Instead of blinking back into existence in the Chaos Tower, I open my eyes to the frosty outskirts, the hill right behind the Tower. I look back. An opening has been carved into the back of the structure. One by one, the party members that survived the battle blink before me. Teleported.
I strain my eyes. I'm convinced that all of my party survived. However, I could be wrong. The brother god could've got them at the last moment. Same with Mist.
As if answering my worry, Mist appears right before my feet, stirring about with a sleepy haze. Imprinter? he says weakly.
He is much too heavy for me to pick up now. I fall beside him, wrapping his neck in an embrace. "Mist, I'm so glad you made it."
He snuggles against me, licking my cheek. You were amazing in there, Hope! I've never seen such power.
I hold him tighter, not daring to tell him that my days as a mage are over now. I look up, seeing Avery and Princess run toward me. Behind them, Juno.
I stand up and meet my party members. We embrace tighter than we ever had before. Princess and even Avery squeals. Juno kisses me on the cheek.
I smile, knowing that we all prevented a great war. "Could you really believe that we did that?" I say. "And that we survived?"
Behind them, Lake, the king of the Golden City, joins Nathaniel as they walk up the crest of the hill. For some reason, everyone who survived looks at our party. No, they look at me.
*
A formal robe wraps around my shivering body. I stand alone in a waiting chamber at the Great Court in the Golden City. I keep my eyes on the burning lantern, on the door that will open any second now. They will barge in, through the carpeted floor and the ornate decor, gold and silver furnishings, and demand my presence.
I don't even have Mist with me.
I prepare my statement, even though none of my words could ever save me.
After the battle with the brother god, Lake confirmed that scrolls could now work since the Tower no longer gave off a malicious presence. He gave us all scrolls to the Golden City. Before my party and I could celebrate, however, Nathaniel informed me that the brother god left me with one massive blow. He revealed, before he died, that I offered him part of my soul.
The elders immediately got word. My soul might not have given the brother god much power, but it jump started his quest to avenge his sister. Therefore, I am responsible for the war almost breaking out. And for Nathaniel's death. None of my party's protests could save me. I still remember Princess screaming out, Avery looking at me in horror. Juno put up the most fight as officials ushered me away into the Great Court. Mist had to be subdued by the other dragon that joined the fight.
Closing my eyes, I think about what it would be like to be executed. Could I find out about the afterlife that the goddess was talking about so soon? We achieved so much by slaying the brother god, but my choices still have an effect on me and the rest of Blossom World.
The door slams open. I look up, expecting the guards to finally take me. Instead, Juno, Avery, and Princess rush in. The girls wrap me in a hug. Juno speaks quickly, "They will question you on trial, but you need to defend yourself. Tell them that you had no choice but to accept the brother god...."
I smile at him, despite this situation. "I will tell the truth. Where's Mist?"
"Outside," Avery says. "He threw a fit and got knocked out. The other dragon is watching over him."
"Oh Mist..." I say.
Princess gives me a brave look. "We will be there. We support you, Hope."
I nod as the guard comes in to usher them away. Another three guards lead me out into the main courtroom. I have to stifle a gasp. All of the elders are here, including Elder River in the front row. I can't catch his expression, too busy forcing myself to put one foot in front of the other. Nathaniel's ghost sits with the three other instructors, and then, at the helm of the judge's bench, another elder.
I sit at the table before him. Across from me, Lake sits at another table similar to mine. Will he be here to deliver the final blow?
The judge elder motions to the jury to sit down. Grim faces look out toward me. Several scowls. The judge reads, "We are here to discuss the fate of Hope Zhong.
"Hope committed a grave crime against Blossom World. He sold his soul to the brother god, who brought destruction upon the three continents. For a crime so grave, the punishment should be death."
The judge continues to read out my fate. How blind I was to sell myself, how I vainly tried to redeem myself in the Chaos Tower, when the damage was already done. I put too many in danger, yet I tried to hide the fact of my role in the war almost erupting. The judge says several formalities, that the jury's table has the right to vote, that I will be put in jail until the execution date if that's what they so decide.
I put my head down. When it's time for me to speak, I stand up and try to focus on the polished wood furniture instead of the eyes, so many eyes from hundreds that sit in the circles that spiral up like an arena's.
Gulping, I prepare to give my case. Already exhausted from the trek to the Chaos Tower and the battle with the brother god, I don't know if I have it in me to speak. My truth, which will damn me in the end.
Lake, the king of the Golden City, stands up and walks beside me. He places a hand on my chest. "I, the king of the Golden City, will pardon Hope Zhong for his crimes."
A gasp goes out from the crowd. Even the judge seems stunned, not knowing what to do with his hands. The jury looks from me to the king, confused. But did they know why the king was sitting on the opposite table? Could the judge have had a supposition?
"King Lake, you may only give a pardon once every year," the judge says. "Will you use it on Hope, despite his grave crime?"
Lake nods without another word. "He has my pardon."
"Most cities will not allow him citizenship," the judge says.
"He will have safety in this city," the king says. "I will make sure of it."
Still stunned, the judge begins to read out the details of the pardon. The other cities will be free to make their own judgements about me, but the king will give me his protection.
I look at him, seeing so much of Juno in him. He looks royal in his golden armor, and a new scar rests on his cheek. Still, he does not move when I'm moved to tears. Instead, he lets me fall into him, wrapping him in an embrace of pure relief.
The judge wraps up the session, the guards funneling away. The crowd also leaves, while my party climbs down the stairs to meet me. I can only stare at the king, Lake. At everything he did for me.
"Why?" I say.
Lake gives a small smile, offsetting his warrior-like form. The gold in his eyes becomes even more evident. "I had my eye on you, Hope."
"Ever since Juno joined our party?" I say. I study his strong figure, the armor that brings out his eyes. He definitely resembles Juno, with his maturity only bringing out the fatherly aspect of him. Immediately, the goddess' words come back to me. But even without them, I would be convinced that the king was destined to be Blossom World's hero.
Lake shakes his head. He sweeps back his sweat-dampened hair, black and wavy like his son's. "Before that. When you chose to become a mage, I was alerted to the difference in your powers. Since then, I kept a careful eye on you. For all of your adventures, I was there with you. Trusting in my son and the rest of your party to give you protection."
"Dad!" Juno says. He flushes. Did Juno catch the last part of what his father said?
I give Avery and Princess a big hug. It seems that lately, we might just hug each other to death. I can't help but laugh in relief, at the enormity of what we faced in the past day.
Juno blushes when he looks at me, and he gives me a wide grin. If Lake always watched me... then he must know what his son means to me.
Lake, as if reading my mind, nods in my direction. "You must be separated from your party for a while," he says. "They must head back to Halo Island for the meantime. Although I know what you mean to my son, I still have plans for his marriage. And the first couple of months in amnesty will be hardest for you. Figure it out with your dragon by your side."
I nod. Of course, I can't have everything back—not even my party, who I now see as family.
"What do you mean!" Princess so much as screeches. "You can't join our party any longer?"
I nod back. I raise my hands, empty of its mythic wand. "I lost all my power after the fight. I can't even use one skill."
Avery studies my hands, then flicks her eyes back up to my face. "We won't be separated from you."
"You have to leave Hope alone for a few months," Lake decides. "Then, you may come back to visit him. I'm not saying that you folks have to stop being a team. But this is what's best for him while he deals with the fallout."
My party nods gravely. Juno looks conflicted, glaring at his dad then back at me. He strides forward to hug me, kissing me on the cheek. "I won't let you go," he says.
I take in the moment in his arms, yet knowing that we will most likely never live out our lives in love. He is meant for royalty. A decent marriage. I am destined for... the outskirts, surviving in amnesty.
Lake allows us to head outside and meet Mist, who awakens as soon as I tap his head. He gives me a great roar, as if seeing me as the enemy. Until his face softens. Hope? Is that really you? I thought they took you away.... Unless we are both in heaven now?
I laugh, giving him a hug around his sturdy body. I kiss his cheek. "Don't worry, Mist. Lake gave me a pardon. I don't have to be executed."
Thank the great dragon! Mist proclaims.
Lake and my party all burst into laughter. Turns out, the dragon didn't keep his words to himself.
*
Lake allows me to head with my party to the Golden City airport. The whole time, I take in the gold inlays in the road and the buildings, with a decent amount of silver too. The people glance at our party, as word of my pardon has spread. Some give me dirty looks. I focus not on their faces but their clothing. In the Golden City, many people dress like mages, favoring flowing robes that allow for wide movement.
At the airport, decked out with hundreds of ships, the ticketer checks my name and confirms that both Halo Island and Nin have banned me from entrance until further notice. In addition, the other cities of Miria have also put me on the blacklist. Looks like I won't be following my party.
Mist lets out a little grumble. They don't know you, Hope! They don't know that you totally pummeled the brother god.
I give him a pat on his head. I watch as Juno, Avery, and Princess buy their tickets. Then, it's time to say goodbye. For now.
"We'll come back as soon as we can," Avery says. "When things cool down."
"That's a promise!" Princess says. "More hot spring sessions and more. We'll get a house here, maybe. That would be swell."
Juno looks conflicted. I'm sure he would like to stay with me here. But in the end, he gives me a final hug. "I will miss you, Hope. Don't cause too much trouble in my hometown."
He makes me laugh. "I won't."
I watch them make their way to the airship for Halo Island. Their forms slowly turn to pinpricks as the ship takes off. I imagine them gaining their sixth skills, all the way up to tenth skills. Maybe more. Maybe they will become instructors, known for their battle against the brother god, when they were the weakest of the adventurers there. Yet came out alive and victorious.
I wipe away the tear at the corner of my eye. Then, I try to give Mist a smile as he licks my shin.
Amnesty means that I will not be welcome in the capital. Still, Lake says that I may stay at the nearby flower fields. Mist will have lots of space to move around. The king says that I can work in setting up a shop of sorts. He says that I will have the freedom to decide just what I will sell, and how I will make a living from it. As an adventurer with no power, I know that it's a great option for me.
Just not for a dragon. "I'm sorry that you'll be living a quiet life for now, Mist," I say.
He wags his tail as we make our way down one of the golden paths, where the Golden City's castle can be seen on the nearby mountain. Don't worry, Hope! I've had enough battling to last me a lifetime. I can't believe I helped slay the most fearsome enemy of Blossom World. I will still hunt monsters alone, although I will miss the times fighting together. Don't worry, I won't ever leave your side. You're my imprinter, after all.
I'm almost moved to tears. I walk the golden streets and think about Juno growing up here, making his way to the various outdoor stalls and markets. Something sour and sweet reaches my nose, and my stomach rumbles.
I continue my way toward the flower fields, just outside the capital. I study the castle as it draws near. Beautiful with platinum trimming and spires that pierce the clouds. Somewhere within, Lake may still be watching.
One step forward, after another. Just like how I began, I am alone. My parents might hear word of my amnesty, but they seem part of another life of mine. I focus on seeing Juno, Avery, and Princess again.
Our reunion will be epic.
I'm crying! Thank you for joining this journey with me. I'm sad to say that we will be leaving Blossom World soon. But I loved every second, especially moments with Mist and the joyous times with Hope's party.
What type of shop do you think Hope will start?