The next day came around and everyone was awake, boarded on a bus. Ready to make their way to the airport.
Claire sat near the front of the bus, with an empty seat accompanying her. But as soon as she looked out the window, such fact was disregarded.
She let her gaze land out to the ground in front of the hotel before she rose her eyes to look at the building itself.
'Where are we going tomorrow?' her thoughts recited the conversation she had with Gabriel last night. 'To Veursau,' she remembered his response. 'To... to Veursau?'. Her heart fluttered back then, and just now as she thought over his words. But it all ended with her heart sinking down to her feet.
Veursau... it reminded her of her brother and of Trina.
'Agluf?' she remembered the way he repeated the name right after she asked. 'Yes, Agluf. Do you know where it is?'.
Suddenly, someone sitting on the vacant seat beside her forced her out of her trance. Turning her attention around to acknowledge who it was, she saw it was Gabriel.
She looked at the way he immediately dug the back of his head into the headrest of his seat.
"Good morning," Claire greeted him, her voice being as gentle and tender as it always was.
Answering her greeting, at first, a small smile appeared on his lips. Then turning his head ever so slightly, he tried to look at her. "Mornin'...". Without her asking, he added. "I feel like shit... on top of that, I also feel like my head is about to explode.".
A moment of silence passed as Claire moved that bit closer to Gabriel. He noticed this.
"I do hate to break it to you, but alcohol can do that to you..." she whispered to him so that no one but Gabriel can hear her sarcastic tone towards him.
And in reply, Gabriel couldn't help but chuckle at her words. "I'm gonna try and sleep for a bit more...". He paused before looking her in the eyes. "You don't mind that, do you?".
And now, Claire was the one who chuckle at his words. "I don't mind. Please, sleep. You will need it, Captain.".
He looked at her once more as his face straightened in quite a funny, satiric manner.
Catching a glimpse of his gaze, Claire turned away from him as a smile grew on her lips. She knew why he gave her that look. "The people, Captain. The people," she added seconds later.
With that, neither added anything for what remained of the journey towards the airport.
Claire's eyes looked at the ground as all the vehicles, buildings, peopled zoomed past the bus on the other side of the glass pane. And that's when her thoughts retrieved the final words from the conversation with Gabriel last night.
'No... that place doesn't sound familiar to me.'. Then, he added. 'But keep it with me, I will ensure to find it for you.'.
Remembering his words, it caused another, small smile to appear on her lips. A smile of hope.
---
A few days have passed with Gabriel and his force being in Verusau. They all settled in a hotel that was planned for their stay for a few more days.
Claire was given a room, and as if by some freak coincidence, her roommate was Gabriel.
Today, Gabriel was getting ready to go to the soldier memorial in Veursau.
Claire was on her bed, reading a book she picked up when she took a stroll through Veursau. It was on sale, and a book she wanted for a long time.
Hearing the ruffling of clothes, Claire's attention went to Gabriel, who was putting on a uniform. What she immediately noticed is that the uniform he was putting on was totally different to the usual one he'd have on.
"Where are you going, Gabriel? Did something happen? Is there a battle nearby?".
He shook his head. "No. There is a soldier memorial nearby, so I wanted to go and visit to pay my respects to those who have passed during wars. Be it from this war, or any wars in the past.". With that, a brief pause followed. "Would you like to come with me?" he offered.
She lowered her book to her lap, her gaze not leaving his. "M-may I?". A pause followed. And just like her book, her gaze too dropped down to her lap.
Gabriel allowed a small smile to grow on his face. And just as he was about to utter something, Claire spoke up.
"I-I want to show my respect to the ones that I have lost too...".
And just like that, with those words of hers, the smile on Gabriel's lips slowly began to recede.
---
They both headed out into the streets of Veursau and very soon, they both reached the gates of the soldier's memorial.
The rays of the setting sun basked a golden haze across the landscape, colouring anything the golden beauty managed to face. The sky contained clouds, but not to the side where the setting sun was. At least not yet.
By the looks of it, sooner or later, the clouds were due to rule the evening sky.
They both walked for a bit more, Claire behind Gabriel. And in that time, she couldn't help but steer her eyes towards his broad, manly frame that swayed from side to side as he walked.
They both stopped before they turned towards the sun.
The hat that Gabriel wore on his head, he took it off before he held it with both of his hands down, behind him.
From there, standing upright, he stepped closer and closer to the edge of where the levelled terrain turned into a flight of steps. Claire followed his lead moments later.
Stopping by the very edge, he looked out towards the pathway that was carried by the steps, before it continued to lead to the memorials of all the soldiers who derived from Veursau and who have died for their country.
Claire looked at the vast sight before her. All the crosses that rose above the ground in a beautiful pattern, marking the spaces of the soldiers' eternal rest.
She quickly glanced at Gabriel and saw the way he had his eyes down at the ground right before he rose his right hand and placed it right above his heart. With that, he looked back up at the memorial.
She followed what he did and looked back over all the crosses.
She took in a deep breath. "Trina... Danielle... and..." Claire stopped as a lump grew in her throat.
"... Frank..." she finally breathed out.
A few days ago, she received the news that Frank didn't make it out of the war, alive.
He was shot multiple times out on the battlefield, resulting in him suffering some fatal injuries. With that, he was immediately rushed into the 'Urgent Treatment'.
They tried everything in their power to save him, but... to no success.
"And anyone else who has passed. May all of you beautiful angels that heaven was looking for, rest in peace.". With that, she closed her eyes, letting one tear fall down her face.
"Those who have passed under these cruel ways of the war, be it in this one, or in the ones from the past. May you all rest in peace. Rest where the sun never fails to bask its light among the land of pure beauty. The land where you all deserved to be and to stay...". His voice trembled ever so slightly.
With that, from his chest, Gabriel rose his hand up to his head and gave his salutations as his eyes filled with tears.
'Brother... Father...' he thought to himself.
Glancing up at his face, Claire noticed this, the tears that were present in his eyes.
Both of them stayed in their place for a few more seconds. Allowing the gentle breeze that swiped through, to cool them both, causing the few strands of both Claire's and Gabriel's hair to dance in the wind.
Gabriel slowly descended his hand from his head and back to holding his hat. Claire did the same, she lowered her hand down by the side of her body.
They both took a few more seconds to look at the memorial before Gabriel turned towards her. A small smile of melancholy mixed with joy grew on his lips.
"You don't know how much this meant to me..." he began, catching Claire's attention. "And it made it that bit more special that I got to share this moment with you, Claire.".
His words left an effect on her. They caused her to feel a swirling sensation in her chest, a feeling of excitement mixed in with the sadness. And so she replied with a nod. "I am very glad to hear so... this meant a lot to me too.".
To her words, his smile grew that bit more.
"Shall we get going then?".