Two years later...
Ghaleon fixed Dyne with an icy stare, a grim smile on his lips. Dyne returned his gaze, his green eyes blazing with determination.
"You may as well surrender now, Dyne. There's no escape."
"You should now be better than that, Ghaleon. I never surrender!"
"It's your funeral... old friend. Check."
In the dim light of the Magic Guild's Main Hall, Dyne stared at the chessboard anxiously, trying to find a way out of this predicament. Most of his major pieces were gone, and Ghaleon had just taken his second bishop with his rook. He moved his queen, blocking the rook's path to his king. "How did I let you talk me into this? We've been playing for years, and I've never beaten you."
Ghaleon moved one of his knights. "That's because you're too impulsive. You don't plan out a long-term strategy. I, on the other hand, anticipate every move my opponent makes, as well as-"
Dyne rolled his eyes and took the knight with his pawn. "'As well as the consequences of my own moves.' I've heard this one plenty of times before."
"And yet you still haven't learned. Checkmate."
Dyne watched grimly as Ghaleon's rook captured his queen. Hemmed in by his own pawns, Dyne's king had nowhere to go. The game was indeed over.
He turned his head as he heard the sound of clapping. Lemia was seated in a nearby chair, her infant daughter Mia nested in her arms. At fourteen months old, Mia was Aurelius and Lemia's pride and joy. Her gray eyes were almost always open wide, and her head was covered with dark wispy curls of hair, like her father's.
Ghaleon rose and bowed to the Guildmistress. "My lady."
"Were you watching for a long time?" asked Dyne.
"A while. I was surprised you didn't notice me sooner. You were really focused on the game--for once. I was surprised."
"Told you so." Ghaleon smirked.
Lemia smiled at the two. "And now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I think Mia's tired."
"Can I hold her?" asked Dyne.
Lemia winced. "If you don't mind, I'd rather you didn't."
"I'll be careful."
"I... I know. Still... I just worry. She's so precious to me. I don't think I could bear to let her go, even for a second."
"What about Aurelius?" Dyne said rather testily.
"He's always away on Guild business."
Dyne was about to speak up again, but a look from Ghaleon stopped him. He merely shrugged. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be rude or anything."
"I understand."
Lemia left the room with Mia in her arms. Dyne shook his head.
"She needs to lighten up. That kid's gonna have serious problems when she gets older. She's way too protective."
"It can't be easy being a mother, Dyne. They naturally worry about their children, and they can get sensitive if they're told they're not acting like a proper parent. I wouldn't take it personally."
Dyne nodded. "Rematch?"
"Some other time, perhaps. I have some reading to catch up on. The Guild's gotten some new books in, and I'd like to look through them before tomorrow's classes."
"No problem. I feel like playing my ocarina anyway. Haven't played it since the wedding. I'll be on the roof if you change your mind about the rematch."
"Very well. In case I don't see you later, have a good evening."
"You too."
As Ghaleon left for the library, Dyne ascended the staircase leading to the rooftop patio. It was a lovely evening. A gentle, cool breeze sang across all of Vane. The Blue Star was looming above, looking unusually bright. The sun had begun to set, creating a dazzling array of colors on the horizon. It reminded him of the sunrise he saw with Noah before entering the White Dragon's Cave for the first time, so many years ago.
Enchanted by the mood, he took out his ocarina and began to play the melody he had composed as a young child... the one that Althena herself sang with when he played. But about halfway through, he stopped and frowned.
The Goddess wasn't singing.
"I hope you're not too disappointed," a gentle voice said behind him.
Startled, Dyne whirled around to see the Goddess Althena herself. He blinked in confusion and surprise, then kneeled. "M-my lady... is something wrong?"
She shook her head and motioned for him to rise. "I just have something on my mind, that's all."
As Dyne awkwardly scrambled to his feet, Althena walked to the wall of the patio, gazing at the city of Vane, and the world of Lunar beyond. "You humans have truly created a beautiful world for yourselves from the untamed wilderness I brought you to. Humanity is strong once again. Your spirits have kept Lunar alive these many generations."
Her eyes turned sad, and she wiped away a tear. "And yet, this world is nothing more than your prison... with me as your jailer."
Dyne looked at the Goddess anxiously, not certain what to say. A gut instinct told him something was wrong. Althena faced him, looking his squarely in the eye.
"I have made an important decision, Dyne. And as my Dragonmaster, you should be the first mortal to know... perhaps the only one.
"For many years, I have noticed humanity growing too dependent on their Goddess. They are my children, and I cannot turn my back on them when they call for me. However, I fear that in time, if humans continue to rely solely on me, they may become unable to think or feel for themselves. Their power and their spirits will no longer be able to grow. And unless the power of humanity is able to blossom and achieve its true potential, humans will never be able to return to return to their ancestral world of the Blue Star, their true home. I love and cherish all of my children, and I cannot bear to hold them back any longer, nor do I have the right to do so. However, to have the power to help them and refuse to use it would be the greatest crime of all. Besides, the temptation to use my power would be too great.
"I have only one course of action open to me, and I'm taking it. I shall relinquish my power, my magic... my immortality. After tonight, the Goddess Althena will be no more."
Althena's words struck Dyne like an armored fist. "H-how is such a thing... possible?" he blurted, struggling for the strength to speak.
"I have taken mortal forms many times before, so that I may observe humanity and watch how they have progressed. Tonight, I shall do so again. This time, it shall be permanent. I've been channeling my magic for the past four years, since Amalek's defeat, in preparation for this night. By being born into your world as a human, my magic shall be spread across the world of Lunar to sustain it. Then, humanity can be truly free to determine its own destiny, and strengthen the power of its spirit."
Dyne tried to regain his composure. "But... but what will the people of Lunar say when they find out? They'll never understand! They'll say you have abandoned them!"
"They're not going to find out. They don't need to know."
She moved closer to Dyne, and gave him a reassuring smile. "Dyne, humanity is ready for this. For centuries, I have waited for the right time, when humanity was ready to embrace its own destiny. And now the time is at hand. You and your friends proved it during your battle with Amalek four years ago. While you had the magic and weapons of the Dragonmaster, your allies had nothing but their own inner strength. And you could not have become Dragonmaster without that same strength. In the end, you were victorious. Amalek was second only to Zophar in scale of power and evil, and he was struck down by the Power of Humanity. You proved to me that humans don't need their goddess to solve everything for them--that you are ready for this gift of freedom."
Dyne stared back at Althena, his green eyes blazing, wanting to believe Althena's words. "Do you really believe that? Do you truly believe humanity can survive without you?"
"Of course I do. As long as a noble heart beats, as long as there are those willing to do what's right merely because it's the right thing to do... as long as love keeps you together, the power of humanity is indestructible, and the Blue Star will be restored. Zophar himself shall return one day to cast his shadow over Lunar, but I know that humans shall become strong enough to defeat him. I believe in your strength and spirit... and I believe you will all use that power responsibly.
"There is a time for everything under the heavens, Dyne. My time has come to an end. Though I relinquish my immortality, my spirit shall live on, forever... inside each one of your hearts and souls. Let them remember me in their songs, stories, and legends. Let me live through their deeds, their virtue, their spirits... but let me go."
Dyne grinned uneasily. "Well, in case I don't see you later..."
"Perhaps you will."
"Um... will I have any way of knowing when I do? I'd feel kinda awkward hitting on some lady and having her turn out to be a former goddess."
Althena laughed. It was a beautiful laugh, like a chime ringing. "Still as impetuous as ever."
"I guess some things never change."
"Perhaps there are some things that aren't meant to."
He looked upon her once more, in all her glory. She embraced him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, and gave him a sad smile. "Farewell, Dyne. You have your whole future ahead of you. Use that time wisely."
"Goodbye, Althena. I wish you the best in your new life."
Althena released Dyne and walked away. With a flash of light, she disappeared.
Dyne stood on the roof, trying to take in what he had heard. A world without the Goddess... at first it terrified him. But then he smiled encouragingly. She was right. This was a new beginning. If mortals really could strengthen their spirits by being able to control its own destiny... if Althena could have so much faith in humanity that she trusted the entire future of Lunar and the Blue Star to them... they were encouraging thoughts.
Once again, he gazed over the world of Lunar, and the setting sun marking the end of an age, and the beginning of a new one. An age where humanity would be responsible for its own destiny. He looked off to the side to see the Goddess Tower. A soft, golden light was glowing from the top of the spire. Her transformation was already beginning.
He grinned, and decided to head back down to his room. He needed to sleep this off, even though it wasn't that late. It had been a lot to take in.
Suddenly, he noticed a grim figure blocking the stairway leading back down to the Guild Manor, eyes simmering with rage.
It was Ghaleon.
Back to Comrades in Arms, Volume Three: To Everything There is a Season