The Funeral

While in Arcvon...

The shovels scraped against the dark earth, each clump of soil a final period on the sentence of Eyrie's parents' lives. The ground was soggy from the earlier rain, sticking to the shovels of those helping to finish the burial. Every bit of earth that hit the wooden boxes below sounded loud, like a sad drum, reminding everyone there that time keeps going, even when it hurts.

People stood around the gravesite, bunches of quiet figures. Some cried where everyone could see, muffling their sounds into their sleeves, while others kept straight faces, their sadness hard to see except for the way their mouths turned down. The leaves in the trees whispered, like they were also feeling the sadness. Way off, a crow made a loud noise, but it shut up fast, like it knew it shouldn't cut in on the quiet sorrow that hung in the air.

The sky was a flat gray, low and pressing down. The sun didn't even try to peek through, it was the type of day where even light seemed to be respectful of sadness.

Eyrie held onto her cloak with tight hands, her knuckles white. Her eyes were swollen and red. She wouldn't look down at the ground. She looked straight up, like she thought the sky might give back what it had taken from her. She was breathing fast, a tight feeling in her chest like she was carrying something too big to hold. She felt empty like her body was just a shell with too much grief inside.

Her parents were gone. The words went around and around in her head, over and over. She wanted to say it wasn't true, to think she was just having a bad dream and would wake up to her mom laughing or her dad calling her in for breakfast. But the ground under her feet was real.

Next to her, Reyus put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. Reyus, who was always sure, looked serious. Funerals were hard for her. They made her think of how easily people could be gone, but they also made her want to protect the people she cared about. She held on tight, not just to comfort, but to promise that she would stand guard.

Tundra stood a little away from the group, her arms crossed, and her face unreadable. She wasn't crying. She didn't show her sadness. She kept her feelings inside, hidden under layers of thinking. She hated that she couldn't do anything to change this, that death was something she couldn't fix. She couldn't get the words out. She just stood there, frustrated that she couldn't help.

Mirai cried quietly, her body shaking. She held onto Eyrie's hand, trying to get strength. She used to be a murderer in her previous world before, but being here made her feel less bad about her own regrets.

Admin Lazurai was different. He stood up straight, looking far away, like he wasn't really there. His mind was somewhere else, watching, figuring things out. Death was not new to him, but he felt the weight of it through Eyrie's pain and through the strange feeling that he was now connected to these people. He didn't know Eyrie's parents well, but he had seen how much they loved each other and how much it hurt that they were gone. That was enough to cause him feel uneasy inside.

King Arcvon stood at the edge of the crowd. His face, usually proud looked guilty. He hadn't always agreed with Eyrie's parents, and even though they had made peace, it was too late. He felt bad. His crown felt heavy today, and he didn't know if he should even be there. Every step felt wrong, every word of comfort sounded fake.

The religious leader said a prayer, his voice shaky. He was sad too. He had trouble trying to keep his tone strong. When he was done, the quiet came back, heavy and big.

Eyrie felt her legs getting weak. She wanted to scream, to fall down and dig her parents back out of the earth. But she just stood there, feeling like the world was pushing down on her. Her tears hurt her eyes, but she kept looking up, like looking at the grave would be giving up.

Then, something impossible happened.

The ground shook a bit. At first, it looked like her eyes were playing tricks on her. Then the dirt rippled, and two little lights came out. They were golden, like fireflies, floating up.

People gasped. Some held their kids close. Some leaned on their walking sticks. Some stepped back, scared. Some moved closer, hoping for something good.

The lights got brighter, until they were like two little suns over the graves. Their light made the mourners’ faces glow gold. The air felt alive, making people's hair stand up and their hearts beat faster.

Wh—what is that? Tundra whispered. She sounded shocked. She couldn't figure it out. He seemed scared.

The lights went around each other, in a pattern. They went faster and faster, until they looked like one big shiny circle. Little sparks flew around, landing on the grass like bits of sunlight.

It's… a doorway, Reyus said. She sounded amazed. Her eyes looked big as she realized what it could mean.

Eyrie stood still. The glow covered her face, making her sadness less heavy for a moment. Something moved inside her, a feeling of warmth, of knowing, of love. The hurt went away a little, replaced by the feeling that her parents were close, even if she couldn't see them.

The light got the brightest it could get. With a loud crack, the golden ball collapsed, pulling space in with it. A swirling tunnel of colors appeared, full of colors no one had ever seen. The air smelled like electricity. The ground vibrated.

The doorway pulsed, calling to them.

A voice came, not as a sound, but as a thought. It went through their minds, soft like breathing, but real.

Our dearest Eyrie…

Eyrie gasped. The voice sounded like her mother, warm and sweet, mixed with her father's deep, steady voice. It was her parents' love, their memories, alive.

This is our last gift. Do not be sad. Do not stay here in the shadows. Go down the roads we could not. A road of freedom, and seeing new places, and living without sadness.

The words felt like a hug, making her cry again. She trembled, holding Mirai's hand tighter.

Take your friends, your family, and step into this light. On the other side is what your heart wants. Do not be sad for us, be happy for the time we had. Our love will be with you, everywhere you go.

The voice faded away, but the warmth stayed, like hands on her shoulders.

Eyrie fell to her knees, crying not because she was sad, but because she loved them so much. Reyus knelt next to her, saying kind words, though her own eyes were wet. Mirai held on tighter, and Tundra looked away.

Even Admin felt something inside. It wasn't grief or comfort, but a feeling of understanding.

Admin stepped forward, his boots sinking into the dirt. He looked at the others. Eyrie, he said, your parents gave you a gift. Not just to you, but to all of us. This is a chance to start over. To go where we want. To leave this world and see another.

The others looked at him, surprised.

You mean…? Reyus asked.

I mean Earth, Admin said. My world. A place away from the wars here, away from gods and kings. A place with its own problems, but its own amazing views.

Mirai gasped. Leave… this world? She didn't know if she was scared or comforted by staying where she knew, even if it hurt.

Tundra frowned. We don't know if it's safe. We don't know what's on the other side. She sounded worried.

We never do, Admin said back. Every time we've taken has been into the unknown. But this—this is more than that. It's a choice. A door opened by love. I don't think it's a trick. I think it's hope.

The air felt heavy and waiting. Everyone had to decide.

Reyus wielded her axe. We've fought enough fights for people who don't care. Maybe it's time we fight for ourselves. She sounded tough, but hopeful.

Mirai said softly, If it means we stay together… I'll go.

Tundra sighed. I can't believe I'm saying this, but… maybe thinking isn't everything. Maybe… maybe we jump.

Everyone looked at Eyrie. She stood up, her tears drying. The doorway's glow made her eyes shine.

My parents wanted this, she said. They gave us this road. If I don't go… I betray their gift. I won't do that. I'll go.

They had made their decision. They looked at the swirling doorway.

The doorway pulsed brighter as they got closer, knowing they had chosen. Its light covered the ground, making the shadows long. The air hummed.

Admin first stepped, his body vanishing into the glow. Reyus went next, her blade at her side, looking sure. Mirai held Eyrie's hand, together. Tundra followed last, talking to herself, both scared and ready.

The doorway took them. The world of grief, memory disappeared. They looked forward to something new.

But one thing they knew as they stepped forward: they were not sad. They were hopeful.