Epilogue Insight

Thus, I have added a second tally onto my completed stories list. It was my toughest journey to date, but it felt very rewarding to accomplish.

This story turned out much longer than I originally wished, and even further than intended with the poll. I intend to make others as short yet concise as possible, but doing so to this would have been admittedly terrible. This one was for Gilgamesh, one of the hardest and most well-defined characters in Fate. To take shortcuts would have left holes, so I sought to avoid that.

In exchange, I made it as emotional and epic as possible to make it a compelling read when combined with both regular Babylonia and the Fragments Series. I believe it has easily earned its place in the series. Personally, I even feel it’s my best work in terms of depth, form-fitting, introspection, and overall design. I’ve crammed a lot into this story, and at the end I feel very satisfied with what I produced.

Which is why the Epilogue needed to seal the deal and serve as the bridge between the explosive Chapter 14 and Fragment 48. It needed to wind everything down, so the emotion needed to be shifted properly. I believe I accomplished that well, starting with the seamless transition that pays reference to Scene II of the prologue. Between that and Epilogue’s Scene I, everything could be seen as Gilgamesh’s flashback as he walked toward the fading summoning light.

Of course, to finish the deal, his more Sage-like self needed to be summoned as a memorial essence. It placed the final seal on Gilgamesh’s opinion to change, but he didn’t need it at this point; It was just insurance. What he really needed, but couldn’t have, was his friend, but luck had other plans days later. One can say it was his reward for sticking with his newfound belief.

Finally, as perfect symbolism, they needed to reunite under that moon I practically hammered into everyone’s heads over and over. But that was the fun part for me, because the moon as a guide had depth of its own. I placed it repeatedly to mean countless things, but how many of you picked up its true meaning before the last paragraph? How many of you knew the title actually held a double meaning? It’s small things like this in the story’s design that make me feel it’s my strongest work to date.

Though, technically, it has been anyway since all of them are supposed to be one giant story placed together. 

In regards to Solomon not attacking,someone has kindly noted a discrepancy. You may read the reasoning for that here.

For those who suspect it was Deus Ex Machina that Gudao had the cord in his satchel, I advise you re-read the following segments. Chapter XII: Scene X. Chapter XIII: Scene IX. Chapter XIV: Scenes I & II. You will find a quiet progression you missed. It slipped within the background on purpose.

For timeline continuity purposes, I also explained why Solomon isn’t actually assaulting Chaldea yet. With how he acts in the final chapter of FGO Part I, the general statement is plausible. He very well could be that arrogant since he’s so positively sure of himself. Why waste energy on something that’s not going to win? He thinks like Gilgamesh in that regard, thus, the King of Heroes was the perfect one to explain it.

Thank you for reading Redemption from Sin. I hope you enjoyed the journey as much as I enjoy seeing its finished form.S

There’s only one song, and it’s for the final scene (XI). Even the title seems to fit. “In  That Smile” by  Mattia Cupelli.