These men were my everything, my protectors and partners, my lovers and friends.
And it all started with a hex.
19
EPILOGUE
ONE CENTURY LATER…
* * *
The air held a delicate crispness,carrying with it the scent of fallen autumn leaves.
As Aria and I strolled hand in hand across the vast expanse of our cherished grasslands, a profound serenity enveloped us, like a cocoon woven from the threads of our shared love. Her daddies, a steadfast and loving presence, followed in our wake.
We were headed to the resting place of my parents and brother.
Aria, with her small hand nestled within mine, was about to experience their spiritual remnants for the very first time. Emotions swirled through the bond between myself and my bonded mages, a harmonious blend of joy and sorrow, as memories of centuries ago resurfaced, their echoes reverberating through the core of my being.
Though loss clung to my heart like a gentle ache, their resting places were on our lands which made visiting easy.
As we approached the weathered gravestones, my heart tightened with longing. The weight of my bittersweet memories pressed against my spirit. My sweet daughter was a beacon of innocence and wonder, glancing up at me with her bright, inquisitive blue eyes. She was so attuned to the subtle shifts in our emotions. I wanted to shield her from the depths of my grief, to preserve the radiant purity that radiated from her being. But I knew that life would bring grief, and it was important to teach her about it.
I mustered a fragile smile.
The passage of time had marked acenturysince the war with Matthieu this year. One hundred years etched scars upon history's canvas.
Hexarium, a world once marred by conflict and turmoil, had bloomed into a sanctuary where we could nurture the bonds of our family and raise our daughter in peace.
Aria was only five years old, but she had the biggest heart and was the smartest child I had ever met.
"Mommy, why are we here?" she asked, her innocent voice breaking the silence.
“I come here to remember my mom, dad, and brother,” I replied, keeping my voice gentle. “It’s important to visit the resting places of those we loved to keep their memories alive in our hearts."
“Just like when we visited Daddy Silas’s mommy?” Her head tilted, and I smiled with a small nod. “And Daddy Aimon’s mommy and daddy and sister?” I nodded. “And Daddy Bastian’s daddies?”
“Yes, Aria,” I answered gently. “And when we visited Daddy Casper and Daddy Jasper’s mommy and daddy.”
“Oh.” She blinked up at me, red hair flying into her face as she smacked it away. “I understand. I’m sad they aren’t immortal like us. I would’ve liked them all, I think.”
I bent down and hugged her close, letting my tears trickle down my cheeks. "I wish that too, sweetie. But they will always be a part of us, right here," I said, touching her chest over her heart. "Their love and guidance lives on through us."
Something shifted as a spreading of warmth and familiarity enveloped us, and I knew that my family's spiritual remnants were present.
I closed my eyes, reaching out with my heart and spirit magic, embracing the connection that transcended life and death.
"Can you feel them, Mommy?" Aria asked, her young spiritual powers sensing their presence.
I nodded, grief and gratefulness clogging my throat. "Yes. They are with us, always."
As I opened my eyes, my vision shifted into the spirit realm, and I saw the faint glimmers of spiritual energy surrounding Aria. It was as if my parents and brother were gently comforting both of us, reminding me that they were never truly gone.
The weight of their loss was tempered by the reassurance of their presence. I felt a surge of gratitude for the time I had shared with them.
"I wish I could have met them, Mommy," Aria said, her voice breaking.
She was so young, but she held so much compassion in her spirit.
