***
**Epilogue – The Fool’s Journey**
“One day, I shall break free from silver and tin.
I shall rise like smoke, free as the wind.
I shall have my shining day—brilliant as the stars, radiant as the moon—”
A little girl with white hair and blue eyes was earnestly reading from a book with her mother. Seemingly unable to contain herself, she looked up after a few lines, gazing longingly at the procession outside the window.
Isabel put down the poetry collection helplessly. “Alay, if you really can’t read on, then forget it—we’ll go watch the ceremony.”
“Can we, Mom!” Alistair’s eyes lit up, and she jumped from her chair. She rushed out the door with a swish, only to immediately run back out from a floor-length mirror in the room. Seeing herself dash out the door, she then ran back, momentarily confused. Isabel playfully tapped her head. “Your Aunt Yulia is here; go greet her first.”
August 8, 1910.
The highly anticipated Pillar God Ascension Ceremony will be held today. Under the collective efforts of its people, the Material Realm has ushered in an unprecedented “Divine Decade.” Everything is flourishing, and everyone’s life is filled with hope and possibility. The epic of heroes is sung correctly, not buried in dust. Now, everyone knows the story of the Ouroboros Ring, who endured ten calamities for the survival of this World. The deeds of the unknown recluse, the nameless hero, are finally known to all.
The half-body of the Pillar God of the Path of Miracles, “Savior,” the “Ouroboros Ring,” will ascend to the eighth Path today, becoming a new Pillar God under everyone’s watchful eyes. He will also bring his lover— the former Twilight Pillar God “Amber”—to grant her eternal life as his apostle.
No one is more deserving of the Pillar God position of the Origin River of Easier than the Ouroboros Ring. After the Father Snake abdicated, the Envoy of Mist separated from the great host and temporarily held the position of Pillar God. The Pillar God of Change, “Reverse Blade Ax,” thus held the position of Pillar God for eleven years—and now, willingly abdicates, passing the position to someone more suitable. That is, the Ring Heavenly Envoy, who personally extinguished the disaster of Void.
“Come.” Isabel gently took her daughter Alistair’s hand and stepped into the mirror.
When they reappeared, they were in the hall.
“Have you thought about which Path to guide the child onto, Edward? I have a few secret texts here—” Sherlock’s calm and rational voice was heard from afar. A silver-haired girl with red eyes and a middle-aged man, who looked to be in his forties or fifties, were sitting at the same table with Sherlock. An elderly elf butler stood steadily behind the middle-aged man. That was Yulia and Edward. Edward had now become a reliable and steady middle-aged man, inheriting the Moriarty Family’s business. Two children, a boy and a girl, about five or six years old, hid to his left and right at his feet. They were Edward’s children. However, unlike Isabel, who was a half-elf—even Isabel had undergone proper growth, making her appear even more beautiful. Yulia, however, seemed untouched by time. She was exactly the same as eleven years ago!
“Still not planning to grow old, Yuli?” Isabel smiled gently and patted Yulia’s head. Wearing a bright red royal robe, Yulia laughed with her hands on her hips. “It’s still early! I won’t grow old as long as this World needs me.”
This was a perk of being a “Pioneer,” perhaps due to the Ring Heavenly Envoy and Void, or perhaps due to the miracles brought by Eivass. The principles of several Pillar Gods had changed somewhat, loosening up. Yulia’s wisdom could bring more positive changes to this World. In just eleven years, she had advanced technology in various fields by over a hundred years. It was only the early 20th century, yet it already had a hint of the “future” Eivass had visited during his Ascension Ceremony. The Hourglass greatly appreciated this change and made an exception: If one person’s continued existence could make the entire World more orderly and happier, then let her live!
“What were you just talking about?” Isabel smiled slightly and asked, “Choosing a Path for the child?” Compared to her ten years ago, she no longer seemed like a carefree girl. Today, Isabel had become a true monarch. Virtuous, enlightened, kind, gentle, beautiful, and wise, she was admired by the people and loved by her subjects. At least, the Miracle Kingdom “Wanning” had become an ideal country without poverty, oppression, war, hunger, or disease. Of course, this was also closely related to her other identity: the wife of the Pillar God “Savior” and his reserve apostle. People worshipped her so much that her words were almost divine pronouncements. This miracle was built on such absolute obedience. At least, the golden age brought about by this fervor had not yet dissipated.
The former Isabel thought she wouldn’t be able to bear the pain after leaving Eivass and would soon follow him. But then, she was surprised to find that Eivass could leave the Dream Realm and project himself into the Material Realm like the sun casting its light! This was something that should have been impossible, but this was “miracle.” In comfort and tenderness, Isabel quickly regained her strength. Under the sun’s gaze, she lived with her head held high again, meticulously maintaining the Kingdom of Wanning left by Eivass. Waiting for old age and death to send the glorious and beloved Isabel into the Dream Realm. Only then would she become Eivass’s apostle and be with him forever.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Sherlock nodded elegantly and calmly, looking at the cute girl beside her—the one who resembled Eivass by seventy percent, with hair the same color and a little face like a small fox. Even Sherlock wore a gentle smile. He asked softly, “Little Alay, what Path do you intend to take? Devotion? Transformation? Or Beauty?”
“I don’t want any of them!” Alistair declared crisply. This answer surprised everyone.
“Why don’t you want to be a Devotee?” Sherlock asked with some curiosity. “Your father was a Devotee.”
“I want to be a ‘Brave’!” Alistair’s eyes sparkled as she declared loudly. Brave—that was the name given to the Extraordinary of the eleventh Path, the Path of Miracles.
“…Is there anything else?” Sherlock asked with a hint of helplessness. Everyone could understand the girl’s admiration for her father. However, without sufficient determination and perseverance, this Path might be the most difficult. The difficulty of Paths before and after the Sacred Number nine was on entirely different levels. But Alistair was stubborn. “I want to walk the path my father walked! —Alay, I want to be a hero!” the girl said firmly.
“Hahahaha!” Just then, a hearty voice called out. “A hero—Ah Huan might really like you.” Light congealed into a human form by the window and strode towards everyone. It was Eivass!
“Dad!” Alay’s eyes lit up, and she ran over with quick patters, jumping into Eivass’s arms and burying her face in his embrace. It was such a warm embrace. And then, the light swirling behind Eivass congealed into several new human forms. Foster father James, Lily, and grandfather Jacob. Eivass, the “Artificial Angel,” had now turned into a boy of about two or three years old, held in Jacob’s arms. He had a halo above his head, and his pupils shone with light. James had transformed into the appearance of a young man in his twenties or thirties, smiling at the old butler Oswald. The aged elf bowed to him with great emotion. Lily had vanished into the shadows as soon as she appeared—as the Shadow within the Light, she was the only one who ascended to the Dream Realm with Eivass at the first opportunity.
Eivass and Isabel exchanged glances and smiled together. He softly said to the girl in his arms, “Alay, do you know—what is the ultimate goal of a hero?”
“…What is it?” Alay seemed to understand, but without much hesitation. “I think it’s to save the World!”
“The goal of a hero is to make it so that people no longer need to embark on the journey of becoming a hero. You live in an era that needs no heroes; the World no longer needs saving. This is what the ‘Savior’ has brought you all.”
“…Then I will embark on the Path of Healing!” Alistair said without much hesitation—or rather, this was her original wish. Becoming a Brave, becoming a hero, was merely her admiration for her father. The Path of Healing—this was a new Path created after Hengwo had shattered and the Envoy of Mist had ascended to Pillar God. Compared to the healing of the Path of Devotion, this was a gentler form of healing. Hengwo felt too exhausted, so after his mission ended, he entered reincarnation with the Beast Lord and did not return immediately. Like the Fallen Heavenly Envoy, although they have not yet been resurrected—they will be able to return in a clean body in the near future. The Path of Healing represents continuation, recovery, and maintenance. It can heal all things, tangible or intangible, and allow that which has stopped to continue—this is also a form of creation. Some of the Mist Demons now wear sapphire rings symbolizing the Path of Healing and travel worldwide to practice medicine voluntarily. These are the earliest healers.
“A remnant of the Path of Love?” Eivass murmured. He caressed Little Alay’s head and asked softly, “Why did you choose this Path?”
“If I can’t be a hero who saves the World, then I’ll be a hero everyone recognizes!” Alistair replied powerfully. “I want to make it so that no one in the World suffers anymore, greater than what Mom has done!” As she spoke, pure white brilliance flashed in Little Alistair’s pupils—that was the radiance of a miracle. However, everyone present, whether shocked by this grand ambition, reminded of the past, or lowering their gaze—fell into a synchronized silence.
“That is a path filled with thorns, little fox—. Ultimately, Sherlock shook his head and sighed, speaking in a symbolic attempt to dissuade her. “Saving everyone” is impossible.
“Ah—” The younger version of James simply smiled and stopped him. “Why not? Let her go. Even the impossible feat of saving the World from Doomsday has been accomplished, perhaps sometimes—one doesn’t have to be so rational.”
“I actually think—” Eivass unexpectedly did not negate his daughter’s innocent boast. “—Perhaps, it might truly be possible.” He simply lifted her up, towards the sun, letting its brilliant rays shine on her back. “Nothing is impossible; this is miracle. Even with suffering, even with danger, one must be brave enough to try and take risks. The possibilities in this World are ‘infinite.’ The salvation of the World is not the end; there are still many people who have not found happiness. So, I think this, although an incredibly difficult path, is also a meaningful one. Having a dream is better than having no dream; having hope is better than losing hope.”
“Wait, this is—” Yulia suddenly looked up, looking somewhat stunned. “The ‘Fool’ card?”
The Fool card is both number 0 and number 22. It is the beginning of all Tarot cards and also represents the end of all Tarot cards. The Fool symbolizes Dionysus, the God of Wine. This does not mean foolishness but rather a natural and pure disposition of great wisdom disguised as foolishness. The simple Fool, full of innocence, joy, and courage, freely decides to forge his own path—but at the same time, although naive, the Fool is fully prepared. Perhaps because the Fool is so likable, or because the light of his dreams is so brilliant—he is always helped by noble individuals, allowing him to avoid danger.
“That’s right!” Eivass said happily. “August 8th, the day of Change, the time of Transformation. On this celebratory day, a new cycle begins—this time, not to save the World, but to ensure everyone can find happiness. Let’s go, everyone, let’s go watch the ceremony! Let the great Ouroboros Ring also celebrate! Celebrate our little Fool embarking on the journey once more!”
(The End)
