The Archmage: Epilogue. Two weeks later... (Patreon)

I've listened to the confusion and feedback, and I'm going to be including this second chapter of the epilogue.
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Two weeks later… 

Osheen let out a long, tired sigh as he landed in the cave to the north of Yesgol. A few of the defenses that Evan had set up around the perimeter had tripped, but most of them were intact, including – most crucially – the divination defenses. 

Of course, Osheen had known on a conscious level that it should be safe, but it was always a relief to see. 

As he stepped into the cave, Osheen swept his gaze over the inside, and mentally contrasted it to the last time he’d been there, two weeks before. 

Then, Evan had laid out the simulacra producing angelic artifact that Draven had used as a bargaining chip during the Faerie party, and had connected it to all sorts of enchantments, to ensure that the body that was produced would last long enough to get to and survive most – if not all – of the battle. Next to that tablet had been the strange crystal that Oberon had given Evan, the one that could allow the user to permanently change their flesh and aura color, reshaping and molding themselves into a new image. 

Now, both of those were gone. More than that, Evan had cleaned up the evidence and destroyed all evidence of their existence, burning the remnants in the heating arrays so that nobody could even have a hope of figuring out what had happened. 

Other things had changed in the cave too. Last time he had been here, the cave had been sparse and utilitarian, stark and clean. But with the weeks that Evan had been living here since the conclusion of the battle, he’d made his mark on the place. There were piles of paper containing all sorts of different spell arrays strewn about, and Osheen recognized enough of runes and enchanting to recognize a few things – a copy of the cloak’s arrays, written out in small script, the plans for a new set of gloves that could channel offensive magic, attempts at recreating the angelic simulacra artifact with faerie magic. 

The biggest change was Evan himself. Oberon’s crystal had worked its changes, and turned Evan from a brown haired, green eyed, absurdly pale man into a blonde haired, brown eyed, and still pale, but not quite ghostly pale, young man. 

“You look so young, Evan,” he said, and Evan held up a hand. 

“Evan is dead,” he said. “Names have power. A lot of power. I’m Ivar Alder. Maybe one day soon, I can be Ivar Tailor, aye?” 

“I don’t think there’s much of a ‘maybe’ about it,” Osheen said. “But… It will need to be a few years before we can be seen dating one another.” 

A grin flashed across his face and he shook his head. 

“Besides, Ivar looks like he – like you’re about seventeen or eighteen. That’s already strange, even if I know the mind is older. Once you’re twenty or so, we can be seen dating in public.” 

“How cruel,” Ivar said, eyes sparkling, but he became serious after a moment. “What happened after?” 

“After Evan died, something broke in Tara. She didn’t even try to put up a fight, she just… Collapsed.” 

“For a long time, revenge was the only thing driving her,” Ivar said sadly. “I wish I could tell her, but telling Aldvarri was already enough of a risk.” 

“And if she did know, it might re-ignite some of the fight,” Osheen said. “Better she doesn’t. She’s going to have to stand and face justice for what she did.” 

“She deserves it,” Ivar said, but the sad note in his tone hadn’t vanished. “Do you think the courts will hang her?” 

“No,” Osheen said, “an Archmage isn’t something that we can afford to throw away right now. I expect service.” 

Ivar nodded, then pulled Osheen into a hug. Osheen hugged him back, and they didn’t let go for a long, long time. 

“What now?” Ivar asked. “How long until I can come out of hiding?” 

“A few more weeks, I think, and you should be able to slip out, claiming to be from an orphanage. With all the chaos, it should be easy to forge a false identity. From there, it should be easy enough for you to get through some classes as a mage and slip into your role as an enchanter. After the stunt you pulled, there are gonna be a lot of orphans studying enchanting. It should be enough to keep you from drawing attention.” 

Osheen paused. 

“Mostly. I think Draven suspects something. He tried several tracking spells after your death, but they failed.” 

“A mask complete enough to hide from Oberon is more than good enough to hide from a few mages,” Ivar said seriously. “But I’m not surprised. He was always the weakest link in the chain, since he knew about the simulacra.”

Osheen nodded his agreement and they lapsed into silence, holding each other for another long several minutes, before Ivar spoke. 

“Did you manage to get the cloak and staff? I’d love to copy the spells over onto some new equipment.” 

Osheen made a face and shook his head. 

“I barely managed to get your engagement ring back and cremate the body. Your staff and cloak aren’t items anymore, they’re the symbols of the martyr who died protecting people, and brought to light years of corruption. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be kept in a museum somewhere.” 

“Oh no,” Ivar said, putting his head in his hands. Osheen sensed a spark of weakness and laughed, prodding Ivar more.

“There are going to be things named after Evan. There will probably even be some statues put up, crafted by earth mages to reflect you – to reflect him – in all of his majesty and glory. I can already see it. Fine marble, with a handsome chiseled face, long flowing cloak, staff held out–” 

“Stop, stop!” Ivar said, and Osheen just started laughing at him. After several long moments, Ivar started laughing as well. They held one another and laughed, until at last they pulled apart and Osheen sighed. 

“I’ve got to go,” he said. “If I’m away too long, people will ask why. Since Evan’s dead, I’m the closest thing to a figurehead for Paerús right now, except for maybe Eira.”

“I understand,” Ivar said. “Wait for me.” 

“I will,” Osheen said. 

…

Eira Talik stood off to the side of the senate’s stage – at least,the temporary place that was being used to hold the senate meetings. She was pretty sure that the actual original purpose of this building had been as an outdoor theater, but it wasn’t as if they could use the original senate building. Someone had set off an explosion inside the chambers during the rioting, either during or shortly after the fateful battle against the archmages. 

Ah, well. In a strange way, it was probably for the best. Creating a new senate building would serve well as a reminder to the people that they were attempting to take a new step forward, not cling to the older ways. 

The current senators were all sitting in the orchestra pit for the stage, and Eira spotted Senator Dubois give her a sly wink. Eira had enough composure to not show a reaction, but she internally was quite pleased. 

The stands of the theater were packed to the brim, people coming to sit in on the senate meeting. There had already been a few extremists found in the crowd, those who wanted to kill even the democratically elected senators, but her guards had prevented any deaths thus far.

As the crowd started to settle, Eira strode out on stage, and immediately people started shouting questions. Newspaper reporters near the front were the most obvious, but there were others who were shouting too, and the cacophony was annoyingly loud. 

Eira waved a hand and the crowd fell silent, one of her guards using sound magic to suppress them. 

“I will answer your questions in time,” Eira said firmly. “For now, I have several announcements to make. As you all are no doubt aware, currently I am the only Archmage who is also a senator. Given that the senate was granted full emergency powers by Evander Tailor in an effort to stop the archmages from having too much power, I have decided that I will be stepping down from my position. Today will be my final day as senator.” 

That caused the crowd to erupt into questions, enough noise to break the spell that had been thrown over them. A moment later, the spell was re-cast.

“In addition, Archmage Chantal had stated that she will step down as the head of the military as soon as the senate has selected a replacement. Zachary Dormer has stripped himself of all of his lands, holdings, and titles, and handed them over to the senate, though he strongly requests they be used increase in funding to education and the elevation of the common people. Christopher Heenling has accepted the rule of the senate, and dedicated all of the remaining potions of the once-noble faction to be used to awaken the auras of orphaned young people, and will personally sponsor at least one to archmage. Draven Luis has relinquished his noble titles, and is currently serving as an official ambassador in Zheren, as that is technically his home country, though he has lived in Paerús for over three hundred years…” 

She continued on for some time, before finally turning to address the audience. 

“What has been achieved is nothing short of remarkable,” she said frankly. “But it was also the easiest part. A battle between old powers and new is exactly that. A battle. Nothing more. But now, I am leaving the senate with perhaps the greatest task in the history of our nation – constructing a better nation. There are many questions that the new Paerús will have to answer over the coming years. But I have faith that together we can form a world that is better for everyone. I will lend my support however I may, but I will not rule.” 

She thrust her fist into the air. 

“For the common people!” she shouted, and the guards let the sound suppression spells slip away

“For the common people!” the crowd roared back. 

Then Eira turned and stepped off stage, waving down to the orchestra pit for the other members of the senate to make their way up. 

The power and future of Paerús was no longer in her hands, nor the direct hands of any archmage. It was, as she had said, with the common people, where it had belonged.