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[umbralant]

EPILOGUE

As the world they've been living in so long quickly dissolves around them, the oppressive air from the Gate fades away from their senses and their vision turns turns completely white. It only takes an instant for their sight to return, but when it does, they'll find themselves in the same dim, dank chamber that they were in a moment before albeit with several main differences: the Gate and the machines that were clustered near it are now gone.

However, you'll only be able to take in this sight for a few seconds before the scenery blurs and suddenly there's the scent of the cool December air brushing past your face, blinding sunlight assaulting the eyes.

It's been six weeks since you've seen anything but the night, so it may take a bit of adjustment before realizing that there's a number of very, very familiar faces before you, as well as one who might not be so recognizable. Either way, one thing is for sure: that long, long Night is over, and it's the start of another Day.

Witamy w Krakowie.

[[Everyone will find themselves in the Main Square. Furthermore, those who had body horror will find that all traces of it are gone!]]

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Comments

[reanbeans]

Yes, but...

[ He's...he's really insecure about this, okay. Even illogically so, but he did realize after a bit Iago had a point. ]

...Yes, that's what it is. Usually it's even more worse than that, though, since it gives me supernatural power back in my world. And I didn't quite receive that.

It happens mostly when I'm in a rage, so it was difficult keeping it at bay.

[ Suffice to say, the Lady pissed him off enough that he was constantly fighting the ridiculous herculean urge to run her through!! ]

[pr159]

[ ... ]

There's no "a bit" about it, but if you're open to the long version, then yes.

[ He takes a breath and exhales, crossing his arms. Are you ready for this bullshit? ]

The Great Spirits Origin, Chronos, and Maxwell started a game to test humanity two millennia ago. They gave my bloodline the power of the chromatus and told them that Origin would grant the wish of the first human to make it to the Land of Canaan and go before him -- but that if one million divergence catalysts formed from the overuse of the chromatus power before that happened, then the game was forfeit and humanity would lose and be destroyed.

[ This definitely sounds like something he's had to explain many times before; he doesn't have to stop to think about any of it at all. ]

The game was rigged from the beginning, because divergence catalysts create fractured dimensions, and using the chromatus is necessary to destroy them. If the fractured dimensions are allowed to proliferate, soul energy is dispersed across the dimensions and contamination grows to the point where Origin can no longer adequately handle the soul purification process, so their destruction is necessary for our continued survival. In short, as soon as the first chromatus user all those years ago gave into temptation and became a catalyst for a fractured dimension, everyone who came afterward was already caught in this cycle with no way out.

Now, we're just a few catalysts shy of one million.

[ So, you know, he probably doesn't need to spell that out.

...Though he is definitely leaving out the detail that either Bisley or Ludger is probably going to make it there in time even if he doesn't, because that does not help his case, and it pisses him off to think about it anyway, knowing he's going to be Bisley's ticket there. ]

[baitless]

[it’s still less scary than Rhea gets sometimes so you know!!]

Yes, exactly.

...honestly, I still find myself wondering if we did the right thing, even if we’re all alive and well right now. I suppose there’s no helping that end of things, though.

[pr159]

[ ... ]

That's probably a fair reaction.

[baitless]

I wonder if we should ask Erik about it. As much as I am loath to get involved with any of that, he may also wish to try it...

[inordertobelieve]

[ This all sure happened. Mikami's... he's relieved? He's more relieved than a man who just missed the chance to save (?) his world should be. While immediately after waking up, he's off to save his relationship, he can later be found alone in the main square. He's just kind of squinting at the buildings around them, because... what was it that caused all of this to be ripped from the tourism magazines? It's driving him a little crazy.

Or you can find him in the bookstore, where he is... looting? Yeah, he's looting. The selection here isn't great for his standards, but he needs to take some Earth books to fantasy world or he'll die. For someone who values the law, he is sure looking fairly relaxed and contented while stealing......... This time did a number on him. ]

[psychophant]

[It gets an almost-startled laugh out of him, like he wasn't expecting to hear it despite that being exactly what he's been trying to work around to say. Everyone's known since the damn trial anyway, and he very nearly said it to Saphir over the walkie talkies, but he decided it was best to wait until he could see Saphir again in person.]

I love you too, more than I ever could have imagined. You mean so much to me.

[And then, like he needs to say it again, like he may never stop saying it:] I love you, Saphir.

[tokihanate]

[ Maybe you can leave one of them to clean up after all of it Manager. ]

[psychophant]

I'm impressed you managed to go this long.

[...then again, he literally lives on rage and spite, so maybe he shouldn't be talking.]

I won't say a word about it to anyone, if you'd like. It certainly doesn't change my opinion of you any.

[It's not dismissive, but it really is that simple as far as he's concerned.]

[psychophant]

[Considers...]

I'm fine with that. I don't particularly care if he wants to bring Rembrandt along either, at this point.

[Don't get him wrong, he's still mad about the whole thing, but it worked out really damn well for him, so at the very least we can buy Erik some goddamn McDonald's. With money we stole. Because Iago has learned nothing and will continue to loot.]

[drydrown]

I know.

[It's not dismissive; from the sound of it, he does.]

I doubt you'll be in much position to do that specific thing again. But if you ever do anything similar to me again, I'm going to kill you.

[...He...probably won't, if this time was any indication. But damn it, let him have this.]

[drydrown]

You know how I am about that sort of thing.

[...]

...I really didn't mean to worry you. Back in the castle.

[reanbeans]

Ah...

[ He closed his eyes tight, and he fell silent as he let more tears fall, which expressed how he felt about hearing that. Regardless of what he thought of his transformation, and what happened, and now facing the world with everyone alive, he could only let himself just feel it all coming crashing down at once.

He knew that this was probably a bit much, but also Olivier wouldn't begrudge him for it or be weirded out by it, so here he was.

After a bit, he pulled his face back a little, smiling sheepishly. It looked a little messy from the small moment he had there but it's fine, he needed that. ]

Thank you. I don't think I would've been able to do what I did without everyone doing their own part in all of this...but still, I appreciate you said that.

[psychophant]

I know you didn't.

[He doesn't even have the energy to argue that he wasn't the one worried. Today has been so long.]

I don't want to lose you, and I hope you'll be more careful from now on.

main square

[hors_devores]

Looking for something?

[hors_devores]

[ Walking up to him with a grin. ]

I never got the chance to express my gratitude for silencing her.

[baitless]

...

I’m wondering if he could help pay, thinking about it.

[he feels on some level that he should feel wrong about eating food a demon bought, being a man of the gods

But on the other hand, nuggies........]

[inordertobelieve]

I know.

[ Mikami actually takes Cumore by his word here anyway. The option that Cumore might kill him in specific situations is just part of the whole 'this' to him. It's not strange at all either. Death and its causes have always been such a huge part of Mikami's mentality that he is hard pressed to find it too odd that it would figure into his relationship as well. ]

I accept this, fully. It's hard to believe after all we've been through, but wavering is not usually in my nature. My goal is to regain this clarity again. For your sake and my own.

[psychophant]

Rembrandt.

[He doesn't even look surprised at the different appearance. This might as well happen. That's been his motto all damn day and it sure as hell isn't changing now.]

I'm pleased it worked out as well as it did. At least until some people decided to be stupid.

[He is a genius tactician who... literally had nothing else up his sleeves, that was it, his one plan. But hey, his one plan worked out, sort of, so surely that counts for something!!]

You have my thanks for giving me all the information I needed for that plan. I wanted her dead.

[Second only to reuniting with the dead and getting out of there alive.]

[bawcock]

[ Erik listens intently. It is kind of a raw deal, for the world and for anyone else from Rideaux's bloodline. It isn't their fault that somebody gave in and used the power when they shouldn't have.

He's turning this around in his head for a good while... ] Well, I think I understand why you're so desperate now. Things in your world sound about as rosy as mine.

[ Except he believes in the Luminary. Blah blah, Luminary, love, you get it! ] I've got some questions though. First, how the heck were humans supposed to make it to Canaan in the first place? And what would you even wish for if you did make it?

[psychophant]

[seteth's priorities are great. we need the nuggies.]

He should be able to. He's a demon. He can probably make money appear from nowhere.

[REM PLEASE TREAT US TO MCDONALDS WE'VE BEEN GOOD]

[notbymyside]

Of course.

[He's still happy for it though.]

By any chance, are you going to be the one sending us back to our own worlds too?

[inordertobelieve]

[ Iago is the second person Mikami will seek. Smoothing over his relationship with Cumore is first, but then... well, Iago probably also deserves this. However that came to be.

But towards Iago, there is only a slight bow of his head and not a real bow. ]

I apologize for concerning you today. Your work was formidable.

[ In the first half of trial anyway, he's still :/ about the whole post-Lady-death situation. ]

[inordertobelieve]

[ Mikami looks confused for a moment because that sure is a different form and his deductive capability needs a second to catch up to identify who is speaking to him. And then he decides to not instantly figure out how he feels about that and instead just answer the question. ]

Yes, the difference. There has to be a reason all details about this place were removed from the material we saw.

[drydrown]

Yes, of course. I do still have goals I want to see through, after all.

[...]

I won't ask Rembrandt about leaving until everyone knows for sure what we're doing.

[You've got stuff to discuss, he's got Teru Mikami to wrangle, all of that.]