The library of Sforzendo stood quiet as the clock struck midnight. Most of the people were in their rooms, either asleep or preparing to go to bed. This late at night, very few people had any interest in the ancient books that were housed in the huge library.
Except for Prince Lute. He whistled a cheerful tune to himself as he sat in a comfortable armchair near the fireplace and flipped through a book of mazoku magic. He was not tired in the least, in fact he very rarely felt the need to sleep. It seems to be one of the aftereffects of being a puppet for an evil mazoku-maniac, the prince thought to himself with a smile as he carefully turned the brittle pages of the book of magic.
It had taken a lot of adjusting to get used to his new life of freedom after sixteen years of captivity. After spending so much time in Hameln, he had become used to the perpetual night. The first few days in Sforzendo had been almost blinding for him, until his eyes had managed to readjust to the light. He also had to get used to not hearing his voice paired with a deeper, more sinister one. They were small things, but still took a lot of getting used to.
And then there are the visions, Lute thought to himself. His smile faded as he propped his chin upon his hand and gazed at the fire that burned in the fireplace. He kept having visions that Bass was somehow still alive, and that the Hameln Army was to be resurrected. He could not explain why he was having them. Surely Bass had died when he had burned the head sixteen years before. Yet he wished that he could be more certain as to whether or not the Hell King was alive.
The prince closed his eyes, trying to think. He had not told anyone of the visions yet. Anyone who remembered the Second Mazoku war would be alarmed at the mere idea of the mazoku army returning, let alone prophetic visions. For the time being, he would have to keep quiet, until he discovered what was really going on.
While her brother studied in the library, Queen Flute was having a hard time going to sleep. Like her brother, her mind was upon the events that had taken place sixteen years ago. The battle had been horrible, and so many people had died. Then the box had been opened, and Hamel had changed. A horrible monster had taken control, and Hamel went away. The monster would have killed them all, had she not sealed it in Pandora's box. But she had locked Hamel in with it.
Rising from her bed, the Queen of Sforzendo picked up the box from the bedside table and gazed at it with tear filled eyes. What had happened? Where had here Hamel gone when the monster gained control? She did not know the answers. However, she did know that Hamel was alive, somewhere within the box.
With a soft sigh, she toyed with the key that hung from a chain around her neck. It was so tempting to simply open the box and let Hamel out. Then they could be together. Wasn't that the way fairy tales were supposed to end? The princess and the handsome prince were supposed to get married and live happily ever after, after the evil monster was dead, were they not?
However, the monster was not dead. If she left Hamel out, then she might let it out too. Then, all of the mazoku would appear. As horrible as the pain of not having Hamel was, she could not let that happen.
Biting her lower lip, Flute sat down in a chair and curled herself into a ball. She held the box close to her and remembered all of the happy times that she and Hamel had shared. Now, they were all gone.
Hot tears started to flow down her cheeks, but she absently brushed them away. At last, she set the box aside and walked over to the chairs located by the window. Hamel's cello-like violin leaned against one of the chairs. Humming a tune to herself, she sat down, picked up the bow and began to play. It was a haunting tune that Hamel used to play, called the marionette version. She smiled, remembering the way Hamel used to lift the huge violin onto his shoulder and play it. It looked quite comical then, but now it only left a pain in his heart. The tears began to flow down her cheeks again, but this time, she paid them no heed.
King Toron stood upon the balcony, gazing at his newly rebuilt kingdom. It had taken years of hardship, but the new Dal Segno was beginning to thrive, much like the old one that was destroyed by the mazoku. He felt a soft hand upon his shoulder, and smiled slightly.
"It's beautiful," Cori said as she moved to stand beside her husband.
"What, the view or you?" Toron asked, taking her into his arms.
Cori smiled and leaned her head against his chest. "It seems like the mazoku are finally gone. Everyday, I used to wake up afraid that the might be attacking, and I would wonder if they are really gone. But now, I truly think they are."
"Yes, it looks like things are starting to go back the way they were, before the mazoku were released. I never imagined that it could be this peaceful."
Raiel tuned his golden piano as he tried to enjoy the balmy evening weather. Much like Flute, he was plagued by the guilt of losing Hamel. However, he was gradually learning to deal with the feelings of loss, guilt and remorse that tended to attack him on occasion. Tonight was one of those nights.
Absently, he picked out a nameless tune, before setting his fingers to the ivory and playing a rendition of the Emperor that would have made (Beethoven?) proud. While he played, he wondered how his friends were doing. He had not spoken to them since the day he had left Sforzendo to rejoin the circus.
Then, an idea struck him, and he paused in his playing. Perhaps he could arrange a reunion? The circus would be traveling to Sforzendo within a month, he could arrange the meeting then. Smiling slightly, he gazed up at the stars as the glowed in soft light, his previous anxiety gone. It would be good to see the others.
Raiel did not know it, but another friend was staring up at the stars at the same time he was. Clari Net, the former Grand General yawned as he lay atop a rooftop, gazing into the heavens. After Queen Horn had died to save Lute, he could not bear to maintain his position. He had retired not long after, to a small village called Discord. Although the name left a lot to be desired, the village was quaint. It was a small town that knew no secrets. Everyone there knew everything about everybody. Clari, however, preferred to keep to himself, only occasionally speaking with the people there.
When he had first moved to Discord, he was determined to remember every detail about his beloved Queen Horn. However, he had soon come to realize that life must go on, even if Queen Horn was no longer in his. Although it was horrible clich�, she would always live on in his heart.
"Hi, Clari-san!" a voice called out. Glancing down at the ground, Clari saw a girl of about twenty-three years of age. She had grown quite a bit from when he had last seen her, from a rough-and-tumble tomboy to a young lady. She had finally consented to growing her hair out long, and wearing the dresses that she hated so much.
"Good evening, Phi Colo-san! Why are you out so late at night?" Clari called down from his perch.
"Mr. Pani sent a message, saying there was something wrong with Tym. I'm going to go see him," Phi said. Although she sounded cheerful, Clari noticed the concern in her voice.
Well, you be careful," he called down.
"I will," Phi called over her shoulder. As Clari watched, she slowly made her way down the street, toward Tym's house. Although he could not place a finger on it, he had a feeling there was more going on that Phi was telling him.