Chapter 9
"Dio Eraclea, you are hereby released with a special pardon," Tatiana spoke through the glass of the cell, standing in the dimly lit corridor, .
"Why? I tried to take the princess' life..."
"Because for us, this new world awards everybody with a new life."
"Get out," Tatiana said as the elevator door opened. The soldiers removed his restraints and Dio, who was now free, stretched his hands out toward the sky.
It's warm ... this is the real sun?
He lifted his hand up as his eyes adjusted to the light, and then started to look around.
The Silvana? No, it's a different ship.
"Look, this is our future," Alister said as she smiled. Golden wheat fields seemed to spread out across the entire surface of the ground. After staring out at it, Dio turned around. Golden wheat also blanketed the smooth hills behind him, the stalks of ripe wheat swaying in the breeze.
"I don't deserve to be here ... I killed so many people, and caused so many others pain." Dio looked down sadly.
"Holly said she has forgiven you. As have done the parents and brethen of the soldiers whose lives you took away." The clouds rolled by slowly, the winds carrying the scent of wheat. "You'll be protecting the 'future' of those who live in this world. That will be a much greater number than the lives that you took away."
"... how can I do that?"
"A Principal of the Guild who speaks of impossible things?" Alis asked, and Dio laughed mischievously in response.
Dio stepped firmly over darkened soil. It was soft, almost like a carpet. The wheat that surrounded him was dyed in gold.
"Dio!" He could see Alvis' smiling, tearful face.
"Dio." Lavie laughed and waved at him.
"Look, look! Dunya and I had a baby~!" Dunya turned red at Mullin's outburst, elbowing him. The baby he held looked so tiny, almost breakable. Dio gently touched its cheek.
"It's soft ... and warm." The little life grabbed one of Dio's fingers and giggled. Holly smiled. Tatiana and Alis laughed.
"The scent of wheat..." Dio reached down to pick up some barley, his emotions filled with a mix of love and regret. "This is... the future."Hearing the sound of wheels, Dio looked up. A boy riding a wheelchair approached, and it still seemed like he was a bit unaccustomed to turning the wheels to move himself. "... Immelmann."
Dio started running instantly, the golden colors of the wheat reflected by the sunlight seemed to flow behind him. Running, running toward Claus, who had been waiting for him.
A vanship flew overhead to scatter celebration petals, to celebrate the birth of new life.
<— Chapter 8