Epilogue:
Keep Forward
The infirmary was quiet.
Too quiet.
No attendants.
No muttering mages.
No scraped armor or hissing stitches.
Jane stood in the corner,
fingers on the locker handle.
Her pack rested by her boots.
She bent.
Lifted it over one shoulder.
She turned.
Behind her,
An empty bed.
Sheets still rumpled.
Old bandages on the floor.
A cracked glove,
left near the side table.
She didn't linger.
Didn't touch anything.
She just walked out.
Jane moved slowly down the steps.
Each footfall soft, precise.
The same grizzled man passed her going up,
scarred lip.
Crooked nose.
The one she'd tried to punch.
The one who'd welcomed them in.
He stopped.
Placed a hand on her shoulder,
firm,
but not unkind.
"It happens.
It sucks, kid.
But…
you get used to it."
He kept walking.
Didn't wait for a reply.
Jane nodded once.
Didn't look back.
Jane stepped into the light.
She raised a hand, shielding her eyes.
White glare.
No sound.
Just the weight of the pack on her back.
Then—
A shape.
Leaning off the wall.
Outline sharpening.
Hanna:
"Took you long enough."
Jane lowered her hand.
Kept walking.
Hanna fell into step beside her.
"Let's go. I'm starving and you've got that funeral face again."
"Why. Always slimes." Jane grinning.
Hanna smirked.
The old man said that's normal,
while we don't have enough to
refine the tekkes from the missions.
We need to make some side missions.
Stretched up on her toes.
Patted Jane's head.
"Don't worry.
I'm here."
They walked in silence a few steps.
"If I…
If I hadn't made it…
Would you have killed the slimes for me?"
"No.
I would've erased every last one of them.
But I like this version better." Jane's eyes dropped.
A scar curled around Hanna's neck—
burned in the shape of a foxfire pelt.
"But never do that again,
please…"
Hanna lifted both hands.
Wiggled her fingers,
only one glove visible.
"See?
Packed the fire glove this time.
Relax."
Jane's eyes, narrowing.
"And if you need to switch?"
Hanna stopped walking.
Crossed her fingers.
Thumbs pressed.
(in Etaena):
"Lis so'al lo'an Ne'al"
Jane tilted her head.
"…That was Etaena."
Hanna smiling widely.
"Yeah.
The healer that treated me was Taena.
I asked her for something that means…"
She glanced down, then back up.
"Even if you mess up,
you can say sorry and keep growing.
It means I'll follow the five seconds rule.
I promise."
Jane looked at her, eyes full, but calm.
"You didn't mess up, Hanna.
You are my hero.
Or better than that.
My favorite Explorer,
and
I promise
I'll dodge next time."
Jane hugged Hanna for a couple of seconds.
Hanna clearing some tears from her eyes.
"Don't cry.
We spent almost two days doing that.
Any more and we'll dry to death."
"Now come on.
They're gross and waiting."
She hopped ahead.
Jane caught her on her left shoulder, like a parrot, and kept walking.
Hanna looked down.
"Jane?"
"Hm?" Jane smiled.
Hanna paused on her perch,
arms loosely draped over Jane's shoulder.
"What if we made our own surname?"
Jane tilted her head.
Just a little.
"Any ideas?"
Hanna touched her chin playfully.
"An Taena and a Vanatari? Too generic.
The little and the big one? Nah, too simple.
I know, I know…
Slime Slayers."
"No. Absolutely not." Jane almost tripped on the sidewalk.
Hanna grinned.
"Too late."
"Next town, I'm registering us as Hanna and Jane Slime Slayers."
Jane kept walking.
"You won't give up,
will you?"
Hanna shook her head against Jane's shoulder,
chin tucked,
smiling downward.
Jane exhaled.
"Can I at least choose the emblem?"
Hanna reached up and draped her arm across Jane's head.
"Deal."