It is finally over.

Scotland's voters have spoken. As the results of the momentous referendum on Scottish independence are counted, the world is watching.

What observers in the UK and beyond have witnessed during these long months of campaigning has been a civilised exchange of ideas. Aside from isolated incidents of abuse from a tiny minority on both sides, with Yes supporter Andy Murray finding himself a target of vile tweets as late as yesterday, the campaign has been characterised by impassioned but reasoned debate. That Scots have been able to take part in such a great national conversation so openly and fearlessly, and with mutual respect, has been a precious privilege in a world which has this summer seen so much ideological conflict spill over into deadly inter-ethnic violence.

With a turnout of 85 per cent or higher predicted, the referendum has prompted a remarkable flowering of public participation in politics, something of which all Scots can be proud. The pioneering inclusion of 16 and 17-year-old voters in the ballot is likely to be seen as a success that should be considered for future ballots.

Perhaps inevitably, however, this vote has also proven divisive. This morning, close to half of the electorate will be awakening to feelings of disappointment and hurt. For some, those feelings will run very deep.

The first priority of leaders on both sides, but particularly the victors, must therefore be to take steps to heal that rift. Scots may have disagreed on the future path Scotland should take, but if their engagement in the process proves anything, it is that they are bound by a profound desire to see Scotland thrive and become a better, fairer, stronger nation. It is that shared goal that political leaders and voters alike must now unite behind.

The Herald has made its position in the referendum debate clear. We reject the notion that independence would be calamitous for Scotland but believe the country's devolution journey has further to go.

The status quo is no longer fit for purpose, but with far-reaching further powers for its parliament, Scotland could achieve transformative change while retaining the benefits of UK membership.

Promising such powers, though, is the easy part. Writing earlier this week in this newspaper, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Highland MP Danny Alexander, stated that a No vote would be "the best way to deliver change safely, swiftly and securely".

In the event of a No vote, the three main pro-UK parties will bear a heavy responsibility: to meet the great expectations of millions of Scottish voters of gaining extensive further devolution. They have made much in the last fortnight of their commitment and timetable to deliver change, but it has been a great shortcoming that the detail of that change remains undeclared. All three have brought forward proposals, but Labour's in particular are simply not ambitious enough.

If the defenders of the Union fail to meet voters' demands, they will face their day of reckoning at the ballot box. A Labour Party that is seen as hampering meaningful change out of fear of diminishing the relevance of its 40 Scottish MPs risks losing them at next year's General Election.

Invigorating as it may have been, another referendum causing disruption and uncertainty hot on the heels of this one is not in Scotland's interests. But if there is a failure to deliver far-reaching further powers for Scotland, a second referendum will become inevitable and the Union would be highly unlikely to survive it.

The task is no less formidable for the SNP in the event of a Yes vote. The SNP have sold to voters a beguiling vision of an independent Scotland, but it has been based heavily on optimistic assessments of the future and has been legitimately contested.

The party's very credibility will depend on delivering on that highly ambitious vision. If the cold realities of independence turn out to fall short of the SNP's pledges and promises, voters will give their verdict at the 2016 Holyrood election. During the negotiations leading to independence, the Scottish Government will likely seek to blame Westminster for any such failures, but they will find voters' patience wears thin.

It has been a long campaign, some would say a marathon; others, a slog. But today the real work begins.