~Epilogue~
Sierra looked at the gravestone in front of her and planted her wreath on it. The wreath was made up of a vibrant orange flower, a colour she knew he liked. “I know you‘re up there father” she said, the most upbeat she had ever been while talking about her father since his death. It had been two weeks since the battle with Goreoth and things in Legia were slowly returning to normality. the refuges that had survived the massacre at Wajem were all safely back in their respective towns and there was a boat due in anytime from Ajazeus carrying all those that were on the Celestial, it had taken some weeks to get them all together again and make sure that all their homes were in immaculate condition to return too. “It was not you that I killed that day for you would have strived to save Legia above everything. And you know how I hated being a princess” Sierra smiled at her own joke, the first time she had smiled in a long while. The first time she had ever smiled with regard to her father since his death. She sighed and bit her lip, then kneeled at the grave. Sierra was the first ever active ruling queen of Legia, her coronation had been like the returning of a war hero. Her first act as queen was to build the commemorative garden consisting of brand new exquisite tombstones of those that bore great significance in Legia’s history. The first one she had stopped at was her father’s. She still regretted running out on him all those years ago but no longer did she blame herself for his death. “Oh there you are” Presto was growing into more of a man everyday, he already had the experience and skill of a grand old wizard but still with time on his side. Presto was now the grand wizard of Legia, the youngest in Legia‘s history. He had just returned from a Fyirontina, he had been learning from the masters of all the other great continents and he most required a holiday. “Yes?” asked Sierra, turning to see why Presto was looking for her.
“When will the Celestial arrive ? I have understood that the rest of my family were on that vessel”
“I should imagine it has pulled in by now Presto. You may travel up to Wajem if you think it necessary”
“No, no. I‘ll stay here. The rebuilding of the castle will go smoother if I am there, and I have only just returned from Wajem having got back from Fyirontina”
“Very well” Sierra replied, nodding in understanding.
“I will be in working in the castle if you need me” Presto said as he headed off toward the castle.
“I thank you” Sierra said, touching the embossed letters of her father’s name on his grave and not noticing Presto had by now gone. She then got back to her feet and walked a few paces onward to the next tombstone, her brother’s. Sierra held back a tear as she placed another wreath down on Gyraicus’ grave. The wreath this time was made up of a light blue flower, something she knew he liked. “It is you I miss the most brother. I ran off without thinking about you, I never gave you so much of a second thought” Sierra dried her eyes prematurely as she kissed her palm and placed it on the tombstone. She knelt at Gyraicus’ grave for a moment and put her arms around it. Sierra closed her eyes and held onto it tight like when he would make up bedtime stories and tell them to her when she was younger. She would hold onto him tight as he sat in her bed and told her the stories of monsters and dragons, it was here where she first began to enjoy the role of the hero. They were innocent times when she and Gyraicus were children, before they got dragged into the war on Darkenhathe. Sierra smiled as she remembered the play fights they would have. Gyraicus would always let Sierra be the knight and he the dragon, but now as Sierra knelt at his grave, she knew the price that came with being the hero. “Your brother is proud of you” Imunzo said, making Sierra open her eyes. He had been sitting watching Sierra for some minutes now, not wanting to disturb her but he now broke his silence. “How do you know ?” Sierra said, getting to her feet now.
“A Djiani knows. I can feel his spirit now. He wants you to know that he will wait for you in Harnela on the other side, only this time, he will listen to your stories.” Imunzo said sincerely, to which Sierra smiled. “I have not seen you for a while Imunzo” Sierra then said, changing the subject tactfully.
“That is because I have been busy. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done” Imunzo said, bowing politely to Sierra.
“Think nothing of it” Sierra replied, blushing slightly. “How are you liking it here anyway?”
“It is not Djian.” Imunzo said, bowing his head solemnly. “But it will be soon” he said with a smile, referring to the Bishamon school that Sierra had allow Imunzo open.
“I‘ve been meaning to ask you this for a while now Imunzo” Sierra began.
“Yes?” Imunzo prompted.
“Well, with you being the last of the Djiani and living here. I was hoping that the Djiani could become official protectors of this land, alongside the Legia army”
“Of course, it would be an honour.” Imunzo answered, he then saw the other wreaths in Sierra’s hand. “I see you are paying your respects, I shall leave you to yourself for now” Imunzo said, with Sierra nodding in response as he headed off, leaving her alone. Sierra continued on her walk and to a third grave, Raiguarde’s. Sierra got on one knee and laid down a wreath of white flowers, mirroring the `White Lion` nickname which Raiguarde had earned himself during his days as army captain. She sighed heavy-heartedly “If I could change what happened between us I would. I‘m sorry”. The battles between Sierra and Raiguarde had been the most intense she had ever had, with him the only man to ever to make her have to keep up with him. Sierra bit her lip for the countless time that morning as memories came back to her, the majority of which she would rather not recall. A cool afternoon breeze cut through Sierra’s blond hair gently as she moved on to the next tombstone, that of Zvire. “I would have fought to save you my friend. We definitely could have done with you that day against Goreoth.” Sierra said with a half smile as she laid down another wreath, this time consisting of a green flower of Presto’s own creation. Zvire spent most of his life in the forests and among the trees and plants, it was only natural that green would best suit him. It was only when Zvire came out from the forests that he put himself in real danger. “At least you gained your revenge” Sierra said, thinking out how Imunzo had told her that with his last breath he had killed Orscyar. “But what is revenge ? a concept dreamed up by those who are focus on the unfair ?” a vaguely familiar voice from behind Sierra made her turn her head.
“Maybe” She said with a smile, replying to Enzaghe.
“I knew you weren't dead” Enzaghe then said.
“Oh really? what made you think that ?”
“Survival instinct I suppose. I knew that you and Valandt would come through” Enzaghe replied
“How long ago did you arrive ?” Sierra went on to ask.
“Last night actually. I wanted to get here as soon as possible. Been riding here ever since”
“Did you get my message? because I‘m going to need an answer” Sierra asked.
“But there are so many more youthful generals. I‘ll be able to serve what, five more years. And that‘s if nothing to strenuous happens”
“A yes or a no Enzaghe, it‘s a simple question. You know how I feel”. Enzaghe paused, racking his brain for an answer to the offer he had been deliberating over for a while now. “Why not” Enzaghe eventually said. “It would be an honour. My answer is yes” Enzaghe said with a smile as Sierra walked over to him.
“You shall serve Legia well. Now if you‘ll excuse me I have one more person to see” Sierra said, dismissing Legia’s new army captain. Sierra then made her way over to the final gravestone. They had been buried together as they died together. Sierra looked at the inscription on Astral and Valandt’s tombstone. `True Love. With friendship you give someone the power to destroy you. With love you give someone the power to destroy you and you think they won't. With true love you give someone the power to destroy you and you know they won't`. Sierra looked to the floor thoughtfully and placed her last wreath down. This wreath was different to the others, this one consisted of red flowers and also blue. The red flowers represented Valandt and the blue Astral. There were also exactly the same number of red to blue flowers, reflecting the balance of good and evil inside Valandt with the serenity of the blue quenching the anger of the red. Sierra brushed some of her blown out of place hair from her eyes and put it behind her ears and took a deep breath as she knelt down and put her hand on the tombstone. Sierra began by thinking of Astral, who chose to die on the battlefield in favour of living without her love, Valandt. “I could tell you knew my secret from the first time you saw me. You saw into my mind and could have revealed my true identity. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for not doing so. What you did that day was the greatest act of love I've ever seen. I hope to one day experience the same love which drove you to what you did. The people of Palestar have agreed to be ruled by Legia. The three provinces have finally be united under one crown. You have my vow that I shall take care of it” she then looked up at the name engraved next to Astral’s, Valandt’s. “I can never forgive you for what you took from me. You made me become my worst nightmare” she then stopped completely and changed her sentence completely. “It doesn't matter anymore, because the nightmare is over now. You saved my people. I mean, your people Valandt and for that Legia shall always owe you its greatest debt” Sierra paused for a second and attempted to brighten up. “The castle which we are building.” Sierra paused as she could not form the words rightly “the soldiers. Well, the people. They have voted we name the new castle after you” Sierra took a deep breath and feigned a smile of joy. “Valandt castle is nearly complete. I never thought I could say that name without feeling rage” she then let her thoughts run as she talked to Valandt’s tombstone. “That one incident changed my life. Changed me, completely. I became a killer overnight. I became what I had once hated, the villain. I almost hate to admit this but most of the Shadow was based on you, I mean, what I thought my father‘s killer was like. I could never imagine that a ten year old boy would be the cause of my nightmares, I suppose that's the really scary part. In another time and place we may have been friends” Sierra began to shake her head as she spoke “regardless of what you did for Legia” Sierra began to scrunch her fists up as she spoke “make no mistake Valandt, I hated you with every fibre of my being. I still do.” Sierra then began to get to her feet as she continued “It took me nine years to forgive myself for what happened to my father. Maybe one day I'll find it in my blackened heart to forgive you. Maybe”.