176 Volume 8 Epilogue

Alicia asked it first. "Colin, what just happened?"

"I don't know. Fenria wanted something, and I said okay, and..." Colin scratched his head. "How {did} this happen?"

Asblar and Kyubia exchanged glances, both their eyes deeply purple. Asblar answered for them. "It was because you said so."

"{I} said so?" Colin protested. "And who am I to make this kind of changes? I'm not even a Forester any more. I'm just an ex-Forester Traveler running around Nakama World with a bounty on my head."

Kyubia nudged him. "Haven't you heard of the Three Kingdoms of Nakama World? Each is ruled by a prince or princess, like the Ocean Prince or the Mountain Princess. The reign of the Princesses recently came to an end. This is the time of the Princes' rule."

"Already?!" Colin spluttered. "But... but...! I was going to join the Forest's Tournament of Ascension! I wanted to fight for the title of the Forest Prince! How did it happen? When did it happen? Why didn't Lynn {call} me? Who is it? Who's the new Forest Prince?"

At that, Cour and Kyubia exchanged completely baffled looks. Asblar stared. "What are you saying, Colin?

"YOU'RE the Forest Prince."

***

There were Three Keys a Candidate Required to be Prince...

Three Traits that a Prince needed...

There was Wisdom, a Key forged by understanding the past, a Trait proven by a question of recognizing worth...

Lynn had asked; {What is the most precious flower?}

Colin found his answer in the care of the Gardener. But even before that, Lynn had found him on Crabby Isle during the most exciting times of Nakama World, following prudence rather than fun.

There was Justice, a Key forged by action in the present, a Trait sought by a question of right and wrong. Lynn had asked; {What would you remove from the Forest?}

Colin had found his answer in his time as Forester of Lamico and the sufferings of the Lamico Wilds. But even before that, Lynn had seen him give Katrin his own Comrades, all he could give. She had shared his memories. She knew exactly why he did what he did and what it meant to him, for she spoke with Shiro also. {There IS justice in this one.}

There was Dependability, a Key forged for the sake of the Future. {What would you add to the Forest?}

Colin answered according to the needs he found with the Ranger at the Heart of the Forest of Legends. But even before that, Shiro had told Lynn a secret as to why such a high class Comrade stayed with Colin. It was because from the very first night, though Colin had every reason to (as explained by Edward), he would not abandon Shiro.

And a bit after two hours into Colin's Ninth Night on Dreamworlds, less than a minute after being kicked off a cliff by Katrin, Lynn gave him a Life Leaf and touched Colin's forehead at the Heart of the Forest of Legends...

{...and Colin felt something change. Like a surge, or the hearing of a single sweet high musical note. Like the shade of the Forest had suddenly become cooler, deeper. Like the scent of its trees had become familiar to him. Like the scent of the leaf he now sniffed was able to penetrate right through the sickness and touch his heart.}

Sekai had told Khair the truth. When the man had questioned, she answered outright, 'Colin is the Forest Prince', and the CEO of the Lamico Union gave up any hopes of retribution. Back then, Satrox didn't believe her, thinking she lied to protect Colin from the Union. After all, there had been no Tournament of Ascension.

But the Tournament was not what decided the Prince. As Casiphia pointed out in the Mountain's Tournament of Ascension, the Princess herself chose her successor. There were rules, and there were requirements, and there were limits. A good candidate wasn't easy to find in a Dreamworld such as this one. Iylara had recognized it the minute she laid eyes on Colin for the first time and attempted to steer him toward candidacy... only to realize that Lynn had gotten to him first. She didn't force the issue though. She already had the 'other one'. She already had Philip.

So it was that when Lynn introduced Colin to the Lords of the Lamico Forest Wilds, the very first time they met, the Lord of the Wood Owls bowed to the new Forest Prince (at least, as much as a supersized owl could manage without falling over). And when the woodcutter swung an axe at his head...

Nobody had commanded the Wilds to strike, not even Lynn. Nobody told them to take on the entire village, not just the logging camp. But the wrath of the Forest had been relentless. It was not just a Forester whom the axeman had swung at. He had struck at their very Prince.

The plains were a fun romp. The cities were interesting. But for Colin Rivers, the Forest was Home.

***

Satrox called. "Colin, please tell me that was you."

"W-what?" Colin spluttered.

"My entire map changed!" Satrox yelled. "Please, for the love of whatever you hold dear, tell me that you did it!"

"Um... only if it's about the Uber Marshes. I mean... Sanctuary."

"So it was you!" Satrox heaved a sigh of relief. "Yeah, I figured as much. Nobody changes my map around as much as our own Colin."

"You sound happy about it." Colin was downright amazed.

"Well, let's just say if it wasn't you, we're all in a lot more trouble than we could possibly handle." Satrox said. "Oh, and someone's here to see you."

"What are you talking about?" Colin was completely blur.

"We were worried that the Cult managed to seize admin rights to Nakama World one way or the other."

"Not that, I meant about someone being here to see me?"

"Oh. That. Your little sister is here. She says your mom sent her to find you."

And then there was silence. Colin didn't say a word. Not even one.