Book Three – Epilogue – Part One – Dawn of a Fresh Beginning

As they left the Warden office and made their way to the city gates, Servi and Momo inadvertently joined up with an impromptu caravan. The pair traveled with it for forty or fifty minutes. Like a cruel trick from the Gods Above, Servi had no choice but to endure the horrifying tales told between Arcton’s survivors during that short-lived journey.

“My daughter, man... She… She was right there… We were only walking, and suddenly, the building just collapsed like someone had thrown a mountain through it… I can see it still. Her little hand reached out towards me, and I… I could only jump back. Why didn’t I leap for her? I’d rather die with my baby than live in a world without her…” bemoaned a man. He was dressed in moderately clean clothing, suggesting he worked an establishment near the more ‘suitable’ part of town. Out of nowhere, he had just started talking about his child.

“I lost my son… I don’t know what it was, but he… It was like a splash of red water smacked into him when he was playing outside. It splattered him against the ground… At first, I thought he was just playing, you know? Maybe he was just pretending to be a pancake? It was just like the games we used to play when he was younger, but... Gods, a father should never be forced to scrape his son off the ground.” It didn’t take long at all for a third person to speak about a loved one they lost. It was a little girl, wearing a dirty rag covering her chest and waist, painfully sharing a story about her mother.

“Mother was a good woman. We didn’t have that much in the way of food, water, or clothing, but she provided for us all the same. Breakfast and dinner were always on the table. Even if it was a piece of bread and some dirty water, we always had something to eat. But then the sickness took my brother and baby sister. And my father passed not too long after that. But momma? She kept going with the strength of a rock until she vanished. It was when that great light exploded in the sky and turned my home into nothing but dirt and tiny pebbles. If she never told me to go play outside, I would’ve died too…

“She always told me that the Gods do things for a reason. And I wanted to believe her… But why did the Gods have to destroy my family? I’m all alone now…” The girl ended her story with a voice quivering on the edge of sadness. By then, Momo decided she couldn’t take it anymore and broke away from the convoy. As she was still holding Servi’s hand, the battered girl was brought along for the ride. The pair ran off to the side and into the forest, away from the well-traveled dirt road. Green grass absorbed the peddling of their footsteps. Wind smacked against Momo’s face, sending her thick tears behind her and smacking against Servi. Her now-long pink hair violently trailed behind.

After thirty solid minutes of racing through the trees, the pair emerged at a very familiar spot, though it wasn’t by choice. “Servy… There’s…that…sign…” Momo spoke between deep breaths. She turned to Servi, panting all the while as sweat endlessly dripped down her cheeks. The hot sun seemed to only target her, blasting her with the full force of its godly rays.

Servi looked at Momo and started to walk towards the sign. The Singi limped along the best she could, favoring her left leg while fighting against a growing pain in her stomach. Excitement and strenuous exercise right after a week of an involuntary sedimentary lifestyle were too much Momo.

“Hey… I’m sorry about rushing off, but I couldn’t take it… It felt like a nail was being driven through my heart… I know that—” Momo tried to explain herself because she thought Servi was mad, but that wasn’t accurate at all. It wasn’t until the pair turned away from the sign and walked over a very familiar tree that she understood. It was the same one Momo had dragged Servi to after her self-imposed punishment.

“I… I wanted to run away too. It’s bad because I was the one who caused it, but it hurt me a lot… Hearing a first-hand experience of events I’ve directly caused… Thank you, Momo…” Servi said when she finally stopped moving. She had come to a halt on the soft bed of grass under that same tree. As Servi started to lay down, so did the Singi with a smile. The blanket of green, long since warmed by the sun’s blessing, felt like heaven. It was like her bodily stress disappeared, transferring to the individual blades of grass while leaving Momo refreshed. Her tail especially enjoyed it because it slithered like a snake. As for Momo, her mind suddenly focused on a pleasant thought.

From the second Momo had grasped it a few hours prior, her and Servi’s hand had been interconnected, becoming a physical link illustrating the friendship between them.

“You’re welcome, Servy. I—" Suddenly, Momo was violently attacked by a series of rapid yawns. They snatched away her ability to logically think. Her eyes closed like that of a drawbridge with no chains, but the Singi did her best to raise them. Only when she heard the sweet words of her best friend did she fall victim to a much-needed slumber.

“It’s okay, Momo. You can take a small nap,” Servi whispered. She gave Momo’s  hand a squeeze.

“Okay… I’m sorry, Servy… I’m just…so…tired…” Momo returned the show of affection right as her mind drifted off to the world of sleep without the aid of any skills.

Servi turned her head, scattering the grass with her black hair. Her best friend had somewhat curled into a small ball, making herself seem smaller and less threatening. A cute smile plastered across her face hopefully signified she was living through a pleasant dream.

You’re my hero, Mosie. You’ll always be my hero… After thinking those thoughts, Servi turned her head one more time and looked straight up at the green leaves covering the treetop. In a way, seeing a few rays of sunshine peek through was absolutely beautiful.

“Itarr, are you there?” Servi whispered. She spoke with a tone bordering on the edge of a flat plain. Any emotions that simple question would’ve contained had disappeared. As she predicted, Itarr did not reply. That was to be expected, but it also made what Servi wanted to say a pain to get across. She had to have one last conversation with the Goddess before the second stage of the healing process began.

Because of that, Servi had to say something cruel that would force Itarr to break her self-imposed silence. Even as the sentences left her mouth, Servi teared up because they contained words she never wanted to utter.

“Itarr, I’ve been thinking it over…and I came to a conclusion. I don’t think I love you…”

Of course you wouldn’t love me anymore. Nobody would love me after what I’ve done. But did you have to say it out loud?! Not that it matters…but now I know how you really feel, and I don’t blame you one bit. I have no right to receive your love.

“Look, I know you did it for me. You only wanted to support me, and I get that. But I am angry at you... I can't see a situation in which I wouldn't be upset... This whole time, who I was is not who I really am. And the Servi you came to love isn’t who I am. At least…I don’t think it was… Hell, I don’t even….”

Itarr remained silent like a leaf gliding through the desert night. She never made a sound, though she desperately wanted to wail.

“I, the Servi right now, with my pure, unadulterated, and non-manipulated emotions, do not love you. But that’s not to say that can’t change. Remember, love comes in many forms. I know I said I was angry...and I know I said I hated you...and I know I said those really hurtful things...but you only thought of me and nothing else. But in doing so, I-- we... We killed a lot of people. Some that were probably innocent. Their blood was on my hands. Now that I know the truth, your hands are stained the same as mine... It’s something we can never take back, and it’ll remain with us forever. And since we can't die... It will never leave us...”

Servi calmly smiled when she heard a tearful sound reach her ears.

“Are you crying? That’s a good thing. Let it out. Shed tears for the innocents who met their ends by our hands. Going forward, we have to take responsibility because there is no other way. To help with that, I think we have to start fresh. You remember, don’t you? What Momo said to me?

I…

“My name’s Servi. I’m just a girl who died in a world full of misunderstandings, but I didn’t pass on to the afterlife. I was somehow brought before a sealed Goddess…”

I’m Itarr, and… And I… The Goddess couldn’t finish the sentence because her emotions had kicked into overdrive, but Servi had it covered.

“It’s nice to meet you, Itarr. I’m sure we can be the best of friends...”

WWAAAHHHHH!!!

“Momo once told me she wouldn’t judge me for crying. Guess what? I won’t judge you, either. Go ahead and cry until you can’t produce any more tears. I bet you’ll feel a whole lot better afterwards. I know I did... And I forgive you for tampering with my emotions... Itarr, you're as much me as I am myself... Ever since we met, we've been two sides of the same coin...”

I promise! Servi, I promise to become better, and I won’t ever forget my sins! I’ll do my best to become someone you’d be proud to love!!!

Servi wiped her eyes with the back of her unoccupied hand. “Yeah, I promise I’ll become someone better, too. Just wait for me, Itarr...”

“Servy, you’re already someone better,” Momo said. Servi turned to her side and locked eyes with a cute Singi.

“A-ahh,” Servi stuttered. She was a bit embarrassed. “Did you catch all that?"

Momo nodded. “I did. Thanks for letting me have a little cat nap. Is Itarr gonna be okay?”

“Yeah, she is, but I don’t think it’s going to be easy. I mean, it’ll be hard for both of us. I—”

Suddenly, Momo wiggled a bit closer to Servi and held their connected hands close to her chest. “Don’t be afraid to rely on me, okay? My grampy once told me something special, and now I’m going to say it to you.” Momo took a deep breath and spoke with a newfound conviction. “If you can’t forgive yourself, I’ll forgive you. I’ll always forgive you, Servy, because you have a friend in me. And that goes for you too, Itarr..."

Servi somehow found a new source of tears in glands located in each eye, and they streamed down her face, cutting across her nose and lips. Momo only smiled and held her arms out, allowing Servi to wiggle herself forward.

All in all, it was a peculiar sight, and not one that was common. A Singi and Human, joined together by extreme situations, embraced each other while laying on their sides in a field of warm grass. Momo had a hand wrapped around Servi’s back while the other gently petted that field of black hair. Soft as velvet, her hands effortlessly sank into its void-like depths. Her cute nose cautiously sniffed, inhaling her friend's unique scent.

Servi continued to cry, wailing into Momo’s armor-covered chest. Being held by someone certainly unlocked a previously locked feeling, and Servi felt so vulnerable and weak, like a day-old puppy.

Servy, I’ll be there…

To hold your worries and fears…

You can give them to me to bear…

Out of the blue, Momo had a strong urge to sing a simple song that randomly came to her mind. She repeated those three lines over and over until Servi’s whimpering came to an end.

A few seconds after that, a pair of red eyes looked up, meeting Momo’s motherly smile. “That song contained my true feelings, Servy. From now to the end of time, you can—no, I want you to rely on me. Now, do you think you can stand? Or do you wanna lay like this a bit longer? I’m fine with either option.”

“Mosie… I think I can stand. We both want to get to Canary as soon as possible, right?”

“We do, but I don’t mind taking it slow if you need it. And I might prefer it that way. If I’m being honest, I wanna make up for the time I was gone… Ah—” After she spoke, Momo realized her simple words could have interpreted differently. However, it seemed Servi knew her friend didn’t mean it that way.

“Then let’s take the scenic route back to Canary. Me and you…and Itarr...” Servi said. She slowly wiggled away from their sideward hug. Momo did the same, and the pair stood up while still being connected by their hands. They each dusted off the grass and dirt and walked back to the sign and the fork in the road.

“Servy, we gotta go that way,” Momo pointed, mirroring the way the sign said they had to go.

“Then let’s go. Do we have everything?”

“Hmm… Bag? Check! Backpack? Check. Canteen? Checky-check. Yep! I assume your bag is in your ring?”

As if to answer Momo, a floating backpack with Servi’s name on it circled around the Singi. Then it promptly disappeared. “Okay! That answers that! Are you ready?” Momo squeezed her occupied hand.

Servi returned it, not even needing to use her words to get her point across.

The Singi smiled at the Human, and off they went down a gravel road towards their precious Canary. The beautiful sun above had left its position directly over them and was in the beginning stages of lying down to rest. Luckily for the pair of best friends, they had five hours left to enjoy the sunlight before a crimson glow enveloped the world.

After around thirty minutes of walking in complete silence, Momo broke that quietness with a simple question.

“Hey, Servy?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“After you get better, how are we going to fight? I mean, you’re strong, so I doubt anything can put up a fight against you.”

After thinking about it, a trio of iron shields circled the area five meters in front of them. “I can always play the tank. Obviously, I would do my best to avoid damage because I don’t want to worry you, but it’s the best role for me. Then you can focus on attacking and dealing the damage, right? Or I can be support. I can always limit myself to the skills matching my current Warden Rank.

“Hehe! It’ll be just like always, won’t it?” Momo flashed a smile filled with nostalgia.

“Yep. There won’t be anything different. I’ll defend. You attack. We’ll be the perfect team.”

“We’ll always be the perfect team, Servy. Umm, but there’s something else I wanted to ask?”

Servi absorbed the floating shields and brought out her canteen. She unscrewed it with Telekinesis, took a few swigs, and stored it back in her ring. “What’s up?” she asked after she finished drinking.

Momo silently watched, amazed at how versatile Telekinesis was. “I never realized it could be used in so many ways… Oh, when I looked through your ID, I saw a skill called Bloodline. I’m kinda curious about it.”

“I don’t know too much about it, but I can tell you this. It’s a skill that allows me to share my power with those who join my Bloodline.”

“How does that work?” Momo wondered.

“They have to drink my blood. I don’t know what happens after that, but I know my skills would be shared."

“What about your strength and agility?”

Servi shook her head. “I don’t know, but that should be shared as well. Speaking of that, I wonder if they’ll get a ring like mine?”

Servi held up their connected hand, which happened to be the right one. Moments after they started walking, the pair non-verbally decided to switch hands to give the other one time to rest. In Momo’s case, she was glad because it was getting awfully sweaty. She didn’t want to cause Servi any discomfort. As a result, Momo’s fingers gently swiped against Servi’s ring.

“It’s a beautiful ring. Itarr gave it to you?”

“Yeah, she did. It was right after I jumped down and devoured her… But about Bloodline… I know you want to get stronger, and that’s the fastest way to do that.”

“It’s not that I’m not interested... I am. But I’m on this journey to become strong through hard work. So I’m sorry, Servy, but I’m gonna pass on it.”

“That’s fine. I mean this in the best possible way, but the offer is always there.”

“I know. I know you’ll always have that available for me. You know why?”

“Why?” Servi asked, tilting her head slightly. A few black strands of hair danced across her left ear, hiding it from sight.

Momo smiled, and Servi's heart skipped a few beats. “It’s because you’re my best friend! And guess what? If you don’t have any memories, then let’s create new ones. We’ll do it together! And for starters, we can make many memories of us training together. We can have fun going on adventurers and making memories that way. Oh, we can even eat yummy food and have that be something we look fondly on!  Starting today, the skies the limit!” Momo struck a pose and pointed to the sky with her right hand. Like its master, her tail joined the antics and stuck straight up.

Servi couldn’t keep down a giggle and allowed it to flow freely. Momo joined in, beaming to herself that she made Servi smile.

And there’s the first memory… Good job, Momo! Just keep it up!

An idea popped in Servi’s head. She thought back to a particular gift she bought a week ago. It wasn’t the best time to give it then, but now? It seemed like this was the perfect moment. “Then, Momo... Can this be a memory too?”

A carved wooden figurine of a cat sleeping beside a horse appeared a half meter in front of them. Momo cocked her head, staring as it approached her. She held out her right hand, grabbing onto it as tears flowed from her eyes.

“I got this for you after our fight at the inn. It was to be my apology gift.”

“It’s beautiful, Servy. I love it, and I promise I’ll treasure it forever. And yes, this is another memory we’ve created. I know we’ll fondly look back on it.” Using only one hand, the Singi had a little bit of trouble placing her gift in her bag, but she eventually got it.

When Momo met Servi’s gaze after looking up, the Human exploded into sobbing tears, scrunching her face. As if it was no problem at all, Momo stopped walking, went towards her best friend, and simply hugged her. She wished she was tall enough to cradle Servi’s head, but the Singi was just too short.

The sight of two girls, one Human and one Demi-Human, holding and embracing each other was a peculiar sight. The passion fueling their emotional hearts burned with newfound intensity, sending sorrowful wails scattering to the Heavens Above. After a minute, Servi simmered down enough for Momo to ask a question.

“Servy, how long do you think it’ll take?”

Servi stepped away, wiping her reddened cheeks with the back of her hand. “Did Itarr tell you? Weeks, probably. It wouldn’t surprise me if it took months…”

“She did. She told me it was a lingering process. The damage won’t be healed instantly. But you’re my bestest friend! I’ll be the one to protect you this time! So take as long as you need for everything to be sorted and straightened out! And when you come back, I’ll be right here waiting on you. Servy, I’ll always be here.”

Servi opened her mouth to speak, but felt an odd wave of energy coursing through her body. It felt like a burst of displeasure one would have after receiving an injection. Was her body in the final stages of preparation? Servi felt like she didn't have that much time left, so she said what she needed to say. Unfortunately, that segued into a different can of worms that started off promising, but left a tense feeling in Momo's heart.

“Mosie… What if the Servi of a week ago and the new Servi are one and the same? Even without Itarr, I think that was my eventual path in life. Mosie… What if I can’t hold back my anger anymore, and I continue to get the urge to kill? If I come back from this... And I find out that I really like taking lives... What do I do? I’m afraid I won’t change… Mosie, I’m scared… I’m really scared… I don't wanna disappear because the true me might be worse in every possible way... I'm tired of being a villain!!! I don't want that any more..." Suffering from a mental breakdown, Servi dropped to her knees and let go of Momo’s hand. Her last words in that tantrum was odd, but Momo didn't have time to cross-examine them.

The Singi kneeled down, wrapping her arms around Servi’s head and affectionately rubbing it. “Servy, believe in the me that believes in you. I know it’s going to turn out okay. You know how I know that? It’s because I know the real you.

“You’re a girl who likes to act goofy with me. You have a kind heart that hurts when your friends are hurting. When you see someone in pain, like those slaves, you want to free them even at cost to you. Servy, you’re the bravest, kindest, gentlest girl I know. That’s why I know you’re going to be just fine. After all, I think I’ve been with you long enough to know. We’re best friends, right?”

“Mosie…” Servi’s eyes became wet as she looked up. Once she met Momo’s two blue eyes, Servi spoke. “I want you to do something for me. If you can, I mean…”

“Anything at all! All you have to do is ask.”

“I… I want you to hear me and my promise—no, my declaration. I vow to bring back the innocent people who died by my hand. The children… The babies… All of the ones with no Mafia association… Even Nimea... I... I saw him...hanging next to you before I saved you... Somehow, he perished in the battle, but he didn’t deserve to die!!!! He never really truly harmed us, and I stole his life away from him... I swear I will right my wrongs and give them another chance at life. I don’t know how I’m going to break the seal and pass the trial on Necromancy, but I swear I’ll see it happen... I don't even know where to start with that, but...”

“Then I vow to help you achieve that. We’ll bring back the children, the babies, the innocent people, and Nimea! You’ll always have my support, Servy. If something happens and we go off the beaten trail, leave it to me to guide you back on the right path. But more than that, I swear we'll work together so there won’t be any more awful stories like the ones we heard hours ago in that caravan. We can do it, Servy. I know we can. Together, we’ll be unstoppable heroes!!” Momo said, never breaking eye contact. The conviction in her pearly blue eyes roared alive with the blaze of hope, illuminating a new path for the pair to trek on.  That last line about heroes was something her mind didn't even think of. She just spoke it because it felt like her whole being needed to say that.

Without any warning, Servi lightly trembled and grabbed onto to Momo's shoulders. Her fearful red eyes leaked warm water, and her mouth shuddered when she spoke. Evidently she felt that it was coming soon. "Momo! I'm sorry I didn't come for you the moment I could! I'm sorry!!! I'm sorry!!! I'm sorry!!!" Apology after apology flooded from Servi's mouth at such a rate that Momo couldn't get a word in. She wanted to say that she already promised to forever be by Servi's side, so there was no need to worry about her leaving. And she wanted to say they had already talked about Servi not coming to save her. All of that was supposed to be water under the bridge, so what good did it do to bring it back up? The outcome would still be the same, but that chance to do that never came.

"Please, don't leave me! I'm scared!!! I'm so scared!!!! I need you!!!" By this point, an inconsistent, yet booming wail, followed along with her desperate pleas. Momo had thought she had seen Servi at her lowest point, in regards to emotion, but this new Servi had gone past that. "PLEASE, MOMO!!! DON'T LEAVE ME TO GO THROUGH THIS ALONE!!!! I NEED YOU!!! I NEED YOU!!!! DON'T LET THEM PUT ME BACK IN THE CAGE!!!! NOOOOOO!!!!!! MOMO, I NEED YOU!!!!! I... n... I ne...ed y...ou I...u..."

Suddenly, Servi started to violently shake the moment she stopped her shouting and started to whisper. She convulsed like she was having a series of horrific seizures. They were so bad she shook away from Momo’s embrace, flopping like a fish out of water while blood spurted from her mouth like a geyser. Servi's eyes went big and wide as if they were going to pop out of her head. The Singi ran forward without a second thought, pining Servi to the ground using nothing but her body. Her lovely pink hair became bloody with the crimson of her friend, allowing unsightly clumps to form.

Momo ignored that feeling and solely focused on comforting Servi. After a brutal ten minutes filled with crying and prayers, Servi’s body came to a sudden halt. The Singi felt a little bit of resistance and reluctantly stood up. Walking back, she allowed Servi the space to stand up, but the thing that stood up only looked like Servi. It had the same red eyes, and the same black hair.

But that was all it had.

Momo felt no sense of warmth or affection radiating from the Human-shaped object she saw. The light in Servi’s eyes was dim, choosing not to sparkle with the intensity of declaring a great vow. In every way she could think of, the thing standing before her reminded her of a doll.

The Singi tiptoed to Servi and reached down, grabbing a motionless right hand. Her fingers explored every bit of the hand she held, from the soft palms to the smooth nails, and it didn’t feel like she was touching Servi.

“Servy, do you remember me?” Momo asked in a tearful voice as her soft tail slowed to a crawl.

Her fluffy ears never received a word of confirmation, only basking in the silent wilderness. The girl standing in front of her never nodded. Servi’s pair of red eyes didn’t even look down, choosing to blankly stared ahead. It wasn’t that she didn’t know someone was there-- Servi certainly did-- she just did not look down.

In her current state, Servi was most similar to that of a newborn when only taking her emotional knowledge into account. When she encountered something making her happy or upset, the emotional wave would wash her virgin body, and she would be ever closer to becoming whole. But that was going to take a while. Keywater wasn't built in a day, after all.

Momo gripped the hand she held with both of her hands while holding them close to her heart.

“I’m your best friend, Servy. And you’re my best friend. I… I haven’t acted like one should or would, but I promise I’ll make it up to you. And when you do get better, me, you, and all of our friends will go to Waveret. Remember, you and I talked about that place before we left Canary? We can have fun at the beach. And until then, I won’t ever leave your side. So please...make it back to me… Servy…” Momo couldn’t take it anymore and wrapped her arms around Servi, crying into her chest.

The smallest part of the Singi believed her love and friendship would be all it would take to put an immediate end to the nightmare. Momo was far too naïve to think such a fairy tale-esque scene could happen back to back, but she wanted to believe in the possibility. When it didn’t play out like she wanted it to and Servi refused to raise her arms, Momo only sobbed even harder.