After All Things Fell Silent

The aftershocks of the great explosion reverberated repeatedly between the two worlds. The chaotic winds it stirred whipped Vana's long silver-white hair about. She raised a hand to shield herself from the sand and wind before her, watching the ghost ship wreathed in blazing flames slowly descend into the sea of sand. Then she saw the enormous Black Goat step down from the clouds and make its way toward the Lost Homeland.

Then, a flame fell from the deck of the Lost Homeland like a meteor, bursting before her into a Gate. Duncan stepped out through it.

"Captain!" Vana immediately came back to her senses and started toward Duncan, but after only half a step, her body swayed and she nearly pitched forward onto the ground. In the final second before falling, she braced herself with the staff left behind by the giant. After swaying twice, she finally steadied herself.

Duncan hurried to her side. "How are you?"

Supporting herself with one hand on the staff, Vana laboriously raised her head and forced a smile. "This time... I think I'm really a little worn out."

She casually dismissed the longsword in her other hand, then reached into her clothes and fished out the "sun," which still radiated brilliant, warm light. Her hand trembled slightly as she offered it to Duncan. "Here. This is the 'sun' Tarquin left behind... It's completely intact."

Duncan immediately noticed the name. "Tarquin?"

"Yes, that giant... His name was Tarquin." Vana nodded lightly. "He was a god who recorded history. Long, long ago, he fell on the day of the Great Annihilation."

Duncan frowned deeply, staring at the ancient "star" glowing warmly in Vana's hand. Amid the surge of countless thoughts, he finally reached out and took the sphere from her.

Warmth spread across his palm,