Well that's the end. As the author herself said, the volume was like one long epilogue, gradually dealing with the characters, tying up and concluding each of their stories. There were a lot of last times and last words and stuff.
I guess my prediction about Julius didn't come true in the end. He was right to think he didn't have a chance to win anything more than friendship from her. It's not even explicitly stated that they remained in contact at the end, although it was hinted strongly enough that it seems a safe bet that the two of them remained friends.
The role of final enemy which for a while I thought could fall to Julius as well ended up not coming from the church at all. Or at least, not directly. Indeed, the only penalty the church elders seem to have received from bringing about all that destruction was to lose their influence and positions. The status of the church itself is also slightly unclear.
Instead the final enemy ended up being Jude. Both a final enemy and a former enemy, in fact, as he was the one who turned Joachim and Harvey into what they became. But he was also the saviour - in life, easing Kieli's anxieties about her mother's feelings, and thus enabling her to resolve her own feelings, about her father; in dying, his self-sacrifice caused the destruction of all the failures that were viciously attacking all the people, as well as doing what neither Harvey nor Joachim nor Kieli herself were able to do in destroying the seat of the church's power; after death, in Harvey's conscience, it was he who showed Kieli the path to take.
Beatrix also helped show Kieli her path, and helped out in Harvey's conscience world as well. It's kind of nice that Yoshiu eventually recognised her as an angel. Even if she had got absorbed into Jude's body.
Joachim, of course, was already dead. But even he played his part, both in Harveys conscience world but also by being the counter to Harvey... what he could have become.
Harvey himself... well he still seems to be himself, to some extent, even if he no longer speaks. It seems as though he's truly breaking apart by now. I wonder how much there is left in him. He finally saw through the promise to lay the corporal to rest as well.
The corporal was alreaedy fading. It was sad, nonetheless, when he finally stopped...
Kieli herself... well. It seems she awakened some sort of internal powers that were residing in her. First entering into Harvey's world and restoring him to himself and enabling him to go on with life. Then trying to do the same for Jude only to be told it wasn't possible (but she managed to have a sort of conversation with him anyway, thus enabling her to finally truly forgive her father). Then using it to free trapped people after Jude's death triggered the city 's breakdown. Which caused people to think she was the Holy Mother... Ironic, that. And now? She's living out the life she wanted. And she's still in contact with Harvey, or more like looking after him.
Then of course, there were those people up the top. Not every undying went to fight.
Although, that world seems to be falling apart. Just like the world below is still falling apart. The world is dying - that much has not changed on before.
The travels may be over, but life goes on, leastways for those that remain to live it...
All in all a pretty decent series. I read all volumes bar one on the day that I started reading them, which is always a sign of a good read.
There is no such thing as shit taste. Only idiots who think everyone should have the same taste as they do.
And the long journey finally ends. Not the smoothest ride but I'd be lying if this volume didn't affect me.
Beatrix's death hit me the hardest I think. Corporal's was very sad too (Motherfucking kids. I hope a defective Undying kills the whole lot) but it was his time.
I thought Harvey was a goner by the end, even though the whole point was that he was supposed to stay. However, I chose to believe that at some point he'll go back to being the chain-smoking tsundere we know him to be.
Overall, this series was alright. It had a lot of good things going for it but a lot of things drag it down.