Sen's+Epilogue

Sen stood on the balcony outside of the Library’s center atrium, admiring the beauty of Xangdi-lat and reflecting on his experiences on Tetravier. He thought about his friends, the battles he fought, and all of his journeys.

“Hello, my old friend,” Cho said quietly. “You seem pensive. Care to share your thoughts?”

Sen slowly turned around, avoiding eye contact with her. “I’m afraid my time here is coming to an end.”

Cho nodded, slowly and sadly. “All things are impermanent,” she said. “But I did hope that I might have been able to spend more time with you, now that the battle is done.”

“As did I, my oldest friend.” Sen turned back around and glanced at the small village at the foot of the mountain. “But you of all people know I cannot stay here.”

“I know. What Desyan said was true. Why would you stay here when you have the vastness of the Universe to explore? I envy you. There is so much to learn! Do you think...do you think that you might be able to come back and visit with me once in a while?” Cho smiled gently and took Sen’s hands in her own.

Sen looked up and met Cho’s eyes. In them, she saw a deep sadness swirling around. “Of course,” he said, smiling. “I think I could manage a few trips, although I cannot guarantee when.”

She kissed him on the cheek. “My dear friend,” she said, “I am timeless. What does that construct matter to me? Come to me when you can. We shall share tea and you shall tell me stories of your greatness. I know the Void is home to you, but you shall ever have a place here in the library and in my heart.”

“Take this,” he said as he handed her a small onyx and sapphire pocket watch. “Consider it a late wedding gift, and a token of our friendship. It will allow you to contact and summon me whenever you like.”

Cho took the watch, cradling it in her hands. “Are you sure you can part with it?”

“I am certain of it.”

Cho nodded again. “Very well then. I shall treasure it and our friendship until the end of time. Now go, before I cannot bear to say goodbye.”

“Wait!” Deysan came bursting through the doors, running up to Cho and Sen. “Did you really think you could leave without saying goodbye to me first?” he pulled Sen in, forcing him into a hug.

Sen returned the embrace. “There is no possible way I could ever forget about you, Desyan. I’ll be back eventually.”

Cho brushed a tear away from her eyes. “I know. And thank you. You helped me more than you could know, during very hard times. I leaned on you and your strength and you never disappointed me.”

“I’ll take good care of Cho,” Desyan said as he put his arm around her.

Aadil entered at that moment and coughed politely. “I believe,” he said, “that is my job now.”

Aglæca trailed behind Aadil, going behind Desyan, and wrapping her arms around his waist, “I also believe Cho is capable of protecting herself, love.”

“Indeed,” Cho sniffed. “I’ve been taking care of myself since before any of you were born. Now, Sen, we cannot postpone the inevitable any longer. Take our love with you.”

Sen stood on top of the balcony railing and faced his loved ones. “Farewell, my friends.” He spread out his arms and fell backwards off the mountain, spiralling down towards the ground. “One last stop before I go,” he whispered to himself right before he hit the ground, disappearing into a black vapor.

A split-second later, he stepped out of a copse of trees near a small village. He smiled as his eyes fell on a tiny cottage in front of him. Sen walked slowly to the door, opening it and walking inside to see a ripped package on the floor. He quickly picked it up, wrapped it in fresh paper, and closed his eyes to concentrated on an early memory of his.

Sen opened his eyes and saw the warm morning sun peek through window, lighting up the familiar face of a young man laying in the bed next to him. He set down the package and placed an envelope on top of it, a small tear dropping onto the paper as he smiled. “Have a pleasant life, Acasius,” he whispered as he blinked out of existence, leaving Tetravier behind.