Epilogue

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◇Houghtow City—Houghtow College of Magic◇

At the gates of the Houghtow College of Magic, Taclyde and the rest of the faculty stood in an orderly line, shoulder to shoulder, watching as the Enchanted Frigate drew closer in the sky. “Well, it looks like they made it back in one piece,” Taclyde said, a frown crossing the administrator’s face as he looked up at the ship.

It had been one week since students from the Houghtow College of Magic had departed on the same Enchanted Frigate bound for the Oldwass College of Magic. Now, watching the ship come to a landing, Taclyde’s expression grew darker and darker as he recalled the telepathic message he had received from the Oldwass College of Magic just hours ago.

In the message they sent, they told me Elinàsze was nearly abducted by some miscreant!Taclyde thought.Security during the exchange program was the responsibility of the Oldwass College of Magic, of course, but what am I meant to say as the representative of the institution who sent them on that trip? And worse, the target was our darling Elinàsze! One of our college’s greatest assets! What if this incident causes her to break off ties with us?

Taclyde did his best to keep a stiff upper lip as the Enchanted Frigate alighted to the ground in front of the college gates. A ramp descended from the body of the ship, and out stepped Elinàsze, the first to disembark.

Taclyde’s expression grew even stiffer.

Elinàsze gave a bright simile to the assembled crowd. She must have noticed that Taclyde had been staring.

“A-Aha ha...” Taclyde laughed nervously, forcing himself to smile as he waved to the returning students.

After Elinàsze came Garyl, Salina, Belano, and then finally Flio.

“Mister Flio,” Taclyde said. “Thank you for looking after our students!”

“And thank you for everything as always, Mister Taclyde,” Flio replied.

“Well then...” Taclyde said, frowning and choosing his words carefully. “How was...you know...your daughter’s...”

Sensing what Taclyde was about to say, Flio cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Elinàsze and the rest have all returned home safe,” he said, smiling as usual. “And I was able to conduct a number of fruitful business talks during my time there. The trip was very much worth our while. There was some minor trouble along the way, but nothing really worthy of note.”

“M-Mister Flio...” At long last, Taclyde breathed a sigh of relief, slumping his shoulders in exhaustion. “Thank you ever so much...”

The two shook hands, both parties sharing a smile.

◇ ◇ ◇

After dropping the children off at the Houghtow College of Magic, Flio boarded the Enchanted Frigate once again, this time plotting a course for his own house.

The Enchanted Frigates operated by the Fli-o’-Rys General Store were managed and maintained in a special dock built into one of the mountains nearby Flio’s house. The compact model Enchanted Frigates used for unscheduled flights like this one were stored in that facility as well.

Flio looked down from the helm as the mountain that served as home to the oni village came into view, then the vast fields of Blossom Acres, Byleri’s Ranch, and finally, Flio’s house itself.

“Papa!” Wyne cried out happily as she looked out the window herself. “We’re home-home!”

“That’s right,” Flio said with a smile. “We’re home after a whole week away.”

The Enchanted Frigate began its descent, heading for the slopes of a mountain located to the side of his house. Near its peak was an area that Flio had enchanted to look like an unremarkable part of the mountain; it hid a large cave complete with docking facilities for the intake of Enchanted Frigates.

Flio flew the ship through the illusory stony surface and into the mountain. Inside, he could see the vast docking area stretching out before his eyes. He guided the ship to the dock for compact Enchanted Frigates located all the way in the back, and cast a quick spell to secure it tight. “All right,” he said. “Ready to disembark?”

“I’m ready-ready!” Wyne said, grinning from ear as she followed Flio off the ship, where they found Rylnàsze waiting for them.

“Papa!” Rylnàsze said. “Welcome home!” She was riding on Tybe’s back, a huge smile on her face and the Divine Beast Grimby perched atop her head. Sybe’s family had gathered around Tybe’s feet as well—Sybe in his unicorn rabbit form, as well as Shebe, Sube, Sebe, and Sobe, all jumping about with great joy. Rylnàsze came running up, and her father pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back, smiling happily as her familiars watched with delight.

“I’m home, Rylnàsze,” Flio said. “Has everyone been keeping well back home?”

“Yes, everyone’s been very well!” said Rylnàsze.

The two of them talked about this and that, smiles on their faces as they made their way out of the dock, where they were greeted by Rys running up from the house with her arms spread wide.

“My lord husband!” Rys said. “Welcome home!”

Her lupine tail fully materialized as she ran, picking up speed until she was running fast enough that a tackle at her velocity would easily be enough to kill an ordinary human. Flio, however, made no attempt to escape. He held his own arms wide, preparing to receive his wife. Rys charged along at breakneck speeds, ignoring the road entirely, and leaped into Flio’s arms, hugging him tight.

Flio, of course, caught her without any evident effort at all.

“Wow...” Rylnàsze’s eyes went wide with awe as she watched her father absorb the devastating impact unscathed. “Papa really is incredible!”

The couple held each other tight right in front of Rylnàsze. “I’m home, Rys.”

“I’ve been waiting for you, my lord husband,” Rys replied. “Are you tired from your trip? I was just in the middle of preparing tonight’s dinner.”

“I can’t wait to try it,” Flio said.

The two made their way down the road back to the house, sidling up close to each other. Rylnàsze followed along beside them, moving closer to her party of magic beasts. And so, by the light of the setting sun, they all made their way back to the house.

“By the way, my lord husband...” Rys said, leaning in to whisper in her husband’s ear. “Ithasbeen an entire week, you know. Youwilldote on me properly tonight, won’t you?” Blushing, she punctuated the statement by wrapping her arms close around Flio’s.

“U-Um...” Flio said after a pause, a blush creeping into his cheeks as well. “I-I suppose it has. I’ll certainly do my best.”