Epilogue - Measured And Set

The funeral fire crackles softly, Alden’s body consumed within. Lighting the walls of the funeral chamber I stand in with a warm glow.

My attendant enters from one of the opposing doors, nodding apologies for disturbing me as I send off Alden.

“Urgent report, Laurencia, for you and Lauren. But… I can come back a bit later if needed.”

The squat young man looks at me through long, curly brown hair. He notices my tears.

Damn.

“Are you crying? I don’t think I have ever seen you cry.”

“Quiet, Silon. Out with your report.”

Even with all my training in this role since becoming the Alter of Lauren charged to uphold the scales and wear the Circuitor armour with honour, funerals still get to me.

Koan and Alden, dying like that after what seemed to have been a horrible creation process, didn’t sit well with me. They deserved more.

“Apologies. Right away. Unfortunately, the team has had zero Alter survivors, despite our attempts to help some.

The Circuitors will do their best, though, to ensure their Vessels are cared for and treated, and, hopefully, one day reintegrated into society.

As for our initial research into the hard drive, we claimed. We have a better understanding of these creatures, the Hubris, and a lead on how to stop any more of them, but unfortunately, it has raised many more concerns for the Circuitors about Darcel and other things in play.

Anyway, that’s enough for now. Sorry again.”

He bows to me apologetically.

I want to tell him about the Circuitor whom Koan said interrogated and threatened him, but I am unsure who to trust.

That one, I guess, is something I will have to deal with later.

“Thank you. I’ll meet with you again later.”

He leaves.

I stand there, unsure what to say to Alden, though I feel I should say something.

So I offer a prayer.

One prayer was taught to me when I was first appointed to this role. It is to honour the passing of a Circuitor. Though I amend it slightly, as only a Circuitor is an individual of three worlds.

I stand tall, my arms turned outwards, elbows at a ninety-degree angle with cupped hands in honour of the scales.

“By the orders of the scales of life, you have lived as an individual of two worlds. Your presence has honoured both, and so you will be remembered by the Circuitory for your contributions. For the scales never forget their charges and have weighed you in favour of the good. Be forever seen in glory.

Measured and set.”

I bring my hands together before me, ending the prayer.

“Thank you for everything, Alden and Koan. You have my utmost respect.”

I then bow out of respect, for we owe them both a lot for helping us and for my life.

If they hadn’t killed the Hubris attacking them, I might have been overwhelmed by the other. Thankfully, it fled when its counterpart died. Where, though, I have no idea.

I wait to leave, watching the last of the flames die out after completely consuming the unlikely hero.

Then I set out, with the memory of them adding weight and purpose to my shoulders.