It turns out the small town we stumbled upon is mostly empty, similar to a couple of places we once walked through.

Daniel and Remi set out early this morning to claim an abandoned building and make it more homey. They brought most of our stuff with them, saying they would make sure to pick one of the biggest houses.

I didn't particularly mind whatever they chose.

Daniel needed something to do and Remi needed a good distraction.

Meika spent the day helping us build a small Sigil for Lindon and I. The markings are very similar to those we used when creating the stars.

I love how the strange patterns and lines intersect with one another to carve the song I remember hearing that day. The beautiful violets and jades dancing together, golden bursts of light bursting out of the darkness to forge something new and precious.

Something thoughtful.

A masterpiece.

Or that's what we thought at the time.

I keep making playful jokes to Lindon about destroying this world, to which I only receive dark looks and quirked brows. At one point he even smirked.

But the light never reaches his eyes.

Time ceases to exist as we work together, burning marks into the sand and gathering the few things we need to fuel the enchantments. Some ingredients Meika always had, some were a bit more interesting to find, like baneberry and celosia.

It always amused me how useful and powerful the proper magic could be. While at the same time witch musings tumble through my head and make for interesting teases about the strange human culture behind frog legs and yarrow leaves.

But everything I've ever seen Meika do did have its purposes.

Sealing Lindon and I away in a bubble confused me at first, until I realized some of the merits. Should the reunion be strong enough, blasts of our energy will lash out into the world and potentially alert others.

No one wants that right now.

The finished result isn't any bigger than a large carpet rug, but infinitely more intricate and beautiful.

"I'll stay here until you're both completely sealed," Meika says, giving a glance to Shai' in silent order. "The rest is up to you two."

I take a deep breath and stare at the large circle in the center where we're meant to sit. Feeling an arm slip over my shoulders, I smile at the newfound warmth and reassurance.

Lindon is smiling down at me as well, giving my arm a squeeze before turning to face the large sigil. "Everything's going to be okay," he says, "The stars know we deserve this."

All I find myself having the energy to do is nod. Even after sleeping restfully for the first time in decades, even getting to look at Lindon's stupidly handsome face, I can't fight the pit of nausea and unease growing inside of my chest.

How impossible everything feels.

Slowly taking my hand and weaving our fingers together, he leads us into the center, careful not to step on anything important. My feet slip into exactly the same spots, legs shaking ever so slightly.

I can't help but cast a glare out at the ocean, at the universe for sucking the life out of me.

"It's almost over," I whisper to myself. "This is all almost over..."

Lindon glances at me as we turn to face each other in the center of the ring. "You've done so much, Ira... I don't even know how you managed it, but I never want you to have to ever again..."

I shrug, smirking up at him. "Well someone had to."

"I'm serious," he sighs.

"So am I," I say. "It didn't look like you were going anywhere in a hurry."

This makes Lin roll his eyes, raising a brow at me. "Yes, because I was preoccupied 100 feet below sea level."

"All I hear are excuses," I start laughing. A clear headed laugh, unlike all the consuming mania.

Lindon is only half amused though, smirking but instead gesturing for us to sit down and get ourselves into the right headspace.

We both sit cross legged, staring each other in the eye and waiting for Meika to begin the incantation. Our knees graze one another, allowing for both space and subtle comfort. Right before she starts whispering in the ancient language, Lin laughs to himself and looks at me again.

"I've saved your ass so many times, it's about time you do the same."

I enjoy the small victory, feeling my chest lighten and my shoulders relax from all the pent up tension. Even if tiny, the lighthearted playfulness reminds me how possible normality actually is.

We're not so far gone we can't be ourselves.

Meika's voice is quickly washed out as we're swallowed whole by the glowing bubble of light.

Colors of light I haven't seen in centuries swirl around us, flames and sparks lashing up the sides while delicate snow crystals form and crust over the head of the dome. A manifestation of all that we are, our own mana infusing into the protective barrier and wrapping around us until nothing on the outside can be seen.

We're left alone with the faint humming and singing of the ancient magic held within. I search out the faint melodies from a long time ago, but there is something else weaving into it.

Something new, clean.

I take a deep breath and focus on Lindon in front of me. "I'm not truly sure I know what to do," I murmur.

He shrugs ever so slightly and closes his eyes, hardly giving any instruction. He doesn't know either. Lindon continues to control his breathing and leaves me sitting there, speechless.

We're finally alone.

Together.

The chilling air that flutters down from his ice grazes my bare shoulders and sends shivers down my spine. Suddenly the jeans and tank top I found on shore are as good as nothing at all.

Noticing how much stronger the ice keeps getting, how much colder the air is, I realize what's happening.

We need to find balance.

The more he concentrates on our soul connection, the stronger he becomes. Without me so much as lifting a finger, the imbalance will consume this globe and freeze over.

I understand now.

My eyes close and I count backwards. At first from five hundred and then up to nothing in particular. Strengthening my breathing, watching the mana develop in my mind, responding to the free flowing power all around us.

The temperature rises again, heating the goosebumps along my skin and soothing the tiny spasms of cold inside the base of my back.

Soft hands take my own and hold them in between us.

I hear Lindon laugh quietly. "I've found that you're better at problem solving than listening to instruction."

A stunted breath of a laugh escapes me and I almost blink. "Now that's just outright manipulation."

"But it worked."

My brows furrow, the fight to keep my eyes closed and focus straining. "How on earth is that the point?"

Finally bringing myself to look at the smiling god, he challenges me with a raise of his eyebrows. Those enchanting hazel irises glowing with delight. The gold rings of pain and death pulsating and receding as blue wisps float up from our hands. Then come small orbs of orange, the colors dancing together and drifting away in harmony.

A sudden burst of electricity and static sears through my chest, light ebbing from the spark inside my chest.

I feel the mana filling up in the deep well again, the pit of my power becoming deeper and deeper inside myself until I can't find it anymore. Full. Heat and steam brim up again, faintly blowing out of my mouth with every exhale.

Lindon grins at this, frosty wind clouding around his lips.

"Do you feel it?" I whisper, scared of spooking it all away.

He nods. "Look."

I don't understand what he means until I see the strand of light running from his chest and mine, connecting in the center.

Silver and gold sparks line the thin, white beam. They grow stronger, more dense and thick. The beam turns into something much more tangible soon, a tense cord of power streaming between the two of us.

The fraying strands mend themselves and seal back together, winding up like broken strings.

"What if this is all a dream?" I find myself asking aloud, even as the steel and proper energy returns to every cell in my body.

Lindon only shakes his head. "You know it isn't."

"But-"

A blast of white light so bright and powerful fills the entire bubble and silences us, vibrating through the air and threatening to shatter the bubble of magic meant to protect us. I can see nothing, but feel everything.

I feel the souls of the earth, trapped and roaming everywhere. Chained and restless. I smell the sand and waves crashing to shore, resonating with the powerful flow of life across from me.

Glowing, expanding.

As the light dissipates, I find us both sitting straight up, staring at one another with calm, patient smiles.

Knowing.

The knowing has finally returned.

Inside of me, I search and find no more doubt, no more fear.

It's over now, the mania gone. My mind clear.

"It's not a dream," I say, taking a deep breath.

The feeling of strength and power is so foreign to me now, but safe. Comforting. A deep understanding of why humans do fear us so much comes through now. Fear of themselves, of loss and grief.

Humans are destined to lose everything from the moment they are born.

If only for a brief time, I am able to understand.

To hold space for such a strange outlook.

I wonder if this is the understanding that often makes Lindon so patient with them. Holding space for humanity the way I did for my companions.

I wouldn't be anywhere without them.

The air is buzzing, fuzzy and dense as both the light and the bubble protecting us shatters into a million brilliant pieces of light and sound.

Peace. Everything enveloping us in peace.

Above, I can see the stars. Every constellation glittering down at us, the memories of our siblings shining bright.

They all shine so brightly, almost thanking us.

"We have a lot of work to do," Lindon says, breaking the silence.

The burdens and strains are gone. There is no fear. We will find a way to rebuild this world from the ashes, that I know.

We've found our way out of the shadows.

"But we'll do it together," I grin, looking down from the stars and meeting his loving gaze.

"We'll do it together."

Hello my dear, wonderful, blessed Destroyers. We are here, at the end. Two years and finally we've reached the very last chapter.

My last and final mega shout out goes to Jagermeanshunter who is the definition of my senpai noticing me. The Soul Collector has been my favorite book on wattpad for the longest time and when she started reading my book and loving it, I was over the moon. Not to mention being so wonderful to me. Huge thank you for staying with me.

I will save much more for the Final Authors note, but in short, thank you to each and every one of you for joining me in book one. I hope you enjoy the Epilogue and soon after, the sequel.

I love you all, don't forget to vote and comment, and I'll see you soon!