OOC: Sins has reached its finale. I apologize if you were expecting a grand battle to follow the previous entry, but I wanted to finish this story as best I could, rather than leaving it hang in limbo. I want to thank all of those who voiced their opinions of my story, and hope that my next one can only improve upon what I have done here.

Sins of a Lonely Heart

Epilogue: A Sinner's Requiem

Death inevitably comes for us all...

Some choose to run...

Some choose to hide...

But there a few of us who rise up to meet it...

Is death truly an ending...?

Or is it perhaps just a beginning...?

There was a slight knock at the door.

"Miss Alma, are you ready? The ceremony is about to commence." A voice said softly from behind the door.

"Yes, I will be ready in just a few moments." The young woman, Alma, said in reply.

Taking one last look in the mirror, Alma nodded in approval.

"Please tell Lord Farnei and Lady Rosealynn that I will meet them shortly." Alma said.

"At once, milady." The voice obeyed. Once she was sure the person was gone, Alma took a seat on her bed and cupped her head between her hands.

"So...today's the day we all say goodbye to you..." Alma murmured to herself.

Withdrawing herself from her bed, Alma went to her desk and opened a drawer on the left-hand side. Buried beneath a slew of assorted documents, there was a small notebook. Opening the rawhide cover, Alma looked at the very first entry of the book and traced her hands along it gently. Tears stung at the corner of her eyes, but she wiped them away with a quick stroke of her hand. Written on those first pages was her accounts of what was perhaps the most tragic event in all of the young maiden's life. More tragic than even the hellish torture she had endured during the Lion War, it was the recollection of her greatest loss...

"I awoke with a start, the area surrounding me appeared to be a war zone. Crumbled pillars, gigantic holes punched through solid stone walls, blood of all kinds splattered about like some sort of twisted painting. Focusing my eyes, I could see a figure of a great ram demon beginning to melt into the ground, the creature gurgling all the while. Upon its disappearance, I could see what could only be described as a cocoon of blood. It was of tremendous stature, frightening beyond belief. As I tried to avert my eyes to such a grotesque sight, I could see someone near the base of the cocoon, ripping, tearing, clawing as best they could at the shell. What happened after that will remain with me until the end of my days..."

Stopping herself from reading, Alma thought back to that day in Riovanes, the day she was finally freed from the chains of her fated nature, but at the ultimate cost...

--

"Agrias!!" Alma screamed. The figure at the base of the cocoon stopped and looked back at Alma.

"Lady Alma!" Agrias bellowed. "Please! You must help me! Ramza's very life depends on it!"

"Brother!" Alma screamed. Needing no further explanation, Alma had figured out all too well what this hideous shell of blood was...

"He's being crushed by his own power! We have to save him!"

Stay back... Boomed a voice that came from everywhere.

"Brother Ramza!!" Alma screamed as she looked around the area.

I was too late...I couldn't defeat him quick enough...

Agrias ran over to Ramza's greatsword and brought it over her shoulders. Charging madly at the shell, she brought the blade onto it with as much force as she could possibly muster. Blood sprayed from the holes in her hands, splashing onto the shell. The blood was then drawn into the shell, which only seemed to strengthen and repair every place the shell was struck. Agrias dropped the blade and fell to her knees in despair.

"God damn you, Ramza!" She cursed out loud. "You promised me! You promised Alma! Don't you dare go back on your word!"

Alma darted over to Agrias' side and held the gravely wounded knight close to her.

"Agrias, please stop! You're killing yourself!" Pleaded the young Beoulve maiden.

"Miss Alma, if you will not help me, then I suggest you step aside!" Agrias roared, shooting to her feet. She pushed Alma to the side with one quick shove. Alma fell to the ground, covered in blood from Agrias' wounds.

There's nothing you can do for me now...my body and soul have become too far corrupted for any sort of salvation...I remain now as just a demon on the verge of death...As such, I will die here, in the place where this corruption began...

"Ramza!!" Agrias screamed, collapsing onto the cocoon, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. "You promised...!!"

I was so close...so close to finally putting all of this madness behind me...

"Brother, please, let us help you!" Alma said as she shakily got to her feet. "There must be something we can do!"

There is nothing you can do for me, all that's left is for me to be smothered by my own power...my own decadence...the sins of my lonely heart have taken their toll, and now I come to the end of my days...

"Don't say that, brother Ramza!!" Alma screamed. "We can save you! Please! Let us help you!"

I am beyond any sort of repentance, dear sister, but you are not...you must...you must live for me! I have set you free, and you must live!

"But Brother...!!" Alma tried to speak, but could not find the words.

"It's no use..." Agrias said disdainfully. "He will not listen to us...but Lady Alma, you must heed your brother's words, for they are the truth..."

"What are you saying, Agrias?!" Alma yelped. "Are you saying we should just leave my brother here to die in obscurity?!"

"No, I am not going anywhere." Agrias said.

As she finished those words, the part of the cocoon she was laying on slowly opened, and Agrias began to sink into the blood.

"Agrias!" Screamed Alma.

"Don't come any closer!" Commanded Agrias. "It's alright...if this is what he wants...what he truly wants...then he and I die here, together...he promised me his life, and I intend to make him keep his word, in one way or another..."

Agrias' entire body was now enveloped by the cocoon, only her right hand remained above the bloody shell, and it too was being drawn in.

Please, Alma, leave this place, do not waste your tears weeping for us...

"No!!" Alma objected. "I will not let you leave me alone again!"

Dashing forward as fast as she could, Alma grabbed hold of Agrias' hand and held it as tightly as she could. However, she was making no attempt to try and wrench Agrias from the bloody shell, rather, she was letting herself be consumed by it as well.

No! Alma! You mustn't!

"What life is left for me?! If you are gone, then where does that leave me?! If you truly desire death, then let it take all of us at once!" Alma said. "Let the wretched blood of the Beoulve name disappear here forever!"

Now drawn completely into the shell, Alma let go of Agrias' hand and watched her disappear into the depths, not a word coming from her mouth. Alma could feel the tainted blood of the cocoon beginning to burn at her pure, unscarred skin. She writhed in pain as she could feel the very essence of her soul beginning to become corrupt.

"Brother...it hurts...help...help me..." She cried out meekly.

Alma closed her eyes and waited for her inevitable doom...

But just as everything seemed lost, Alma felt a rough, rigid hand clasp across her left, and a softer, more familiar hand grip her right. Opening her eyes, Alma could see them...

Her dearest, beloved brother was there...smiling at her warmly. He pulled her close to his body and hugged her warmly.

"Alma..." Ramza whispered.

"Don't speak, brother..." Alma whimpered. "Let me have this one moment...please..."

Alma felt a tug on her left hand, and soon another pair of arms coiled around her waist and then locked around her and Ramza. It was Agrias. The three of them now stood together, holding on to one another as tightly as they could.

"Alma..." Ramza spoke. "It was my one wish for the three of us to live in peace, finally free of all persecution, but it just isn't possible...at least...not for Agrias or myself..."

"It matters not, brother." Alma cooed. "If you wish to relinquish your life, then I shall relinquish mine. I love you, brother Ramza, and I always have. You, I, and Lady Agrias shall all die here, together."

Alma felt Agrias' hair fall onto the back of her shoulders, and it tickled her every sense. Agrias rested her head on Alma's back and sighed.

"Do you truly desire such an abrupt end?" Agrias said cryptically.

"I do." Alma said with no sort of hesitation. "It it means that I am able to be with my brother, and with you, then I will happily forfeit my own life."

"Lady Alma..." Agrias whispered. "It's still not too late..."

"I will not leave either of you." Alma said.

"Dearest sister..." Ramza began to speak. "I understand your intentions, but..."

"What is it, brother?" Alma said, nuzzling up to her brother's chest as close as she could.

"As I said, I want you to live...Alma, you must live. For upon your entry into this tomb, a tomb that was meant for only myself and for Agrias, you have taken upon yourself our future. A future that has yet to be written, but can only be possible if you live..."

"What do you mean, brother Ramza?"

"I want you to promise me...please, keep this promise always...let only the wretched past of the Beoulve name die here, and not you. Shed away all memories and notions of such a tragic and accursed lineage...and build life anew. Let this new life be your resolve to rebuild and reshape a once proud name. It may be a different name, but it will always uphold what we Beoulves once stood for..."

"Brother..."

"Lady Alma," Agrias spoke softly into Alma's ear. While you and I were never able to truly able to get to know each other, what I have learned about you from your brother, and from listening to your earnest words now, I know that you, too, are of purest heart. While it may seem pointless now, I must ask two things of you..."

"Please, speak it." Alma replied.

"The first is that you give Ramza and myself your blessings...our time quickly draws near, but my heart and soul can rest at ease, knowing of your approval..."

"Of course, Agrias, I could not be any happier knowing that Ramza has finally found the love he has needed for such a long time..." Alma said softly.

"I am glad...my last request...will you heed your brother's words? You must live, for him, for me, and for someone else..."

"Someone...else...?" Alma questioned.

"Keep us in your hearts...and whenever you look into her eyes...please remember that Ramza and I will always watch over you..."

"Goodbye, dearest Alma..." Ramza whispered, planting a loving kiss onto Alma's forehead. He then let go of Alma, and Agrias did the same. Alma could feel herself being pulled out of the shell.

"Ramza!! Agrias!!" She screamed in futility, but it was no use. She could only reach out as Ramza and Agrias got further and further away.

Alma was then ejected from the shell of blood and sent to the ground. She was pinned in place by forces unknown, and could only watch as the cocoon's pulsating membrane began to harden. When the pulsing mass finally stopped, it began to crack. Chunks of the shell began to rain down all around Alma, melting into the ground upon their impact. When it all had cleared, Alma could see her brother once more. His demonic form had been shed, and he appeared now as the same man Alma had remembered. Clutching tightly onto him was Agrias. She, too, had been completely cleansed of the corruption, their hideous scars and malformed wounds now completely gone. But all was not as well as it had appeared...

"Farewell, Lady Alma..." Agrias spoke. "Live for us..."

"I love you, Alma..." Ramza's final words were carried away by the wind.

The images of Ramza and Agrias then began to slowly fade away, becoming nothing more than a passing shadow, and then, they were gone...

--

A small ceremony was taking place within the Knight Barracks of Lionel Castle. It was a small affair, but one that held the utmost importance. Lavian and Alicia led a small brigade of knights, followed closely by Lord Farnei and Lady Rosealynn Atkascha. They marched in what appeared to be a funeral procession. But there were no caskets of any kind to be found in this small troupe. Coming upon a vast, open plain of grass, Alicia raised her hand to her brigade, and Alicia did the same.

"Company, halt!" Lavian shouted. The brigade stopped and began to split into two small single-file, parallel lines. Upon reaching their formation, Lord Farnei and Lady Rosealynn began to make their way down the aisle of knights. The knights raised their swords and arched them over the approaching nobles, a salute to their rulers.

Farnei and Rosealynn made their way to the head of the lines and greeted Lavian and Alicia. The two knights, their rank restored, saluted and then stood aside. Farnei looked over his subjects and bowed his head.

"Knights of Lionel..." Farnei began his speech. "We gather here today upon this field to lay to rest a dear friend, a courageous soldier, and a beloved brother..."

"...It was he who delivered us from the jaws of destruction...it was he who was oppressed by those he had fought so hard for...and it was he who was driven into despair..." Rosealynn continued for her husband. "But even as we gather here today, upon this empty field, let us always remember...those that continue to despise him will never let his soul rest, and that is why we can only convey our respects to him with this small ceremony. If it were at all possible, we would have given him a proper burial with a grand headstone, but alas, we cannot..."

"Regardless." Farnei started to speak once more. "He deserves nothing less than our utmost respect. We pay tribute today to his efforts. But not only to him, but to the one who stood alongside him until the very end..."

Lavian and Alicia's heads bowed. They closed their eyes and stood solemnly quiet.

"We cannot even mention her name either, lest we draw suspicion from the Church. Perhaps some day, when all of this turmoil has passed, we may return to this site and give these two noble souls a proper sendoff. But until then..."

Two knights at the back of the line began to march forward, both of them gracefully holding the broken hilt of a sword. The two knights knelt down before Farnei and Rosealynn, gently set the hilt upon the ground, then returned to their positions.

"We can only remember them through this blade..." Farnei said, shaking his head sorrowfully.

"Knights, attention!" Rosealynn commanded. The knights withdrew their swords and returned them to their sheathes. They then all dropped to one knee as another person made their way down the line. She was dressed in an elegant scarlet dress, adorned with all sorts of frills. Her hair was braided gracefully down her back. Upon reaching the front of the line, the young woman bowed respectively to the two lords and knelt down next to the hilt.

"Lady Alma will now speak." Farnei announced. The knights stood a hair straighter as the tragic young maiden began to talk.

"Everyone, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming today. I understand the potential consequences of what our gathering may bring, but I found it the only way of saying goodbye to him properly..."

Alma clutched her chest tightly. She could feel herself beginning to choke up.

"Lady Alma, if it is too difficult for you..." Rosealynn said concernedly.

"No, I am alright, milady." Alma consented. "He deserves this, they both deserve this..."

Alma stood up and turned to the knights.

"I know that my brother had taken innocent lives, many of which were your friends and your families, and I offer my most sincere apologies to you now. Words do very little to soothe such scars, of this I am all too aware of..."

Alma took once last look at the broken hilt and began her speech...

"Death was never meant to be an ending, but rather, a new beginning. Yes, when those close to us pass away, we are filled with immense grief and pain, but you must never let that weigh down your soul. My brother knew this all along, and fought until his last breath to suppress that weight, and ultimately was crushed by it. You all revere him as an unbreakable hero of justice, but he was human, just as you and I...

We human beings as a species are flawed, there is simply no other way to say it...we hurt and kill one another in the names of one's ideals...and what does this get us? Only more suffering and heartache. My brother saved us from the army of the devil, but yet, his struggle was in vain...for you see, we can never truly defeat the darkness that lurks within us all. Our only hope is to embrace one another in peace. We are of different races, religions, ranks, and statures, but we are all still human. There will be more bloodshed and sorrow, that is an unavoidable fact of life.

So what is left for those of us who continue to cling to the ideals of my fallen brother? We can only take in what he fought and died for, and use that in our every day lives to help better this tainted land of Ivalice that we all call home. My brother loved this land and all the people in it, and he sacrificed everything to try and mend the wounds of our land. But it is simply just too much for one person, even one like him, to accomplish. My brother has endeared me to continue the struggle he had started, but has also given me the wisdom to not take on such a nigh-impossible feat alone.

He has entrusted the future of Ivalice to all of us. Our savior has gone away, leaving the remaining wounds of this land of Ivalice for all of us to mend. But please, I beg of you to not grieve for him, for he did not wither away in loneliness as he had long feared..."

Lavian and Alicia's eyes began to well with tears upon Alma's next words.

"He had a wonderful, caring soul watching over him all this time. She took it upon herself to safeguard his soul with all her power, even taking his pain and anguish unto herself. Had it not been for her, my brother would never had been able to finally claim some small sense of peace in his passing. If my brother is truly regarded by some as a savior, then let her forever be known as the savior's guardian angel...

Knights of Lionel, I thank you for listening to the heartfelt words of such a frail woman like myself. I will always be grateful to all of you for taking me into your home and protecting me from my brother's worst fears. I will always cherish my time spent here, and I can only hope that the final gift I was given to me by my brother will be as equally grateful..."

Alma brought her hand down to her stomach and caressed it softly.

"I carry within my body the future of my brother and his guardian's memories. I will raise this child as my own, and I someday hope that she grows to be a strong person, just like her father and mother. I was given a second chance at life thanks to my brother, and I vow to all of you now that I will raise this child to be a woman worthy of both the names Beoulve and Oaks."

Alma bowed her head and stepped back. Farnei once again stepped forward and signalled a pair of knights. The two fervantly stepped forward and picked up the broken hilt of the sword. There was only a fraction of the actual blade remaining. What was originally engraved on the edge had been erased and engraved with a new set of words. The knights drove the blade into the ground, saluted once more, then stepped back.

"We of the Atkascha family bid you and yours a fond farewell." Farnei said solemly, kneeling in front of the hilt.

"We can only hope that you still look upon all of us, and guide us ever steady in these uncertain days...may God welcome you with open arms, and smile upon you, forevermore." Rosealynn finished.

"Knights of Lionel! Present arms!" Farnei bellowed. The knights withdrew their swords once more and raise them together in the air in unison. They held them there for a few moments, then sheathed their weapons and began to withdraw. Farnei, Rosealynn, and Alma remained for a few moments afterward.

"Child of Beoulve," Rosealynn said proudly to Alma. "We will always remember your brother's efforts, and we thank you for granting us persmission to see him off in such a way. He deserves no less."

"And I thank you, lords." Alma said with a polite bow. "Let us take our leave, I believe it is time for my brother and his guardian to finally rest..."

Farnei and Rosealynn nodded, and the three of them then began to follow behind the knight brigade.

As they were leaving, the sunlight beamed down onto the open field, reflecting off the blade driven into the ground. The words engraved onto the blade shone brighter than ever before...

Here Lie Two Fallen Warriors

Names Unknown

Never Forgotten, Always Loved

Rest In Peace

'Fin