A Cruel Eulogy

Amidst a crowd of people gathered for the Peace ceremony in the gardens of The Cinoplaza Mansion to honour the lost lives of the people and soldiers, sat Kanito in a full sleeve, floor length grey coat with black trim and black buttons.

Next to him sat Yuriel in the same attire, telling Kanito to have some patience before they could return home. Kanito was not too interested to come here, he was barely acquainted with these fallen people and their soldiers and it's not like his impression of the people of this world is too high anyway, he was convinced by Yuriel who told him to blend in with the people of this world so that his identity as a sole refugee from the human world remains shrouded.

Kanito lowered his vision, creased his eyebrows, receded the colour from his cheecks, only to wear a sad and somber expression upon his countenance, adding nothing but more gloom to the grieved ambiance of the gathering.

The Cinoplaza stood as a grandeur white castle in the middle of a sprawling garden where rows of white chairs were arranged

one beside another, facing the rows was a stage where dignitaries delivered eulogies, the Sun was on the verge of setting, the sky was tinted in a hue of soft orange and yellow.

Kanito from a distance observed Kuruth sitting on a secluded chair, he dabbed his face with a tissue a couple of times, handed it over to one of his attendants.

Kanito felt a sudden urge to laugh at him, a brave and robust prince who fought a dragon only a few days ago without showing even the slighest bits of reluctance was now mourning? Kanito found it funny

Kuruth ran his fingers through the lining of his sharp brown eyes, wiping away the redness from the scleral region, leaving behind only a faint flush. Kanito's slight smile slowly faltered as he recalled the scenes of Kuruth bravely repelling the dragon's entrance in the Western block, all alone without asking for any aid.

"Can't a brave man mourn?" Kanito chided himself and bit his own tongue, punishing himself from his own mocking habits.

Kanito reminded himself of his early life on Earth. He would visit the Church often with his mother, his mother would read to him from the Bible.

He remembered the wooden table, the worn leather Bible kept under a flickering candle

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again"

A soft feminine voice read it out to a younger Kanito, his glittery yellow eyes gazed upwards in confusion and looked up at a veiled feminine face. The woman wore a black scapular, a wooden rosary around her neck and a white wimple on her head

"What does this verse mean, mama?"

"Sweetie, it means we should never judge people at any cost"

"Why mama?"

"Because it is God's job, we are no one to laugh and point out other's flaws as we all are flawed, we can never know what the judged person may feel, so let The Flawless One be the judge and not us"

"Mama, no, we can know how others feel, after all, I can figure out how you feel, like ninety percent of the time" said Kanito in a confident yet innocent childish voice

The eyes of the veiled woman lit up, she smiled warmly, hugged Kanito's small body from the side and rubbed her cheeks against his, Kanito closed his eyes in warmth and comfort.

"Even in tough times Kanito, be gentle, love with mercy, listen to the wounded and the needy, only then will you be able to close your own wounds" instructed the woman in a soft voice

Kanito reminded himself of those moments which have long become a distant past, he again remembered the verse read out to him from Gospels of Matthew and felt guilty for mocking Kuruth.

After Priest Arches delivered his encomium, Mr. Zionsviel took the stage, he spoke a few sad words aiming to induce more stillness in his surrounding.

"It is from my very heart I say, may such days bid us goodbye eternally, it's no gathering of joy or jubilance, today, we gather not in celebration, but in solemn remembrance of what has been lost. The silence that fills our hearts is a testament to the weight of our grief. We stand together, having borne witness to the darkness that has ravaged our lives. It is a true honor to have walked alongside those who have suffered, to have shared the same tears, and to have felt the same anguish. May their memories be a reminder of the fragility of peace and the resilience of the human spirit. May we strive to rebuild what has been broken, and may we never forget the price that has been paid"

Mr. Zionsviel after a heartfelt eulogy walked down the stage, as he went near the steps, a scroll which was teetering on the verge of his deep blue robe's right pocket, slipped out and fluttered on the ground.

Tiero, who was nearby saw the scroll roll on the ground and touch his boots, he hesitated but picked it up. Mr. Zionsviel's expression changed drastically, his face turned pale, he started sweating, the colour from his face wiped away

"Umm, Tiero, give it to me son"

"Yeah sure" Tiero said in a vague confusion upon noticing Zionsviel's hesitation.

He before giving away the scroll, looked at the edge of the scroll and saw the four purple petal symbol, the symbol of the Magic Academy.

"Why is there the Magic Academy's symbol on this paper?" said Tiero loudly, his voice silenced all whispers in the ground. Everyone's eyes turned towards the scene, all cast curious gazes upon Zionsviel's face

Zionsviel snatched the scroll from Tiero's hands

"Ah? What? Okay I'm coming, Yeah..I got it" said Zionsviel loudly, making sure everyone hears him.

"I'm sorry everyone, I need to leave immediately"

Zionsviel exited the mansion through the main gate, He got on the Chariot that waited outside bathing in orange Sun rays of the evening, the horses neighed and the Chariot drove off towards the Zionsviel mansion in maximum speed.

Kanito's eyebrows furrowed, He couldn't help but contemplate about the abrupt departure of Mr. Zionsviel.

After the ceremony ends, Kanito gazes at Kuruth again, Kuruth adjusted his grey coat, he put his hands in his pocket and walked straight out through the main gate, his eyes met Kanito's, Kanito looked at him with concern but Kuruth quickly looked away and ambled towards his carriage while his attendants behind followed him.

"Let's go, you have school tomorrow again right?" said Yuriel as he watched Kanito whose eyes followed Kuruth as he exited the Cinoplaza.

"Yeah, lets, lets go" said Kanito.

They walk out of the gates and find themselves in a threshold path where under blue coloured shades were white stalls from where refreshments and light snacks were distributed.

The white funeral sweets called 'Clomies' made from milk, sugar and almonds, wrapped in dry yellow leaves seemed new to Kanito, something he never saw or had before, he glanced at them for a few moments and ignored them making a squeamish face, so did Yuriel.

The next day at breakfast table in Yuriel's table, Kanito and Yuriel hear the news on the CV, The news reporter reads out a few news

"On Sunday, 13th of Fall's Eve, Ashfelt, or more specifically Bakerheim saw multiple waves of demons, The Army of Ashfelt soon took control of the situation followed by the ISF's military stationed in Ashfelt. King Sarstin from the Capital city Tunicster declared his condolences on the behalf of the Royal family, fortunately the invasion wasn't spread to any further cities of Ashfelt. Till now, no evidences of opening of portals has been recorded in any city other than Bakerheim"

Kanito's eyes filled with confusion, he kept the half eaten bread back on the plate and asked

"Wait, so the demon invasion only took place in this city?"

"It seems so, looks like the media isn't lying this time, no ISF's unit were sent to any other city other than Bakerheim, I got this information from General Hackel himself" Yuriel slowly sips his coffee and puts it on the table, his eyes turning again towards the screen of the CV.

"It was suggested by the surviving locals of Bakerheim that Prince Kuruth along with another black haired and yellow snaky eyed young man whose name remains unknown were the ones who brought an end to the horrific Auric horn, it takes Prince Kuruth's kill count of Auric horns to thirty, earning him the title of 'Red Slayer' in the process"

Kanito's expression soon became disappointed while Yuriel covered his mouth for a slight giggle

"Snaky eyed? Really? They even put this on the CV? Good thing that Prince Kuruth doesn't know my name otherwise my reputation which is non existent would fall into negative integers"

"Mass destruction of lives and property is evident, It is calculated that more than three thousand people in Bakerheim have lost their lives, nearly a few hundreds of Ashfelt's army no casualties were recorded from the side of the Ashfeltian branch of ISF"

"Turn off the CV, It's making me sick" Kanito massaged his forhead as the camera shifted towards the broken houses of Bakerheim and the poverty stricken people.

The camera for five whole minutes captured the bleakness and the anguish of the people, after that the reporter started reading another news, Yuriel was about to close the CV but stopped immediately after he heard a few certain words

Mr. Zionsviel was being interviewed for his strange gesture in the peace ceremony yesterday, the media swarmed around him

"Lord Zionsviel, what was up with your unsettling behaviour yesterday in Cinoplaza"

"Lord Zionsviel, the public is in utter confusion, if you could please explain"

Zionsviel coughed and cleared his throat, he scratched his head and rubbed his eyes

and spoke in an inconsistent manner

"Uhh, actually, Shelly was severely ill, I uhh, got a chain message from my wife to come home as soon as possible, yeah that's it"

"And Lord Zionsviel, as Mr. Nephnis's son Tiero, pointed out, could you please explain the Magic Academy's symbol on the scroll that slipped out of your pocket"

"It's Shelly's performance report, I received it from Sir Sheeran in Cinoplaza"

Zionsviel waited no more and escaped from the media and went inside his mansion, Yuriel finally switched off the CV and ate the last piece of fruit kept on his bowl to leave for work while Kanito left for his school

In the Royal Palace, Kuruth will be given a strong and elegant sword by the Royal Priest under the presence of his father and the Royal Sword's Instructor for attaining the title of 'Red Slayer' the grip of the sword was long and deep crimson and had golden patterns on it, it extended down into a shining golden pommel, the curly golden quillon of the sword attached to the grip, spiralled up till the base of the blade which was long, thick and had a curvy edge

The old Royal Priest in a yellow cassock and a white stole having yellow feathery symbols on it stood with a smile, he handed the Sword to Kuruth.

"May the Protection of the Valiant Sword Claymore, blessed by the Angel of Strength, slay the enemies that walk in your way" said the Royal Priest as he knighted Kuruth with his crozier, Kuruth was kneeling with his head lowered, slightly held the sword in both of his hands, he slightly rubbed the golden pommel of the sword.

"Priest Arin, I am delighted to have you knight my son Kuruth"

"King Sarstin, your son is a brave warrior, he deserves to have the title and the sword. Kuruth you may raise your head now"

Kuruth raised his head and stood on his two feet and examined the blade, the grip and pommel of the sword with a quick sweep of eyes, he then sheathed the sword in it's red and yellow fancy scabbard,

"The sword is pretty good, the pommel is beautiful" Kuruth rubbed the pommel again.

"Now then, My Lords, we shall depart, Farewell" said The Sword Instructor to which Priest Arin nodded, both of them walked towards the exit of the Royal court, as the instructor crossed Kuruth, he gave him a concerned look. As they reached at the end of the pavillion, the priest started descending down the concrete steps from the raised platform, but the instructor stood on the doorstep, he turned around and looked at Kuruth, he looked at him with troubled eyes.

Kuruth gave his teacher a confident smile assuring him that whatever he is thinking will not happen, the instructor climbed down the steps with a faint smile manifested from the instilled hope.

"I will leave now, I am sailing to Emirage tonight to attend the Coronation Party tomorrow, I'll be back in probably two days"

"Are you really going Kuruth?"

"Yes Why?"

"Can't you cancel it?"

"Sloye dynasty is an important ally father, it's good for us that they are now the ruling family"

"But still, The effect of the Diluvians may still be present, who knows? Maybe the Hector dynasty is allied with them"

"Don't worry father, I heard that the Sloyes have completely eradicated the Diluvians from their country"

"Dont you know what you do when you get angry? In the anti demon summit, you spilled wine all over the nobles"

"I just went mad, I apologized later as well"

"What if you go crazy there? Will you spill wine over them too? Now you even have a new sword, O my God, who knows, maybe you will spill blood?"

"I can keep my calm until they talk trash, about my mother, prick me a million times and I wont bleed, I dont think they aren't foolish enough to prick me"

"But be safe, send a mind chain message when you arrive there okay?"