/lit/ - Literature

>>23376452
I want to write a fantasy epic. Can’t go into details because I’ve shared a lot of my work here before and I am a bit worried about this coming back to bite me if I ever get off my ass and finish the story.
My idea for the conclusion is it all is that after the [big bad] is defeated, his apprentice/second in command/maybe even son(?) comes to kill Protag years later. The protagonist knew this person years ago, back when they weren’t as set on this road. He feels pity that things have turned out this way, and challenges the guy to a fight. The protagonist has him outclasses, yet lets the guy win anyways, and he’s smart enough to tell that Protag let him win. Angered and having the Protag at sword point, he demands a fair fight. The protagonist refuses, tells him if wants to continue down this path he’ll have to learn what it’s like to kill people without honor. The dude is furious and kills him.
The end. But there would be clues and character development over the course of the story to make readers discuss whether the killer went on to be the new big bad, or if he ended up changing his ways out of remorse for killing Protag.
Thoughts?