Chapter 116 - Epilogue

Stories were told all around the continent about the strange second wave of attack from the ghouls, and yet even though their strange behavior and pattern were worthy of whole conversation on their own, what really was the subject around is actually that the Murray hero that managed to fight against the first wave was the reason that, once more, the ghouls were held back and humanity prevail… only that, this time around, victory came with the great price of taking the hero's life and, like a martyr, feverous followers started to praise his name, and commotions surged all around the cities under the Citadel command.

The only city that managed to speak forth about such person without incurring in a discussion about him being a savior or a criminal, however, were those from the farthest city inside ghouls territory, the same one that withheld the attack, for they managed to raise a statue in his name as many even knew him in person and also knew just how much he had done for them.

Also the Emperor wished for him to be remembered as a hero, especially when, beside him, stood the sculpture of a cougar with six limbs to remind all that the guardians had not abandon them, and had actually fought evil together, paying a heavy price for it.

Only very few knew the truth, that, along with the dismembering of the ghoul army, along with the riots and the growing power from the Emperor with the support of his people and the Nameless mafia, another force grows, with no affiliations, with the solo purpose of protecting humans from the ghoul's harm, with a base hidden in the wilderness that only a few chosen ones had access to. 

A place where former heroes rejoiced and continued their work in the shadows of a greedy society.

And yet all seemed to end well despite it all.

The ending of the first ever siege coming from the ghouls had a relatively peaceful ending. The acceptance of the city to the new govern lead by the young Emperor was good, especially since most of the Citadel people had already run out of the city and those who stayed were of no importance to the Wilraine, and had grown an even bitter feeling towards them from abandoning the city after using and abusing its citizens.

Despite its small importance, however, the Citadel was not happy.

It was cautions of the Emperor surging up once more, and the perspective of reuniting its enemy nation once more, but instead of rushing in and inviting trouble, they instead fall back and ironed their grip on the other cities, hoping that the isolated far into ghoul territory city would crumble on its own.

But their people thought it otherwise.

Without the Citadel to step on their heads and without the rich to steal the safest biggest part of the town, those survivors had, for the first time, liberty to choose and act, and the Emperor was smart and cured favor of those.

So the once golden district, the inner wall in the center of the city, was grabbed back by its population, but instead of making it all anew the place, with so many mansions and huge gardens, was instead changed into a farming area where they could safely produce their food, especially now that they did not have the support of anyone anymore.

It would still take some time to fix all the troubles, such as not producing enough food and not being able to expand, but still there is a mystical strength on those that are corner on the wall, those that, many times before, had death whispering sweet words in their ears, so close they could feel its breathing creeping up their necks, and yet survived to see another day.

The kind of people would make water out of stone.

And now that they, for the first time, had a choice, had space to put their strength in and try to make things better for themselves, would fight until the last day to see a brighter future, if not for them but for their children.

The Shinzaki had always had a fighter spirit within them, otherwise they would not have hold of their own after a more technologically developed nation with only their martial arts and magic for so long. 

It is proven once more too when the ones used and abused at the Red district join forces with all and, being great entertainers and guest receivers, start a new foundation of theater actors and singers, acting like a ray of sunlight in a cold day, a comfortable embrace that took away the increasing stress these people lived through, and because of it the city actually starts growing once more, looking more like a home every day it passed by without the exploration of the Citadel and its people, freeing such fierce kin to stand on their feet once more and battle for their rights and freedom.

Only that for the who once carried the name of Black Raven while carrying for a phoenix nest with a lighting sparkling eyes, the future held a different path ahead of him as some mysteries still remained, on how their fateful guardians had not abandoned them, on how, to this day, some could still be seen fighting alongside their troops, guiding them to victory, stronger than any man and ghoul combined.

Only that few knew the truth behind such existences… and even less than few knew of one small guardian that rested inside the cities walls, ripped away from its rotting form, hurt but healing, waiting for the day they would be freed once more.

And it wasn't far, it seems, for the laying creature caught a whiff of something that manages to pull it awake, a twist of the pointy nose, and two pair of red eyes shine up in the darkest part of the city, and it takes a deep intake of air to taste that sparky smell that jolted its fur up.

For it hunger for far too long… and it had just smelled out a truly fancy meal to savor.

And that was enough to make it move out again.