Ch 6 - Dance It Off

As soon as Mia dressed up Randerz, she took him to the entrance of the castle, Mia didn't have a zanet but she was able to make him and herself float, and they both flew up in the canal. Randerz asked," Where is the funeral held ", "It's held in...the ninth floor" said Mai with sadness in her eyes as it was half closed, looking down, clenching her teeth. She looked up and took a deep breath, as they crossed each floor Randerz realised a lot of people were coming along with them.

People from all the floors joined them, as the mineshafts were not enough the guards helped common people fly, all this time he was caught up with things around him, he didn't even know how to react but now, he wasn't able to hold his tears anymore. His wrists were not enough to wipe the tears off his face, Mai gave a gentle pat on his head, wiped his tears, and hugged him. Randerz took her shoulder to cry, and as tears filled her eyes she looked up thinking she could control it, but in the end, both took each other shoulder's to cry.

As they reached the tenth floor, Mai wiped her tears and woke up Randerz as he fell asleep while crying. " hmm " said Randerz and hugged Mai even tighter. They reached the ninth floor, and Mai combed his messy hair with her hand. When they started to walk to the cemetery, Randerz held Mai's hand, and Mai folded her fingers as if she was never going to leave him alone.

A few moments later they arrived at the cemetery, it was very crowded, but everyone left space for them to walk, " Is it Randerz !?" asked an old man, "Yes" said Punal. " His name is Henzal, and he is your grandpa," said Mai. Even though they are Randerz's family, he is shy because it's the first time he has ever seen them. Everyone was in silence, suddenly everyone was on their knees, and the crowd left space for a cart to come in. Out came an old man, he was not wearing the funeral dress.

Everyone was on their knees except Alfab, Punal, Quapaz, Sadan, Atie, Mai, and a few more people standing at the front. Drums started playing and everyone started dancing, it was not a proper dance, they were just doing random things.

Randerz noticed the faces with grief, the faces with tears, " It is a Ritual Randerz " said Mai while dancing, but Randerz wasn't able to hear what she said because the drums were too loud, so Mai bent down and said "It's a ritual, where people show their emotion and think of memories towards the dead person. Regret, happiness, sadness, anger, every emotion, at the end, everything is gone, we are happily dancing and sending off the soul with nothing to worry about. So that the soul can rest in peace ".

" so soon to leave huh, who will scold me for my jokes in the wrong places," said Atie with nostalgia,

" I wish we could do those swimming together again, you shouldn't have left," said Sudan with tears in his eyes.

"If I find you in the soul realm, I will put your deadass to work, I will find a way to rest your soul" said Puñal.

"I have already cried you know, you never know something valuable until it's gone, there was nothing anyone could do with you in that situation," said Alfab with tears in his eyes.

" We at least put your tombstone beside her's, hope you guys meet in the soul realm" said Quapaz.

"Even though..." said Atie, Sudan, Puñal, Alfab, Quapaz,

" you have always wanted me to call you 'brother', but I have never done that my dear brother, we will bring your soul to rest brother Just wait for it." said the five brothers with tears down their face.

Like everyone Randerz also started dancing and thinking of the good times with his father, even though it was little moments, it's the little moments that matter in life. After a while, it came to a finishing beat, but except for the commoners nobody was tired, at last, the beat stopped, and everyone was taking deep breaths. The old man who came in the cart left quickly.

" Please bring him to my house, " Henzal said, politely.

Mai and Randerz followed him to his house. He invited them inside, as they moved in Mai greeted an old lady sitting inside. But as soon as they stepped in she furiously walked away to a room and closed it.

Henzal went and fetched them snacks to eat,

" I am sorry about her, " said Henzal.

" no problem, it's not her fault that she is like that," said Mai

" Even after 16 years she has not moved on," said Henzal.

" It's not something that can be moved on easily, anyway how are Aoki and Yaoki " said Mai while holding her hands together.

" They are fine, they are just playing outside," Henzal said, " Aoki!!!, Yaoki!!! "

" haaa," said both and came inside.

Henzal said to introduce themselves to Randerz as they were talking to Mai.

" He is your cousin, go show him around and play together," said Henzal.

As the three of them went out,

" who is he, " said a man straw hat on his head and a straw basket on his back.

" he's Randerz," said Yoaki,

" We are going to the lake to meet Mom, after that we are going to show him around"

As the man entered the house, he noticed Mai.

"Hi ", said Mai,

" Hello ", said the man with a smirk on his face, " do you remember me ", said the man.

" ummmm, no ", said Mai while she was on the verge of laughing.

" I saw you when you were crawling, look how much you have grown up!!" said the man.

" hmm hmmm " said Mai while she was slowly cracking up.

" I know right " said Mai and laughed, her laugh and his laugh synchronised,

As they were talking Randerz, Aoki, and Yaoki were on their way to the lake.