The peaceful end to my 1000 years

Thinking back now on my 1000 years I say with confidence that I have no big regrets. I've mastered both mana magic and the spirit arts and helped Ixira reach in many ways. Not all in the advancement of technology and magic but I've ensured that this nation will be at peace and continue to prosper after I'm gone.

Yuki thought back on her life feeling fulfilled and happy. She'd decided to pass on to the spirit world after having lived such a long life where she'd achieved all her dreams. She felt a wave of sadness knowing she was leaving her family and friends. Yet also happy to be rejoining all those she had lost throughout her life.

Yuki looked out from the top of an altar. The opening in the forest below was aglow with moonlight and mana lamps. The different colors lit up the surrounding tall trees. The tables had food and drinks spread across them. Everyone attending looked to be enjoying the occasion to socialize.

Yuki's family and friends were now celebrating her last night before she would pass on. Yuki was the last one of her generation, elves don't live longer than 400-500 years. This meant she had to say goodbye to a lot of family including a lot of her children and grandchildren. Yuki was also the elder of her family and a true master of the spirit arts. She could continue to live on far longer if she wanted.

"Yuki-sama... Yuki-sama, are you alright?" Yuki felt a light touch on her shoulder. This pulled her from her thoughts and back to a sweet worried voice coming from her disciple, Kasai.

"I'm quite well, Kasai thank you for your concern." An elegant peaceful smile appeared on Yuki's face as she looked at Kasai next to her. Yuki was always treated as royalty. Even when only surrounded by her family she needed to keep a level of elegance and grace about her. After practicing for 1000 years it came as second nature.

"Yuki-sama do you have to go... I-I'm not sure I'll be able to take your role." Kasai spoke struggling to hide the doubts plaguing her mind.

"I'm certain of my decision. I didn't spend 300 years raising you if you couldn't do it." Yuki placed a hand on Kasai's, looking her straight in the eyes. "I also have nothing left to teach you. You have mastered the spirit arts and could live far longer than me if you chose to do so."

Kasai's expression changed from doubt to certainty. Now confident she can fulfill the role. Kasai looked up to Yuki not only as a teacher but as her grandma too, someone who was always there for her to depend on. There were 11 generations between the two but they were blood relatives. Yuki had also raised Kasai to become the head of the house, her replacement.

"I thank you ever so much for washing away my worries and I'll work to live up to your expectations." Kasai said bowing her head and took her leave.

With Kasai's exit, Yuki continued to meet and speak with her closest family throughout the celebrations saying a last goodbye to each of them. Some of them Yuki had met 100s of times and some of the younger elves only a handful. Their reactions varied, some met her with understanding tears. Yet most of the younger elves met her with unaccepting questions, unable to understand why she would choose to die.

Having finished her goodbyes Yuki stand up on the alter with the moons casting a light blue light across her face. She used mana magic to amplify her voice and began to speak.

"Tonight I will be leaving Ixira to you all and joining my place with the spirits. I hope you all will smile when you remember me. I would like to thank everyone for the time we have spent together. I'm so proud of this great city and I couldn't be happier knowing it will stay this way long after I'm gone." With that Yuki turned to face the alter and began to chant.

"O great guardian spirits of day and night, o mighty spirits of the 4 great elements, I ask that you hear my prayer and grant my wish. I offer my heart, my gratitude, my body, and my soul and ask that you grant my wish to ascend to join the spirits. Grant those I love the power to achieve their dreams, the power to protect these lands, the power to endure future trials and tribulations."

Bright sky blue lights appeared and enveloped Yuki, the light so bright it was like trying to look at the sun. You could hear the auditable gasps of everyone present as the lights disappeared as fast as they appeared, leaving the altar empty, lit only by the blue light cast by the moon in the sky.

There was a few moments of silence as everyone could feel a void left in Yuki's place, a void that was going to take years for Kasai to fill. No one envied Kasai as she was now the person everyone would look to for hope. A position she needed to grow to fill.