Epilogue: AGG: ER

Epilogue: AGG: ER 

Commissioned by Blue Flaming Wings

Word Count: 2672

…

“Zhang, you need to be more considerate of your poor wife’s circumstances.” Lan Yuen leans against you, slightly jostling you in your seat. It makes feigning guiding your two friends more difficult, but the two horses you have pulling your carriage are consummate actors. Both enjoy fooling ‘regular humans’ into thinking you’re the one leading them. The thing only they enjoy more than ‘fooling the unperceptive’ are sugar cubes. You understand why. Sugar is delicious. “Please, listen to your poor old mistress, and be more considerate of your wife’s fragility during her pregnancy, hmmm?”

Tilting your head, after mulling over the thought, you inquire Koen if that’s truly the case.

“No, Zhang. Yuen is merely being a rascal, once again.” An Koen’s words are easily understandable as usual and you accept them with a smile. Your fellow graduate of the Mystic Academy, long-time ally, and new head of your household returns your gesture with her own. Idly, she shifts her paper umbrella to continue to occlude the sun’s gaze. You’d offered to make the day cloudy, but she’d refused due to ‘propriety.’ You don’t get it. “I believe that she’s attempting to incite you to display greater care for me, husband, so that she might feign jealousy at a later date, and have another child with you.”

“Ah, alas, my plan has been seen through with utter contempt and ease by the true, official wife.” Lan places her hands against her heart and gives a moan that startles you until, in the corner of your vision, Koen lightly shakes her head. Your wife’s confirmation alleviates your worries. You do not ruin the joke. “My heart shall never be the same again, as my beloved will cast me out of his house for my continued plans upon his virtue.” 

An lightly laughs at the words, but you can only ponder. 

Hmmm… virtue? You’re vaguely aware of the fact that a few newspapers and heralds around town say that you have none. If what they say is true, you inform Lan that her plans must be rectified. Or, maybe, the Dragonkin can wait until you’ve gained some virtue?

The mood sours immediately. You worry that you’ve done something wrong, but Koen confirms that’s not the case. You relax and simply continue to guide your friends along your farm’s perimeter. They’ll tell you what you need to know.

“No, Zhang, you’re plenty virtuous. It’s simply that many are jealous of your success over the last few years. Couple that with our recent union, thus making you part of true Nobility, you are a threat to the influence of many families.” An, as always, simply and succinctly explains the matter at hand. Of course, you’re aware that you have a few enemies who want to see you ousted, since that’s always the case, but you’re surprised at this new method of attack. Essentially, they’re saying mean things about you and just that. “My dear, it’s not that innocuous, especially for those who do not know you. As those foreigners say, first impressions last the longest, therefore many strangers and possible allies will believe you evil and crass when you first meet.”

Oh, that’s not just mean then, you correct your earlier statement. The thought is really saddening when Koen puts it in such a manner. It’s very, very mean. How are you supposed to keep helping everyone if they think you’re bad?

“Well, they won’t last long with Fei’yen and Singh working together, but they’re irritating all the same.” An waves to your tenants. Children take to running beside the wagon. Oh, it’s lunch time. You were worried they weren’t going to school for some reason. More than a few adults throw flowers Koen’s way. You know better than to think they’re trying to woo her, but you’ll give her a few flowers later just to be sure. The hybrid gives you a smile, as if knowing your innermost thoughts, as she takes in the scent of the flowers given to her. “One would think, after all the foes you’ve vanquished and victories you’ve amassed for the Empire, the Nobility would have some measure of grace in their actions.”

“Humans will remain human, unless they’re taught otherwise, Koen. Your husband’s an outlier amongst outliers; Zhang’s nowhere even close to the norm.” Lan Yuen leans back whilst sitting on your chair. The Dragonkin has an arm about your shoulder. How nice of her to make sure that you won’t fall. You’re quite unused to traveling on a carriage, even as one as nicely made by Say’fai as you’re riding. “It doesn’t matter if he’s killed a hundred Necromancers, stopped a thousand foreign wars, or saved the world a dozen times over, they’ll try to oust him because their bloodlines fucked someone else at the right time a few centuries ago.”

“Quite, but that doesn’t mean we ought to only react to their attacks.” An’s smile and tone tell you that she has a plan. You’re more than content with letting her handle matters until you’re needed. The Mystic Academy, an institution filled with politicking and shadowy stratagems, had been won by the two of you before your graduation. You’re more than content to leave current matters to the shapeshifter, while you attend to your own various plans, just like you did then. “Do not fret, Yuen. While those nobles can surely raise a fuss, we are more than capable of… a greater assault than they’ve managed.” Your wife smiles in a manner that is quite frightening. “As you’ve said, they’re nothing like Zhang.”

Lan Yuen laughs alongside An Koen, while you continue to ride across your form. 

The day has been very pleasant so far, you hope that remains true.

…

“Ah, good afternoon, Father! How has your day been so far?” Zi Long is as effusive as always. Though you call your daughter every day after your noon meal, she always speaks as though you haven’t seen one another for years. Sometimes, you’re worried that she’s lonely, despite all her friends and success, so you visit her for lunch instead of calling her after. The other side of the world is quite an interesting place to dine at, but you can always just zip back home to get the food you like if you find something too strange. “Yi’s told me that there has been several difficult individuals that needed to be rectified!”

Ah, your first God Soldier and her wing is currently seeing to a few problem spots in the Empire. The great many changes which have struck the world, from the Age of Empowerment, the Corpse Wars, and the Foreign Incursion have destabilized the empire quite a bit. However, by working closely with the Emperor and your various friends and allies, you’ve managed to keep quite a few dangerous things from occurring. 

You tell Zi Long that Yi is doing a good job protecting the farm as always, but this time she’s merely seeing to some insurrectionists in the north. You expect your God Soldier, and all her kin, would be back by the end of the week. It’s only one or two kingdoms up there, with a few human-forged God Soldiers, so there’s no threat to them. Indeed, you’re more interested in hearing about how your daughter is now faring, especially since it’s been a year since you closed the Gate permanently. Has her vitality recovered since then?

“Hmmm, not entirely, though I haven’t exactly been resting and abstaining from magic as I’d been told to do by the Elders.” At your frown, your daughter sheepishly scratches at her cheek. It’s always important to listen to those who know better than you! Following an expert’s advice is the best method to stay alive and well! “I know, I know, but I have to keep my friends safe, right?” Well, if she let you join her for a few weeks, you’re sure that your daughter and her friends won’t have any problems at all! “I would very much like to learn and grow on my own father; I can’t have you come to my aid whenever I’m in trouble!”

But, that’s what a parent’s supposed to do when their children need their help!

“Well, I might be your child, but I’m also twenty years of age, now! I am an adult by every measure, father!” You’re aghast by the words. They strike you to your very core. Now, not only does she no longer live with you, but she’s also declaring herself independent of you. You feel like you’re going to cry. Sob, sob, sob. “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean that! Ummm… ah… you can come help whenever you want, father! I… I simply didn’t want to inconvenience you!” 

Aha, success—

“Young mistress, if this servant may, Master has been learning how to act. He is utilizing his lessons quite adroitly upon you.” Curses! You remember the day when Fa Bai had been your cute, stuttering servant! Now, she accompanies you wherever you go, if she had no other duties, and ruins your fun! “This servant believes that master’s fun, which in this case undoubtedly involves teleportation to a foreign continent and dealing great violence upon the enemies of his daughter, would not be fun for anyone else.”

“Father! I expected better of you!” Zi Long huffs. Though she is half a world away, you can clearly feel her disdain. Oh no, now your lovely daughter hates you! She’ll never speak to you again! Oh, how terribly this has gone due to your simple desire to be more involved in her life! “Oh, no! I didn’t mean it like that, Father! I’m happy that you care so much for me! Truly! You can visit me anytime you wish—

Oh, that’s great! You’ll do so tomorrow, then!

“Wait, what—

You vanish away the enchanted mirror and look triumphantly at the one who attempted to spoil your plans. 

“Indeed, well done, Master. This servant is very impressed.” Fa Bai lightly rolls her eyes, gathering the plates for your meal together. You, of course, rise up to help her, despite her glare for you to stay seated at your table. Why, you still don’t understand why she insists on doing some things by herself, especially after everything. She doesn’t speak until you reach the self-filling and emptying basin you’d fashioned for easy cleaning, and she does so with a light flush upon her cheeks. “Well, there should at least be one individual in this household that subscribes to tradition. Singh had been that individual when we first met, but that is no longer the case, so acting properly now falls upon me, Master.”

Spying upon her as you do away with the detritus upon our plates, you spy a faint scarlet upon her features while she scrubs at your matching plates and dishes. After a moment, you understand. 

You agree that it’s very romantic.

Fa Bai turns entirely scarlet at those words, but attempts to cough to hide the hitch in her voice. 

“T-this servant doesn’t understand what Master means by that.”

…

Singh sits upon the top of your home, tea in hand, while Say’fai’s head is on her lap. Both are not clad in their typical clothes, whether that be enchanted leather armor or protective plate, and are instead clad in loose, simple clothes for sleeping. You join them, clad in the same manner, and approach the two with the winds muffling your footsteps. 

“Oh, are you sleeping tonight, Zhang?” Singh takes note of you, despite your attempts to hide, and you resign from your attempts with a huff. Your red-haired companion gives you a smile as you settle behind her, leaning so your chin is upon her shoulder and you have her in your embrace. “You’re not too busy to spend time with us?”

Say’fai stirs in her sleep, despite her fatigue, she remains a light sleeper, so you speak quietly to insure that she doesn’t awaken. You confirm that you’ll be sleeping this whole night, as you have no pressing matters to deal with.

“So, we’re merely second to your heart and mind, Zhao? How cruel.” Singh’s sounds aghast at you, but she leans against you without an ounce of hesitation. You ask where Ning is, with Liang currently upon her lap. You haven’t seen the other Say’fai the whole day. “And, now you ask for another of your women? Truly, Zhao, you’re despicable.” You simply settle back and laugh at her words, awaiting her true response. She huffs. “Where do you think? If one of these two are sleeping, the other’s hard at work, since even eternity isn’t enough time for them.”

She says such words, but she’s oft more busy than the two of you combined. You remind her that she’s gone from the farm most of all.

“That’s only due to the nature of my responsibilities, not because I want to. I would much rather spend my days peaceably than keep leaving you and everyone else.” Though no longer a thief, Singh’s experience in the matters of the underworld have allowed her to seek out information that everyone needs. Without her and your contacts in the Eternal Chrysanthemum, you believe that you’ll have far fewer friends and allies and far more enemies. “It’s work for me, love, not a hobby that I’ll gladly pursue for the rest of my days.”

As always, you remind her of your plans once all the children are grown, adroit, and well-established. 

“You’ll leave them the farm, and we’ll all go on to pursue our interests elsewhere, with only a few visits to them, here and there.” Singh lightly hums at the prospect of venturing out to other worlds. Of course, you’ve been busy studying the portal which the demons had threatened the world from and which the dragons had guarded. It is a long, arduous project, even with your knowledge over magic, but you’re sure that you can crack it over the coming decades. “No more problems, save for the ones we choose to involve ourselves in, which will undoubtedly be too many for my own tastes.”

Cradling your first friend in your arms, you lightly laugh at her complaints. Time lies ahead of you all ceaselessly. A few decades of peace will undoubtedly occur, no matter your ‘fondness for trouble’ as she puts it. The former thief huffs at your words, obviously displeased and not believing you in the lightest, and you laugh all the more. 

“I’ll believe that after I’ve had a decade or two of rest and relaxation, Zhao.” Playfully, Singh tugs at your cheek with her free hand, whilst lightly playing with Liang’s hair with the other. “Besides, do you expect me to believe your children will keep their nose out of trouble for that long? This is a large world, with many secrets, and they’ll undoubtedly stumble on something that’ll need you, I, or everyone to aid them with.”

Well, from what you’ve heard about vacations, children are typically their sole sources of ire. It would be a rather boring period of long rest, if there weren’t moments of extreme anxiety, danger, and worry between all the slothful moments of sleep.

“No, I suppose not.” Singh chuckles deeply at your words. You’re more than a little pleased about managing to make her laugh. Seeing her smile and laugh is easily worth all the days you spent learning how to do so. She deserves to be happy, after everything she’s gone through and felt, so you shall endeavor to make sure that she is forever. Beneath the glimmering carpet of stars above you, with the moon smiling down upon you both, you swear aloud that you’ll do your best to make Singh Zhang happy. “I-idiot.” She whispers a plea to be held closer, so you do. Her hand leaves your cheek and lies upon yours over her heart. “You already do.”

At those words, despite the years and troubles to come, you can’t help but be content.

You have done well for a farmer.