Requiem for Lost Souls

In the evening, students of the academy have gathered in the spacious back gardens for a farewell ceremony of the departed hunters' souls. They had died somewhere far away, and Maya couldn't hope to encounter them. However, souls that were trapped in this place felt like they were in mourning as well.

Not yet having an opportunity to assimilate with the sight of the beautiful back gardens, Maya was taken in. It was truly impressionable, with age-old trees that endured through time and beautifully ornamented cast-iron greenhouses and pavilions resting in the background of lush late-summer vegetation. The air smelled like ripe grapes ready to be turned into wine.

It was odd how this massive group of people could be so spontaneously quiet. To add to that, it was surreal with everyone being dressed in white fabric whose lightness resisted the approaching darkness of dusk that wanted to swallow them. The light of the paper lanterns illuminating the gardens seemed to magnify as sunlight dissipated.

Maya couldn't help the thought that white somehow did fit for the funeral more. She was in a white dress borrowed from Jenny, as she didn't have any appropriate white clothing on such short notice. It was a bit too big on her, and too tight around her bust – which Maya saw as a win.

Their Headmistress has been absent for the past couple of days as she was on a trip to Elador, as she was elected as the Rectoress of Academia. Now she was back, and instead of being in a celebratory mood, she was faced with a sudden tragedy.

As she was delivering a commemorative speech for the lost Hunters, she announced her new title.

"Our headmistress now holds one of the three head positions of this land. Or one of two — as Hunters have been lost."

There were whispers, here and there, in an otherwise respectfully quiet crowd.

Maya couldn't help but give kudos to the Headmistress. She has kept herself incredibly composed in the face of such tragedy. But even Maya could tell her voice was wavering at times.

It couldn't have been easy. It was such a large number of casualties. An entire city was wiped off from the face of the earth. And such an important institution that had kept them safe. Maya wondered if it affected her even more as she had made promises that they were safe here.

"…I beseech you not to lose hope. Mages have endured greater catastrophes and have always risen stronger." Her speech was touching, respectful and inspiring. "…May God of Repose give eternal rest to their souls."

Before the end of the ceremony, students were allowed to release paper lanterns into the sky. Red ribbons representing deceased souls were tied to them to be led on their final journey and released to the heavens. It spoke of magnitude as each of countless lanterns served as a vessel for a handful of such ribbons. some have even written messages on them to ease the distress of their souls on their journey to the final rest.

After releasing her paper lantern, Maya watched them climbing up, looking like a large school of jellyfish until they were high enough to be just splotches on the starry sky.

It was a beautiful ceremony. Perhaps it was the quaint solidarity of the crowd at this funeral that impressed Maya more than the sight of sparkling lights growing smaller and smaller, devoured by the quiet dark sky.

Maya thought back to Elena. She had no idea where that troublesome girl was at the moment, but she had no doubt she was hiding in the darkness and drowning her sorrow in the liquor. A white ribbon tied to her wrist not being a distinct enough indication to find her after oppressive night has swallowed them.

It was a bit ironic that they were all outside after dark like this, after their valiant protectors had been eradicated. From Maya's perspective, there was no difference at all. They still had guards to protect them. She hadn't been here for long—not even a full week—but she'd never seen a semblance of a Hunter. Was it because they were all there, far away, being slaughtered?

🜺🜺🜺🜺🜺

Away from the ceremony, there was a rustle in the quiet of the night. The curfew was already in action, but tonight, many were slow to return to safety and the strong ones along the main path had their hands full. The creature didn't like the time of its free reign and was disturbed by the roaming humans with dejected expressions.

The little creature, just like many residents like it, was always free to roam around as it pleased. Witnessing from the shadows all the indiscriminate things people do, unaware eyes are watching them. In this town, no one could own them. Humans; some were kind and gave offerings, and some were cruel and chased them away. But strays were there to stay.

Avoiding human presence, the little stray stumbled into a quiet part with a lonesome light starkly illuminating the darkness and calling forth prey. It had already feasted on a scrupulous praying mantis and was eyeing mindless winged creatures above, waiting for them to get low enough to be caught.

An acrid and lingering scent of burnt tobacco wafted through the air and tickled its small nose. It didn't favour that smell. A sudden movement nearby startled it and the stray learned that it already had an audience for a while, not noticing the quiet stillness of a black-haired human.

Stray carefully gazed at the eyes of the uninterested human to evaluate the level of threat, but was surprised to find a faint sense of familiarity. The stray did not care for humans that paid it no mind, but this one was similar to itself, with eyes that saw what they were never supposed to. But unlike Stray who quickly forgets, they have to pretend to never have seen it.

A curiosity overtook it, finding another stray that had a form it should not, it carefully approached the human. Giving out a soft meow that humans tend to react to.

Gaze cold as ice landed on it, and the human smacked their lips in annoyance.

They're becoming too familiar with humans, forgetting there's no obligation for them to indulge creature's fickle whims. What does this creature want from her, staring with those expectant eyes? Is it pitying her?

Thoughts were written all over the cold human's face.

'Get away!'

The girl hissed at the creature, terrifying it to its core that it sprung into a run.

One stray to another, she has always been on the same level. Little did she know, she'd already caused another misfortune.