Free Web NovelChapter 26: Goodbye, my first friend
In the guardroom at the Gates of Syoga, which were located under the Church of Saint Solonda, Celestia leaned back in her chair, kicking her legs up on the edge of the table. Her gaze was empty and unfocused. Even after treatment with ritual magic, her face remained painfully pale - as if after a severe illness that had only briefly receded, but had not gone away for good.
"Hurry! Where is the coffin?!" - an irritated voice came from somewhere in the corridor.
"Right now, right now, they are already carrying it, just wait..."
"We have little time, and besides, it’s pouring rain outside! We’re swamped with work. And anyway, why are we arranging a whole farewell ceremony for some brat?!" - one of the female servants exploded.
"Quiet, please! This was organized by Princess Celestia and Lord Lucian. If they hear..."
Cutting the sentence off mid-word, the arguers glanced fearfully toward Princess Celestia, as if afraid she was about to scream at them or grant them a soul-chilling, malicious look.
But to all these muffled disputes, Celestia remained completely indifferent. She felt like a living corpse. There was no pain, no sadness, no agitation, no joy - only a bottomless, incredible emptiness. She did not want to see people; the only thing she desired was to huddle in the darkest corner and remain in absolute solitude.
Only occasionally in her foggy consciousness did the same obsessive question flicker: ’Why did the killer take Ruthless’s life in such a ridiculous, absurd way? He could have been killed in a hundred other ways... But why exactly like this?’
After a long silence where only the sounds of the rain could be heard, Ruthless’s coffin was finally brought in.
Of course, there was no body inside, but they still decided to make a coffin and say goodbye to him properly because, of course, he meant a lot to them despite the short amount of time, especially for Princess Celestia.
For some time, the priest read some rituals, and after that, Ari, Nora, and others lifted the coffin and began heading outside to place it in the grave.
Other people who were inside followed them as well. Even if he was a nobody to you, it is worth saying goodbye once you are inside a church; this was considered a sign of respect not only for the deceased but also for his loved ones.
Celestia stood before the grave, her gaze empty and absent, while Nora beside her incessantly wiped away tears. Lucian, Lysandra, and Ari, carrying the coffin, approached and lowered it into the grave. After the priest’s words and the prayers he began to say again, sand was sprinkled, and the black coffin gradually disappeared from view.
At that moment, Celestia crouched down and threw into the grave that very love letter that had been given by Ruthless.
Nora watched this with pain in her heart, admiring the girl’s resilience. Since the moment of the terrible news, she hadn’t shed a single tear, hadn’t made a sound; her silence was heartbreaking.
The grave was filled, and the slab was placed in its spot. Ari looked at Ruthless’s headstone for the last time. On it were three lines:
"The Best Guy"
"The First Friend"
"The Best Student"
The rain began to fall even harder, as if wanting to add a more oppressive atmosphere. Everyone except Celestia raised umbrellas to shield themselves from the rain and just stood there for a bit, looking at the coffin.
After that, everyone began to gradually leave- first the priest and strangers, then acquaintances—and eventually, only Princess Celestia remained before the grave in the rain, still watching the grave and getting soaked through.
’Why did I show such aggression? Now I’m empty inside just because of one boy I didn’t even know for a day?’ she asked herself. Indeed, if looked at from the outside, it looked stupid or at least absurd, but the point was that the factors here included not only Ruthless’s appearance itself, but the princess’s life as well.
"Did you hear? There was a fight between the princess and some organization recently, and the princess won in the end."
From a distance, voices of people discussing the recent events could be heard. Among them were admiring children discussing the battle itself, as well as adults who were dissatisfied that their home had been destroyed.
"I hope they compensate us for the whole house, with interest..." they said.
It was funny that at the time of the battle their lives were at stake, although the battle itself was caused by Princess Celestia; therefore, she could say nothing, but at the very least she felt they should be a bit grateful that such people, who could do even worse things in the future, were destroyed at all. But what can you say - that’s how people are.
"But even if Princess Celestia won, it was discovered that some guy still died in that battle," said one girl.
"Ah, just some lad; I’d be sad if it were a girl, but not this way - he was weak anyway, so there’s little use for him" replied her companion.
For the first time, the princess’s eyes began to move, and her gaze fell toward the two girls who were just discussing it.
It turns out they are just eight-year-old girls; well, of course they didn’t know the value of human life, and gender decides nothing here.
Before death, we are all equal.
’Later, I’ll find out who their parents are; children learn from their parents...’ she thought.
"Well, you ask what it means to be human for you... It’s a pity that I didn’t know the answer to that question then, because I never was human in the sense that people imagine," - she began to speak softly, looking at the grave, and in response, there was only the rustling of the rain.
"I hope I find the answer on my journey..."
’I’m already soaked; I need to return quickly...’ thinking this, she turned around and began walking toward the academy dormitory.
But at that moment, a person appeared in her path; judging by the figure, one could confidently say it was a guy.
On his head was a top hat and he wore a suit, reminiscent of a Victorian aesthetic.
But the most interesting and creepy thing was his mask. On his face was a mask that was smiling, but in a creepy and sinister way.
In his right hand, he held red flowers, and they looked very beautiful.
"What a beautiful day, Miss Celestia, don’t you find?" he said, taking off his hat and bowing when they were at a distance where they could see each other well.
She did not react.
"Do I know you?" she asked in a cold tone, looking at and assessing the masked man.
"Oh miss, please accept my apologies for not introducing myself first; I am called Mr. Savior, a so-called pseudonym," he said very gentlemanly.
The princess didn’t pay much attention and had never heard such a name in this city.
’Maybe it’s because I’ve only been here recently,’ she thought.
"What are you doing here?" she asked again.
"I heard there was an accident here in which a guy died. May I assume the grave ahead is the grave of that very guy?"
"Correct," - she answered briefly and quickly.
"Although I do not know this respected individual, I am sincerely sorry..." he said and placed his hand on his chest.
"Yes, I feel sorry for him too," she replied, looking down.
"No, no, I feel sorry for you."
The princess looked at the masked man with surprise.
"Don’t get me wrong, Miss Celestia. I simply wanted to say that it is not your fault that he died."
"What makes you think that I believe it is my fault?" she asked once more.
"It’s just that you looked very sad..." saying these words, he took out those very red flowers and gave them directly to Princess Celestia and continued the conversation:
"I often see such people who blame themselves all their lives, who suffer.... You want to scream... not just scream, but scream at nature itself when there is rain or thunder: simply go outside and scream out what is clutched in your chest and challenge nature itself. But I want to tell you this: sometimes you need to let your emotions free. Let yourself weep, let yourself scream - you have the right to do so. We are humans and we have free will, and we should not just hold everything inside just because society has taught us so. Just allow this within yourself..." having said these words, he gave her the flowers... They were very beautiful.
For several seconds, Celestia just looked at the flowers like a doll looking at a bouquet of flowers.
But after that, tears began to flow from her face, being washed away by the rain...
"Ahhhh.....aaaa.....aha-aha-ah...." she began to cry.
The crying was not just for Ruthless himself, but for her very years of life.She cried, and cried, and continued to cry.
It was a mournful sob, a melodic sob, and a crushing sob.
