~Chapter 8- Epilogue~

~Age 992B~

         The sea was calm, with southward winds carrying a large ship across the water. The waves gently ebbed against the vessel. The sun was high, and the sky clear.

         The red sparrow Rojo flew circles around the ship before perching at the top of the tallest mast. At the starboard side of the ship was a Chihuahua named Hopper and a hyena called Kelvin. They both rested their heads on the side of the boat, and Kelvin's tongue hung out as they went.

         At the helm of the ship was the Mecarne Temp and his quartermaster, the Phantine Nout. The sun reflected off Temp's reflective flesh and he said, "The sea is pretty calm right now. Might be a good time to go to full sail."

         "I can give the order!" Nout asked politely, curling his trunk in the air as he did.

         Temp nodded.

         Nout shouted, "Jirro! Aero! Open up the sails!"

         The blonde and black-haired boys jumped to attention from the center of the ship. "We're on it!" Jirro hollered from the main mast.

         Aero grinned, "I bet I can open the sails on my side of the ship before you!"

         "Not a chance!" Jirro smiled back.

         The two boys darted to each side of the ship, jumping between masts effortlessly, untying and tightening ropes as needed. Temp and Nout had taught them the fundamentals of running a ship during their voyage, and they knew precisely what to do. A new training exercise of theirs was to see who could move more swiftly.

         Corri walked out onto the main deck with Valr. She wore golden gauntlets and had an oversized silver sword sheathed across her back. They smiled as they watched Aero and Jirro race across the ship.

         Valr waved to Temp, "How close do you think we are?"

         "We only just passed the equator. We should still have a few days left." Temp replied.

         Corri looked at the two of them, "Have either of you seen Ruben? I haven't seen him all day."

         Nout stepped forward and placed his hands on the rail nearest to him, "Last I saw, Ruben headed down below. Said watching the ocean was making it anxious."

         Temp chuckled behind the ship's wheel, "Is there a name for people who are afraid of the water?"

         Valr shrugged, "I don't know... aqua phobia?"

         Corri raised an eyebrow at him, "You'd be scared too if you couldn't swim. We'll find him!"

         Corri and Valr journeyed to the lower decks, systematically checking each floor for the red-eyed Densius. They looked through the storage room, filled to the brim with supplies and rations; they'd be helpful once their voyage was over. But Ruben wasn't there.

         They journeyed to the bottom deck and found an assortment of rocks of different sizes and shapes. Ruben insisted on bringing them before he agreed to take this trip. At the center of the pile of rocks was the boulder shaped Ruben.

         Ruben's back was turned to them, and several tiny rocks appeared to be levitating in the air around it. But as soon as they intruded on it, the rocks fell to the floor.

         "Hey, are you doing alright?" Corri asked.

         Ruben looked back at the two, clearly on edge. "Just eager to get off this boat. Are we close?"

         "Temp said it'll still take a few days to get to the Lands of Ranuulo," Valr replied.

         Ruben groaned, "Ugghh!"

         Corri bonked him on the head, "Don't be a baby."

         "You know I don't like the water!"

         "I know," Corri said, "We could give you some company?"

         Ruben shrugged, "I'm good. I'm occupying myself with something and wouldn't mind being alone for it. It requires a lot of concentration."

          "We'll leave you to it then," Valr said.

         As they walked away, Corri peeked back at Ruben and saw some of the rocks that surrounded it begin to levitate again.

         Corri and Valr joined everyone else on the main deck, all of them enjoying the beautiful expanse of the sea. The weather was peaceful, conducive to their travel. It was as if nature wanted them to make this trip. They appreciated how calm it was, especially with how crazy things have been.

         After Ranuulo's resurrection and defeat, things were peaceful. Razan, Lucar, Diva, and Vos were seen as heroes, their record as being Sky Bandits being completely overlooked after helping to save the world.

         Razan decided to live around Lupine Lake; they appreciated having him around. Lucar became an instructor at the Fighting Academy alongside Dama. With Vos and Diva's bounties cleared, they decided to live among the Densius on Platt Mountain for a life of peace and tranquility.

         The barrier looming over the Lands of Ranuulo had been destroyed and the once desolate terrain began to foster new life. There was even talk of trade beginning between them and the Lands of Ralosia.

         But not all was well.

         The death of Zantii created a power vacuum in the Lands of Ranuulo, with many trying to lay claim as ruler. Among them was the Queen of the Lost and the King of the Tundra. The people of that land still struggled.

         Corri and the others could've turned a blind eye to their plight... but that was not their way. Using the vessel they took from Cook and Chill years ago, these youths decided to sail across the sea and lend their aid, bringing supplies for the weary people of the land.

         Temp insisted that he be the one to pilot the ship. Aero had to tell his wife Oopa that he was leaving again. Of course, she was upset, but she understood it was the right thing to do. Nout left the care of his tribe to other Phantine Warriors he had trained.

         Jirro didn't hesitate to leave but wanted to bring Hita with him. But she told him she needed to help at the Fighting Academy. Everyone could tell he was sad that she couldn't come, but he'd never admit it. Whenever someone would bring Hita up, Jirro would blush ever so slightly.

         Ruben... honestly didn't want to come. But after seeing so many feral Densius being used as tools of war in the Lands of Ranuulo, it felt it had no choice but to lend its aid.

         There was never a question in Valr's mind of whether he'd go or not. He lived most of his life in the Lands of Ranuulo. Whether he liked it or not, it was his home. He had to defend it.

         Corri was the 'Heir to the Goddess'. With that sort of lofty title, who else could bring peace to their lands? She took part in this voyage for the same reason as the others. It was the right thing to do.

         Nout manned the ship's wheel at night. Everyone was below deck sleeping, all except Corri and Valr, who looked up at the stars together.

         High above them, a flickering luminescent light drifted through the sky, "What is that?" Corri asked.

         Valr smiled, "A firefly. It's this giant luminescent insect that flies. It only existed in the Lands of Ranuulo before, but I guess they're migrating."

         Corri had only been there once, but it seemed like such a strange place.

         "Do you think the people in the Lands of Ranuulo will be okay with me? Even after I killed their God?" Corri asked.

         Valr thought for a moment before answering, "After he died, the curse on their lands was lifted. I'm pretty sure everyone in the world is grateful to you."

         That was reassuring. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

         "Yeah. Good thing we have the Goddess's heir on our side," Valr said with a smirk, gently nudging Corri.

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         After a few days' travel, they could see land. A sandy coastline lead to a dense jungle. Valr stared for an especially long time at the sky, and Corri bumped him, "Is something wrong?" 

         "No. It's just weird seeing a blue sky here..."

         The ship docked on its shore, and the youths departed, making their way through the dense jungle.

         All around them, they could hear the roars and rumblings of peculiar beasts. Corri caught sight of a praying Mantis in the jungle, effortlessly cutting down trees with its sickle-like arms. But she was unafraid. With the company she shared, there was nothing to fear.

         As they left the jungle, they saw a familiar stone structure; the Link Temple. While it still acted as a gateway between the Lands of Ralosia and Ranuulo, one could sail between them now too. Around the temple were many natives of these lands. Valr had many friends among them, three of which had called for their help here.

         Igauruden was a young Regenek who acted as a leader for his people. Each of them had scaled skin, tails, claws, snouts with sharpened teeth, extendable limbs, and were remarkably friendly.

         Gweneva was an Arachna who took over as their leader after their previous one, Petri, was killed. Each of them had several spider-like limbs which sprouted from their backs. Gweneva still seemed somber after losing Petri, but put that aside for her people.

         The third of Valr's friends gave Corri pause. An impish Ranuulan named Nega. He had short ebon arms and legs, spotted skin, luminescent yellow eyes, and blonde hair.

         Nega was an escaped slave, and once he gained his freedom, he sought to free other slaves around the Lands of Ranuulo. He seemed serious, but good-hearted at his core. 

         Valr introduced his friends from the Lands of Ranuulo with the ones he made in the Lands of Ralosia, and they all seemed to mesh well. These youths all wanted the same thing, to make their world better.

         While there are certainly more tales to share, mysteries to solve, momentous events which lie in the future, we shall leave it here. Perhaps, one day a time will come to revisit the Lands of Ralosia and Ranuulo.

End of Book 3: The Zantii Saga