Hello! This is the very last chapter to be submitted on this story. I wrote an alternate ending, plus some extra notes that I accumulated throughout writing the story and I was able to compile them all into a messy pile of side story, looks into the future, etc. Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

Bonus Chapter!

What if the stars were aligned differently that day?

"Wha… where am I?" Neal opened his eyes to find himself in a strange place. The atmosphere felt different. The air felt cleaner and the sun shone brighter. He was outside in a grassy oasis. There were people wearing strange outfits. Some had wings.

"He's awake!" An ambitious boy around his age said excitedly, and ran over to him. "Welcome to heaven, buddy." He said, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Wha?! Seriously?!" Neal looked around frantically. The boy laughed.

"Yeah! You died!" He said loudly.

"I can't… believe it…" Neal looked down at the grass.

"Hey, don't sweat it, pal. You're with us, now!" He said cheerfully.

"Who's us?" Neal asked.

"Your brothers and sisters!" He raised his arms to show behind them the group of people standing and sitting in the grass. "Eh, hypothetically speaking, of course." He added.

"Brothers and sisters…" Neal wasn't following.

"How are we known down there again…" The boy was snapping his finger repeatedly trying to remember. "Ah! 'Warriors of Light.'"

Neal's eyes widened. "Fellow Warriors?! No way…"

"Yes way!" He replied. "And I'm one of 'em!" He extended his hand. "Bard. Nice to meet ya!"

"Neal." He said, and shook his head. Bard laughed.

"Oh, we know who you are…" He said. "You were an interesting one!"

"O...okay…" Neal said. "So where are you down the line?"

"I was the generation before you." Bard said. "Come, let's join the others."

Neal and Bard joined the large group of youth. Bard introduced Neal to the others, and some greeted him warmly, and others not so much. The girls smiled and gave him a friendly wave, and some of the guys too, but some of the more 'righteous' ones turned away. Most of them spoke in a completely different language.

"Some don't like the 'decisions' you've made, I guess." Bard shrugged.

"Were you all watching me, or something?" Neal asked. Bard took him over to the edge of the grassy field, which to his surprise, was the entire edge of the 'world' he was standing on. Down below was the earth.

"Does that mean…" Neal started to say, but Bard's attention was behind him. He stooped to one knee and bowed quickly, beckoning Neal to quickly do the same. Neal turned around, and noticed a woman. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had a radiant, beautiful atmosphere about her. Everything was flawless. That must make her…

"...Lady Vesta." Neal said quietly. Bard punched him in the calf to get his attention. Neal looked down angrily to see Bard motioning him to show respect.

Vesta laughed. "Calm down, Bard. It's okay. This is Nealon's first time here."

"I'm… sorry my Lady!" Neal shook his head and bowed quickly.

"At ease, my child." She said graciously. "I am here to welcome you."

"Am I going to be here forever?" He asked her.

"Are you thinking that this place is a prison?" She asked.

"No! No no no!" He said, raising his hands. She laughed.

"It is a jest, my son. I understand what you meant." She said. He gulped. Then he noticed another boy alongside her. He looked very tough. He had a permanent scowl on his face. He was eyeing Neal down.

"Who… is that? If I may ask…" Neal said.

"This is -. My first child. You are not able to understand the dialect of the language of old." She told him.

Bard couldn't help but comment: "And Neal's stronger than him! How funny is that!" The boy glared at Bard, who took off running. Vesta sighed and smiled.

"Oh, Bard… He was too funny for his own good." She said.

"Everyone here looks like they are still in their teens, yet they lived on earth hundreds of years ago?" Neal wondered.

"Why yes, my child." Vesta nodded. "However, here in heaven, their souls have ascended in the form of their youth, most being when they finished their quests, like you did."

"So everyone here may have die- 'ascended' after they were old and all?" He asked.

"Yes." She replied. "Just like you will."

Neal's eyes widened. "My… Lady? What does this mean?"

"You're time is not finished, Nealon. I hear the cries and prayers of the earth. Everyone calls for you, Nealon. They pray every day for your return. The strongest of prayers reaches me directly, from a certain girl I think you may know."

Mira! He thought.

"My other children have earned happy lives. She put up with so much for you, Nealon. Speaking of which…" Vesta walked over to Neal with graceful steps, and promptly bopped him on the head. The other Warriors laughed in the short distance.

"I speak for all of when I say 'what was going on through that thick skull of yours, Nealon?!'" She exclaimed. He was sweating now. He felt like he was being scolded by his mother, which was a new feeling to him, so he cherished it.

"Uh…?" He was at a loss for words.

"Why did you decide to split off from your fellow Warriors, Nealon? The two years apart from them were rough on you, no?" She said. "It was rather unwise."

"I'm… sorry. I realized a little while ago that it was of no true benefit to me." He said, hanging his head.

"Becoming a rogue… A mysterious hero… Five Sword Sage? What a laugh!" Bard bouted. Neal turned around and shook his fist at him.

"I'll get you!" He said.

"Bard is just trying to make friends. Before you came, he was one of the only ones who speak in the same tongue as you, as the other generations before him speak in ancient tongue." Vesta said. "Nealon."

His attention returned to his goddess. "I will send you back. You're special; a true symbol of hope and courage to all of the people on earth. Do not waste this opportunity to live your life to its greatest potential. Live on, and come back fulfilled. You're time here has not yet come." She told him.

"T-thank you, my Lady. I'm grateful for the opportunity you have given me." He said, bowing.

She smiled. "Either way, I'm sure I'll see you very soon." He looked up at her, confused.

"Hey Neal!" Bard called out from the distance. "Take a guess at how time flows in this dimension for me!" He was trying his hardest not to laugh.

"Time… flows?" Neal thought.

"Let's just say that a few minutes here could be a few years down there!" He exclaimed. Neal's jaw dropped.

"What?!" He started panicking.

"Now now, Bard…" Vesta said. "Well... He's almost correct." That didn't help Neal much. "If you leave now, only about three years will have passed down on earth. Come here, my child, and I will send you."

Neal stepped toward her, shaking. Despite her kindness and warmth, she was still a goddess, and he understood fear before love. She placed her hand on his cheek, and smiled at him. A tear rolled down his cheek, as her hand felt like a mother's. His mother's. She leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead.

"There. You will wake up somewhere familiar soon. Goodbye, my son." She smiled and pushed him off the edge of the grass. He began falling toward the earth. As his speed grew more and more, he lost consciousness.

He awoke by sitting up swiftly and taking in deep breaths. He felt like he breathed for the first time in an hour. He looked at his hands, his arms, his body. It was bigger than he last remembered. There were more darker hairs on his arms. His muscles were more developed. He spoke a few words. His voice was deeper. He remembered what Vesta had told him up in… heaven? The whole experience seemed like just a dream to him now. She said… three years will have passed. Twenty? Twenty years old? He figured it was around there, if what he heard was correct.

He stood up and looked around. His surroundings were indeed familiar. He knew where he was instantly. He was in the field in between Alryne and Gariland, the field where he and Sevrin first set foot on when they began their journey. Gariland was close by, he thought. He had to get there quickly! He began running. He ran for hours straight until he fell onto the Gariland main road after finally passing through the western gate. He got back on his feet and breathed heavily as he ran around the town, searching for anyone familiar. Things didn't look too different. But near the center of town, close to the large fountain was a large bronze statue. That was new. He walked up to it and looked up. It was dark outside, near nighttime. But the statue had light shining onto it so it could be seen even at night. To his surprise… The statue was him. He took a look at the plaque near the base. It read:

Nealon Faris, known as Neal.

Our world's hero, hailing from

our very own Gariland. His

strength and courage shall

guide us for as long as we live.

So I really did die… So strange, this feeling… He thought. But where do I go now? How will people respond to seeing me now? Where are my friends?

He turned around, and started walking. He avoided any eye contact with people, to avoid any attention and cause dismay. Luckily, he was wearing an ordinary tunic and didn't stand out in any way.

He looked in every direction. Nobody familiar in sight. It was nighttime. Where would he sleep? A room at the Inn? He'd be noticed. And he doesn't even have any money, so that's out of the question.

He was about to just resume his search in the morning, and find a place in an alleyway to curl up and rough it until the next morning when he spotted her. She walked out of the healing ward, where white mages worked as nurses and emergency response healers for the town. She stood out like a rose in a field of sunflowers. She was bundled up with a coat over her nurse outfit. She seemed to be heading home. He followed her until she was out of the crowded part of town.

"Um…" He gulped. "Excuse me?"

She stopped, and turned around. He knew it must have been frightening (not to mention creepy) to hear a stranger's voice while walking home alone at night, but he had no other option.

"Yes?" She asked, looking around, but he was hidden by shadow.

"I don't want to frighten you, but I seem to have gotten lost and am a little disarrayed. Could you… help me?" He punched himself in the face in his mind. He couldn't have sounded any weirder. He was extremely nervous and didn't know what to say to her.

"Um… I…" She stumbled.

"I-It's okay… I think you can trust… me…" He stepped out of the shadows and faced her underneath the street light. She peered at him closely, then gasped. But immediately after, she shook her head, wiped her eyes and started running away.

"W-wait!" He called out and started following.

"Go away!" She cried out, sniffling. "You're not real!"

"Mira!" He shouted. She stopped and turned around.

"You… said my name… You've never said my name before… It seems like you're getting closer to me every day, Neal. If only you weren't… an illusion… A dream…" She said, and turned around and continued walking.

"Well… can an illusion do this?" He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned her head against his arm and sighed, as if remembering the feeling of his embrace. But a few seconds later, she realized she was actually leaning against a human body, and she jumped in surprise.

"N-N-N-Neal?!" She exclaimed. She couldn't believe her eyes. After feeling his embrace, she knew it was him. "Are you… r-real?!"

"Yes… I'll… explain everything to you." He barely managed to say, but tears were leaking from his eyes. It was just the same for her. They both ran to each other and hugged tightly while wailing loudly.

"Mira!" He cried.

"Neal! I mitthed thew tho much!" She was crying so hard her nose was stuffed. They held each other like that for ten minutes straight.

"Oh, Neal… Is it really you?" She asked.

"Yes, Mira. It is…" He choked back tears.

"H-how…?" She started to ask.

"I met… Lady Vesta… 'up there'. She gave me another chance…" He said, smiling.

"A miracle…" She said.

"Yes, and I…" He started to say.

"Neal, let's go to my house, so we're not standing around in the dark." She said, grabbing his hand and took him further down the northern street.

"Your… house?" He said in shock. She led him to a house that seemed familiar to him. He remembers now. This was the house he saw when he was riding out of Gariland to fight the demon lord, Ankou. He remembers when Mirabelle told him about the kind of house she wanted to live in, and that's what made him notice this one. A coincidence, perhaps? Or does he know her all too well, he thinks. Probably the latter.

"This is quite a large house… Do you live by yourself?" He asked.

"Yes… I don't know if you remember this, but… I told you once that I wanted to live in a house with you that was fit for… three." She blushed.

"I remember that. Like it was yesterday, really. Because… In my mind, Mira, I fought Ankou alongside you and the other two yesterday."

She covered her mouth. "Oh my… How…?"

"Time apparently flows differently up there…" He said. He told her all about his experience in heaven. She filled him in what has happened in the last three years.

"Midahn and Lily at Mayweather, that's no surprise, but Sev and Yuki getting married?! No way!" He said.

"It's true, it's true!" She said. "I'm very happy for them!" She smiled.

"Yeah, me too!" He said. He looked out the window and noticed it was pitch black. "It's really late… I should go find a place to sleep or something."

"Here. You're sleeping here." She said. "Where else would you go?"

"Eheh… Thanks, Mira…" He said, scratching his head. "I don't know what I'd do without you… Should I take a couch?"

She crossed her arms. "You're sleeping with me, you idiot! I have only thought about you for the past three years… And when you finally see your girlfriend again after three years you're going to just take a couch?!"

"Ah! I'm sorry!" He was blushing. She was too, of course. I'm glad you kept praying for me and having faith in me, Mira…

"Mira, I…" He started to say. She shook her head.

"Nothing. Nothing's changed. I love you with all of my heart, and always will…" She told him.

"I love you… Mirabelle."

Neal moved in with her, and they slowly let the people know of his revival. The people rejoiced. The news actually spread to both Sevrin and Midahn, who were both fairly far away from Gariland at opposite sides, before Mirabelle's letters reached them. They came and visited immediately and were ecstatic and happy to see their friend given a second chance.

Mirabelle had been offered many things when she decided to live in Gariland. She refused to receive special treatment, such as a free house. She wanted to be treated just as any other normal person. She worked as a nurse in the healer's ward to be able to barely scrape by before Neal showed up. He was given those offers like she was, but he refused as well. He said he wanted to work hard and not be some lazy bum. He got a job and supported Mirabelle, making her life a little bit easier. They married each other not much farther down the road.

About a year later, Mirabelle and Neal wanted a child. Nine months later, baby Isaac was born. Right around that time too the world received two feisty twin ninja girls named Kiyoko and Kiyomi. But a few years after that was when baby Serra was born into the Aestus household.

The Warriors of the Light lived a peaceful generation, filled with life's simple pleasures: family and friends. The peace they've fought so hard for was well received for the next one hundred years.

Various entries of family life:

A door opened, causing a small bell above the door to ring. On each wall of this shop were many magical trinkets, tomes, outfits, and staffs. Paintings of crescent moons and stars covered every other open spot on the wall available. Needless to say, it was the most intricate and unique little magic shop around. When the bell rang, the girl at the counter looked up. "Welcome! How can I- Oh! Oh my goodness! Mir! Neal!" She leapt over the counter and immediately hugged Mirabelle and Neal. It was her best friend, Juliana. Neal and Mirabelle came to visit her shop in the town neighboring Gariland. "Hehe, it's only been a few weeks, Juliana!" Mirabelle said cheerfully. Another girl poked her head out from the back room. She was wearing a large yellow and pointy hat. When she saw them, she gasped. "Wow! It's a nice surprise to see you all here!" This girl was Bella, the other owner of the shop. "Hey, Bella. How's business?" Neal gave her a friendly wave. But Bella quickly ran over to Mirabelle, and leaned toward her stomach, which was slightly larger than usual. "Who cares about that?! How's the baby?!" Bella asked. Neal, Mirabelle, and Juliana laughed. "It's only been a few months, Bella. It's nowhere near time." Mirabelle told her.

An eight-year-old Isaac watches his mother pace back and forth by the door impatiently. A smile was on her face. "Um… What are you doing, mother?" He asked. "Your father will be home any minute, aren't you anxious to see him?!" She replied quickly. Suddenly, the door is unlocked and opened. Mirabelle turns around quickly and her face lights up. Neal enters the house and embraces his wife. "Oh, I missed you so much, Mira! I love you!" He exclaimed. They look like it's the first time they've seen each other in years. Isaac sighs. "Father… You were gone for just two days…"

"Wow, that was a great meal, honey! Thank you!" Neal said politely at the table. Isaac, six years of age, did the same. They clear the table of all the dishes and bring them to the sink. Both Neal and Isaac simultaneously turn to leave the kitchen, but Mirabelle intercepts them, crossing her arms. "Now now… Where are we going, boys?" She asks. Both of them shiver. "Uh…" Neal scratches his head. Then he quickly turns toward Isaac. "Run for it, son! Don't let her take you alive!" They both split off and pass her. Mirabelle facepalms and sighs. "That man really hasn't grown up at all…" She grumbles, and storms off toward them. Neal quickly turns down the hallway and opens a door. He jumps at the sight of Mirabelle standing at the doorway, holding down a squirming Isaac by his collar and giving him a stern look. "I swear, Neal! You can't set such an example for our son! Just come on and help with the dishes now, you two…"

One day, Neal and Sevrin were practicing their skill with katanas. Sevrin still wielded his katana of legend, Masamune. The piercing steel blade shone like silver. He watched Neal for a moment as he cut into the air with a few swift strikes in practice. At the sight of it, Sevrin grunted. Neal looked over at him. "What is it?" Neal asked. Sevrin squinted his eyes. "I never really realized it back then, but you use a katana so strangely, like it's completely foreign to you… And yet you're so good with it…"

Isaac walked back inside the house after playing outside. Mirabelle looked at him when he passed by, and noticed a large scrape on his left knee. It was bleeding. "Oh my… Isaac! Your leg is bleeding!" Isaac looked down at it. "Oh yeah, I was climbing the big tree outside and fell off, scraping my knee." He said, shrugging. "Come here, let me take care of it for you!" She grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward sink so she could wash off the blood before healing him. But Isaac resisted and shook her hand off. "No way! It's nothing! I'm gonna stick it out like a man!" When he said that, they heard Neal laugh from another room. He came into the room. "Ahah… Just like me, huh Mira!" He turned toward Isaac. "Son, back when I was young, I would always hide my injuries from your mother. She took care of me so many times that I thought I'd eventually drain the magic from her completely!" He chuckled, and looked at Mirabelle. She sighed. "Yes, it's true… You were very reckless… But your pride is strange when it comes to injuries…" Neal placed his arm around her shoulder. "I remember you'd always know when I was hiding an injury. I couldn't hide anything from your mother, Isaac!" He said with a grin.

"Uncle Midahn! Aunt Lily! You're here!" Isaac runs and hugs Midahn when he enters the house. He and his wife Lily had come to visit. "Ahah! Look at you, Isaac! You've grown a little taller since last time, haven't ya?" He said, ruffling his hair. "Yeah, I measured! A half an inch! A half an inch!" Isaac exclaims excitedly. Midahn chuckles. "At this rate, you're going to grow taller than your old man!" They both laugh. "Isaac looks up at him. "Being a mage must be so cool! I wanna be just like you when I'm older, Uncle Midahn!" Neal, who just entered the room, froze. "Ehhh?!" He exclaimed in shock when he heard that.

Neal was laying down in center of the living room floor of his house, holding up a large children's book. On both of his were Sevrin's young twin daughters, Kiyoko and Kiyomi, whose arms were wrapped around his. They were laughing as he reading the story to them in a silly manner. Sevrin's family was visiting Neal's, and their two daughters loved to visit. "Haha, you two girls are just like your mother! I'm still waiting to see your father's side in you!" He turned the page, which to his surprise revealed a coarse drawing over the page of the two young girls with ridiculous looking hair and facial expressions. Childlike handwriting at the top of the page revealed a young Isaac's signature, along with a small drawing of himself sticking his tongue out. The girl on the right, Kiyomi, let go of Neal's arm and stood up with rage. "That Isaac! Where are you, idiot!? I'm gonna pound you!" She screamed, and started chasing Isaac, who revealed his hiding place in the room from his laughter. Neal bursted into laughter. "And that is her father's side in her, isn't it Kiyoko? Hahahaha!" Sevrin balled his hands into fists angrily.

"Say, Isaac. I've never really gave it much thought." Mirabelle said. "I can see a lot of your father in you, but what about me?" Isaac tilted his head. "Eh? Do I not look more like you though, mother?" He asked her, confused. "Yes, of course, dear. But I'm talking about your attributes. I see a lot of Neal in you there." Now Neal was confused. "What do you mean, Mira?" He asked her. She walked over and placed both of her hands on Isaac's shoulders, leaning close to his face. "I'm saying… Is he capable of white magic?" Neal and Isaac's eyes widened. "Woah… How have I not questioned this either?! Are you able to tell?" She cupped her hands over one of Isaac's to feel his aura. "It's feels strange, but… I definitely feel magic in those veins!" Neal gasped. I can't believe this! The boy has both of our skills?! No way! "Maybe he can heal this cut on his knee himself!" Mirabelle said.

"Eh? What's with this?" Isaac looked at Sevrin's daughters, Kiyoko and Kiyomi, strangely. They were all now twelve years old. Despite being identical twins, the two girls were both dressed exactly the same, even wearing the exact same hairstyle, to try to confuse him. "You better be able to tell us apart, you…" One of them said. "...Or we'll get very mad." Said the other. Isaac looked back and forth between them. "Kiyoko, what are you planning?" He said, although he didn't know who to speak to, exactly. Then his eyes widened. He came up with an idea. "Okay, I can tell you apart with ease." Both girls raised an eyebrow. He walked over to one, standing directly in front of them. Then he slowly leaned forward, his face getting closer and closer to hers, looking right into her eyes. She slowly leaned away and took a step back. "Alright. Next." Isaac stood in front of the other girl, and repeated the same process. When his face was close to hers, she blushed deeply and he could hear her heart beat like crazy. He laughed and placed his arm around her. "That's my Kiyoko. Nice try though, really!"

"Hey, Isaac." A kind, yet sly voice appeared behind him. He sighed, then turned around. "Yes, Serra?" He said in a semi-sarcastic voice. "Come play with me!" She jumped up and down and beckoned for him. She was about five years old, while he was seven. "Not right now, Serra. Maybe later." He shrugged her off, and turned around. One second later, he felt a hot orb of fire burn his behind. "Aaah! Cut that out, Serra! That's dangerous!" She was breathing in and out heavily in anger. Her small hands were balled into fists. She had a mean scowl on her face. "Come. Play. With. Me!" She said slowly. "Seriously though, Serra. I don't think you know how powerful you are at magic. You could end up really hurting someone." She ignored him, however, and made another ball of fire appear above her hand. "Okay! Okay!" Isaac shouted. "'ll play! I'll play! Don't hurt me!" She released the flame and jumped up and down joyfully. "Yayyy~!"

"Try it!" Neal said. "Eh? What does that even mean?" Isaac tilted his head. Neal turned to his wife. "How do you use magic for the first time? Is there a trick?" He asked. "No, not a trick." She shook her head. "Just relax, and focus on the wound, the pain. Use your will to make the pain disappear. You should be able to do that before fully learning Cure through a tome." Isaac looked down at the scrape of his knee, and back up at his mother. "You can do it, son." She said softly. "You're tough like your father, but can you be tough like your mother too?" She asked him, making it sound like a challenge. Neal was fond of challenges. Isaac's eyes lit up. "Just you see, mother! This'll be easy!" He said excitedly. Then he looked down at the wound, placing his hand above it. He concentrated with all his might, and a faint green orb started to appear and fade out underneath his hand. But eventually he managed to sustain it, and the wound started to close up, but very slowly. Mirabelle and Neal turned to each other in shock.

And finally, when Isaac reached the age of thirteen, he told his father that he wanted to go on an adventure just like he did, after hearing all of the incredible stories of their journey. He eagerly wanted to follow his father's footsteps. He begged his mother to go, and she eventually agreed, as that adventure that Neal started when he was thirteen was the reason that they met. Neal smiled, holding his wife's hand, proud of how passionate his son had become, and how much he trained and dedicated himself to become strong. He told his son to gather his friends, and to look for a place where three waterfalls meet.