Dawn

Dawn soon arrived, the temperature cold as the morning dew coated the street's surface. Every breath elicited a white cloud of steam that soon incorporated in the thick fog of the mountains.

"I should get going." He murmured after changing into a warmer attire and donning a long scarf. He was, in all honesty, unsure of why he agreed on joining the ceremony, but a promise was a promise. "The Goddess seems to know when a ceremony is occurring. The climate seems especially fitting."

While making his way to the front door, he made sure to grab a few coins that he had scattered around the house; that would ensure he had breakfast, as he dismissed the loaf as inedible.

Luxia Kingdom's monetary currency was simple. Rubies are the small coins, and a hundred of them equated to one cruise; as an unemployed man but recently admitted scholar on the College of Irmwrynn, he was entitled to fifty cruises per month.

There's no need to mention that my savings aren't enough to live throughout the rest of the month... Garett's sister still sent him money occasionally, only because it was an obligation put down by their mother, of course.

"I can't postpone my visit longer; otherwise, she'll stop sending money for good," Garett grumbled in annoyance as he left the house. His relationship with his sister wasn't the best, honestly. He left home early to study at Lhûn's Institute of Research, founded by the Church of Knowledge, with hopes of eventually be accepted in the College of Irmwrynn.

I was eventually accepted! Even if my referrer died shortly, I'm a scholar now... He tried to convince himself. The various churches were responsible for running the various teaching organizations in the Kingdom, and they offered the most varied kinds of courses. From children reading classes to medical knowledge for adults, the churches were responsible for creating professionals in the most distinct areas.

The college is the only institution created not by the churches but by artisans! And after all these years I was finally accepted, heh, I want to see her face after hearing the news... Elation arose in his chest every time he reminisced about that, as he could finally prove to his family that his struggles were not in vain!

"She'll have to apologize properly to me this time." He left his whispering voice behind as he distanced himself from the building, the watchtower as his destination.

...

Garett was a little nervous about the situation, as a socially awkward person, he preferred to arrive accompanied by a friend or acquaintance.

Where's that baboon, Hilren? I know he's here somewhere... He scanned the surroundings of the watchtower, its white exterior blended with the morning fog, creating a magnificent sight.

"Hello, Garett." A mellow voice came from behind him. It was the red-haired woman; during yesterday's dinner, he was finally introduced properly to her and was able to ask her name.

Her name was Alice, and even if her style in battle was very aggressive, she was very approachable outside of it and worked as a core to the team.

"Oh, it's you! Good morning, Alice." He replied after looking at her. A little bit of his anxiety vanished at that moment.

"What are you doing out here? The others should be inside already." She asked politely in passing, different from yesterday she wore a simple hunter's padded attire with thick gloves as a shield to the chilling winds.

"Nothing, I just never came here before." He swiftly replied, shaking his hands as if telling her to forget about it.

"Let's enter, then?" She quipped, her eyes laughing at his lousy attempt to hide his awkwardness.

"Yes!" He answered as both of them made way to the top of the watchtower.

...

The tower's architecture was very simple, just like any other in the city of Lhûn. The people of Lhûn developed a style of architecture that evolved from the Age of Carnage, as every grand structure had a few pillars on the inside and begot a meager number of windows.

There existed a movement among scholars that supported the change of tradition, advocating for an overhaul on the artistic touch in the major cities.

Sometimes I think that they are right, we can't live in the shadows devised by the Age of Carnage forever... Garett mused while ascending the white stretch of stairs. He studied a great number of things during his time at the institute, among them was a little bit of art.

"What are you thinking about?" Alice chipped in, wondering his thoughts as he looked so pensive.

"Nothing, I'm just thinking of the things I learned at the institute. I wonder why Luxia's Architecture looks so... crude." He explained some of his thoughts, eliciting a pensive look on Alice's face.

"Well... We all know that the Age of Carnage had a great number of battles, and from what I can tell, the structures were built in a way where they can be easily reconstructed." She added as a veteran hunter, her vision of things tended to be related to practicality. "I've heard that during the Age of Carnage, enormous tides of mutant beasts attacked the cities. So everything was built with sturdiness in mind."

"I thought Lhûn was constructed after the end of the Age of Carnage..." He muttered, slightly befuddled by his imagination of the ancient world.

"Even so, we are used to it, so why change? Only in times of peace people have the time for things like aesthetics." She finished, appearing very sure of her thoughts. "Now, let's not linger. They should be waiting for us."

I'm just trying to do small talk, this staircase is... gargantuan, to say the least... Garett felt conflicted when looking at the path ahead.

"Alright." Taking a deep breath, he controlled the rhythm of his respiration, as if trying to save energy during the climb.

...

Finally! Hell, how high is this thing? It felt like I was climbing a mountain... Garett complained, his clothes dripping wet in sweat, he even wondered why he bothered to wear warm clothes in the first place!

"We are all here now, so let's begin." Father Charles's calm voice soothed the nerves of those present. As if being washed by magic, Garett felt the tiredness leaving his body; and being purified by the thick mists.

Is this Father Charles's ability? Or it's just an effect brought by the ceremony itself? A priest needs the ability to calm his church... Feeling a lot better, Garett finally could stand straight; his eyes taking in the views from atop the watchtower.

"Wow!"

The watchtower was one of the highest places of Lhûn and the only place where the port city of Altra could be glimpsed; the mountains stretched to every side, and the scattered little villages looked like small dots in the distance.

"Beautiful, right? That's the world we fight for, sometimes you have to come here to remember what you're fighting for." Dante said as he approached the duo, his expression a lot better than yesterday. "I wonder if that's why the church chooses watchtowers to hold a hunter's passing rites."

That's a good question, I feel very peaceful up here. It's almost like how I felt when entering the cathedral... Garett closed his eyes, and the rising sun created a mix of shadows and light that he could almost feel even with his eyes closed.

"Please." Father Charles spoke while waving his hand as he asked for those present to approach him. "Today, we bid farewell to two of our most dedicated companions, but a farewell is not a sad occasion. We have to be grateful, for those that left us are only embarking on a journey towards the Goddess domain. As Saint Masha once pronounced, 'entrapped are those who live their whole lives without knowing love'. I can confidently say that Burdren Illianor and Mikan Virfried were loved by those that gather here."

He nodded towards a small group of people, apparently, those were the friends and family from the deceased. Not a great number of people, maybe only those that have knowledge on the Marked or are Marked themselves.

"I'm not sad, and you should not be sad. Is there a better place to be than in 'Her' embrace? I'm sure the challenges faced by the two of them are going to be remembered for all eternity." Father Charles finished his words with a nod, eliciting praises toward the Goddess from the crowd.

"May your fleshly vessel find its way back into the mists," Dante said as he uncovered the veil that covered the two bodies. Both of them laid atop a strange wooden vessel, the insides filled with hay were the bodies laid.

Father Charles lightened a torch before throwing it towards the vessels.

"Anyone wants to say a few words?" He asked while watching the cremation process, his countenance was peaceful and comforting.

A few family members used the opportunity to illustrate the past with cheerful tales and even joked about some past subjects, as this was a common practice at the ceremony; 'we are not to grieve the opportunity of returning to the mists, instead, we are to celebrate it'.

No phenomena, I guess the feats accomplished by the two of them weren't legendary enough... Garett mused as he remembered the sayings, the goddess would excite the mists to dance in welcoming to the brave warriors that gave the life for her.

And finally, the morning fully arrived as the mists were dissipated by the coming sunlight; only to return after night fell, to protect, and care for those who feared the darkness.

Maybe because of him experiencing Vellen's memories, Garett felt relieved after the rites ended without any problems.

...

"Let's leave, Garett?" Alice asked, her expression glowing with some enthusiasm. "We could follow the teachings, and celebrate with a drink."

Oh, F**k... His eyelids twitched as he remembered the state he was left the night prior!

"I-I think I should refuse... I'm still a little unwell from yesterday's drinking..." He tried to quickly come up with an excuse, doing his utmost to keep himself from cursing.

"Don't pick too much on him, Alice. You can't force the recruits into becoming your drinking buddies." Dante piped in, extending a saving grace to Garett.

"Recruit?" Garett noticed the word choice and pressed for information.

"Yes, of course. You're now one of us, are you not? I don't think Father Charles will accept your transference to any other team after what happened yesterday." He informed while nodding, his expression unsurprised as if it was just natural!

"B-But" Garett was unsure of what to say at that moment.

F**K! So now I'll be forced to fight monsters like that one!? I still want to live, you know!... Screaming inwardly, Garett tried to fight his newly announced fate.