Epilogue

“This is it?” Jeane asked. The ciar stood in front of the humble two-storey manor home. It sat on a picturesque countryside in Cheshire. The new Cheshire within the newly designed world.

Odyssey 2.0 as that Stephan fellow called it. Strange naming scheme…

“It would seem so, Mistress.” Came the small voice of another ciar beside her. The pale elf woman was slightly taller than Jeane with blue dark-blue hair that fell down around her shoulders, covering one eye. She was clutching a clipboard to her modest chest pensively as she stared at the home. She shifted uncomfortably just being near. Jeane knew why.

“It is a bit unseemly to hear those words from someone who is, or ‘was’ essentially ‘me.’” Jeane complained.

“Not you anymore, Mistress. This is a new body. A new life.”

Jeane sighed. “I would feel bad for you, had you not chosen this for yourself. It makes no sense at all to me.”

“The answer is obvious.”

“Oh?” Jeane lifted a brow.

“I admire you a lot. You managed to marry your Hero and live happily ever after.”

Jeane’s cheeks flushed. “Saying something like that is not allowed, understand? Bringing up past lives is banned, Gaine.”

“Apologies. It will not happen again.” Gaine bowed.

The two women turned at the same time as the doors to the manor opened. A boy with short, messy dark hair emerged to wave at them.

“Hi! What’re you standing around for, Miss Jeane, Miss Gaine!” He wore simple clothing and seemed to be holding herbs in an apron he was wearing.

“This is so jarring.” Jeane muttered, rubbing her forehead.

Fin rushed down the path towards the gate to open it for them. He seemed to be moving towards Jeane. She cleared her throat, preparing herself, only to be relieved when he swiftly moved past her towards Gaine.

“Uhm… These aren’t flowers, but I think herbs are more beautiful anyway… These things can help people, but flowers are only pretty.” Fin explained innocently, handing a sprig of something to Gaine. The woman shook, her face turning bright red as she accepted it gratefully.

“I-I will treasure it.”

Fin grinned brightly. “Ah… You don’t have to. It’s just a plant. Come on!” He turned and lead them into the house.

“Mom and Fiona are waiting for you in the meeting room.”

“Thank you… Fin.” Jeane hesitated to say his name, but there was no avoiding it. The two women left the former Hero and walked down the hall towards the meeting room.

Gaine looked down. “Is it true that he’s lost all his memories?”

“Memories. Powers. He’s completely mundane.” Gain’s ears drooped. Jeane rubbed her eyes wearily.

“However… It seems to be the case that familiar souls will be drawn to one-another.”

Gaine looked up. “Truly?”

“It has yet to be tested substantively.” Jeane shrugged, entering the room. Within, Marrien was sitting behind a desk, adjusting her glasses as she looked over some reports. Fiona was leaning her butt on the front of the desk with her arms crossed.

“Bout time.” Fiona commented, tilting her feathered hat.

“We were stopped at the door by your ‘brother.’”

Fiona waved a hand. “Enough of that. It is what it is and… He’s cute enough to fill the void left behind by him…” She pushed off from the desk.

“Mom?”

Without looking up Marrien tapped her chin with a quill quizzically. “I love all my children from all dimensions and timelines. A mother has to.” Finally, she looked up, then stood up, planting her hands on the desk in front of her.

“Speaking of… Jeane, how is my grandson? When are we going to see him again?” Marrien probed.

“Happy. Healthy. He seems to learn things quickly like his father. It is unfortunate that he was born without Aura, despite being Ciar.”

“Seems like some parts couldn’t be separated. The ‘veil’ over my brother was just a ‘mask’ after all. Moreover, are we going to ever really tell him who his dad is?”

Jeane became lost in thought after that. “I have not decided if it would be better or worse to know. I will decide by the time he is speaking full sentences.”

“Hmm.” Fiona grabbed her hat, adjusting it on her head so that the brim covered her eyes.

“I think you should tell him. I don’t care about the rules. I’ll never deny or hide the existence of my real brother.” She gritted her teeth.

“You know you should not.” Jeane offered sympathetically, resting a hand on Fiona’s shoulder.

The Hero gritted her teeth. “This stewardship shit… No one said there’d be rules.”

Marrien sighed, and conceded. “I feel the same way, dear. I will never forget my one real son. However… There is a real need to preserve the sanctity of this world.”

Fiona reluctantly nodded. “Fine. Now that we’re talking about that, Jeane, what’s the state of Aura, here?”

“Gaine.” Jeane directed. The girl stepped forward, removed papers from her clipboard and handed them over. Jeane continued as Marrien read and Fiona craned her head to at least look.

“The ‘rationing’ rules laid out are working as intended. Those that are born or recreated into this world are now overwhelmingly mundane compared to the one outside. This is as intended. However... “

“There’s leaks.” Fiona stated.

“Nobody should have Aura enough to be a mage, right? But I come across at least one whenever I get to a new place. I can find them because they don’t know how to use it. They’re bright.”

Jeane inclined her head. “Thank you for bringing them to our attention. The list you provided will allow us to gather these people and regulate them correctly.”

“What do we do if too many show up? You know what’s gonna happen…”

Jeane nodded. “Cracks from the previous system where Aura was overflowing. Mages that appear in this version of the world are absorbing energy from those cracks. The world itself, in other words… The more that appear, the less power we have to allow this place to exist at all.”

Fiona lifted her chin, smiled and offered sardonically. “So what if that happens?”

“My thoughts on the matter? This is the world that my son was born into. I want it to thrive.” Jeane offered sternly.

“My little nephew… That’s right. You sure have a way with words. Is that the benefit of having a thousand or so years on me?”

“Time has nothing to do with it.” Jeane claimed haughty.

“I was curious… But it seems like you know. But you’re still collecting them, huh?” Fiona looked at Jeane closely.

“We… Can not behave in any other way towards them. It is not right to punish them for something they can not control.”

“So when they become chaotic, and you have to do it then, anyway…” Fiona trailed off, watching for Jeane’s reaction.

“Then I do what must be done. But not all are doomed. Some show potential to control the Aura and actually make it their own.”

“Oh, that’s cute. So you build your own little mage tower?” Fiona smiled.

“We’re not doing that this time.” Marrien interjected.

“Marrien is correct. Aura is so scarce in this version of the world due to all of the production being syphoned into the system itself. Instead I was thinking… A secret society of mages capable of hunting down other chaotic Aura users and either guiding them as I would wish-”

“Or stopping them, if things get out of hand.” Fiona said sharply.

“You are very zealous…”

“It’s like you said, Jeane. This is the world my nephew was born into. It’s the one Mom’s in. If anything threatens it… Let’s just say I don’t have any desire to hold back in that case.”

Jeane exhaled through her nose. “No one could stop you, in that case, Lady Turais.”

“Pffft.” Fiona broke the tension.

“You’re just lucky I’m so reasonable.”

“I still remember the time when you were telling me to have sex with your brother with wild, scary eyes.”

“Talking about the past is banned.” Fiona said in a guarded tone.

“I like the idea. Secret society. Let me know if you need any wetwork done.”

“I like the idea as well.” Marrien decided.

“Let’s move forward with this plan of establishing a secret society for mages.”

“Gosh!” Fiona said in good humour.

“Listen to us. Just a trio of gals deciding the trajectory the world takes over the next few decades.”

“Any other points to address?” Jeane inquired.

“Oh, oh.” Fiona nodded.

“I got a big one.”

“Go on.” Jeane nodded to her. Marrien looked up curiously, not knowing about this point.

“Has anyone heard from that ‘administrator’ at all since this world got ‘patched’ as they called it?” Fiona passed a curious gaze across the room. Blank stares met her.

“I can not imagine he is pleased. So many concessions had to be made on his part, then to top it all off, after the deal was made it was all complicated immensely by the brash act of a simple Gnoll. Embarrassing, some may even say.” Jeane opened her palm, a golden key materialising in her hand.

“Are all of your Key’s in-tact? These are the first things that would be targeted if he were to try something.”

“I have mine in a safe place. A place no one would ever look.” Fiona said smugly.

Marrien added. “I also have mine, still, though I do not check it often. We will hear from other Keyholders if something happens.”

“Very well. I was just checking.” Jeane bowed.

“I must return, my child is likely already restless without my breast.”

“Yeah, who wouldn’t be.” Fiona huffed.

“Why don’t you feed me while you’re here, ‘mommy?’” She licked her lips.

Jeane shuddered. “I suppose it is ‘good’ to see you are still you.”

“Is that a no?” Fiona pouted.

Jeane turned and left with Gaine bowing before turning and leaving in Jeane’s shadow. Fin walked out from the kitchen as they were about to pass by. He was wiping his hands on his apron.

“Going so soon? I was prepping things to make a soothing tea. I know you both work hard.” He paused, shifting a little where he stood.

“E-especially Miss Gaine.”

“I am afraid we can not.” Jeane said stoically. She said that, but stopped at the door, sighing as she felt Gaine’s sadness.

“Please brew us both a small cup. A refresher would be nice before we make our way back to the city.”