The Eternal Imperium

Epilogue

4 Months Later

The bright midday sun hung over the southern Remnant sea. Salty waves roll gently onto the beaches of Kuo Kuana. As the waves pull back into the sea, the sight of a wooden beach chair sinks into the sand as Red lays on it under the shade of an umbrella.

He wears a classic short-sleeved button-up shirt designed with tropical flowers, accompanied by kaki shorts and a set of comfy-looking beach loafers.

As he sits staring out to the sea, out of the corner of his eye, he sees Kali walking toward him from a small beachside bar with two drinks in her hand. Sitting in the beach chair beside him, she hands him a large daiquiri with a tiny umbrella and a wooden straw.

Red: "Oooh. Thank you. My favorite." He leans forward and sips from the straw.

Kali: "I can't believe this is how you wanted to spend the day. There's so much we can do."

Red: "What? Like, hang out with Benn and Coco? While I love to look after the youngster, that man...he knows how to push my buttons." The two share a chuckle as Kali lays down in the chair, basking in the nice weather.

Kali: "Well then, since you have voluntarily chosen to stay with me today-"

Red: "Not this again."

Kali: "Come on! You have to tell me more than just, "We fought and beat the bag guy." what exactly happened in Atlas? And why did Kreel just send you back here? Unharmed!"

Red: "*sigh* Look, if I told you, you'd lose your mind."

Kali: "I already am! You and Kreel just magically teleport all the way to Atlas, fight some super-powered maniac, then Kreel just ships you back down here, and you and I get married-"

Red: "Making the whole marriage sound bad, by the way."

Kali: "Let me finish...*ahem* Then you choose to lead Menagerie. Why? What changed? You specifically told me you weren't meant for the "leader" position. Why change that?" Red groans as he sits up.

Red: "First, I'm not in charge of Menagerie. I'm more like your consort or whatever it's called. Second, making the whole part of us getting married sound like a bad thing, again. And Three: As I told you before, if I told you, you wouldn't like it. *sigh* Look, we have something good here. Kreel and his Imperium goonies aren't coming here anytime soon. Coco's leading the huntsman to help expand Menagerie daily. Worrying about what we can't control isn't going to make it any better. Sometimes, it's better to leave well enough alone."

Kali: "I'm just worried, is all. I just don't want to lose what we have."

Red: "I know. How about this: you focus on making sure Menagerie grows and prospers. I can work with Benn and focus on the outside world. That way, we can work as a team and protect what we have built. Hmm?"

Kali: "...Deal." The two clink their drinks as they lean back and enjoy the summer sun.

Atlas

Across the world under the shattered midnight moon, Kreel swishes a glass of wine as he looks out from his personalized room aboard the Weeping Willow. After Yhwach destroyed their home, Kreel had Willow, and himself moved to live on the massive ship until a new home could be constructed.

The room he was currently in was a mix of a personal bedroom for him and Willow and a study from which he could relax occasionally.

Taking a sip from his glass, he turns around and admires the two relics he had already found. The Staff and Creation and the Crown of Will were back under his ownership. A byproduct of Weiss becoming his second in command. In truth, she carried as much reverence and power as he did, but she knew who was indeed the one who was in charge.