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It was a cold day in the quiet little village of Fonsett where Rex had grown up. It was a peaceful place, and even though the weather was cold, the inhabitants were anything but. They would give you the coat off their back and ask for naught in return, and these values had been instilled in Rex from a young age. He was the most caring, compassionate, and selfless individual that Pyra had ever met.
And he was missing.
Where he had disappeared to, Pyra did not know. She’d asked around, and none of the other party members had seen him. She looked around the village, thinking it was too cold for him to have gone very far. She suddenly remembered a place he might be. A place she didn’t particularly want to visit. But she headed over regardless.
She found Rex quietly kneeling on the ground in the graveyard. He came here once a year, on the day he was taken in by Corinne. It was his birthday, or the closest thing he had to one since he didn’t actually know the day he was born, only the day he was taken in.
Three years had passed since they saved the world. The Titans had merged into one giant landmass, and the people of Alrest no longer needed to worry about resources. But problems didn’t just disappear overnight. There was still conflict on a smaller scale. Thieves and bandits, and dangerous wildlife. Rex and his party were hailed as heroes by the world, but they only had a short rest before having to help handle the day to day issues of the people as the political squabbling happened in the background.
But they had time for quiet moments. Rex visited his parent’s grave every year on his birthday. And this time, there was someone else he wanted to see. Pyra watched as he pulled a bottle and two cups out of a small bag he had with him. He didn’t seem to notice she was even there. She could just about hear him in the distance.
“Well, I did promise you, didn’t I? That when I turned eighteen, we’d share a drink. Well, it’s my eighteenth birthday today. I’ve said hello to my mum and dad. And now I’m here to say hello to you. It’s been a while, eh Malos?” As he said the name, Pyra suddenly realised what was happening.
Three years ago, Rex had insisted on giving Malos a grave in Fonsett. People were confused. He was a monster that had caused nothing but pain for so many, and he wanted to honour him? But Rex told them they didn’t know what they were talking about. That they hadn’t seen who Malos really was. So he got his wish, and three years later, here he sat, having a drink with the dead like he said he would.
Pyra continued to listen from a distance. Rex told Malos about what had happened. About how the world was a kinder, and more beautiful place. How he wished Malos could see it for himself.
And then he told him about Pyra. About how she was split from Mythra, how she had grown and changed. How she inspired him to do better. He described the way her hair looked in the sunlight, the way she blushed when you complimented her cooking. Pyra felt like she was going to cry.
He told him about Mythra, and how she had become much nicer and friendlier. How she was learning to cook, how she was smiling more and more. Learning to live again.
“Y’know Malos, the world hates you. I can’t blame them. You hurt a lot of people. But I think you hated yourself more than anyone else hated you. You didn’t want to be saved because you felt like you didn’t deserve it. I try not to live a life of regrets, but that is one of my biggest ones. I wish I could have convinced you, told you that you don’t have to die. If I could help Pyra, and Mythra, could I have helped you? Could I have said something different to get you to let me help you?” Pyra walked over to him.
“I don’t think there was anything you could have done.” Pyra said.
“Ah! Pyra! How long have you been there?” Rex said.
“Long enough.” She said, smiling. “Malos was evil by nurture, not by nature. Amalthus had been slowly poisoning him with anger and hatred, and it was already bad five hundred years ago. It stewed for five centuries. No one could have saved him. He’d accepted his fate. You did the right thing, Rex.” She held his hand. He was freezing, having been sat out here for a while. He gradually began to heat up as Pyra leaned her head on his shoulder.
“I know. Should probably head back now, it’s freezing. I’ve just got one last thing to do then we can head back.” Rex said. Pyra nodded.
He reached into his bag, and from it pulled out a strange object. Pyra didn’t recognise it at first, but as Rex sat it up against the grave, she realised what it was.
“Let’s go.” They stood up and left, walking hand in hand back to the house, the only remnant of their visit a beautifully made black mask with horns leaning against the gravestone.