Akiara and Mizuki ran towards the imperial palace. Akiara stopped in her tracks. Her eyes grew wide seeing seeing the familiar light blonde hair, sharp visage except for bright scarlet eyes.

"Hero..... Arnon?" Akiara exclaimed looking confused.

"Arnon? I'm not Arnon. I'm Claudius..... which people call me evil God." The blonde guy introduced himself with sneer.

"But why do you look like Arnon?" Akiara asked.

Claudius smirked, "Well.... that so called hero destroyed my body.... so I needed a new host. And I took over his body."

Mizuki glared at him coldly, "That doesn't mean we won't fight against you."

He smirked. Mizuki unsheathed her sword. She dashed towards him bringing her sword down right to his chest. His eyes widened and he grabbed his sword putting it near his chest blocking her attack. Then she pushed him away trying to kill him. He pushed upwards causing her to fall backwards and roll across the ground. She tried standing up but he kicked her in the stomach causing her to smack into a rock. Akiara ran behind him and swung her katana trying to stab his heart. He quickly changed his position blocking her attack. He thrusted his sword towards her. She dodged it grazing her cheek. Then she deflected his sword and started clashing with swords. Mizuki grabbed her sword and joined the fight. Suddenly Claudius's sword ignited in dark flames and swung it towards them. They back flipped dodging his attack. Clanking of swords echoed the empty ground. Both jumped back panting.

Mizuki held the sword in front of her. Her hands gently brushed the broad side of the blade. Her eyes were glowing in fire opal color. She started enchanting in holy language. Akiara smirked realizing what she was doing. Claudius charged towards Mizuki to kill her. Akiara charged towards him blocking his attack.

"Where are you going? Your opponent is me." She pushed him back with her katana.

Both were clashing at inhumane speed. Suddenly he jumped dodging her thrust. She looked left and right. When she realized he was above, she couldn't react quickly as he pushed her down by stabbing her chest. She landed with thud. Blood dripped down from her mouth. He pulled back his sword with a grin. Her eyes slowly went dull thinking she is dead.

He sneered, "You know...... in order to kill me, aide's ultimate holy skill is required. Since you are no longer alive...... guess I am God after all."

Akiara smirked. She grabbed her katana and charged towards him. At the same time Mizuki charged behind him.

"HOLY LIGHT/ DIVINE JUDGEMENT!!" both shouted in sync.

He stabbed Akiara again but couldn't dodge Akiara and Mizuki's attack. He got stabbed in his heart.

Akiara coughed up blood but still spoke, "You are no God..... you are just a human being.... who was arrogant and met its end...." both pull back their swords looking at him pitifully.

His eyes grew as he remembered someone once said to him the same thing, "Don't be arrogant. Or else you will meet destruction." he fell on his knees remembering after a long time.

Tears trickled down his eyes realizing what he did back then. He pulled back his sword from Akiara before he dissipates leaving raven feathers behind. He opened his eyes. He was standing in the midst of green plain with tall grasses. He looked around seeing his guardian standing few feet away.

"How are you, Claude?" His guardian asked.

"Master no... father?" Tears started falling seeing his guardian. His guardian walked towards him. He hugged him and reassured, "Everything's alright."

"I'm sorry!! I destroyed everything!!" He cried.

"It's alright. Everyone makes mistakes. Let's go. Shall we?"

"Yes!" He transformed into teenage version. His guardian smiled and they walked away slowly as their souls dissipated like flower petals flying along with the wind.

Arnon's chains that held him because of Claudius's spell also broke. He stared at his hands then at the sky, "Looks like they succeeded." His soul dissipated like flower petals flying along with the wind.

Akiara stared at the sky and let out a sigh. She silently looked down. Mizuki approached towards her, "Looks like..... everything's over."

She waited for her response. Then Akiara pointed her to sit. She sat down. She looked confused, "Do you..... want to say something?"

Akiara hugged her tightly, "Can you hold me?"

"Anything for you my love." she wrapped her arms around her as she requested.

Her voice was small and frail, "It seems like I broke our promise."

She raised her eyebrows, "What are you talking about?!"

"Thanks for always being by my side.... and filled the void inside my heart.... I still owe you.... I can't even repay you back...."

"Don't say such things! You are the one who saved me from the lonely world! And why are you speaking like you're gonna die!?"

Her hug got tighter, "Promise me you will stay happy...." she closed her eyes and smiled. Her hands slid down loosening up the grip.

She felt that and immediately let go off her. She noticed that she stopped breathing. Her eyes were closed and she was smiling.

"Aki.... AKIARA!!"

AKIARA WAKE UP!!"

"AAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

"YOU PROMISED ME!!! YOU PROMISED ME YOU WOULDN'T DIE!!"

"AAAAHHHHHH!!!! GOD WHY!! WHY DID YOU TAKE HER AWAY!!" she cried holding her.

Their friends arrived at that moment. They saw Akiara's lifeless body. Their expression changed seeing her limp body. Arrow looked away crying silently. Estelle hugged Eli covering her face on his chest crying. He pat her back trying to ease her sadness. Cordelia placed her hand on Dennise's shoulder. Mizuki's cries echoed the empty ground. Sunlight finally shone clearing the clouds. Remaining survivors including the Crown Prince came to surface. They saw Akiara's group. Everyone clapped their hands cheering for the Hero. But Mizuki's cries stopped their cheer. Grand Duke Verlice recognized her immediately. His heart panged seeing her crying.

A magic circle appeared underneath Suki-san. She realized it was her time to go back to her own world. She smiled with tears falling, "Looks like it's my time to go back. Thanks for everything. I really enjoyed my adventure here. Mizuki..... be sure to bury her properly." with that she vanished into thin air.

_________

Akiara finally opened her eyes. She looked here and there. It was void. She sat wondering where she was. She looked behind her. Her parents were standing. They were looking at her with seriousness. They smiled and sat beside her.

"You did a great job holding out there." Her mother hugged her.

"We are glad to have you as our daughter." Her father hugged them.

"Mom..... Dad?" she started tearing up, "I'm sorry!" She cried. Suddenly her surroundings changed to daisies garden. Flower petals flew in the air revealing the mild breeze.

"You don't need to apologize for anything." They replied. She cried loudly. "There there." her mother hugged her tightly.

"Ahem... you are forgetting about me." Mitsuko came from nowhere.

"Come here. What are you waiting for?" their father opened his arms.

Mitsuko ran towards them and hugged them. They stood and held hands with each other walking away vanishing in sight.

_________

Mizuki and her friends were staring at Akiara's tombstone. Crown Prince, Rafael paid his respect to Akiara as she was Mizuki's aide. Grand Duke Verlice and his children walked towards them. They were standing behind Mizuki.

Cordelia pat her shoulder, "Let's go. His Highness is going to announce something."

Mizuki nodded. They walked away ignoring Grand Duke. Grand Duke raised his hand to call her but he didn't. Rafael walked towards the balcony following Grand Duke behind him. All the crowds were cheering for him.

"LONG LIVE PRINCE RAFAEL!!"

"LONG LIVE HIS HIGHNESS!!"

He raised his hand waving at them. He cleared his throat, "People of Vasilindro empire!...... today you all have been gathered to celebrate for the victory of the Hero who saved our world." Everyone cheered waiting for the Hero's arrival. He continued, "Please come.... Hero Mizuki." he gestured his hand for her to approach.

Mizuki walked towards balcony. She was wearing white and blue military uniform. Everyone gasped seeing Mizuki's face. They started whispering seeing the fugitive coming after two years. They couldn't believe that it was her who saved the world.

He again cleared his throat to gain his people's attention, "Everyone knows her at one glance that she is the fugitive Teivel Von Verlice for killing the previous Crown Prince."

Everyone gasped hearing her last name. He continued, "I thought she must be punished for the action she committed. But hearing her story and previous crown prince's aide's story.... my opinion is that previous crown prince should have been punished for his crimes. After all it is a duty of a ruler to provide justice."

Crowds cheered for him again. He raised his hand which quieted down the shouts. He continued, "I, Rafael Von Aldair, Crown prince and future emperor of Vasilindro empire....." He bows to Mizuki making everyone gasp, "Pays his respect to Hero Mizuki and her beloved deceased aide, Akiara."

"Your Highness?!" Mizuki looked embarrassed.

He raised his head, "You have contributed so much for the safety of the people. We won't be able to repay you back even if we empty up imperial treasury. Please ask for anything. I will give you anything within my ability."

"Your Highness, I don't need wealth nor nobility's title. But all I need is to remove discrimination against gender, color and even love. That is all I need." Mizuki replied.

He smiled hearing her request, "It shall be done."

He nodded. His aide, second prince, Preston came with a tray of vestments. He took a brooch. It was a design of eagle winged with two swords in crossed shape. He pins it on Mizuki's outfit. Then he wears her the shoulder vestment and sash designed in golden color. She bowed to pay him respect. He nodded. Crowd once again cheered for the crown prince and the hero.

Mizuki was in a celebration party. She was holding a champagne flute. She was twirling its contents. While staring at the glass, she got flashbacks of Akiara's nagging at her for drinking alcohol. She let out a small smile. Duke Verlice walked towards her.

"Mizuki?" Duke called her.

She looked at him meeting his gaze, "Yes Your Grace?"

"How are you?"

"I'm doing good."

"I'm sorry for what I did for past twenty three years. I won't be able to go back to past to fix everything between us. So how about we start over?"

"I don't know."

"I will give you anything you want."

She chuckled and mumbled, "Then bring back Akiara for me. I need her. She's my everything."

Duke heard her mumble but he pretended not to hear, "Pardon?"

"I need a house beside the seaside. How's that?"

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes." She smiled while her eyes showed sadness, "Yes. And...... I would like to give it a try."

Duke finally smiled. It was a genuine smile he showed after years of his own sorrow. His children walked towards them. Catherine looked scared seeing Mizuki. She felt guilty for how she treated her during childhood.

"I'm sorry." Catherine said with tears falling her eyes.

"Don't worry about it." Mizuki smiled. Catherine looked at her. She also smiled and hugged her. Then the Duke hugged them.

________

Arrow and Estelle were traveling around the world helping people to rebuild their nations. A small kid gave Arrow a rose.

He asked, "Why do you help people?"

Arrow replied with a smile, "Big sis told me that helping people will make me feel happy."

"So are you happy for helping us?"

"Yes! I am!"

Dennise was given title 'Royal mage'. She is helping the kingdom on improving. Cordelia went back to Verde to her habitat. There she told her adventures with Hero and Aide along with other members to other fellow nymphs. They admired her for being brave to go on an adventure with Hero's party. Cordelia was sitting on the bank of the river. She held out a blue stone. She remembered when Akiara gave the core. she smiled sadly.

Mizuki was standing in front of the sea. she was staring at the endless ocean. She held blue pendant given by Akiara. Tears streamed down as she remembered about her. She wiped off her tears and looked at the orange-pinkish sky. A star twinkled.