And so it ends. Having long held the future of Simulacrum on their shoulders, the era of the Simoun Sybillae concludes in acrimony and hope, Neviril and Aaeru soaring off in pursuit of the Emerald Ri Majoon and whatever realms await the eternal maidens. No longer is Neviril seeking to undo the past, or Aaeru to prove her worthiness; they believe in themselves and each other utterly, and this final act is an expression of that belief. Simulacrum’s faith may well have been an arbitrary set of strictures draped over a fundamentally value-neutral phenomenon, but the course of Simoun has proven that faith has a power of its own, regardless of its genesis. Even as Neviril’s companions accept their transition beyond this stage, they are still inspired by her actions – and in that faith, a point of commonality is found between them and their new priestly order.

It has been a poignant and rewarding journey riding alongside Chor Tempest, and though I’m sad we’ve arrived at the end, I’m happy it’s ending with such conclusive, elegant finality. Simoun has always possessed a grace of execution that belies its absurd thematic complexity, and thus it seems appropriate that the story ends where it begins: Neviril and her pair in flight, seeking the infinite in the fulfillment of their love.

Episode 26

This OP has to be one of the most effective mood-setters of all time. No wonder they used its melody for the visit to the spring

Definitely gonna miss Shichiro Kobayashi’s art direction, too. Truly one of the all-time greats, a man who demonstrably enriched the medium at large through his presence. We wouldn’t have Angel’s Egg, or Berserk, or Cagliostro, or Beautiful Dreamer in anything like their current forms without him

Oh damn! Light saturation provides a sense of dreamlike unreality as we stop in, a subtle visual hint that we’ve returned to the realm of the past. But an even clearer indicator is the first character we see, who appears to be an aged-up Limone

Yep, it’s her, and she’s definitely much older. She places a flower in the basket beside her, once again echoing the cradle imagery of the spring

This ancient era’s sybilla wear extremely silly hats

Today Aira and Hanna are attempting to fly. Limone seems troubled by this

The village elder here venerates the old faith, when Ri Majoons were truly used as prayers to the gods, instead of as weapons. In this era, it seems like that faith has actually born fruit – the arrival of Dominura and Limone indeed brought an end to the blight facing their people

There’s an inherent tragedy in this whole conception of the “other realm” being the past – like the only way to escape from the end of faith is to retreat to its conception, and also that no matter what we achieve, we will ultimately be swept into a cycle that always leads to the same end. But it is very in keeping with Simoun’s overall philosophy to accept that any joy or certainty is temporary when contrasted against the weight of history, and resultantly that temporary joys are well worth pursuing

“Their Portrait”

Back in the present time, Morinas is now working for Wauf, and seems to be pregnant. She’s achieved the threading of the needle she desired: to remain a woman but also in the thick of mechanical labor, free of the career constraints that are generally applied to Simulacrum women. While their faith was a source of strength and guidance, it was also a prison that seems to be swiftly crumbling

“Plumbum and Argentum are already at each other’s throats. Who knows when the treaty’s going to be dissolved and we’ll be shipped out?” Yeah, this show is smart enough to understand that everything is temporary, and thus temporary things are still worth fighting for. How was it that Yang Wen-li phrased it – that all he’s hoping for is a few brief decades of peace, or something like that?

The Simoun are now used for shipping, a far cry from their earlier purpose, and yet one that actually serves the people more directly

At last we jump to our leads, bathed in the sun’s fading light

Paraietta appears to have started an orphanage, and seems happier than ever. Rea has used her pull within the government to support Para’s endeavor, and unsurprisingly seems to have grown into herself with total confidence

“Their footsteps will help to create the Land of Hope.” It seems Para has already begun to reinterpret Simulacrum theology in a way that can actually help the people, focusing not on venerating the past, but on ensuring the young have a bright future

Anubituf and Guragief are called to question for their insubordination. Their challenger is another former priestess, who questions the meaning of performing an Emerald Ri Majoon at this point. To this, Anubituf provides an interesting answer: “it’s pointless to seek a meaning. If we cared to look, we might find a meaning, but even if we did, those girls would not have chosen it for themselves.” All series long, other characters have looked to the sybillae for meaning and purpose – here, Anubituf acknowledges that such reading of the bones is meaningless, and that this act’s significance is the significance it holds for its participants

At this point, Rea is the confident, mature one who comforts the crybaby Floe

Morinas is not one to waste an opportunity to dunk on Floe, regardless of the gravity of the situation

As ever, the group find comfort in each other when the whole world’s against them

We next check in on Kaimu and Alti’s postwar life, finding them still together, with Kaimu having reverted to her more masculine pre-war sense of style. Another excellent threading of the needle – Kaimu is able to push against gendered expectations without altogether jumping over to masculinity, rejecting the binary of traditional Simulacrum society, and thereby embracing her most authentic self. Also seems like the two are now managing a flower garden or something, which is pretty on the nose

Limone states she can finally understand how Dominura felt – the fear and misgivings inherent in teaching a new generation to fly, knowing the danger and uncertainty they’ll face. She confesses she wants to fly again herself, and Dominura reflects that she’d be willing to draw, if only for Limone’s sake. Unsurprisingly, the ritual only seems to work if you are doing it for the sake of yourself and your pair

In the end, the group sent to pursue Aaeru and Neviril send them off with a “Morning Calm” Ri Majoon, said to be used when saying goodbye to a companion leaving on a journey. The history books are brimming with Ri Majoons used for purposes other than war, that instead gesture towards how we are all one community

Our pair do it! Aaeru and Neviril break through into the Land of Hope, just as Dominura resolves to return to the skies with Limone

We next stop in with Floe and Vyura, now settled into their masculine bodies

“Which side?” “I was born on the other side of the border. It’ll be Argentum for me.” Their talk of being drafted emphasizes how very arbitrary all of this is, and also how the sybillae system was at least partially able to rise above this factional discord

“Hard to say, right? You can call me Floe, too.” Their discussions also emphasize how both their past and future selves are part of them. They are no longer preoccupied with gender as destiny

Aw jeez. Floe actually chose to live beside a lake that houses the Arcus Prima, now half-sunken in the waters

The group collectively reflect on what prompted their ferocious defense of Aaeru and Neviril. In the end, they wanted to at least make a partial stand against the inevitability of change, and the reality of everything eventually ending – they wanted a monument, some proof that they existed, and that what they did mattered. When the world robbed them of that certainty, they put their faith in Aaeru and Neviril. They were symbols to their people, but they had to find symbols of their own

And our familiar waltz plays us out, as the eternal maidens dance on the bridge of their sinking ship, twin monuments to the glory of the sybillae

And Done

Goddamn, what a satisfying ending. With so little active drama left to resolve, this episode was able to luxuriate in epilogue, offering poignant and thematically satisfying futures for all of Chor Tempest’s sybillae. I appreciated the acknowledgment here that even Chor Tempest themselves weren’t quite sure why they were so insistent on Aaeru and Neviril’s escape. Their emotions reflected the irresolvable ambiguity of their ultimate relationship with Simulacrum, which gave them so much, but also limited them in so many ways. To live in service to a distant god can give your life meaning, but even when that god disappears, the meaning you found is in no way discredited. Chor Tempest loved and believed earnestly, and their passion ensured they would find homes for themselves in this new world.

This article was made possible by reader support. Thank you all for all that you do.