Grief

Tik .. tik .. tik .. drizzle down to wet the earth. The smell of rain wafted into the lungs. Those who were gathered opened their respective umbrellas. A group of people with umbrellas that are like dozens of mushrooms when viewed from the sky. Black umbrellas where the clothes the holder is wearing are also black. Rain and black as a symbol of mourning. Deep sorrow in a land where they have just lost their leader. It was as if the sky and the heaven were crying over that figure's departure. Sobs were also heard from the closest people and the royal structure.

Wreaths of flowers that are also black lined up around a photo frame of someone who had fallen. The choir singers sang mourning songs accompanied by slow music. Warm tears flowed down the cheeks of the singers. Tears of longing for having lost a very important person. The mourning ceremony was held in an open white garden, with rows of wooden benches that were also white. The wooden gazebo that protected the mourning altar and the choir became the only shelter from the drizzle at that time.

The name 'Joseph Owen' is written under the photo frame and a line of flower bouquets. Candles lit on each side of the altar of mourning. Those sitting in the ranks of the benches were ministers, palace workers, high ranking officials of the Vouna kingdom and extended families. The Demigod clan's normally white clothes were now all black. The silence without conversation throughout the grief ceremony let the Father of Demigod go forever. Among the Demigod ranks present, 8 other Kings of Arc Chaestra who had just made friends with the leader of Vouna also participated in the grief ceremony. They also wore Vouna's signature mourning clothes in the form of long black robes with white gloves. As witnesses to the passing of the Father of Demigod and as co-leaders of the Arc Chaestra, they share their condolences.

“What do we do with these 9 Gate of South keys? Return them to where they came from?” Cyrus the Pixy asked while holding 9 keys decorated with natural stones typical of the 9 Kingdoms that he pulled from the Gate of South altar. Before returning to Nereida, he and his friends who ran out of Magia after sealing the gate talked about the 9 keys.

"what for? The Alicorn's protective magic that's guarding them must have been lost too... the key from Groilandia, want to throw it back into the sky?” replied Adryan expressing his logically grounded answer. He couldn't wait to get back to the Gran dortoir to take a shower, clean his hair and fur again.

"We should keep these keys for ourselves... i’m worried that in the future this gate will threaten Arc Chaestra again..." said Erick the Dragon wisely. His white and blue wings flapped tirelessly, accompanying his seven friends on their way home.

The other 6 kings obeyed. The stones decorated with Garnet, Onyx, Aquamarine, Amethyst, Topaz and Emerald were taken by the leader of their respective kingdoms. The remaining key is decorated with Sapphire which will be taken by its owner after returning to human form and a stone decorated with Diamonds that has lost its holder. Cyrus kept the Moonstone-studded key then looked at the Diamond-studded key with a withered look. His friends bowed their heads in mourning remembering what had happened.

"It's okay Cyrus.. we go back to Vouna and return this key to the Demigods.. okay.." Nathanael patted Cyrus on the shoulder, he was as sad as the Pixy King. Cyrus replied with a flat smile.

The longer the drizzle the heavier. The crowd of mourners began to unveil their long robes one by one.

".. lalarala~ grow up~ a seed from the earth~ bloom a flower that as fragrance as hope~" the Pixy King hummed softly chanting the spring spell with his sweet voice. Slowly from the sides of the garden growing vines whose stems are quite strong. The leaves are broad and dense with small white flowers that bloom. The plants grew and protected those gathered there from the raindrops.

For the first time in 2,000 years the Demigod clan saw the Pixy clan's spring magic. Those who brought umbrellas closed their black umbrellas and focused more on the grief ceremony. One by one the audience there went up to the altar of mourning each carrying a black rose as a goodbye forever. Starting from high-ranking Vouna, close relatives to the ranks of Ann Meyra's workers. Then it was the turn of 8 King Arc Chaestra as the last witness to the sacrifice of the Father of Demigod.

King of Dragons, Erick Silverstream. Dressed in black clothes with a long robe covering half of his tail, he slowly stepped up to the altar. Blue eyes with dilated black pupils, raindrops already wet his pair of horns and neatly combed white hair.

".. we will miss you.. Arc Chaestra will miss you .." he said while putting down the black rose he brought. After conveying his condolences, the Dragon King immediately descended from the altar back to his seat.

Next up is Command of the Beast, Adryan Dawson. He brought his own black pants where there was already a hole for the Feline's tail. He bent his ears to prevent the raindrops from getting in. The thick-soled boots that are brown are the difference between his all-black appearance. He put down his black rose without saying a word. Just stared at the photo of Joseph for a while then stepped down from the altar.

Prince of Pixy, Cyrus Xaviersky went up to the altar along with Priest of Foxes, Ryota Takahiko. The folds of Cyrus' blue wings were hidden behind the thin black cloth, keeping their gleam visible. The beret and boots he was wearing also followed the color of his clothes, jet black. Ryota wore Vouna's signature mourning outfit plus his black Haori with a white fox pattern. The bells that he used to wear were temporarily removed so as not to disturb the silence of the mourning atmosphere.

Both of them were holding each a black rose. With a sad face and teary the flower is placed in front of the frame. That smile still lingers, the warmth of the golden Magia is still felt. The two of them then descended the altar, hand in hand, strengthening each other.

Next up is the Earl of Sirens, Andrew Cerise. The appearance of red hair decorated with an Amethyst crown as well as his sweet face stole the attention of the audience. This is the first time the Demigod Clan has seen a real appearance of a Siren on ashore with his stunning legs. The Dreamcatcher earrings he wears on his left ear are still the same, the earmark of an Andrew.

".. our sorrow after losing you as deep as the Mariana trench, I thank you for the umpteenth time .." his purple eyes filled with tears and slowly dripped warm liquid. Tears spilled as a form of sadness.

Spirit of Darkness Damian Lawrence went up to the altar along with the Guardian of Chaldene, Peter Ainsley. Damian only wore one layer of black robes as his appearance was already completely dark in color. He was still a little awkward with the Demigods in Vouna but because he came with 7 other Kings he pushed the awkwardness away.

Peter was only one step behind Damian. Because he came to the funeral he was not wearing the full set of armor. Just a black shirt suit which is then covered by Vouna's black robe. He wore silver cross earrings on both ears. The leader of Mavr Lykos and Chaldene paused in front of the altar and put their black roses together. The remnants of the rain dripped from their wet hair.

"We've entrusted the diamond keys to the Demigods... only for today I'm visiting your kingdom huh.." Damian whispered quietly. Peter turned to him, didn't say a word. Just praying silently for the soul of the Father of Demigod to rest in peace while holding back sorrow.

Lastly the Ruler of Asteria, Nathanael Sam. His above-average height, folded white wings and long hair that touched the base of his neck made everyone there stunned at his dazzling appearance. He deliberately wore a thin black veil to cover half of his face so that he would not attract too much attention. He didn't even wear the Skystar crown, only a gold tiara decorated with Aquamarine that hung on his forehead. His wing feathers that were hit by the raindrops fell slightly and made a trail from his seat to the gazebo where the altar of mourning was. The black boots with high heels that he wore led his steps.

“.. farewell ..” Those were the last words the Celestial King said as soon as he put down the black rose and stepped down from the altar. He felt he didn't need to say much because his condolences had been represented by the Demigods and his seven friends.

Now the raindrops have stopped. The strains of the poems sung by the choir group became more solemn. Cyrus casts a spell on the magical plant that he spawned until the plant shrivels up and disappears completely. Now that accompanied the completion of the ceremony was the dark cloudy sky and the smell of rain that still filled the chest. The ceremony closed with the burning of black roses presents by the audience. Gray smoke billowed up into the sky, blowing away the feelings of grief those who were there accompanying the prayers offered to the Gods in Heaven.

"You can't smile when you see us cry, can you?"