Rosa didn't think it was possible but after thirty minutes of walking the vast ocean of graves began to grow shallow, soon to the point where the land became empty fields. During their walk, Sam had explained that Mors Ostium was a pocket space, created from ancient magic, that expanded and adapted when needed. The cemetery was sectioned into the many divisions across the United Kingdom and as the Liverpool division had only been newly revied they had to travel to the outskirts of the Mors Ostium.
As they arrived their group was greeted by another which dwarfed them. All together there must've been hundreds of hunters and officers standing around.
"Are these funerals always this crowded?" Rosa asked taken back by the sheer volume of people.
"No. But your dad wasn't just anyone" Sam said, "James Elacti was an integral piece of the organisation. People from all of the world have come to see him off today".
Compared to the rest of the cemetery, the Liverpool division's plot was practically empty looking like a grassy field ready for cattle. There were only eight graves resting in a line at the plot's origin, and like every other head stone here, they were a smooth polished stone with only a name and date carved into its surface.
A little further in the distance, Rosa could see the hearse parked up outside a grand church-like structure, built from grey stone. Although not as gargantuan as the HQ back in Liverpool, the church would be able to house everyone here. They'd passed many identical structures during their journey here, Sam had called it an 'adytum'. There was one assigned to every division, a building containing a vast room where the funerals of the hunters take place.
As the two groups began to intermingle Rosa noticed that no one was even attempting to make their way towards the adytum instead remaining stationary outside.
"What is everyone waiting for?" Rosa asked as they wandered through the masses.
"You" Sam said, "it's law that the funeral can't begin without the deceased's family. Until you or Emma step through the entrance no one else can, no matter their rank or power".
They continued their way through the crowds, their path being formed as everyone treated them like royalty, vanishing from their path as they approached. While the crowds attempted to offer condolences to the rest of the group, when it came to her, Rosa noticed everyone's gaze instead just silently focus on her as she passed, staring intensely although she couldn't identify what was behind their eyes. Sorrow? Pity? Fascination? Just what was so interesting about her? She began to feel like a caged animal and her irritation soon started to bubble. Forcing her head down, she quickened her pace and ignored her surroundings.
The adytum's double door entrance was already opened wide by the time they arrived. Inside she could see, it was exactly like Sam had said a singular vast room, filled with rows of pews and at the back a raised floor holding a podium, three howling wolves carved from a black stone.
'So this is it' Rosa thought. She turned around to Louie, hoping he could give her some indication on what to do however, he was nowhere to be seen. In fact everyone had gone missing, Louie, Emma, Zack, the Commander, she hadn't realised that her and Sam had been left alone.
Anxiety began to brew in her core as she remained frozen outside the entrance with hundreds of officers and hunters waiting behind. Did she enter? Where there laws and traditions she needed to follow? Did she need to wait for permission? What the hell was she meant to do?
Her breathing and heart grew erratic. The last thing she wanted to do now was faulter and break laws and traditions, irritating a vast group of people trained to fight off the supernatural. Suddenly a soft hand grabbed her shoulder. Rosa turned to see Bianca beside her, a warm smile beaming across her face.
"It's okay Rosa" Audrey said, emerging next to Sam, "Go in whenever you feel ready".
Sam shot her a smile and Rosa nodded. Taking in a deep breath Rosa stepped across the barrier into the Adytum.