"Passing On"
Sequel to 'Radiant Fading'. For AccessBlade, who wanted to see a 'Passing along the goodbye scene'.
~o~
"She's gone?"
The first round of explanations and passed messages had been the easiest. After all, Kratos ran the local chapter of Ad Libitum and knew each of the people that Shiala had associated with during her time in Aililly. All he'd had to do was gather them together for an important announcement and lay out the facts of the matter.
Of the gathered, only Raine seemed unsurprised that the Descender had vanished. The younger members stood around in stunned disbelief, staring at their leader.
Kratos suppressed the desire to sigh, choosing instead to answer the question as it was posed. "Yes Lloyd, she's gone. With her task completed, she fell asleep from all the exertion and the World Tree took her back."
"But it's not fair!" The young swordsman grumbled heatedly, his fists clenched tightly. "We didn't even get to say goodbye to her."
"Ahem." Kratos cleared his throat lightly, recapturing the attention of the members present. "Since she didn't have enough time to speak with you all, she requested that I pass along her farewells for her."
He took a moment to look at each member of the guild in turn; Chester and Arche standing together by the wall, Reid sitting half-asleep at the table with the Sage siblings and Lloyd nearby. He spared a glance towards Lotte and Halberry, both of whom sat up straight when his gaze passed over them.
Satisfied, he nodded slowly and continued to speak. "In the guild, there was no one who displayed more energy in fulfilling requests than Shiala did - any one of you could attest to that - and due to that fact, she managed to meet and work with each of you at some point in time. She enjoyed every moment that she spent here and only wished that she could have had the time to see the world that she saved for us in a time of peace."
A sniffle sounded from the back of the room and Halberry wiped away tears. The youngest members of the group blinked suspiciously and even Arche seemed hard pressed to hold her smile. Kratos carefully ignored the displays of emotion, choosing instead to finish his thoughts and give them something to look forward to with hope.
"When the World Tree recovers from this ordeal, I'm certain that Shiala will return to us; until then, let us work to ensure that she has a beautiful world to experience on her return."
Each member of Aililly's Ad Libitum nodded as his gaze passed over them; bound to a solemn vow of their own design, they would certainly work harder than they had before. For the sake of their departed friend and the future that she hoped to see, they would do their utmost.
"All right!" Lloyd broke the silence and the solemn atmosphere with a shout. "Let's get going guys!"
"Yeah Lloyd!" Beside him, Genis bounced to his feet and waved his kendama in the air. "It's time for us to show what we can do!"
On the lighter note, Kratos dismissed the gathering and watched as the members filtered out in two's and three's, leaving him alone once more. He sighed; all he had to do is repeat this scenario in Doplund and Gavada to complete his promise. At least things in Aililly were looking up.
With their recent enthusiasm, they'd be able to spare his presence for a week or two. He would let Raine know about his absence, and then he'd set off to find the rest of the friends that Shiala had made during her travels.
After all that she had done, it really was the least that he could do.
~o~
AN: Not as good as 'Radiant Fading' IMO, but should suffice for what was requested. Sorry that I took so long to fill.