Send-off

As night descends, the once-vibrant sky fills with orange and gold hues, slowly giving way to a deep, velvety darkness. The stars twinkle like scattered diamonds, casting a soft, enchanting glow.

The streets which are covered by snow are now lined with torches, and people slowly make their way towards the town square but not Legion. He makes his way to the tavern to meet back up with his sibling, yet someone gently taps him on the shoulder.

"Aren't you coming, Legion?" a voice calls out, snapping him from his thoughts. He turns to meet the gaze of the same man with forest green eyes, now puffy and slightly reddened as if he'd been crying.

"Yes, of course. I just have to go get my siblings." He answers, feeling a slight tingle beneath his skin. "I promise to be there."

"Oh, okay." he nod,s and Legion continues on his way. 

Finally coming up to another sign, he knows it's the tavern, but before he heads in he looks through the glass, seeing his siblings helping out a blond-haired man with cleaning while the same green-haired woman sits on a chair with her arm wrapped with a cloth. 

Morgan, Jaxon, Anore, and Avix. 

I wonder how people can become so comfortable with this treatment and be able to smile so carelessly.

He reflects on the situation. 

I've made that mistake of twice before smiling and becoming comfortable in the days where I can relax without having to worry, but in the end, those days of peace always come to an end. No matter how hard you fight to achieve it. 

"That's right," Cinder says, out of breath as he lands on the snow-filled floor next to Legion's foot. "In the end peace is a weak minded goal, since peace is not ever lasting." 

Yeah…I've fought for that last time. Now, all I want is to become strong enough that nobody can bring me down. Ever again. 

He looks down at him as Cinder side-steps closer to him.

Yet, I still wonder, do I have to capability to love them like their brother once did? 

Just then, the door creaks open, and Avix pokes his head through, the warm light spilling out around him, casting a soft halo that makes. His eyes sparkle with excitement as he calls out, "Big brother!" A bright smile spreads across his face. 

I've never had siblings or a family a matter of fact, that I actually got to see in both of my past lives. So maybe after spending time with them, I might harbor genuine emotions, not just the need to protect them. Until that time comes I'll be there sheild, just like what their brother pleaded for. 

Breaking out into a smile, he rushes over to him and sweeps him off his feet. Even though his bones and muscles are still screaming at him to get some rest, the joy on Avix's face somewhat made it worth it. 

"Avix!" He calls out, twirling him in the air as he enters. 

Anore's eyes sparkles, and she dashes over. "Pick me up, too!" She demand,s and he complies, putting her in his next arm. 

"Anore!" He kisses her cheeks. "I missed you guys." 

"We missed you too," Anore exclaims joyfully. 

"Yeah! Very much!" Avix adds. 

"Aww, you missed your big brother." He says as forced tears drop down his cheeks, but after panic spreads across their faces, he smiles once again. "Gotcha!" 

"You seem really cheerful today." Morgan's voice slides into their conversation. "You didn't overwork yourself today again, did you?" He looks up to see her approaching. 

"Nope." He lies, setting the kids down onto the floor, then standing back up straight. Just as he does, Morgan kicks his knees a bit, and he stumbles down. "Shit." He snickers, knowing he has been caught. 

"Come get something to eat." She says instead of giving him a lecture like always. "Jaxon!" 

"Already on it!Honey!" He shouts back. 

Settling on a seat, the twins sit beside him as Morgan breezes her brown eyes over him on the chair in front of them. "You look exhausted." 

"I could say the same for you." He looks down at her tied-up arm. "I got something for you, though." He pulls out the healing potion and places it on the table. 

Morgan's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at it, her breath catching in her throat. "You didn't," she says, her voice a mix of astonishment and disbelief, as if she can't quite grasp what she's seeing. "You didn't just spend one bronze on me." 

"Yes." He says, as if it was nothing. "I worked extra hard and got four coins today," confidence laced his voice. 

She grabs it quietly and squeezes it a bit. "Thank you." She looks up at him. "But how did you know I got hurt?" 

"I saw it while making my way over to the check-in station." He replies truthfully. 

"Oh." She says, before popping the lid open and downing the entire potion is mere seconds. "You know." She puts the empty bottle down, focusing back on him. "For some reason, I had this feeling I was supposed to die." 

"What do you mean?" Legion questions, his features fidgeting slightly. 

"Before the axe landed, I saw it, just for a split second, but maybe it was the term 'your life flashes before your eyes, ' and I suppose it's true." Chuckles it off. 

Interesting…

"Maybe," Legion says. "It is weird. Oh, right!" He remembers he also had a next one. "And since I got the next one." He gives it to the kids. "Drink half each. I don't know if you guys got hurt, but it should make you feel better." 

"Oh, okay!" They both respond as they each take half like he instructed, and soon the food is out and Jaxson comes over holding a bowl of stew and two lofts of bread. 

"There." He places it on the table. "And thank you for getting it for her; she was only complaining to me about how much it hurts." He snickers, looking over at his embarrassed wife. 

"I was not!" She got up, and the both of them went off arguing playfully. 

Splitting the bread, he shares it with Avix and Anore. "You should eat something before we head over to the send-off." 

"Send-off?" Avix ask, his voice muffled as he chews, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"It's when they say goodbye to the dead, silly," Anore whispers, leaning closer with a knowing smile.

"Oh," Avix replies, the realization dawning on him as he swallows. He nods slowly, piecing together the meaning in his mind, a hint of seriousness replacing his earlier confusion. 

"You guys are really going to join them?" Morgan interjects, her tone laced with surprise as she returns from the playful banter. Jaxon follows closely behind, a mischievous grin still lingering on his face.

"Yeah, I was the one who suggested it in the first place," Legion replies. 

"Then let's go together," Morgan suggests.

"I don't see why not," Legion replies with a nod, a smile creeping onto his face as he meets Morgan's gaze.

"I'll go get changed," Jaxon says, glancing down at his flour-covered shirt and face, a sheepish grin playing across his lips. With a playful shake of his head, he turns on his heels, the sound of his footsteps fading as he makes his way down the hallway, leaving a trail of flour behind him.

"This man." Morgan shakes her head upon seeing it. "Well, then again, I was the one who chose to marry him." 

***

The fire crackles softly, its warmth filling the air with a comforting yet somber ambiance. Though the sound may seem insignificant, it carries an undeniable weight, echoing through the gathering. 

A few people stand nearby, their faces etched with sorrow, including a green-eyed man whose tears shimmer in the flickering light.

They carefully lift a wooden board, the old woman lying peacefully upon it, and remorsefully, they place her body on the fire. The flames danced and flickered, casting shadows that seemed to cradle her as she began her final journey, the air thick with grief and memories.

"Is this death? Is this what death is like?" Cinder asks, landing on Legion's shoulder. 

Very much so. 

"Is this how everyone dies? With people by their side?" Avix inquired, looking up at him. 

"No." The response comes solemnly as he lifts his gaze to the fire."Many die alone or are executed without anyone's mercy." He bites back his bottom lip as he remembers both of his untimely endings. "Death could come in many shapes or forms, and not always they'll be a person to cry for you or be there for you in your final moment."

"Then I don't want to die alone." He faces back to the fire as well. 

"I won't let you die alone." He promises. "Neither of you." He squeezes both of their hands reassuringly. "That's a promise."

From both me and your past brother. 

Tomorrow, my levelling and evolutions begin, and hopefully soon the departure of this place. 

***

As the send-off concludes and the fire dies down, Legion turns to leave, noticing the man still crouched by the ashes, silently weeping. Not wanting to intrude on his grief, Legion walks away quietly.

Yet, as he departs, the sound of soft crying shifts into light, eerie laughter. The man's forest green eyes flicker and turn crimson as he digs through the remains of the ashes. "Finally!" he whispers with twisted glee. "That should be enough for me to transcend into your ranks, right? Monarch of Sacrifice?"

"Nope." No-name emerges from the shadows, his figure contorting as his form shifts into Cassin. "But it is enough to catch my attention." His red eyes gleam, cutting through the night air just like before. 

"Wh…Who are you!" He shouts, drops to his knees, and moves back. "You're not the Monarch of Sacrifice." 

"That's right, little one," a deep voice replies, smooth and ominous. The figure circles him with slow strides, the sound of leather shoes crunching on the snow. "First, filling your mother's bag with clothes and calling the orcs after you left a letter for her stating you're going to run away after she told you not to, so instead she tried to empty your bag, and the orcs came just in time." He replays all of the actions leading up to the woman's death. 

"No…no…no!" He shouts, covering his ears and drowning himself in despair and regret. "I just need power! All I wanted was power!" 

"Then power is what you shall get." He say, stopping in front of him, making the man stop his wailing and look up at him. 

"Really?" He moves a bit closer.

"Yeah!" He smiles. "How about a monster? Though you'll have to wait until the time is right for your power to be set free." He smirks, and the man's face darkens. 

"I don't-!" He stops as a no-name lifts his palms facing directly at him a black substance controting into a pin as the man shakes his head vigorously, pulling away from him, intending to run away, but as he scrabbles to his feet, the pin shoots out, piercing through his skull. 

"Too late." No-name smiles widely as he drops onto the snow, the black pin absorbed into his skull. "Really, Shoji should be grateful I'm helping him become stronger, I would have never done this for anyone else. But I guess he is to challenge me in the future, so it's necessary."