Chapter 86: A Master's Dying Breath/ Volume 1 End

Hearing Master's words, I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn't bring myself to do so; if I started talking, I had a feeling I'd descend into a sobbing mess, and I didn't want Master's last memories of me to be of her disciple crying, I wanted to show her how far I'd grown; I wanted her to see the strong man she created.

Still, I didn't just stay lying down in my bed with Master; gently picking her up, I sat upright and slowly got out of bed, trying my best to keep Master as comfortable as possible within my arms.

"W-What are you doing, Alexander?" Asked Lavender softly as she looked up at Alexander, who was now holding her with one arm while using her other arm to put on a pair of pants.

"Nothing, I-I just figured it would be best to be with Simba, Marlin, and Lily; after all, they're your family." Replied Alexander with a forced smile as he set Lavender on the bed, which was surprisingly clean despite having made love in it.

"Ah, yes, you're right; I-I would love my final moments to be with my family." Remarked Lavender lightly with a small smile while Alexander carefully clothed her, moving her arms and legs when needed.

"Can you please not speak like that, Master? I-I'm trying my best to stay happy, but you're making it real difficult." Asked Alexander with a slight frown as he turned away and wiped the tears that threatened to escape from his eyes before picking Lavender up.

"Fufu, sorry; I meant to say I'd love to fall into a deep slumber while surrounded by my family." Said Lavender with a smile as she finished it off with a nasty cough.

"Yeah, you're just going to sleep, Master; everything will be fine when you wake up." Remarked Alexander with a small as he leaned down and kissed Lavender's brown, wrinkled lips while clenching his teeth, holding back his genuine emotions.

Exiting the house with Master in my arms, I leaped from the top of the tree, using my wind mana to slow down my descent before my feet finally touched the soft grassy ground. Using [Heroes Gaze], I searched the edge of the clearing for Simba, Marlin, and Lily; thankfully, they were all easy to find well except Marlin, even with my eyes; it took me a few moments before I finally spotted him.

Walking toward them, as I got within about ten feet of them, all of a sudden, Marlin's eyes snapped open while glaring at me, followed by Simba leaping out of his lying position and standing in a fighting stance; unlike those two, Lily was sound asleep.

"It's just you two; what are you two doing up this late?" Asked Simba as he lowered his guard, glancing at Alexander and Lavender while Marlin sheathed his dagger and dropped from the tree he was resting in.

"Sorry to disturb your sleep, but it's about Master; she's getting very sleep, so I brought her to see you guys so we could all sleep together." Stated Alexander with a slight smile, and although he didn't directly mention it, Marlin and Simba understood what he was implying.

"I-Is that so? I thought you didn't like sleeping with us, Lavender; didn't you say Simba and Lily are too wild." Said Marlin with a smirk that he used to hide emotions while clenching his fist, keeping himself calm.

"Eh, I don't remember saying that; you must be lying, Marlin." Replied Lavender weakly as she glanced at Marlin with a small smile, causing him to defensively raise his hands while backing away.

"Maybe I am."

Walking forward, I sat down and leaned against a tree with Lavender sitting on top of me while Simba quietly lay beside us on the ground.

"Hmm; something the matter, Simba? It's rare for you to be this quiet." Asked Lavender as she turned and glanced at Simba, someone she saw as a younger brother.

"No, nothing; everything is fine. I was just enjoying the night sky. It's beautiful, isn't it, Leader?" Replied Simba softly as he rolled onto his back and looked up at the night sky through the canopy of trees, the three moons illuminating the forest.

"Yeah, it is, indeed, beautiful; I'll miss it." Muttered Lavender softly as she followed Simba's eyes and looked to the sky, bathing in its embrace one final time.

Listening to Master, I tightened my hug around her waist, prompting her to rest her hands on my hands while the two of us silently absorbed our warmth, though I could feel hers fading.

"Lavy, what you doing up so late? Don't tell me you and Alexander are into exhibitionism!?" Questioned Lily as she approached Lavender and Alexander, sitting right beside them while Marlin leaned against a tree a few feet away from them.

"Hmph, no; besides, even if we were, we aren't doing anything with you." Replied Lavender with a scowl as she eyed Lily in anger; she may be dying, but her anger at Lily was still ever apparent.

"Aw, don't be like that, Lavy. It's always more fun when more people are involved, don't you agree, Alexander." Said Lily with a pout before smirking and leaning her head on Alexander's shoulder while looking up into his bright purple eyes.

"Eh, I mean, it depends, really; if it's another woman, then yes, but not if it's another man." Stated Alexander with an awkward smile as he looked at Lily while feeling Lavender's eyes boring into the side of his face.

"That's very hypocritical of you, Alexander." Said Lavender as she eyed Alexander blankly, causing him to look away in embarrassment.

"Um, I love you, Master." Replied Alexander with a kiss, causing Lavender to raise her eyebrow and huff before looking away.

"Hmph, kiss me a few more times, and then maybe I'll forgive you." Remarked Lavender as she folded her arms, prompting everyone to chuckle while Alexander continued planting tender kisses upon her dried and wrinkly lips.

"Hmm, what are you doing out here, Alex, Miss Lavender?" Asked Talis as she exited from the canopy of trees and landed on a tree branch a few feet above Alexander.

"Birdie!" Said Lily with a happy smile as she leaped toward Talis, though before she could grab her, Alexander stopped her.

"Nothing, we're just hanging out; you should join us, Talis." Replied Lavender with a smile as she outstretched her skinny, brown arm, prompting Talis to land on it.

Unlike everyone else, Talis was the only one who didn't know about Master's condition; it's not that I didn't wish to tell her or that she was too stupid to understand the concept of death; I just never had a chance to. Every day was spent beside Master's side, and I purposely refrained from mentioning anything about her condition while I was with her; I didn't need to be even more reminded that she was dying.

'Well, it's too late now.' Mused Alexander with a sad expression before swiftly shaking his head, regaining his happy smile, something he's gotten very good at faking.

Slowly, the night passed by while the six of us talked like there was no tomorrow, though, for one of us, that statement was true; hours passed by excruciatingly slowly, yet time also seemed to be moving exceptionally fast. By the time dusk cracked and the first light of sunshine shone upon the forest, Master was lying on the ground while the six of us huddled around her; everyone, including Talis, could see it; she was just moments away from dying.

"L-Looks, l-likes I was l-lucky enough to b-bathe within the s-suns rays, o-once more." Said Lavender softly as she looked up at the sky; though all she could see were her colors, her vision had deteriorated to the point where she couldn't even make out anyone's face.

"Heh, see, I told you everything was going to be fine, Master." Remarked Alexander with a loving smile while holding Lavender's hand and transferring his never-ending love to her.

"Y-You know, h-having been an a-adventurer for o-over 2,000 y-years, I've seen a-and experienced c-countless things; b-but, I've n-never felt so t-terrified as I-I feel right now. I-I don't want to d-die, I-I don't wish t-to l-leave you, Alexander." Stated Lavender softly while looking at Alexander's bright purple eyes, the only thing her vision was still capable of discerning as she started crying, causing tears to form in everyone else's eyes as well.

"I-I didn't w-want my l-last moments, t-to be of me c-crying; b-but it seems I-I couldn't help it." Muttered Lavender while her voice became quieter and her breathing slowed down.

"I-It's fine, M-Master; I-I'm not much better." Replied Alexander while gritting his teeth as he constantly wiped his tears, his grip on Lavender's hand tightening.

"P-Promise me A-Alexander; p-promise me you'll l-live, I-I don't want to s-see you f-for at least 1-1,000 years." Said Lavender as she felt the final bits of her strength fade away while her heart finally stopped beating.

"I-I promise, Master." Said Alexander, rapidly nodding as tears streamed down his face.

"G-Good; I-I'll miss you, Alexander, my Disciple, my Husband." Remarked Lavender with a slight smile while finally closing her eyes, exhaling her last breath as she died.

"Lavy." Muttered Lily as she collapsed on her knees right beside Lavender's body while tears streamed down her beautiful face that was contorted in pain.

"Leader." Said Simba while crying as he looked at Lavender, clenching and releasing his fists.

"Lavender." Said Marlin as he turned around, though even so, one was able to see the occasional tears dropping onto the ground.

"Miss Lavender." Whispered Talis as she stood right beside Lavender while constantly wiping her beak with her wings.

"Master." Said Alexander while tightly holding Lavender's lifeless hand, while an endless stream of tears escaped his eyes.