The Winged Beast And The Caulis Of Pride | Epilogue

[odorekijin]

[Central Country—Training Tower]

With the help of the ancient beast, the wizards managed to acquire the necessary strength to climb the tower.

We overcame various trials with Superbia—the creature we had encountered upon entering this tower—by our side.

And at last, we had reached the top floor.

Akira: We’ve finally made it…

Riquet: This place is much quieter than the others.

Lennox: There seems to be no threat lurking either, unlike the other floors.

Owen: Aaah, well that was disappointing.

I thought I would see you twisted with terror in the face of vile and atrocious monsters. What a letdown.

Arthur: We faced formidable foes on our way and, as you said, I surely would have cowered in fear if I had been on my own.

I managed to make it this far only thanks to Superbia and all of you. I cannot thank you enough.

Now, let’s get to the bottom of this issue.

⁂

We reached the deepest part of the room before long.

At the centre of the hall stood an altar with an inlaid stone, one that bore an uncanny resemblance to the precious beads on Superbia’s wings.

Akira: Snow said that the “Seed of the Legendary Beast” would look like a pure gemstone, so that must be…

Arthur: Yes, that can only be the Seed we are looking for.

Superbia?

Superbia spread its wings and flew to the altar.

Landing on the top stair, it fixed its gaze on Arthur.

Arthur: …

…I understand, so this is where we must go our separate ways then.

Riquet, Lennox & Akira: …

Riquet: Prince Arthur, once the tower disappears, does that mean Superbia will… will disappear along with it…?

Arthur: Most likely, I’m afraid. Alas, we must clear this tower and return the Beast’s Seed to its original form in order to settle this incident.

And that’s what Superbia wants too. …Although we cannot communicate through speech, I know that these feelings, those flowing through me, are unmistakably Superbia’s.

Riquet: I see, that’s why we came all the way here…

Still, I’m sad we have to part with Superbia. I don’t… I don’t know how to handle these feelings.

Lennox: …We live long lives, and yours is even longer than ours, Riquet—you’re still young, after all.

So if we can spend the next hundred years in this world, we may witness another miraculous event like this one.

Akira: …Meeting Superbia again would be that miracle, I assume?

Lennox: Yes. …That’s why you don’t have to give up on Superbia just yet, Riquet. I believe that this goodbye is not forever.

Riquet: Lennox…

Owen: You all are such pathetic, naive fools.

Don’t you know? Your sweet hopes and wishes are more likely to be crushed than fulfilled the longer you live.

Arthur: You’re right, that may happen as the years proceed.

Arthur: But if I were to let go of those present feelings, I feel like I wouldn’t be able to recognise the miracles destined to cross my path.

So I will not give up on what I once believed in. I will stay true to my convictions and carry this belief for the whole of my life, until the day I turn to stone.

…Although I suppose you consider that quite naive of me as well, don’t you?

Owen: Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.

Akira: This straightforward sincerity is something only you can convey, Arthur. I think your determination is admirable, it’s something you should be proud of.

Arthur: Master Sage… I appreciate the compliment, thank you.

With a radiant smile, Arthur turned to Superbia.

Arthur: I won’t give up, Superbia: I know we will meet again, someday.

Riquet: So do I. Let me touch your giant wings next time, won’t you?

Lennox: Thank you for staying at our side until the very end. Let’s have a bout as fellow comrades next time we meet.

Akira: Superbia, I’m glad we got to meet you. Hopefully we can see you again. Please, take care...!

Riquet: Owen, it’s your turn.

Owen: Hah?

Riquet: Oh, are you embarrassed to bid it farewell? Don’t worry, Owen, anything you say here will stay between us.

Owen: I don’t think so. Shut up or I’ll kill you.

(Superbia growls)

Wizards: !?

At that moment, Superbia spread its wings, the shrill of its cry filling the room.

Arthur: Superbia? Is there something you wish to tell us?

Owen: …I know we will meet again, someday.

Riquet: Huh?

Owen: What? I’m only repeating what it just said.

Arthur & Riquet: !

Arthur and Riquet’s gaze lit up at Owen’s words.

Lennox: That’s good to hear.

Riquet: Yes! It somehow… eases my own loneliness to know that Superbia feels the same way.

Arthur: Thank you for delivering its feelings, Owen.

Owen: No matter how many goodbyes you gave, who knows how long we would have been stuck here if I didn’t intervene. Come on, let’s get this over with.

Arthur assented with a nod, placing his hand on the stone inlaid in the altar.

Arthur: What a privilege it was to meet you. Farewell, Superbia.

《 Pernoctant Nixzo 》

A dazzling light instantly spilled into the room and, in the blink of an eye, the room was basking in a coruscating white.

[Central Country—Sky]

Akira: !?

I abruptly felt the floor giving out under me—a split second later, and I was falling.

Arthur: Master Sage!

Arthur caught me just in time, saving me from my fall.

Akira: T-That was close, thank you…!

Arthur: No need, I’m glad you’re safe and sound.

—he replied, as he cast a floating spell to put me on the back of his broom.

Riquet: I thought the light had subsided, but it was our foothold that suddenly collapsed—that caught me off-guard!

Lennox: All it took was a mere moment for this tower to come down... I suppose we can conclude this incident has been successfully resolved.

Owen: Eugh, that was a waste of time. I knew we should have taken down the tower and that thing along with it. Would have saved us all that trouble…

Astride their broom, everyone looked to be unscathed, now sporting the clothes they were wearing before entering the tower.

Arthur: …It’s gone now.

Arthur muttered under his breath, his gaze set on where the tower once stood.

Akira: What about the Seed…?

Arthur: It was in my hand before I knew it.

Arthur turned around and opened his hand: what once looked like a precious jewel was now a dull stone.

Akira: …It has wilted beyond its original state, hasn’t it?

Arthur: I was prepared for a similar outcome due to the Calamity's influence, but I... I didn’t expect its magic to wane so rapidly.

Arthur’s eyes dropped to the seed resting in his palm, gently stroking it with his thumb.

Arthur: …But I know that the time we’ve spent with Superbia won’t fade away. I will keep these moments close to my chest.

Because Superbia, too, believes in our future reunion.

Akira: You’re right. If we keep believing in our wish, then surely it will come true one day...

We smiled one last time at the vestiges, holding out hope to one day be miraculously reunited with that creature.

Arthur: Thank you for everything, Superbia. Until we meet again.

As if answering Arthur's call, the tarnished seed, for a moment, seemed to glow like the purest of gemstones.

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