This is an epilogue, and it is not necessary to read. It's just my random thoughts, and I really hope you like it!

It was hard to breathe with all the smoke in the air. Or that might just be me; there was no fire.

It was Aradia's funeral, which had been postponed until I returned from the pirates. It was much more than difficult to interact with, let alone become, my best friend's murderers. It thoroughly disgusted me to have that brand on my arm.

Aradia's casket was wooden. Just plain wood. I was sure she wouldn't want anything too fancy. The reception itself was a quiet one; very few people even knew that it was happening. Only Roden, Tobias, Amarinda, and I were attending.

Now, before you say anything, I knew what I was thinking when I invited Roden. For one thing, he was actually very sorry. The truth was, he hadn't intended to kill Aradia; he hadn't even intended to strike her with his knife.

But the main reason was because of Aradia. She had said that it wasn't Roden's fault. As much as I hated it, it would do me good to listen to her last words.

Amarinda had to come. I don't think she ever had a proper conversation with Aradia, but she wanted to come, and I didn't have the strength to say no, nor the patience to figure out why.

It was a damp morning; the type of weather that makes you just want to curl up in your blankets and draw comfort from the people around you. the sun was hiding behind a cloud, as if even it didn't want to be here today. It seemed as if the weather reflected my mood.

The procession would start in half an hour, and people were arriving. The first one here, besides me, was Tobias, directing some guards to their places. They carried Aradia's casket, with her body inside.

It had been about a week since her death, and I was eager to get this done. She deserved a proper funeral.

I have never been to a funeral before, and I don't intend to ask for help. This will go my way.

The guards were no longer present, though I knew they were guarding the perimeter of my personal garden, where the event was taking place. Everyone was now here, and we could start.

Everyone took turns whispering something to the brown casket, which I could now see had red roses painted on, and put an item in.

Roden went first. "I'm really sorry about what I did. I didn't mean it, and I hope you know that." He said nothing more, and put two things in the casket. The first one was a dagger, and my eyes flared with recognition as I realized that it was the same dagger that had killed her. I suspected that Roden didn't want anything to do with the knife anymore, and Aradia would probably prefer it was with her.

The second item, however, was the one that made me the angriest. It was a book, titled "The Adventures of King Jaron, Volume iii: A Trip To The Pirates." It was literally the stupidest thing I had ever seen.

A group of people had decided it would be funny to write an excruciatingly inaccurate biography about me, that too anonymously. I had just come back from Tarblade Bay yesterday, so there was no way they could have written the book already. It had probably been an assumption about "what happened" after they had found out that I went there in the first place.

I wanted to punch Roden.

"Hey!" he protested, when I tried to take the book back out. "Let me humor her!"

The book ended up staying where it was, and Amarinda went next. "I have never had a proper conversation with you, and I regret that. I should have gotten to know you better and offered my friendship. I apologize for what happened to you, and I hope you are happy in the afterlife." She placed a silver hair ribbon, and a badge with the emblem of Carthya in the casket.

Then, it was Fink's turn. Wait, WHAT?!

"Fink! What are you doing here?!" I scolded him, outraged that he had snuck into the procession.

"But I wanted to be here. please can I say something?" If she had been alive, Aradia would have probably laughed her head off.

"Fine," I grumbled.

Fink walked up to the white pedestal where the casket lay. "Hi, Aradia! My name is Fink. Sage told me all about you (can you believe he's a king?!). I think you're really cool, and I wish I knew you! This," he said, pointing to an object in his other hand, "Is a seashell." Sure enough, he placed a silvery-blue flat seashell in the casket. "Bye!" And he ran back inside the palace.

I slowly blinked, shocked at the rushed display from my honorary brother. But I didn't have time to think, because it was Tobias's turn now. He said nothing, and that was louder than actual words.

He placed a book in the casket, and I craned my head to see the title, which was thankfully not like Roden's: Sword Duels for Advanced Learners. I was curious as to what the book entailed, but it was now my turn.

I, too, said nothing. My silence was more meaningful, as I said what I needed to in my head. I barely remembered what I thought, but it had so many questions and words of sadness. My jumbled thoughts were thrown to Aradia's spirit, and I knew she would understand.

I placed my object inside: Aradia's locket. I had put a lot of thought into what I would give, and only one thing had settled into my mind. She would love this more than anything else I could give her.

I stepped back in silence as the casket was closed and placed in a hole that had been previously dug. The ceremony was over, though there was nothing ceremonious about it.

I hated how I would have to forget this and move on. How I would have to fight in a war, which I had no choice in starting. I was just a puppet, pulled by strings from an unknown person.

My mind was empty.

Please tell me what you think!