"Bren, Hesk —my soldiers, my companions, you both did exceptionally well. I promise you won't be forgotten. I will carry you within my memories forever. As your last act of loyalty to me, I command you to leave your burdens, responsibilities behind. I will take care of them, so rest easy."
Sunlight shone high above in the sky. The signs of rain last night were already dried up. Just like the residents of the town tried their best to clean up the aftermath of last night's battle.
In the battle with the arachnid's army they lost two excellent mages.
Residents of the town were gathered for last rites of their town's martyred heroes.
Firewood towered above the ground, atop it lay the remains of Bren and Hesk in an unrecognisable state.
A pregnant lady never stopped weeping, Valerius knew her as Bren's wife.
He was a mess of emotions. Guilt consisted of a better part of it. But he was a leader and sooner or later leaders were bound to carry the guilt of their fallen soldiers.
It was the curse of leadership.
Heroism didn't come only with fame alone.
Every gaze reminded him of his incompetence even if they didn't mean it like that in the first place.
However, he kept his composure.
"May you find peace in the afterlife. Death comes for us all."
With that, he willed and the flames started to consume the dead. Valerius stared at the fire with moist eyes, Sophia with August in her arms also stood at some distance with the rest of the town's folk —comforting Alea, the wife of the deceased mage Bren.
She placed a hand on weeping Alea's shoulder.
"In this darkest time of your life, please hold firm. Bren chose to fight for you, for his unborn child. He put his life on the line because he had faith in you. So I urge you not to remain depressed, it can affect the baby's health, you know."
Alea wiped her tears while sobbing,
"It is not that I don't understand his sacrifice, my lady. These are the tears of joy because he died after finally finding some sense of happiness. You know what his dream was?"
Alea's heart wavered there for a moment,
"He always wanted to die for a reason. Terrifying isn't it? What being raised into the middle of a warzone can do to people. He could have had a dream about living his life but instead he dreamed of dying."
She heaved a deep sigh,
"You don't have to worry about me, my lady, I am not upset with the Lord, he would have saved him if he could. I believe that whole heartedly. You both are the reason he could have these few days of happiness. As for his death, he always wanted to die just with a condition, that's all."
A wry smile appeared on her lips as she watched the flames getting higher and higher, placing a hand on her stomach,
"And as for me. I always knew what kind of man he was. It's just the sense of loss that feels overwhelming. From now on I want nothing more than to raise my child in peace. In this utopia that you along with your husband had built. And we are honoured to be a part of it."
Sophia was at a loss of words. She went to confront the pregnant wife of a deceased soldier but found out that Alea was much stronger than she seemed.
Looking at Alea all she could do was smile.
Valerius collected the ashes of Bren and Hesk and handed it over to Alea.
"Please stay strong." He said the only words that left his mouth. "Bren was a …good man."
Alea smiled with teary eyes, "...that he was."
"And Hesk too," Valerius' heart was heavy.
Alea's expression was somber,
"Today I've lost my husband and brother."
Valerius wiped the incoming tears, "may the god of death be kind to him."
"Death comes for us all."
"Death comes for us all."
— —
Valerius sat on the wooden verandah of his mansion, looking at the hills afar with distant gaze.
No matter how hard these days are on him, he can't possibly let himself fall into grief.
Being the Lord of this town, he had a duty to uphold. He had to hold firm and stay upright only then will people continue to believe in him.
Otherwise there will be no place for these outcasts anymore.
"What are you …daydreaming?"
Valerius turned to the voice realizing Victor had approached him. Giving a wry smile,
"No just, passing time, you know." He frowned as he noticed, "what are you all dressed up for?"
"For going home, I guess?" Victor replied in his usual demeanor, "I have already spent more than a month here. If I am not there during the birth of my child then my wife will surely kill me …or wait, am I already dead?"
Valerius chuckled lightly, it was his dumb friend who always made him laugh even in the most stressed times. On the mention of his wife, Valerius let go of the selfish desire to make him stay,
"Alright, go to your wife, you wife's pawn. Go and uphold your responsibility not that it would ease my stress of how bad of a father you'll be."
"Wife's pawn?" Victor gave him a one sided smile, "look who's talking. Don't you worry I'll be a much better father than your dad ever was."
"That did hurt," he shot a serious glance, then a devious smile appeared on his face, "at least I know who my—"
"Woah! Woah! Hold on!" Victor stopped him mid sentence, "that's going too far."
After that they burst into laughter.
A while later when this joyous mood settled down, Victor heaved a sigh while gazing at the evening sun,
"Do you still miss him?" He asked.
Valerius lingered for a while,
"Don't we both?"
"I do but," Victor diverted his gaze, "I still don't know what happened back there, in that cave? Why don't you just tell me Valerius?"
Valerius took a deep breath, "I can't, we made a promise."
"Was he who forced you to make that vow?" Victor asked.
Valerius was calm, "I was."
The conversation seemed to be dying mostly after that. A strange calm washed over both of them.
Then again, wounds of the past never heal do they?
Suddenly Victor stood up and turned to him, "Ah! You still are a sadist. Come on, cheer up. I swear if you keep this up young Augustus will kill you himself some day. I mean even I don't want a depressed father."
A smile appeared on Valerius' face,
"And you're still a moron. Will you be alright on your own or do you want me to drop you off?"
Victor waved a hand, "yeah don't be my father now. Also my wife hates you, so I won't advise that anyway."
"What? She hates me. Why? I am the most charming and handsome gentleman in the world you know? How can anyone hate me?"
"Ah! This narcissist," Victor sneered, "she hates you because you put me in danger. You know what, I hate you too."
— — — — —