Serene’s POV
My steps felt heavy, the dread falling over as I trudged through the white snow and made my way toward the burial site where his funeral was to be held. The air was crisp and lashed against the flimsy red dress I adorned, but I didn’t care, not today. The hairpin settled proudly in my hair.
The bouquet of red roses Crimzon had given before I left was clutched tightly in my hands and it felt strange that I was bringing flowers for him when he was already gone. Father, Kilamin and Zian accompanied .
I glanced ahead and found all my friends huddled outside the cetery door. They were talking among themselves and as soon as they saw , everyone hushed and an awkward silence fell over.
Father, Kilamin, and Zian went inside, leaving with my friends to catch up. Ralph instantly moved and wrapped his arms around , giving a tight hug he whispered:
"I am sorry," his cheeky smile was gone today.
"It’s not your fault, it’s mine that he is gone. I couldn’t protect him, instead, I killed him," the words hitched in my throat.
"No, you didn’t. liana did," Ayrden stepped forward and hugged , tears streaming down her small face. Her eyes were red from crying. Everyone else nodded but it brought no relief.
Zeph was standing right in the middle of everyone else and I knew he must have been the one to fill everyone in about what had transpired.
He tried to step toward but my words had him stopping in his tracks.
"No," I said with disdainful eyes, this caused him imnse pain for I could see the expression on his face change but he stood his ground.
More backward silence fell as no one knew what to say. "Let’s go inside, now," Tanzil spoke softly as she patted my arm and I nodded.
Inside the cetery, a vast area had been set up for the morial service for there were many bodies to be buried. The aftermath of the war had left us with tattered bodies and tears.
His red coffin had been placed right along the dug-up grave. A man and a woman along with Dria stood beside it. Those must be his parents, he had an uncanny resemblance to them. My heart fell into the bottomless pit, seeing them. How was I going to face them after killing him?
My legs felt so heavy and I didn’t want to move.
"Serene," Ayrden said with concern.
"How will I face them?" I asked hoarsely, tears flowing down my cheeks, burning with sha.
"They know what happened, you shouldn’t be blaming yourself," she replied and guided forward. Everyone was paying their respects to his parents and I had to do the sa.
Mustering up enough courage I finally made my way toward them. His mother was crying uncontrollably while his father held her with a pained expression.
"Mr. and Mrs. Armandine, I am extrely sorry for your loss and how I wasn’t able to protect your son."
I spoke softly with regret filling , my eyes were downcast. She clasped my hands and sobbed:
"Princess Serene, it’s not your burden to bear. I know how you brought him back once from his darkness and cared about him. He told everything. Your arrow was not aid at him."
She took in her embrace and I hugged her back, my whole body shook as I couldn’t control my tears and sobs. She patted my back while spasming uncontrollably.
We stood there for quite so ti, his father didn’t say much but I didn’t feel any hostility from him. Dria on the other hand had her animosity-filled eyes focused on . I knew she was holding back because of the funeral.
With his parent’s permission, I approached his coffin. It was open and although his skin was no more ivory, it was turning pale blue. His hair was the sa and he appeared to be sleeping like an angel, wrapped in a red cloth and the necklace I had given him had been placed on his chest.
It was only ant to be for him and he would be buried with it. Taking out one red rose from the bouquet I placed it along the necklace. My heart scread in pain and my chest felt so heavy, my head felt dizzy and I had to steady myself as the emotions overwheld .
His hands had been placed one over the other and rested on his stomach. I placed my hand on his and whispered: "I am sorry," my tears fell on his coffin as I just stood there not wanting to move, oblivious of everyone around . The world had ceased to exist.
A pair of hands finally guided away, it was Shumal Sensei. I didn’t want to move away from him. This hurt beyond anything and I found it difficult to even breathe. She held close and made sit on a chair and I simply leaned on her shoulder. Burying my face and tears.
"It’s ok my dear, I understand," she stroked my face.
The service continued and so did my tears. Many people spoke about his bravery and how he had helped end the evil regi of liana. Artins Sensei, his parents, Dria and Ayrden. But no one spoke about how much he had suffered, and what she did to him.
He was then lowered in his grave to finally find peace this world refused to provide him. He was bullied, he was tortured, he was refused love, he was shunned, he was made to commit heinous cris and he was raped.
Yet he didn’t lose himself, his true self. He helped others, he loved unconditionally, and in the end, he died a hero. I stared at my hands and all I could see was blood, his blood.
His words rang in my ears, the way he apologized for hurting when he wasn’t even in control. I knew that must have killed him inside and out and now he was gone and I couldn’t even talk to him. He lay under tons of soil and dust. People sobbed and grieved all around , their red dresses reminding of his hair and eyes.
They covered his grave, and Frila and Zian decorated it with hundreds of tiny flowers. Everyone placed the flowers they had brought and I just sat there looking at the flowers in my hands. People began to leave one by one. Ayrden guided toward his grave and I moved like a zombie.
It was covered in tiny red flowers and red roses.
I placed the bouquet I had brought and sat down on the ground. Then I heard soone mutter:
"You have any idea how much he loved you? Yet you were so selfish and now you cry as if he mattered."
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