15 Tribute for the fallen

There were four grand palaces in total in the Mera mainlands. Each was situated close to one of the four Gates to the kingdom.

At the west palace, where the Royal walls opened up to meet the grounds outside its Royal walls, laid acres of rich green grass on all sides of a long pool capable of holding thousands. The wide-opened lands surrounding it were crowded with millions who had gathered for the ceremony.

The podium was on a magnificent rafted stage that floated on the pool at the end further inside the royal walls. It was made and also adorned with palms and flowers by the artem order.

Rue concluded that was the reason she hadn't gotten her coronet back as yet, they were too busy.

Directly behind on the bank sat the Royals under shady tents and high rowed benches with steps. Servants with large fans kept them cool and were carefully positioned as to not block the view.

Rue sat within that crowd with her guards. One sat on her left and the other two on her right--just in case a certain Mera decided to sit near her.

Around her sat Royals from all parts of the Kingdom with their fancy crowns and head arrangements. Rue's head was bare and she felt out of place, much like a peasant girl that was not born into Royalty. She sat directly behind the rafted podium where her father stood to give his speech. A sound amplifier made sure his voice reached the very last Mera.

At the left side of the pool along the long vertical bank, began the dedicated area for the close relatives of Meras that died during the Werewolf attack. They were a mix of Fronteras and Zenbera-xefis along with other civilians from other orders.

Facing them from the other bank across the pool were the thirty coffins. They would be lifted and marched down to the burial grounds outside the mainland after the ceremony. Rue like most younger members of the Royals would not go but only came for the ceremony.

The rest of the banks on both sides that stretched along to the far ends of the pool towards the opened gates connecting to the Kingdom--gathered thousands of civilians.

Rue didn't bother squinting her eyes trying to find Callum in that crowd. The thought that he could see her up on the high seats behind the rafted podium got a smile on her face she wanted to suppress. She was supposed to be gloomy like all the others there. The image of Lucius's face got her to frown.

Cronan began by reminding them all about the last Werewolf attack that took the life of his love away. He did not have to pretend to know what pain they were feeling.

Upon glimpsing over the relatives of the fallen, a familiar and dreadful resemblance caught her attention. Even from far away with the dim skies and other Meras cramped around him she knew that face.

But it didn't have that happy and mischievous expression from one who silently snuck up on her in the mini-forest where she did her crafts at attempts to frighten her. Neither was it the persistent bright spirit that always tried to get her to laugh. It wasn't the one that insisted on following her to a distance close to the Royal walls where he was sure she would get home safely.

It was a red face with puffy eyelids that showed from his black neck-length hair combed back. It was a sad and depressed Ezra from the Fronteras.

Much of his family were either Farmers or Fronteras. His mother was one of the Farmers that planted in the low fields near the mini-forest outside the townhouses. His father was one of the Fronteras that was not on shift and so was not out patrolling the borders during the attack.

Rue realized that his mother was one of the Farmers that got ambushed in the fields, just as she almost did. His father could have been that warrior that got maimed while trying to get her to the bunker for safety. They wore masks so she could not have seen the resemblance in his face. He was now an orphan.

Her mind went off to surmise how many more of his relatives could have gotten killed in the attack. He was so distant and cut off both emotionally and physically. It was clear he was in pain.

His face concentrated to stare across the pool and at the coffins on the other side. Rue's eyes could not move from his face that did not look away once to even notice her. Her heart pained and a deep hole began to form where her heart should be. At that moment she did not need to imagine Lucius' face to pretend to be sad, as it was now real.

If only she could go to him she thought. Being the Chief's daughter she could not move from her position.

Her father's voice began to cut through to her ears.

"Though over one hundred years it may be since we, the Meras, won the great battle against the Werewolves that caused them to fled for another Domain. We stand here together to commemorate the lives of those who died and to celebrate another victory against them once more. May this serve to remind us all, that no matter how many may come or how strong their weapons forged against us may be, we will forever triumph!"

The dead sea of Meras erupted into loud cheers and honks of horns as far as the eyes could see. It was a powerful roar that got even the ground to shake and the sky seemed like it would fall on top of it all. Soon they began to throw red fruits and flowers into the pool until every inch of its blue surface took the color of blood.

At the sound of a loud and consistent honk, the crowd got silent once more to face the podium. To Rue's surprise, several Meras dressed in colorful neck chains from the artem marched towards the back of the podium with a scarf made of thick black fur, and a coronet skillfully decked with large sharp teeth, fur, rib bones, claws, and an entire front skull fastened to the front. Her recognizable gems were still there but seamlessly merged with the new parts.

Her father took the opportunity to present another telekine within the Mera Domain to be Rue of Cronan-Azura.

Rue's body got stiff at the sound of her name and a ringing started in her ears. Everyone turned to her. For once she was thankful for the guards that escorted her down the steps towards the rafted podium. They helped block her trembling hands that held up her dress as she walked.

Her father beaming with joy placed the scarf around her shoulders while two other Meras fastened the coronet onto her head. She sighed in relief when they didn't pin it down.

With her at his side, he reminded the entire Kingdom to let this serve as a reminder that the future of the Meras was forever bright. Though they had gotten slack, from that day they would strengthen their watch for trespassers past their borders both land on in the air. They would set traps and enhance their training. Forever will they be feared across the Domains of the earth, after all, they were the land of the silent red devils.

At the fire of explosions into the air, soldiers began to march off with the coffins in their journey to the outside of the Kingdom. The swarm of Meras followed them. It was a good one-hour journey to the burial grounds.

The ones who stayed back began to set up for the celebration after their return. There were tents where food would be served and Meras were encouraged to share the history of not only the fallen but the one behind the Kingdom itself. The ceremony would last until night.

Rue went back to her room and her maids got her ready for the night. Her mind had passed on from Ezra to marvel at the coronet and scarf that got a designated area next to her mirror.

"Good night Werewolf slayer," her maids farewelled her for the night.

Those words got her to smile before the lights went out in the darkness.