The sky stretched gray and heavy over the cemetery, its thick clouds casting a dim, soft light over the bare-branched trees. Their twisted limbs reached out in somber silence, as if mourning the fallen warrior. A cool wind slipped through the air, carrying the scent of damp earth and freshly laid flowers, a quiet vigil for those resting beneath the ground.
Elias walked beside Naomi, Dan, and Ava, the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet the only sound as they neared the gathering. Each of them was lost in silence. Elias's mind lingered on memories of Victor—the battles they fought, laughter they shared, and, finally, the sacrifice that cost him everything. The funeral was small, attended by only Victor's closest friends and family. Few knew the details of his death, only that he had been a hero. As condolences were whispered and stories exchanged, Elias barely registered the low hum of voices, lost in the weight of what was left unsaid.
Toward the front, Elias saw Emilia Crane standing with her children, her dark clothes stark against the gray world. In one hand, she clutched a white lily, her other hand holding tightly to her children's. She stared at the ground, her shoulders held tense, braced against the weight of grief.
As the ceremony began, Elias and his friends took their places among the mourners. The words spoken blurred in Elias's mind, blending with memories of Victor's voice and the steady, reassuring presence he'd brought. When the ceremony ended, people slowly came forward, leaving flowers and small tokens by the grave. Elias waited, holding back until only a few mourners lingered in the distance.
Finally, he approached the grave, the silence pressing thick around him. He drew in a shaky breath, unsure what he would say, if he could find the words at all. But before he could speak, he felt a presence beside him. Turning, he saw Emilia standing there, her expression both sad and resolute.
"He told me that he had no regrets teaching you, you know. He'd say it when you weren't looking," she said, her voice steady but quiet. Her gaze stayed fixed on the grave, though a faint, sad smile played on her lips. "Always said you were worth the effort. That he felt there was something in you that could change things."
Elias swallowed, her words sinking over him like a weight. "I...I'm sorry. Because I was so stupid, he had to sacrifice himself. I would've given anything to keep him alive."
Emilia turned to him, her sorrowful eyes warm and understanding. "You don't need to be sorry. Not for something like this. Victor—he chose this path long before he met you. He was willing to give his life for something bigger than himself. When he met you, he found the reason to do it."
Elias looked down, guilt gnawing at him. "I still feel like I failed him. I was supposed to be the one protecting him, not the other way around."
Emilia shook her head gently. "Then you have much to learn. Victor didn't see it that way. To him, you were hope—a chance to break the cycle of monotony in his life. Whatever he saw in you, although he barely knew you, he thought it was worth cultivating, worth dying for. His life wasn't taken, Elias. He gave it willingly, for someone he believed in. And after seeing what you did in that final fight against those...creatures, I'm inclined to agree."
They stood together in silence, the weight of loss hanging between them. Elias looked down at the fresh earth, dark against the green grass, and felt a surge of determination rising through his grief.
"He gave his life for me," he murmured, almost to himself. "I can't let that go to waste. I'll honor what he did...by doing everything I can to live up to his belief in me."
Emilia nodded, a glimmer of pride breaking through her sorrow. "He'd be glad to hear that. He always believed you were destined for something greater. Don't let his sacrifice become a burden, Elias. Let it be the force that drives you forward."
They shared a deep silence, filled with understanding. After a moment, Emilia laid the lily on the grave, her hand lingering as if bidding one last farewell. Then, with a gentle sigh, she looked up.
"Thank you, Elias," she murmured, her gaze meeting his. "Thank you for being the person he believed in."
Elias managed a faint, grateful smile. "And thank you...for everything. For trusting him to make that choice. I'll carry his memory with me. Always."
With a final, respectful nod, Emilia turned and walked back toward the others. Elias remained by the grave a moment longer, his heart heavy yet steady. Victor's presence felt close, like a quiet reassurance at the edge of his awareness.
When he finally turned to rejoin his friends, a newfound resolve had settled within him. He would live for Victor, for all those who had sacrificed, and for the hope of something better.