Show the Stars - Epilogue
It was a bright and sunny day in Eldath, and many people were wandering the streets, getting ready for the celebration later that day. It was the one year anniversary of the Sun being returned into the sky, which had gained the name of Solstice Day by many people throughout Eclipsa. The crowd started to flock into the courtyard of the Solstice Foundation Headquarters, as a large stage had been set up in preparation for the celebration. Many people from all over Eclipsa were mingling with each other now that peace had finally been restored, and many children were running around playing tag with one another.
Eventually, the crowd quietened down, as they watched a man wearing a grey Solstice jacket walk onto the stage - the leader of the Foundation, Trent Rigela. He stood behind the podium, and tapped the microphone as a test, before clearing his throat.
“Welcome, one and all, to our very first Solstice Day!” He announced, and the crowd burst out into applause at this, as the three heroes who saved their land - Emily, Vincent, and Sydney - also walked onto the stage, and were met with cheers. Trent gestured for the crowd to quieten down, as he started to explain.
“As you know, on this day last year, our Sun was successfully returned into the sky thanks to the efforts of these three brave heroes. You may know these heroes as Emily Rigela, Vincent Proxima, and Sydney Solis. And you’ll be happy to know that on this day, underneath the morning sun of Eclipsa...that I have an important announcement to make.”
The three heroes stood proudly, as Trent took a minute to breath, before he looked over towards his daughter Emily and smiled. She looked up, confusion in her eyes, before Trent turned back towards the crowd, and sighed.
“I’m stepping down as the leader of the Solstice Foundation.”
The crowd’s response was very hushed, as they seemed confused, before Trent beckoned for Emily to stand by his side. She hesitantly made her way over to his side, and he placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Dad, what…?” Emily mumbled in confusion, but Trent simply turned back towards the crowd.
“Our foundation was born out of a desire to see the sun once more, and now that desire has been fulfilled, it is time to move onto greater goals. Just like the shift from night to day, light to dark, there must also be a shift in hopes and dreams for anyone to be able to truly progress.” Trent explained, a hint of sadness in his voice, and the crowd listened attentively. Emily still looked a little hesitant, before Trent cracked a smile.
“Which is why I believe that this will not be the end of our Foundation, for I wish to let my daughter Emily fulfil her own destiny, and take over operations here.” The crowd cheered at this, but Emily seemed a little surprised at the sudden announcement. She took a step backwards, and Trent looked towards her in concern.
“Dad, I...I don't know about this. I don't know if I can ever lead them like you did…” She hesitated, uncertainty in her voice, before she was surprised, as Vincent grabbed her hand, and pulled her to look at him, as he smiled reassuringly.
“Well, I believe you can do it! After all, we’re always going to be here to support you, right Sydney?” He reassured, before looking over his shoulder to Sydney, who gave a thumbs-up.
“[Yeah! That’s what friends are for!]” She chirped from the sidelines, and Trent smiled again.
“Aww, thanks guys…” Emily blushed, happy that her friends would have her back through this, before Vincent hugged her.
“And I’ll always be here for you too, okay?” He smiled, his lifelong nerves still faintly being there, but Emily simply grinned at this, standing on her tiptoes slightly so she could quickly peck him on the cheek, and he quickly turned red in response to this.
“Okay.” Emily giggled, as the two held hands and smiled at each other affectionately.
After the celebration had mostly ended, Vincent and Emily decided to go and get lunch at the local cafe, passing by several people who stared at them as they walked down the street, hand in hand.
"Hey actually, we should grab a book to read." Emily mentioned casually as they walked, and Vincent smiled at this prospect.
"Alright then. Let's go!" He beamed, as the two walked into the local library, ran by one of the members of the Solstice Foundation - a 18 year old girl called Elara Cosmos.
"Oh, hey guys! What can I do for you?" She chirped, lighting up as the two heroes walked into her store.
"Well, we were just going to grab a book to read, then go and grab lunch. You don't mind, do you?" Emily explained, and the librarian perked up.
"Oh, I have the perfect book in mind! Give me a second…" She chirped, before running off to a section of the library. Emily smirked and rolled her eyes as they waited patiently for her return, before she arrived back at her desk, a large book thumping against the desk as she placed it down.
"Here, try this one." She offered, sliding the book over to them. Vincent hesitantly picked up the large book, but was surprised to find that it was actually lighter than it looked. He turned the book around to look at the front cover, and raised an eyebrow.
"A Tale of Hopes and Dreams? What's it about?" He asked quizzically, and Elara beamed.
"It details the history of a continent not too far from here, called Asteria!" She explained excitably, and Emily glanced towards the book.
"Asteria?" She mumbled, confused.
"Yeah, it was originally written over 100 years ago by one of the old kings of Asteria. That book is a collection of his own work and some modern knowledge, too. It's a pretty interesting read, if I do say so myself…" Elara started to explain, but she looked up and frowned, as she saw that the two had already left.
Emily and Vincent sat down in the cafe, many people discussing their own matters whilst drinking their tea sitting around the two. Vincent passed Emily the history book, and she opened it up.
"Alright, let's see here...Chapter 1…'The Crystal'."
A few hours had passed, and the cafe was nearly empty besides from a few late-night drinkers. Emily and Vincent had already finished their twelfth batch of hot chocolate, as Emily closed the book in accomplishment, and Vincent wiped a tear from his eye.
"Aww, that was such a nice story. I can't believe all of that really happened!" He smiled, but Emily seemed a little more cautious.
"Yeah, it does sound unbelievable...there was a lot of talk about that crystal...and about desires...and a lot of the characters share their name with us. Pretty weird…" She expressed hesitantly, Vincent looking a little concerned.
"What, so do you think it's just some old fairy tale?"
Emily frowned, before realising something.
"Well, I guess we can go and see if we can find that…"
The two set off once more, and the next day, the two, now with their friend Sydney in tow, made their way over to Lathander. As the plane landed, they walked out of the airport, Emily's head still deep in the book as she examined a diagram displaying a statue - and she looked up to see a similar statue right in front of her.
"[So who is this statue of, and why is it in Lathander of all places?]" Sydney asked telepathically, Emily glancing back at the book in hopes of finding the answer.
"Well, according to the book, this statue is of two brothers who assisted the heroes of Asteria all those years ago." She explained, as the three examined the statue closer. It was a statue of an adult man in armour giving a piggyback to a young boy, and they both seemed rather happy. On the plinth the statue was standing on, there was a plaque attached, which read…
Ichor and Floyd Luteaux
A brotherly love that defied death itself
Erected in memory of Queen Eleanor Luteaux, 2063 - 2090
"Ah, so that's why it's in Lathander. Queen Eleanor must have been a descendant of these two. King Pryce probably had this erected after her death…" Vincent realised, a frown crossing his face. Emily looked back at the statue, concerned.
"... Zachary's mother, right…?" She asked hesitantly, and Vincent gave her a simple nod in response.
"[What else does that book say? It sounds pretty interesting.]" Sydney chirped in their heads, as Vincent looked down at her, before looking back at Emily, who flicked through the book before landing on a certain page.
"Well...there is something interesting here. Basically, the continents used to be divided, and after that war in Asteria, they were even more divided. But after a ray of hope was born, he unified all the continents." She explained, Sydney raising an eyebrow.
"If it wasn't for him, we would have never met each other!" Vincent beamed, and Sydney smiled again at this.
"[Oh, that's really cool, then! Well, I'm glad that I got to know you two because of them!]" She grinned.
"Yeah...they brought peace to our world, just like we did last year." Emily said reassuringly, looking back at the book to see an old family photo of the heroes mentioned - a boy in red, a girl in green, a woman in teal, a man in blue, and a child in pink.
"[But I have to ask...who was that "ray of hope" that you mentioned?]" Sydney asked, and Emily snapped back to reality, as she seemed concerned.
"I don't know...the book doesn't say his name anywhere."
"That's a shame. I wish that we could thank those old heroes. Don't you share a name with one of them, Emily?" Vincent replied, as Emily perked up once more.
"Yeah, I do. Mom must have named me after what she wanted me to become…" She said, slightly bittersweet, before she smiled.
"...a brave and loyal hero."
The End