Chapter Text
Five years after the final scene, pretty much every character from the main story is back in town to celebrate Celica and Alm’s fifth anniversary and the birth of their second child. We are in Conrad’s POV throughout, as he reflects on the struggles of the previous five years but what steps have been taken to restore peace and prosperity to Rigel and Zofia. Relations between the royal couples are still awkward at best, but Alm and Celica’s eldest child, their son aged 4, and Berkut and Rinea’s daughter only a few months older, are the best of friends, make their parents write letters for them constantly, and cry floods of tears whenever they are separated after diplomatic visits. (It is implied that it’s the marriage of these two which will unite Valentia, as happened in canon with Alm and Celica.)
Here we are able to check in with a whole host of characters in a “where are they now” as Conrad helps organise the celebrations, and we see some characters who come to give Alm and Celica their well wishes personally, and some who do it in a more formal way. I guess this is also time to reveal some of the other pairings I was aiming towards and didn’t get a chance to fully expand on in the plot summaries above!
Faye/Silque
Faye and Silque are travelling healers together in the tradition of Silque’s mother, which Silque has been trying to revive with some of Halcyon’s old Duma Faithful—the ones from the village who weren’t comfortable going back to civilisation again. They can’t stay for long because they’ve heard about an outbreak in a town about a day’s trip from the capital, but Faye has to stop by to deliver all the news and well-wishes from Ram, which they visit yearly. Faye of this AU really benefited from seeing Celica and Alm grow up together and internally being like ‘yeah, I don’t have a chance’, so she’s had her time to move on and find some new fulfilment, and a pretty cool girlfriend to boot. Silque makes one comment about a third child for Celica and Alm and she is whisked away before she can embarrass Faye more. Conrad doesn’t even understand the reference.
Delthea/Kliff & Luthier
I’ve always really liked the idea of Delthea and Kliff being a thing, because I think they’d play off each others personalities well. I think it’s also kind of sad that Delthea eventually got rid of her magic because she felt it stopped people seeing her for herself, and if there is one character in the cast who would not have a problem with that, it’s definitely Kliff. She might try to strangle him for it a few times, but I think Delthea would ultimately appreciate that. Luthier is also here as the magic tutor to Celica and Alm’s boy, now having a more relaxed conversation about new magical theories from Archanea with Kliff. Delthea explains to Conrad they needed to say their congrats—and goodbyes—early because Kliff still hasn’t finished packing his books. Huh. Where could they be going?
Gray/Clair & Tobin… /Tobin?
ANYWAY. Because of the uncertainty over Gray’s fate, I didn’t have a clear picture of how these three would have ended up. If Gray died, I was considering Clair/Tobin, but hadn’t really nailed down how it would happen. If Gray survived… maybe they would have been a trio? Who knows! Choose your own ending! In whichever combination, they’ve only recently got together because everyone had things to work out, so no marriage or kids. Maybe scandalous no marriage ever if we go trio option. Keep things exciting.
Either way Gray and Tobin are definitely still besties and fun uncles to Alm and Celica’s kid(s). Gray is probably hanging around asking when they’re going to name a kid after him, since this is, after all, the Epoch of Gray Plus Those Other Guys. He reels it in when Clair gives him a Look. As part of the fun uncles routine, Gray and Tobin are taking the little prince out for the day with Tobin’s visiting family, and we see a mark of their increased maturity when they talk about how it’s important for him to mix with ordinary people. Clair, a commander in Celica’s (much smaller, after the war) army has to be at the ceremony in a formal capacity, but Tobin promises he will keep Gray in line and Clair is grateful, ignoring Gray’s protests. They can’t have matured too much after all.
Forsyth
As Gray and Tobin leave with the little prince, he greets Sir Forsyth, just entering to give his report on palace security. Sir Forsyth gives his report in joyful tears. He’s excited enough about being knighted, but to be greeted as such by the young prince? Gift from the heavens. Forysth didn’t have much of a role in this fic because there were already So Many Characters, but I wanted to show he did achieve his dream.
Lukas/Python
Moving more into the evening as the festivities begin, Lukas and Python come to offer their congratulations and catch up: Lukas, with his eye for detail, was put in charge of reforming the administrative systems. Python’s gossiping nature has been surprisingly helpful in this endeavour in ferreting out corrupt officials taking bribes. Python is more relaxed and trusting of Celica now, though still determinedly irreverent, calling her Queenie and promising he’s going to cause some gossip tonight with Lucas, winking. Lucas explains that they’re using the festivities to investigate and expose another corrupt noble and Python complains about spoiling the surprise. Conrad and Lukas have become good friends and so Lukas gives Conrad a warm goodbye as well. Python just likes the romanticism of it. (Of what??) (I’m not sure if this guessing game would have worked written in the story...)
Fernand
Fernand comes up to join Alm and Celica as soon as Lukas and Python walk away. He still disapproves of Python, though now for his laziness and not his origins, and just doesn’t understand what Lukas sees in him. He may or may not glance at Alm as he says this. After five years of closely working together by necessity, Alm and Fernand have moved past cordially loathing each other but still don’t really get along. Conrad believes this is actually good, because they both instinctively challenge the other’s ideas leading to stronger advice. Fernand was able to offer Conrad more stories of his mother, Lady Vittoria, and a few more mementos that had been kept in the palace vaults, so Conrad likes him even if he finds him somewhat stiff and formal. (Kamui really did such a number on Conrad’s standards.) Fernand sticks around for the rest of the evening and offers comments every now and then.
Mathilda/Clive
As per canon, these two were still devoted to each other, so nothing much has changed here. They’ve since married and had their first child, though unlike canon, Mathilda did not have to retire to become a housewife, because Celica is in a position to push back harder against that sort of thing. Still, their greetings and congratulations to Alm and Celica on their rounds are more stilted and formal. Clive can’t deny things turned out for the best, but he never fully got behind Alm as he did in canon, and so he can’t fully approve either. Fernand and Clive’s relationship isn’t as close because of this, because dammit Fernand may not be fully behind Alm but he is fully behind Celica. Fernand’s comments to Mathilda are warmer but more neutral, implying he’s gotten over his thing for her, so you can imagine Fernand might find love sometime down the line.
Tatiana/Zeke
We never got to see this pair in the actual story, and I’ll be honest, I don’t have complete confidence in their characters. They probably would’ve been here as an official delegation from Rigel, since I think(?) this is enough time for Zeke to go do Mystery of the Emblem shenanigans in Archanea and then return, but I would’ve had to double check that one, lol. Not much change from their canon selves here either way.
Boey & Nomah & Saber
The official delegation from the Mila Faithful, Boey having being formally named as Nomah’s successor. Boey’s training is nearly complete because Nomah has been stealthily working on it for years, so Nomah is looking forward to having an adventure in his retirement and keeping Saber on retainer, despite Saber’s best efforts to price him out by doubling his usual price. Saber is there the whole time that he says this and only looks amused, so he must’ve gotten used to Nomah’s sense of humour. Saber’s mysterious-canon-ending younger wife is hinted to have appeared, though they’re only at the point of exchanging letters. Boey and Conrad have more in common than Boey and Celica, so they end up discussing the new role of the Faithful in a world without gods together: imparting the teachings of the gods, which are still valuable, even if the gods themselves are not here. It’s fun for worldbuilding but not for those who liked Celica and Boey’s friendship in canon. Like me :( Don’t say anything, I know I did this to myself.
Mae/Genny
Also coming from the Mila Faithful on Novis, Mae and Genny only met Celica and Alm briefly but feel compelled to add their own congratulations, arm in arm. (Mae and Boey never became friends with Celica in this AU, therefore never getting over their initial dislike of each other: they’re friends here after all that they went through together, but not lovers.) They were actually more interested in meeting Silque, since the two of them want to take up the old tradition of being travelling healers too, and are sad to learn that they missed her but leave immediately to try to catch up. They exchange warm goodbyes with Conrad as well, Genny commenting that he’s inspired her to write a star-crossed lovers story. Conrad is not sure if he should be grateful for this.
Sonya and her sisters
There’s a bit of a commotion at the entrance, which Conrad goes to see to with Fernand, but recognising Sonya, he invites her and her sisters in, overruling the nervous guards. Their nervousness is understandable, since Sonya’s sisters still bear some of the physical marks of witches, and Sonya’s ‘cure’ means she’s taken on something of the same, but they greet Conrad warmly enough, indicating they are at least mostly back to their normal selves. Sonya thanks him for the save, but we don’t get into the meat of their conversation until…
Jesse & Deen
Jesse, officially King Jesse of the new mercenary kingdom, which canon left to me to fucking name for some reasons and I refuse, is here with his bodyguard to officially give congratulations to the royal couple, but how could he possibly pass up the opportunity to greet three of the most beautiful ladies in the room?! Sonya’s sister Marta responds surprisingly positively to this and flirts back. In between the two of them flirting Deen tells Sonya of more witches they’re holding, waiting for Sonya & co to come and heal them. Jesse interrupts at this point to remind everyone that he does have a brain by saying that the witches will require more cooperation and care than the three women alone can provide, and since Boey and Nomah are here from the Mila Faithful they should make an official approach to negotiate for the care of the recovering witches, at least those from Zofia. He already got the agreement from Rinea, who was elected the head of the Duma Faithful, so he’s confident they won’t want to look less generous than their still sort-of-rival faith. He and Marta go off to secure this.
Deen has his own moment in his own terse way, making sure that Sonya is okay, and answering Conrad’s enquiries about how he’s doing in Jesse’s kingdom with gruff positives. You can tell his interest in Sonya’s welfare is really sincere, though, and when she asks more about the witches Deen is able to give very specific details about their condition and care. He’s found some way to be at peace with his own demons.
Kamui/Leon
Also from the mercenary kingdom, Kamui and Leon come to see Conrad just as Alm and Celica rejoin him and to greet Sonya and Deen. Leon has heard about Conrad leaving, and wanted to check in to make sure he was really confident in it. If he isn’t, Leon advises, he shouldn’t go. It was a while before Leon really felt sure he wanted to go with Kamui to join Jesse, but waiting has meant that he has less doubts about where he is. Kamui is serious for about 0.2 seconds to say he would’ve opened the shop with Leon if it was what he really wanted before cracking a joke about not really being a people-pleaser type so it’s for the best that he didn’t. (I originally went into this fic intending to write them as bros, but the ship really grew on me as I was writing them together, so here we are.) As Leon sasses back at Kamui, Conrad has a moment to consider everyone he’s met this evening and the people he’ll miss. His old travelling friends, for sure, but they mainly exchange letters these days anyway. The main issue is Celica, but he lived for years fearing that she was dead, or thinking he would never see her again. Seeing her surrounded by friends here, supported by the love of her life, thriving and being fulfilled doing her best for the people of Zofia means that though he’ll be apart from her, he won’t be afraid for her in the same way. He’s therefore able to confidently tell Leon that he is sure about leaving, but he will come see them when he returns to visit. Kamui suggests they could visit instead, since he’s never been to Archanea, and Leon says perhaps they will. Kamui might even learn a proper sense of humour from Est. Hopefully you all know where this is going by now…
Atlas
Before we get to the very end, we have a little diversion from Atlas, who couldn’t attend but who sent a letter via Kamui and Leon, who stopped off in his village on the way here. In it, he writes a little bit about the fortunes of his village, which is now more like a small town as its the last major stop before Jesse’s capital and they get a lot of his mercenaries stopping there. Atlas, however, is happy to have put down the sword for good and to be taking care of his brothers. Matty and Deros send their love to Est (some more reluctantly than others). Atlas wishes everyone his best too, and invites Conrad ‘and his family’ to come visit him and his brothers if they are ever in Valentia again.
Letter from Palla (and Catria and Est)
Y’all definitely know where this is going now. As Alm and Celica’s meet-and-greets come to a close, Conrad opens another letter than he’s been keeping on him since he received it a month ago, from Palla (of course mentioning her sisters). The letter informs Conrad that she’s received leave from Minerva to come and meet him, so she will be waiting for his ship to get in. She shares some news from Est and Catria, both of whom will be joining them later, but mainly, she’s just excited for him to finally join her in Archanea.
There is one final scene when Conrad and Celica say goodbye to each other. There are tears on both sides, but ultimately, knowing that the other is alive and happy is the greatest assurance either could give. They hug and part. Delthea and Kliff are waiting for Conrad as he leaves the palace with all their goods: they’re coming to Archanea too! (Although it was a close run thing, as Kliff had trouble deciding what books to leave behind.) Kliff has always wanted to see the world, and Delthea wants to get away from being known only from her talent, so going to another continent made sense as an ending for both of them. They set off travelling together, planning to make the coast today and set sail in a day or two depending on the weather, and Conrad again touches the letter that he keeps over his heart, the words of which he’s basically memorised now.
There is another question I’ve been wanting to ask you… but I think now it can wait until I see you in person.
With all my love,
Palla