"Although the Evil Monarch has wreaked havoc throughout the western continent, Eurbein. He has failed to do the same in ours. Does anyone know the reason for this?"
At the elite class, Professor Hamburgdole was teaching the children about the history of their Eastern Continent, Choryu. He felt like it has been a while since he had a normal class, any longer, and people would already forget that he even exists.
"Anyone? Diao Mei?"
Diao Mei, however, did not respond even though he was called by the professor. She was just staring at the empty seat beside her.
Viel has been absent for two days now, the last time she saw him was from the dinner they had the other day. She wondered what was wrong.
"Pssst. Mei…"
"Yes?", Diao Mei only stopped her thoughts when she noticed that Violet was calling her.
"Student Diao Mei!"
"Y-yes!?"
Hearing her name being shouted by professor Hamburgdole, Diao Mei quickly stood up straight in instinct.
"So, do you know the reason why?"
"I… I… Do I know the reason for what, sir?"
"Student Diao Mei! Are you not paying attention to the class!?"
"T-this…I'm sorry…"
Hamburgdole sighed and shook his head. Even when not here, Viel seemed to still be causing trouble for the class. Hamburgdole noticed that Diao Mei kept looking at Viel's seat, that's why he chose her for the recitation.
"I said, why was our continent relatively safe during the Evil Monarch's years of rampage?"
Finally hearing the professor's question. Diao Mei calmed herself down as she answered.
"This is because of the Juren Serpent."
"Oh, and can you explain to the class what that is?"
"The Juren Serpent is a mountain of walls that surrounds Choryu, it is so huge that it almost reaches the skies. The top of the Juren Serpent is said to be extremely dangerous that even deities are afraid to climb them. The only way to enter and exit Choryu is through the giant gates that were made by our ancestors."
"Good. Very good as always, Student Diao Mei. You may now take your seat"
"Now, there is actually a legend about the Juren Serpent that I know most of you are familiar with. Our ancestors have told us in books and parables that the Juren Serpent was actually once a living god. It is said be the corpse of a colossal reptile god, that is where its name originated from. One day, it will wak-"
Professor Hamburgdole continued his lecture in history, but Diao Mei could not help but blank out again as she stared at Viel's empty seat.
Violet also noticed Viel's absence and could not help but worry. Should they visit Viel later this evening?
----------------------------------------------
"Boy, can you get me another warm cloth?"
"Uhn"
"Boy, can you get more blankets?"
"Uhn"
Viel was currently entering and exiting the room. This time, he entered while holding a blanket. He proceeded to hand it to Grandpa Ling, who then neatly placed it on top of the bed. Viel just quietly sat beside Grandpa Ling while holding his grandmother's hand.
"How is this, are you still cold, dear?"
"H..hm..this..is fine.. Thank you, Hao"
Grandma Ling was currently lying on the bed. Her face, very pale and dry. Her previous vigor can no longer be seen as her skin wrinkled. Her lips shivered as she tried her best to speak.
"Do you need anything else?", Grandpa Ling gently wiped Grandma Ling's forehead.
"Hm…", she just weakly smiled in response. Everything she ever needed, everything she wished for, was already in this room.
"Just tell us if anything hurts, the brat and I are here for you… always"
"Hm…I know"
"Do you want some water?"
"Hm..No-", she coughed.
Before she can finish her words, a painful feeling in her chest erupted as she coughed vehemently. Small amounts of blood traced her mouth.
She tightened her grip on Viel's hand, afraid that she was going to forget the feeling of having Viel's little hand in hers.
"C-chunhua!?", Grandpa Ling quickly wiped the blood from her face.
"S…sorry, Hao… Sorry for showing you…such an ugly sight...", she struggled form her words as she slowly tried to turn her head away.
However, she felt a hand holding her cheeks, preventing her from hiding. Grandpa Ling looked at her with the warmest of eyes as he kissed her in the lips.
"N…not in front of… Viel", a little color returned to her face.
"Chunhua… my beautiful Chunhua… Nothing in this world can even compare as to what I am seeing right now"
"Hm… y..you and your mouth…", she let out a quiet chuckle. She remembered her younger days when she met this man beside her, Ling Hao. He quickly made her fall in love with him using his flowery words.
He courted her everyday and comforted her whenever she was sad. Ling Hao, he was always there.
She knew, that's when she knew that this is the man who she will be spending the rest of her life with. Not even death, not even death can separate them.
"V…viel… a…are you still there?", her grip tightened, wanting to confirm that what she was holding was not a dream.
Viel lifted her hand and placed it on his cheeks, "Yes…Grandma"
"Good… good… you… you…", she stuttered as tears slowly started to appear in her eyes, "be a good boy…okay? P..promise me"
Regret, she only had one, and this was it. To not watch Viel grow up, marry, and have kids of his own. This was her only regret.
"I promise, Grandma"
"I..Grandma loves you…okay? Please… please, tell me you will never forget…"
"Never, Grandma. I love you too"
Hearing Viel's response, she smiled. It was short, but the few years she had with Viel, made her life complete. And perhaps, that was enough.
No, it would have never been enough. But that is what was given to her.
She released a heavy breath as she looked at Ling Hao.
"I…I am ready…", Ling Chunhua smiled.
Hearing these words, Ling Hao closed his eyes. The hand he was holding the warm cloth with, shivered. The tears that he has been trying to stop from bursting finally erupted as he choked on his words.
"O…okay.. o..okay..It's okay…", Ling Hao nodded as he forced himself to smile.
"...."
"Ling Hao", Chunhua closed her eyes.
"Yes?"
"Thank you"
"Thank... you"
Halfway through Ling Hao's words, he paused.
Grandma Ling, Ling Chunhua, released her final breath.
Ling Hao could no longer stop his tears as he held Chunhua's face.
He, once again, placed his lips on Chunhua for the last time.
They stayed like this for a while before Ling Hao stood up. He looked at Viel and nodded.
"Go…"
"Grandpa Ling… Are you sure you don't want to come?"
"Just go… I have… already said my goodbyes", Ling Hao turned his back as he waved his hand. As soon as he did so, a burst of wind surrounded the room.
When Ling Hao looked back, Viel and Ling Chunhua were no longer in the room. Ling Hao looked over the horizon on the open window and whispered.
"Until we meet again…"
---------------------------------------------------
In a faraway place, in a forest filled with beautiful plants. A burst of wind erupted, causing the plants to wave as if they were welcoming their most precious friends.
Viel suddenly appeared, along with him was Ling Chunhua.
Ling Chunhua was currently floating in the air, a beautiful bed of flowers encapsulating her. This was her last request. She wished to be at peace, surrounded by the most beautiful foliage.
As the bed of flowers almost wrapped Ling Chunhua's whole body, Viel slowly floated in the air then clapped his hands together.
[Oh, beautiful soul. You have finally found peace…]
"Oh, beautiful soul. You have finally found peace…"
[May your next journey….]
"May your next journey in the cycle of life be even more beautiful than your last. May your unfulfilled wishes be granted. May you not want anything. May you experience a life that is as beautiful as your soul. May you be surrounded with nothing but the best of the world…."
[This, I gift upon you, oh beautiful soul…]
"This, I gift upon you, oh beautiful soul. Spread your wings and continue your journey…"
[Farewell, traveler]
"Goodbye… grandma"
Viel opened his arms. The bed of flowers floating in front of him suddenly burst apart, Ling Chunhua was no longer there.
The petals slowly floated upwards to the sky, it was as if even the harshest of winds can't stop them from ascending towards the heavens.
Viel slowly landed on the ground as he looked towards the sky with a smile on his face. He sat down on the ground and closed his eyes.
"Thank you, Mr. Voice…"
Viel concentrated and tried to send his thanks towards his invisible friends. He remained seated alone in the forest to see if he can meet them, he wanted to thank them personally after all.
But after trying for a couple of hours, he finally stood up and gave up.
"Let's go home", Viel patted his pants to get rid of the dirt. Then, lightning streaks surrounded his body before he completely vanished out of sight.
---------------------------------------------------------------
"Grandpa Ling, I'm home!"
And now for the first time ever, Viel only greeted Grandpa Ling, and Grandpa Ling alone as he opened the door to their house.
When he saw his Grandpa Ling sitting alone in the living room, there, it finally dawned on him.
His Grandma Ling was no longer there to welcome him home. A weird feeling started to well up from inside him, his calm façade started to break as he kneeled down, tears slowly starting to fall from his eyes.
Grandma Ling, who told her stories when could not sleep.
Grandma Ling, who always forgave her with a smile.
Grandma Ling, who hugged him every night he had nightmares.
Grandma Ling was no longer there to do all of that. Viel's whole body shivered as he tried to wipe the storm of tears that painted his face. Viel's cries resounded through the house as he bawled as loud as he possibly can.
"G…grandma Ling..", Viel choked in his words as he tried to call for Grandma Ling, but he knew, he knew that no one will answer anymore.
He slowly got up and staggeringly walked towards Grandpa Ling, who was sitting alone quietly in the living room.
"G…grandpa… G..grandma is… is gone…"
He hugged Grandpa Ling as he buried his face on his back. He let out all the sadness that he was feeling.
Grandpa Ling did not say anything the whole time, and just seemed to let Viel release all of his emotions. They remained like this for a couple of minutes before Viel started to calm down.
He clumsily wiped his tears with his sleeves as he tried to put on a smile.
"S-so, G…grandpa, what will… we have for dinner…", Viel stuttered, trying his best not to choke on his words.
Grandpa Ling did not respond as he just quietly remained sitting.
"Grandpa?", Viel tugged on Grandpa Ling's shirt.
*THUD*
A sound of something hitting the floor reverberated throughout the house.
There, Viel finally noticed. His sleeves weren't just wet because of his tears. The color… the color was different.
It was dyed red.
Viel's hands started to shake as he stared at them. His breathing became rugged as it felt like his chest was caving in from beating so hard.
Viel then slowly turned his eye towards the direction of the sound he heard.
There, he saw a thing that should not be there.
Viel's vision started to blur, his mouth started to shiver, as if it did not know whether it was supposed to smile or to frown.
Slowly, he slowly turned his eyes back to the seated Grandpa Ling.
"G…grandpa…Ling? Heh…w…what…"
Viel tried to blink his eyes a couple of times, but no matter how many times he tries to blink. What was supposed to be there, was not.
Viel once again placed his attention to the thing that fell on the ground. He kneeled, and clumsily crawled his way towards it. Once he was close enough to reach it, his hand shivered as it hesitatingly turned the thing towards him.
"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Grandpa Ling. It was Grandpa Ling's head.
"N..no.. NO… No… NO…NO NO NO NO NO….no..he…no…no…NO…heh….he…NO…"
Viel covered his ears, as if not wanting to hear himself talking. The tears on his face had no plan on stopping.
He curled his body and he started swaying back and forth while repeatedly muttering the same words over and over again.
"No…no…heh….no…NO…heh….No…No..no..heh…heh..No…He..he.."
"Heh..Hehe"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Maybe, just maybe… if he did not stop to thank his invisible friends, then Grandpa Ling would still be alive.
Maybe, just maybe… if General Diao decided to get his beard treatment today, then Grandpa Ling would still be alive.
Maybe, just maybe… if Elder Xing Cai did not leave for the city to go back to the Golden Pavilion sect, then Grandpa Ling would still be alive.
Maybe, just maybe… if Viel had killed Li Zhao, then Grandpa Ling would still be alive.
Maybe, just maybe… if Viel did not enroll in the academy, then Grandpa Ling would still be alive.
Maybe, just maybe… if Viel did not trust easily, then Grandpa Ling would still be alive.
But Fate…
Fate is cruel.