Epilogue - Farewell
Epilogue - Farewell
Epilogue - Farewell
The words didn’t echo.
They settled.
Heavy.
No one moved.
Not because they agreed—
but because they understood.
A Parvian promise.
It was sacred.
Hera stepped forward. Not hurried. Not steady either.
“You crossed a line.”
Her voice held.
“A Node was targeted.” “That is not something you walk away from.”
A pause.
“…not even you.”
“I meant every word, Hera.”
“I’ll be forced to stop you—”
“That is your duty, and I’m not walking away.” His voice was level. “I’m finishing it.”
Her gaze wavered.
“Hans—” “Don’t—”
Silence followed. Hera closed her eyes. Pain settled in her chest.
“Then you’ll answer for it.” No threat. No anger.
“Concordia does not overlook this.”
A beat.
“I won’t.”
“You won’t have to.”
Another presence stepped forward.
The first man he had called—
when he returned to the Node.
Homar Garuda stepped in.
And the weight of Parv entered with him.
“He answers to Parv.”
Hera’s eyes shifted.
Sharp.
“This is Concordia’s jurisdiction.”
“It was a Node.”
“It was the barrier.”
Homar didn’t raise his voice.
“And he is Parv.”
Silence deepened.
Lines drawn.
Not spoken—
understood.
Hans turned.
“You set a condition.”
A pause.
“I fulfilled it.”
Silence.
Homar stepped forward.
Both hands extended.
Offering his bow.
Then—
he knelt.
“Homar Garuda.”
“Lord Commander of the Golden Griffin.”
“Guardian of Parv.”
“Greets—”
“his Highness.”
“Prince Hansellidore Parv.”
Silence fell again.
The world shifted.
“You may rise, Lord Commander.”
And he stood.
Declaring—
not to her,
but to the world—
“We are leaving.”
Hera broke the silence.
“You’re taking him.”
Not a question.
“Yes.”
Homar answered.
No hesitation.
A pause.
“He won’t be welcomed back easily.”
Hera’s voice remained steady.
“He will be named a criminal.”
“—he will be hunted.”
“Then they will learn.”
“What they chose to name a criminal.”
Hans didn’t move.
Not immediately.
As if the moment—
meant less to him than it should have.
“Let’s go home, my prince.”
Hans only nodded.
He stepped through.
His steps didn’t slow.
Until—
something held him.
A hand.
He stopped.
Turned.
“Deli…”
She didn’t meet his eyes.
“Stay.”
A breath.
“We’ll find a way.”
Her voice lowered.
“We always do.”
He gently removed her hand.
Not with force.
Not with rejection.
Just…final.
A small smile.
“You found your family.”
His gaze shifted.
Zilong.
Sierra.
Rudolf.
Then back to her.
“I still have to find mine.”
He vanished.
Into the SpaceDoor.
She almost called his name.
It reached her throat—
and stopped.
Because she knew—
he wouldn’t turn.
***