Funeral

"Memories are the worst. Even the happiness inside them agonizes you."

--

Resen was a small town, nestled amidst the wilderness. The townsfolk primarily made their living through agriculture and farming. In addition to the challenging rural life, Resen was known for its ancient practice of necromancy.

"[Resen town. Hey, Severus, can you share more about this town? Given your role as the shadow knight of the crown prince, you must have some insights,]" Noworry inquired with curiosity.

Severus hesitated but, drawn by the inquisitive gleam in the bird's eyes, he decided to recount the tale.

"Resen was once a flourishing and powerful town. It used to generate abundant revenue and paid hefty taxes to Rivera. Despite all these, Resen met its downfall," Severus began.

"Their legacy, their necromancy, their art, and their pride were all shattered," he continued.

"Once a powerful town that never bowed, not even in front of the main palace, was now forsaken and loathed."

"No one knew why it happened," Severus concluded, leaving the mystery hanging in the air.

"Just like that, one day, the king passed a royal decree to prohibit the practice of necromancy, bringing about a bloody massacre here, where all the necromancers were killed. Only those who swore a blood oath to never practice necromancy were spared, while the rest were slaughtered, including women and children," Severus explained, his voice heavy with the weight of that history.

[Oh my, what a cruel monarch,] Noworry cursed.

"But why did he raid Resen? Since Resen was practically feeding the entire kingdom, why did they carry out a massacre?" Noworry inquired.

A shadow of gloom passed over Severus' face.

Why?

Do I know the answer?

Yes.

But am I sure?

No.

Severus mocked himself.

"Who knows," Severus replied in a monotonous tone.

Noworry sensed something amiss in Severus's response and wisely kept his beak shut.

As far as I know, 26 years ago, an extremely charming woman used to live here. She was the leader of the Frost Legion, the only group of necromancers in the Rivera kingdom. Although it was a small group, they were extremely powerful, and even the Onyx feared them," Severus explained.

[Who is Onyx?]

"Onyx is the group of priests who work directly under the main palace and are responsible for the luck and well-being of the Rivera kingdom."

[Oh]

"Once, the king was traveling, and he got injured, so he was brought here to Resen town for treatment, as necromancers were skilled medics. While here, he fell for the beauty who was the head of the Frost Legion and asked her to marry him and become his consort. Cynthia, the leader of the Frost Legion, denied his proposal."

"She asked him to make her empress if he wished to marry her. Alas, the king denied it because the current empress was his true love. The king left Resen town, and everything soon returned to normal."

"But the peace didn't last long. After six months, news broke that the current empress died from an unknown disease. The king was devastated by her death, and somehow he heard a rumor that Cynthia had plotted against the empress. When the king confronted Cynthia, he found her six months pregnant. Enraged by this sight, the king declared her a traitor and brought destruction upon Resen."

"However, Cynthia managed to escape from the king and gave birth prematurely. She delivered a boy but died shortly afterward. The king learned of Cynthia's death along with her newborn baby."

[Did the king harm the baby?] Noworry asked with concern.

"Nah. The king adopted the baby and enlisted him in his army. He revealed the child's origins but kept his identity hidden, so while the child faced hatred and scorn from the world, not many knew who he truly was."

The story was undoubtedly tragic, and even Noworry, a beast with no emotions, felt a sense of sadness.

[I see, the king punished the child without even laying a hand on him.]

Severus was silent for a moment before regaining his composure. "We're going to attend the funeral of Knight Severus."

[What?] Noworry exclaimed.

[Why?]

"To pay our respects."

"Aren't you alive? Why do you want to attend your own funeral?" Noworry was bewildered. He had never heard of someone attending their own funeral.

[Hades... What in the world is all of this? Is this the punishment you were talking about?] Noworry mumbled.

"Today is the 9th day since my death. I'm sure the humble crown prince will hold a grand funeral for his best friend, a.k.a. his shadow knight," Severus remarked with a hint of irony.

[How are we going to sneak into the main palace?]

"Who said the funeral is in the main palace?"

[Isn't the funeral supposed to take place in the main palace since you were the knight?]

"According to royal protocol, my funeral is supposed to be held within the main palace. But since I was once his best friend, I might get some special treatment," Severus said with a sly smile.

A handsome man in simple merchant clothes walked towards a beautiful garden. He had long legs, sturdy thighs, and a well-defined chest that wasn't bulky, but closer inspection revealed faint abdominal muscles. Even in his unassuming attire, Severus's charisma shone through.

Noworry soared high in the sky. He had established a telepathic connection with Severus, allowing them to converse without speaking aloud.

[Ah, I see a lovely garden up ahead. Why did you bring me to a garden?] Noworry asked joyfully. As a bird, he naturally appreciated gardens and trees.

"It's not just a garden; it's the Seven Seasons Garden, which blooms year-round. You'll never find this garden barren. It's a breathtaking sight," Severus spoke in a hoarse voice.

[It's truly breathtaking. The exotic and beautiful flowers here are something to behold. If I could, I'd build a home for myself right here. It's even more charming than most of the gardens in our world,] Noworry chirped happily.

Severus, however, wore a pensive expression.