rough ride."

The Hero gave a bitter laugh. "It can't be much worse than what we had to endure getting here. Let's go, I'm done with this place…"

As Eirn had warned, the return back to Pellow Village was rough, VS Unity shuddering and making concerning splintering noises as the Void Drive pushed it through the vortex, the crew looking up from inside their cabins, holding tightly to each other, but eventually the ship made it through, and in comparison it was smooth sailing back to the dock at Pellow Village.

The gnomes and the Soulweavers were the first to disembark, making their way back to the Equilibrium Gate and Ravenloss, then Mazurek's crew and finally the six of them, taking one last glance around the village sealed in the Void – the Hero in particular taking in the statue of Pandora at the entrance – before passing through the gate. As the last of them, Yashta, emerged on the other side there was a rumbling sound and the purple translucent barrier became solid, the glowing key runes growing dull once again, as they had been when the Hero had first journeyed to the underground town.

"The void," Riadne breathed, looking around. "It's not here anymore." Sure enough, where there was once a void path leading to the Equilibrium Gate, and floating houses, were now regular cobblestones like the rest of Ravenloss, and houses planted firmly on the ground.

The Hero nodded at the structure behind them, Pandora having appeared next to them. "And the Equilibrium Gate sealed itself. I don't think we'll be going back."

"Probably for the best," Eirn mused. "So, this… is where we part ways."

The Hero closed their eyes and nodded again. "Thank you everyone… it has been quite a journey. And…and in the end, Tomix did stop Aspar…"

"Yes he did," Izaac replied quietly. "Take care, Hero."

Riadne offered a slightly watery smile. "Visit us someday."

"I will."

"I will stay here, in Ravenloss, should you need me, Hero," Yashta intoned.

"I shall always be by your side," Pandora added softly.

Mazurek gave a wistful sigh. "VS Unity was a beautiful lady, but I must get back to me own ship."

"Sail safe," the Hero looked down at their hands, which were shaking slightly. "This may be where we part ways, but we'll be seeing each other soon. At the…"

Riadne placed a hand on their shoulder. "We'll be there."

The Hero couldn't remember much of the next few days, passing as if they were a dream (or a nightmare), just snippets; leading the Soulweaving students and teachers back to Edelia, Danyel sitting stony-faced at his desk when they delivered the news, a lilac elemental spirit hovering beside him, Barvra falling back into a chair and covering her face with her hands, while Katia stood there in shock.

Somehow they were able to make it back to Falconreach, practically stumbling through the door of the inn, Serenity taking one look at them and gently guiding them up to their usual room and sitting them down on the bed, closing the door behind her with the promise of bringing them some fresh baked bread and soup.

The Hero went through the motions of removing their soulweaving uniform as if in a trance, that was only broken when they got to their belt, the belt that held Pandora's cube.

The belt Tomix wove for them.

The sound that emerged from their throat as they sank to their knees was barely human, a mixture of sobbing and howling, the purest sound of grief that sent their dragon hurtling into their lap, snuggling into their chest, that summoned Pandora to the material world as she wrapped her arms around them in a hug they couldn't feel, their knuckles turning white as they gripped the belt, as if this physical memory of Tomix could bring him back.

All too soon, it was time.

"Does anyone have something to add?" Danyel asked once he'd finished his speech, looking down at the gravestone nestled under the sprawling tree branches.

"I do," Izaac spoke up as Riadne sniffled quietly beside him. "At least, I think I'll go first. Tomix was a friend. I can remember the day the two of us first met at Edelia. No one could have ever guessed at the time that we would ever get along together. We were complete opposites. I was the quiet, studious one. He was the angsty teen and a terrible prankster. We were really a terrible match for each other. We should have been sworn enemies really. Each of us had our own childhood issues to deal with... and yet we still became the very best of friends. I think that's the most important thing to say about him."

He paused for a moment to compose himself, Riadne's sniffles having turned to sobs. "In all times, before he was banished or on his journey after wherever he went, even if it might not have always been…requited, he was a good friend to everyone that was important to him. Loyal from the beginning... right up to the very end."

"TOMIX!" Riadne wailed, falling to her knees and weeping uncontrollably, Izaac dropping down next to her and wrapping his arms around her.

Mazurek sighed, looking down at a small amulet she held in her hand. "Ye know, 'luv, yer not the first man to have taken up on an adventure like that. I've seen many. Comin' in with yer handsome, pretty looks and yer fighting skills. Promisin' a wild adventure like no other… Life be filled with plenty of short lived and passing acquaintances. Aye, a pirate's life it is. Saying that you be no more that though… I'd be wrong. Listen… I mayen't have pretty words or fond memories like yer friends 'ere. I were the ship's Captain, surely, but ye… ye were sailin' in yer own storm as well, weren't ye? One so terrible and so violent, ye knew that, no matter how ye'd sail, no matter how hard ye fought against it, eventually… ye'd sink and join Davey's Locker."

She lowered her head and added quietly. "Still kept to the wheel though. Ye still sailed because ye knew that though ye might go down tryin', ye could still save the one thing that mattered. Ye could still save yer crew. Ye were a brave Captain to us all, Tomix, 'cause ye had the true heart of one."

One by one, everyone slowly left, whispering their goodbyes, until there was just the Hero and Danyel left. For a while, neither said anything until Danyel, without turning around, spoke hollowly.

"You didn't keep your promise."

The Hero said nothing as he left, leaving them alone with the grave of their best friend, taking several deep breaths before stepping up to it. "Hey… You know... I'm not good at goodbyes either. It's not that I wouldn't be able to find the words for it. I just…I just don't really like them."

Pausing, they looked up at the sky, the setting sun painting the clouds orange and yellow. "It's strange... right now, memories are flashing by my eyes, flooding my mind. A flood so strong, it hurts. But I'm not about to die or anything. And it's not my life I'm seeing, it's… It's our adventures."

A small smile formed as they looked back down again. "Like that first Mogloween... you appearing out of nowhere just as troubles were starting. Ten seconds later, you tell me to die. That was good one. And then we kicked Greed's butt for the first time. Hah! The look on his face when we had foiled his plans for Falconreach! But that wasn't even the beginning, wasn't it? I…I only actually got to know you when we met again in Ravenloss. Spelunking through Ravenloss was completely crazy and dangerous. Running through alleys and places filled with angry half spider, half human Chaosweavers out for our blood. But at the same time…so many interesting things happened. For all of Ravenloss' darkness, it did have plenty of curious mysteries and stories to uncover. Embodiments, traces of Vaal and Murk at many turns… We met and made friends. First Riadne and her, heh, feisty personality at the Weaver Emporium. And then you reunited and I met Izaac at Mystlyk Museum. And before I knew it... you and your SpiritLooms had become a familiar and friendly sight."

A breeze ruffled the Hero's hair poking out from their Soulweaving hood as they inhaled, almost lost in the memories. "Your hijinks with Riadne… Your determination to see your mission through…" The smile faded. "That wasn't our last adventure though. We had one more. One that was just as crazy, adventuring and dangerous, if not more so. And now…it's coming to a close. That's why…" A sob escaped past their lips, tears falling yet they pushed on, determined to get their message out, for Tomix, and for themself. "T-That's WHY... I-I want to s-SAY…THANK YOU!"

"It was fun… It was so very, very fun to go on adventures with you…"

Disclaimer: DragonFable is owned by Artix Entertainment. Dialogue taken from 'Tomix's Saga Epilogue'.