Kuon's only reaction as Kanae slammed the papers on the table was to briefly raise his eyebrows. She didn't even spare him a glance as she sorted the papers, her movements stiff from injuries he'd had a part in inflicting. He felt he knew her well enough to guess that she had already forgotten about them, focusing instead on things that were important and that could be changed.
She finished sorting the papers, gesturing at Hiroaki. "Tell them what this is."
"Ah, yes." Hiroaki's hands shook, but he took his place next to her in the circle around the table. "Kanae saw these notes while in the cave and was able to copy them down from memory. While it doesn't tell us a lot, what it does show is many similar outlines to a plan that I have seen before."
"And what plan is that?" said Kuu.
"The plans to the inhibitor." Hiroaki pointed to a particular grouping of papers. Those close enough to do so leaned closer; a few nodded in agreement. "As Dad was the one to invent the device, I didn't think it was too strange—at least, until Kanae took a closer look and showed me a few key changes." The paper rustled as she thumped the table on a particular spot. "These runes. They aren't light runes. They're dark ones."
"Stars," muttered Lory. His eyes darted around the table. His frown deepened as he let out a slew of curses. "It's an inhibitor, except its backward. Instead of blocking dark magic and enhancing light, it does the opposite. It blocks light magic and enhances dark magic."
Hiroaki nodded. "That's not all. It also seems to be enhancing the aura the Dark Djinn produces. That miasma was intentional. He's…he's producing it as an extra feature of the reverse inhibitor."
A smile suddenly split Kuu's face. "This is good. Yes, now we have a definite focal point for an attack." He waved toward Kanae. "This is what you meant by getting rid of it. You want to destroy this reverse inhibitor."
"Not entirely," said Kanae. "I want to flip its purpose. I want to transform it back into a proper inhibitor. Destroying it would not be enough to dissipate the miasma—not at least for several days. But, transforming it into an inhibitor might be enough to let others inside the city."
"A good plan," said Lory. "Except with one big issue: neither you nor Kuon can use light magic. You need light runes and light magic to make it function. And even if you did somehow have light magic, they're likely expecting you both. You won't be enough."
The corner of Kanae's mouth twitched, triumph evident in her expression. She'd wanted him to say this, Kuon could tell.
"Which is why we will take advantage of that." She thumped Hiroaki on the back, making the delicate man stumble. "Kuon and I will hold their attention, allowing Hiroaki to slip past them."
Hiroaki let out a sputter of surprise, and Kuon grinned. Apparently, Hiroaki had not been informed in his part of this plan.
Lory gave the man a sharp look. "He can survive the miasma?"
Kanae paused and then shrugged. "Probably."
Hiroaki whimpered, tugging on Kanae's arm. "What do you mean 'probably'?"
Kanae ignored him. "Hiroaki can reverse the runes as well as power the inhibitor. I have a cloaking spell I learned from the dryad that should be able to keep him hidden even from other Accursed. And, as for the miasma…" She hummed, tilting her head to one side then the other in thought. Finally, she met Hiroaki's eye, speaking to him directly. "You said your dad assumed I could survive because my essence had been touched by the Djinn." Her hand tightened on her hip. "All this got me thinking about the rot."
"The rot?" Lory leaned in, looking confused but intrigued. "What does that have to do with this?"
Kuon realized he was holding his breath, letting it out slowly so as not to disturb anyone near him. This was good. Lory was the person they had to convince.
"You told me that the rot was caused by the poisonous fumes of the miasma trickling into the ground above," said Kanae. "I never got sick, likely because my essence was and is acclimatized to the dark energy. And, I've been thinking—notice that those who didn't get sick from the rot were either very powerful light users, or—" She pointed to Hiroaki "—people like you who were in constant contact with Sozen, who we all know now was an Accursed. Not to mention that you stood in the same room as the Dark Djinn. By the end, you'd stopped feeling as sick."
The second she said it, everything clicked. It explained why Kyoko had never gotten sick with the rot, despite being so vulnerable to other illnesses due to her curse. She had been exposed to dark magic—exposed to him—on a near constant basis for months before arriving in Mosall. Then, there were people like Kanae, who had experienced a sudden and powerful exposure she had been lucky enough to survive in the first place. The result: an immunity to the otherwise poisonous fumes.
It was a good theory, as Kuon saw it. Whether it was worth putting Hiroaki's life at risk was another question entirely. Kuon had seen men wither and die in an instant from that miasma. Hiroaki didn't deserve that. In the end, it would all depend on Lory. Even if he wasn't the king, he was Kuu's right hand man, and Kuu rarely went against Lory's counsel.
Lory rubbed his chin in thought, scratching several days' worth of stubble.
"What about the champions?" said Tsuyoshi. His sister, Itsumi, sent him a sudden searching look.
"What about them?" said Kanae.
"You said that powerful light users were protected from the rot. Is it likely they could survive?"
Before anyone could question it, Lory stepped in. "I'd rather not risk Mage Ogata, or the champions lives, on a hunch. While it sounds like a good theory, the fact is that we don't know. You and Kuon are the only people we know who can make it through the miasma."
Kuon's heart sunk. It hadn't been enough. Lory was still against it.
"Not to mention we need the champions to help fight the surge of monsters," said Dyrus. The king's personal guard was stationed near Kuu where he could see all entrances to the tent. The bulky man looked a little worn out, his beard bushier than last time Kuon's had seen it, but he remained was as intimidating as ever. "Even if this all works, we cannot hold against the monsters without proper walls or defenses. Without the champions, our defeat is all but guaranteed."
Kanae's eyebrow rose to her hairline. "You're suggesting we should retreat?"
"It is the most logical choice to make."
"Maybe, if you're a coward."
Kuon had wondered how long it would take for Kanae to insult someone. Her comment was the spark that reignited the flames of panic as Dyrus drew himself up, replying with his clipped own insult. It opened the doors for other comments, others to add their own fears and misgivings about Kanae's plan. Her head whipped back and forth as she shot down every comment, but they were coming in too fast. They surrounded her with their displeasure, her powerful voice barely audible in the mess that threatened to smother her. Her eyes were wide in fury and frustration.
She was trying. She was doing her best to get revenge for Kyoko and these men as obstacles in that pursuit. He knew in that moment that it wouldn't matter what they said. Kanae would enter that city and do everything she could to destroy the Accursed.
Seeing her, surrounded by the opposition, he suddenly understood what he and his dad looked like to the others. Suicidal. Crazy. Blinded by their own grief and pain. It made no sense to bring other people down if they were so determined to die. Kuu had his head down, one fist pressed into the wood of the table. Some might misinterpret his posture as a sign of defeat. Those people would also be the ones who couldn't see the desperate fire in his eyes.
"Kanae." Despite speaking her name softly, Kanae stopped mid-insult, ignoring the continued cacophony, and turning her sharp eyes to Kuon. He saw the resentment in them, but it wasn't the only thing there. He saw a trust and an impatience. She had been waiting for him to do something.
He walked around the table toward her, loosening the ties around his collar. The room was hot. Stuffy. "Would you mind getting everyone to shut up for a second?"
Her eyes narrowed, but she wove a spell that made a large bang, drawing the eyes of everyone, and startling them into silence. "Shut up, you withered cactuses! Your princely prince has something he wants to say. Yes, shut up—I said shut it!"
With everyone properly cowed, the room grew completely still. He felt it most heavily in the stares of Lory and his father. The only person who wasn't looking at Kuon was Shin, who was gazing at Kanae with open adoration. Kuon would never understand his cousin's tastes in women.
Ren pressed his knuckles into the table, gathering his thoughts. He had one shot to convince them. He couldn't mess it up.
"Rosa appeared to Kyoko in a dream once." He ignored the confused looks from the few that weren't caught up with everything. "Kyoko said it was hard to understand what was being said, but she got the general of idea of one thing: Rosa told her we had to destroy all the relics."
A map of the broken hills sat beneath his fingers, partially covered by the scattered papers. Several battle figurines had been knocked down, with white representing the king's forces and obsidian black representing the monsters. The enemies' black outstripped them by several multiple amounts.
"Our war with the Accursed has stretched for a thousand years," he said. "If we run now, there is nothing to stop the Accursed from reviving the Dark Djinn. With Rosa gone and our light magic hamstrung, how much longer do you think the war will last before the people of Ashuron are wiped from the map?"
No one answered. He hadn't expected them to. Their gazes bore into him, sweat trickling down his neck.
"I know what I'm asking of everyone," he continued. "Our forces are outnumbered. Most of us are already injured or tired from the long chase. We have civilians to tend to, no walls to bolster our defenses, and there is still no guarantee that we could find a way to destroy the Djinn. The army would be nothing more than a distraction for the monsters while Kanae and I tried to take down the Djinn. But—"
"It sounds like you're asking us to die so you can play hero," interrupted Tsuyoshi. The champion stood by his sister, exhibiting the displeasure most of the company displayed. "I'm sorry, but I have no interest in dying for no reason."
The others in the tent murmured in agreement. He was losing them…and maybe they had a point.
"Then leave." said Kuon. His father sent him a sharp look. "If you don't want to fight in the last opportunity to stop Vaith, that's your choice. Run. Let him kill you as you flee. But I…I choose to fight, one last time, even if it means fighting alone."
"You won't be alone," cut in Kanae. Her tilted eyes surveyed the rest of the group with contempt.
A few more people muttered insults at her barb. Kuon felt a hand on his shoulder, glancing over to see his father smiling proudly beside him.
"I will stay as well," said Kuu. He said it quietly, but his voice still carried, the room humming with quiet discussions. Kuon smiled in gratitude. His father always supported him, even if he hadn't always known the best way to do so. It was something he had taken for granted for too many years.
"If you are unwilling to fight," continued Kuu, raising his voice. "Then you are dismissed. Rest up and be ready to leave once the sun is down. I will not order you to stay."
The group stared in shock, stunned to be so quickly and easily dismissed. A few exchanged uneasy glances, obviously unwilling to be the first person to walk out of the room and turn their back on their king. Finally, one of the noblemen cursed. He turned on his heel and stomped out without so much as a salute in Kuu's direction.
The man's departure was the leak that sprung the dam. Others quickly followed. A scattered few stopped long enough to offer some pitiful excuse or salute to the king as they scuttled through the tent. When the room was more than half empty, the exodus finally stopped.
Kuon looked around, unsurprised at those that chose to remain: Kanae, Shin, Kuu, and a few generals of Mosall including Kuresaki. Most of the champions chose to remain as well.
Itsumi's brother tugged on her hand as he insisted that she leave.
"I'm staying." She shook her head, face pale but jaw set. "I can't leave like this."
Tsuyoshi realized everyone was looking at him. He scoffed, dropped his sister's hand, and stalked out of the room.
That just left a few of the noblemen from Mosall. Dyrus remained stationed by the king, looking as if it were any other Tuesday morning. Then there was Lory, glaring gently at Duchess Woods. She had an eyebrow raised, a silent dare for him to say something.
He finally broke eye contact.
"Well," said Lory, his voice tight. "That could have gone smoother."
Shin plopped into one of the many now vacant seats around the table, his energy high as always as he leaned his elbows on the table. "Nah, I don't think it could have. Look at it this way, it was effective at sifting the tares from the wheat."
"Effective, maybe, but a little too disastrous." Lory let out a long sigh. "Since your majesty doesn't listen to my counsel, I'll give you one last piece of advice I don't think you'll want to hear."
"And what is that?" said Kuu.
"Think of your family line," said Lory. "Both you and Kuon can't go into the den. Without Rosa, the only line of succession we have for the throne is through blood. As Kuon is an only child, when he dies, so too does your bloodline. We can't lose you both."
Kuon's eyes widened. He had completely forgotten about the line of succession. With Rosa dead, they would have to find a different way to select the next monarch. Most of their neighboring kingdoms passed the crown down from father to son. It would be the easiest to adopt.
"I'm not letting my son go down there alone," said Kuu. He hadn't even tried to deny the possibility of his death. That, somehow, made it worse. "Do you think I could ever look Julie in the eye again if I let him die alone?"
"It's your wife you need to think of," said Lory. "She will be left in charge after your death. And while I don't doubt her ability to lead, your combined deaths will crush her. Please, think of her. Think of your people."
Kuu shook his head. "No. I will not flee. As the king, I can't ask my countrymen to sacrifice what I would be unwilling to."
Lory let out a frustrated growl. This time, Kuon was with Lory.
"Dad, there's no reason for you to come with," said Kuon. "You should leave with the rest of the company—"
Kuu put up a commanding hand, forcing Kuon's arguments to come up short. "No. I am coming. I will not have any more of this."
"But Dad—"
"No! I will hear none of it."
Stubborn man! Kuon had always known where he had gotten his hard head from. He exchanged a frustrated look with Lory, who screwed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Someone has to go back," said Lory. "And next in the family line would be Shin."
"Bad idea," said Shin, grinning. "You send me away, I'm likely to turn around. You know how well I do with commands. Besides, with my reputation, no one will seriously accept me as king." He perked up, leaning over to Kanae and saying something quietly to her. She rolled her eyes in response and smacked him on the head.
"Your son is there," said Kuu. "Kouki Takarada will help Julie, and my niece Natsu is there as well. The kingdom will be in good hands. Unless you plan on leaving?"
Lory looked offended that Kuu would even suggest such a thing. "You know I will not do that, no matter how idiotic I think this is."
"Then it is decided."
No. Nothing was decided. By the looks of several other people in the room, he wasn't the only one uncomfortable with this idea. Ashuron needed their king. "Dad, please…"
The king looked over Kuon, giving his son his full attention, allowing the others to fade away into the background. Despite the heat of the conversation and the tension brought by their likely deaths, Kuu's determination did not waver. He gazed at Kuon with the same loving determination he always had.
"I will not go down in history as the coward king who could not fight for his country when the time came," said Kuu softly. "I will do as my ancestors did in the past and put my line on the life to protect my people."
It's not just about you.
Kuon heard the silent message. He lowered his eyes, the knot in his chest as large as before. He couldn't stop him.
Kuu surveyed the room, looking over the grim faces and wide eyes. These were the best of them. The ones that were willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the whole kingdom.
"I won't pretend it's likely we will survive," said Kuu softly. "But, as leaders, we must often put aside our own safety for the sake of those that rely on us. We will not back down. We will wipe this land free of the Dark Djinn's accursed touch. This is your last chance to leave. I will not blame you for your decision."
No one left. Kanae's chin was high, fire burning visibly behind her sharp eyes. Itsumi's gaze was on her lap again, but her hands had balled into fists. Kuresaki, Lory, the champions, Shin, they all stood their ground and waited for his command. Kuu's circlet glimmered in the spell-cast light.
Despite the knot in his chest, pride for his father swelled in Kuon. There would be no glory in their victory, were they even able to even claim it. Too much would be sacrificed, and they all knew it. Even so, they couldn't turn their back on their country.
"Very good." Kuu gestured to Kuon, all business and commanding as he pushed aside the gloom. "Kuon, Kanae. I believe the two of you are most familiar with the city and the situation with the Accursed. If you would…"
Kuon reached across the table and took three black figurines. Designed to allow their shape to change easily, Kuon channeled a spell to shift them into three separate designs: A circlet, a pendant, and a staff.
"The Archmage Hirotaka will be near the tree core and the Djinn's body." Kuon took another piece, shifting it to look like a bloated tree stump and set it in the center of Mosall. Next to it, he placed the staff. "He won't leave the Djinn or his inventions until it's complete. In that, he hasn't changed much. We can expect him to be nearby."
Kuon placed the circlet next to the staff, a brief flash of hate surfacing for what it represented.
"We can assume that Setsuko's impersonator will be here, waiting for me. She will expect me to go after the Djinn. Considering that she seems to be have personal grudge against me, we can bet on her being there."
Last, he placed the pendant at the front of the monster army.
"That leaves Miroku to lead the monsters," he said.
"What about the Axe-wielder?" said Kanae. "You forgot about him."
"He's dead," said Kuon. "He won't be an issue."
He pointed again to the group near the tree, ignoring the murmuring that had started.
"We can't let the Djinn be resurrected," he said. "The second the Djinn returns to full strength, this war is over. We will need to strike before the monsters arrive, but we need to allow at least some time for Kanae to recover before having her enter the caves. It will greatly increase our chance of success."
Kanae scoffed at the comment of her health. "Another thing to consider is who is down there," said Kanae. "Can you really expect Hirotaka to be idle during that time?"
Kuon squared his shoulders, taking four white pieces from their army and shaping them to represent the champions. It was time to bring the Accursed down.
"You're right," he said. "He will be waiting for us. It all depends on the fight at the tree, and the Accursed will know this. We will have to be ready for anything."
Itsumi couldn't keep up. The strategies of war were well out of expertise, and she knew little about defensive spells and actual combat. The men, including Kanae, bickered swiftly and effectively, pushing aside egos and ranking to compose a comprehensive plan in as short a time as possible. Even she with her little bit of knowledge could recognize that.
Her vision swam as tears pooled around her eyes. She wiped them away with her already damp handkerchief, doing her best to focus. Helplessness dragged her down to impotence. She could offer no real help. Her brother—her champion brother—had left them. He'd left her. There was no reason for her to be there, and yet, here she sat, just taking up space and air. She should be angry, but all she could manage was a small amount of disappointment.
She snapped back to the present when the king called for a break. They'd complete their first round of tasks before coming back together to reassess and make changes as needed.
Already? But they hadn't even talked about the most important detail. She stood up, tripping into the table in her haste. Her face burned from the embarrassment, but at least everyone was now paying attention to her.
"What about the bodies?"
At their stupefied expressions, Itsumi licked her lips nervously. "We need to do a ceremony. For the fallen. We can't just let them sit around. It will demoralize the people."
Hikaru needs peace, she thought. He needed a proper burial.
Understanding finally dawned on some of them, but the Duke shook his head.
"There are too many," said Lory. "Digging that many graves will take too much time and energy. Too many are still sick from the rot. Besides, this isn't exactly a decent burial site."
Itsumi opened her mouth to answer, but Kuon beat her to it.
"Let's give them a king's ceremony."
Her eyes widened, and she met his. For the first time since he'd broken his contract, she looked at the prince.
The difference was that of night and day. Though his hair and eyes remained black, the dark aura around him was gone. He looked tall, handsome, and strong. Everything that Ashuron needed in a crown prince. Were she not acquainted with him, she would have only seen strength…but she did know him. She saw the weight crushing his shoulders, even if he refused to bend to it. The sight brought more involuntary tears to her eyes as she thought about what he too had lost in this latest battle—what he was granting her with this suggestion.
"Let the flames of the phoenix send off our lost loved ones," continued Kuon. "They deserve it, after having lost so much. It will help restore hope as well as save us time."
A small smile tugged at the prince's lips. Itsumi hiccupped, pressing the handkerchief to her eyes.
Thank you, she thought fiercely, hoping the prince could feel her sincerity even if she didn't speak it. Thank you, for giving that to Hikaru. Kyoko. And my people.
No one objected to the suggestion. The king gestured to Lory. "Spread the word. We will hold the ceremony at twilight. We will send off our dead."
The funeral service was held in a smallish depression near the base of the hills, the jagged skyline serving as a backdrop. There was no conceivable way everyone could see what was happening, but that didn't stop everyone save a few scouts from turning up to bid farewell to their dead.
Throughout the day family members had laid their loved ones in the recess, wrapping them with the few colored fabric they'd managed to bring or pressing a handmade prayer stone into their burial shrouds. Color dotted the crowd of the dead with small spell-cast lights casting a warm glow over the otherwise monochrome slate. At the front of all this lay a large stone, the top flattened and long enough to lay a single body.
Kuon could barely tear his eyes away from Kyoko, her hands folded carefully together with a string of beads tying them together. Dozens of people stopped by her grave, placing prayer stones and anything of color that they could find to place beside her. His heart swelled with each addition, watching silently as a little boy, still holding his mother's hand, dropped a shabby flower next to the increasing pile. The mother met Kuon's eyes, offering a grateful bow before continuing on. It wasn't much, not near what Kyoko deserved, but it was more than what he had expected.
"I'm surprised," he said, watching another family leave a stone by her grave. "That this many would offer their respects."
He stood next to his dad, Lory on the other side. The three of them were situation in their customary place apart from the crowd, overseeing the preparations as well as the ceremony. The king and Lory both wore a sash of white, customary attire for the funeral service of this kind. Kuon himself didn't wear one, unable and unwilling to find anything to replace the dark tatters he wore.
"Rumors have been going around the people," said Kuu. "About who Cain was, who you are, and—most importantly—your assistance in the escape from Mosall. You saved a lot of lives, Kuon. As did Kyoko, with finding a cure for the rot. These are the people willing to acknowledge their mistakes in hating you and offer up gratitude."
Kuon said nothing. A figure he recognized strode up to Kyoko.
Kanae didn't offer anything to Kyoko's side. She just stared in silence, anger outlining every sharp angle of her jaw and eyes. Though both were completely void of the tears that glistened on so many others, her grief was obvious. The warrior lifted her chin, stalking off without saying a single word.
From somewhere in the throng, music started. It began with a single voice, then others joining them until it merged into a soft yet powerful melody. Everyone was done laying their offerings—everyone but Kuon and one other.
Someone still stood by Kyoko, not having moved for several minutes.
Kuon met his father's eye, seeking for approval. At the King's nod, Kuon took the torch that stood on a pole by their side, approaching the slab of rock where Kyoko lay. He stopped just short of it, wary.
"Sho," said Kuon.
He meant it as a greeting, but it sounded more like a reprimand. The musician finally turned to face him; eyes dry despite the red riming them. Anger radiated from Sho.
"How can you stand there looking so calm?" said Sho, his voice strangely cool. "She gave up everything for you. This is your fault."
"I know." It felt good to have someone else agree with him, even if it was Sho. The ceaseless love and support were almost suffocating when all he wanted to do was blame himself. Maybe he should have sought out Kanae or Sho earlier.
Sho's anger deepened to a pure loathing as he stepped closer, snarling openly.
"You were supposed to be better," said Sho. "I may have wasted her love, but you wasted her life. She's dead and… and."
Sho's anger suddenly deflated, looking away back to Kyoko. He gave a scoff, kicking a rock with his shoe.
"She was wrong to place her faith in you," he said to the ground. "Damn idiot."
The musician moved away, shoulder-checking Kuon as he did so. It knocked the torch from his hand, and he fumbled to catch it. His fingers closer around the wrong end, wincing as the flames singed his hand. He turned it back the right way, his hand pink from the burn. Ah, that's right. He didn't heal anymore.
He lowered his hand slowly, reaching into his pocket and bringing something out. The broken sapphire gleamed even more brightly in the fading twilight. He took the final step forward, looking over Kyoko.
A long red veil crested her brow as it flowed down her back and framed her body. Her face was calm and serene, but it almost didn't even look like her anymore. A fake hue of pink dusted her cheek in an attempt to hide their pallor and her lips were deathly white. The life and blood that had flowed through her was now rigid and stagnant.
Kuon gently lifted one of her hands, placing the stone under her palm. He activated the spell he had reinstalled within, his soul registering the location. It was frivolous and stupid, but he wanted to know where she was, even if it didn't matter anymore. He still wanted her light to guide him.
"Just for now," said Kuon. "I wish I could have found a crystal aster, but this was all I had. Be patient. You won't be alone for long."
He bent down and kissed her brow, taking a step back. Then he hesitated, torch light dancing in his hands.
There was something final about this. Something irreversible in burning Kyoko's body. He thought he'd accepted her death but as he struggled to lower the torch, he realized it hadn't sunk in. He was still hoping for some miracle. Something that would bring her back to him and make everything okay. After all they had been through, it couldn't be over like this.
But the seconds ticked by, and he felt the eyes of the throng on him. They were waiting for him to release their dead and bring them closure. How could he be capable of doing that for them when he couldn't even manage it for himself?
He swallowed as a fresh wave of tears flowed from his eyes. His arms felt weak and his feet leaden. There was no turning back from this.
Slowly, his heart protesting every second, Kuon lowered the torch.
The fire ignited, running down the length of the stone and racing through the gaps. It spread to the burial grounds below, lighting the depression in a warm glow. He heard gasps from the crowd as the flame licked up the bodies in an instant, sending them off to their gods with the Phoenix's blessing. Other lights soon joined the previous hovering ones, the souls of their loved ones departing.
Though her resting place had been lit first, Kyoko was last to be devoured by the fire. His eyes watered from the intensity of the flames as she slowly disappeared.
"It won't be long, Kyoko," he said as she finally disappeared. One final tear splashed on his chest, hissing as it vanished from the heat of the flames. This wasn't a goodbye. He would see her soon.
The prince was already weakening; despite his best efforts to hide it, Lory could see it plain as day. Lory had spent too many hours in his office with Kuon to be fooled by the prince's brave front. They were running out of time, and Lory was utterly helpless to stop it.
Instead, Lory watched the fire. Watched it so intently it made his eyes water. Every bit of him prayed that this was the right choice—that this would give them the miracle they needed. Kuon's back obscured much of his vision, but it didn't hinder his prayers.
Beside him, Kuu shifted in his seat to lean closer.
"What is it?" said the king, without looking away from the fire. "I know that expression. You're scheming something."
"No schemes," said Lory, voice low. "Just hoping."
The king tilted his head in confusion. "Hoping for what?"
"That the fire will revive the Phoenix."
It had been coincidence that Kuon had suggested it, not Lory, to burn Kyoko's body. He had been planning to, with or without permission. The chance of raising Rosa from the ashes was too important.
Kuu sucked in a breath, the sound choked and desperate. He didn't seem to release it for several minutes. When he eventually did, his voice was low and fierce in its yearning. "Do you think Kyoko will return as well?"
"I don't know if Rosa will return at all," said Lory wearily. "Which was why I didn't say anything to the prince."
It would be cruel to give him a glimpse of hope only to have it dashed to pieces once more. With every second the fire continued to burn without Rosa's appearance, he felt validated in his caution. The other fires were slowly fading out, leaving their once blazing valley to the mercy of the soft moonlight. No stars were out that night, the world growing darker and colder with each minute.
"They will have to hold another funeral in just a few days," said Kuu softly. "Let's pray that someone will be alive to see it."
Tears pooled in the king's eyes, and Lory knew it wasn't just for the dead. It was for those that he knew would soon join them. The prince stood a little closer to the heat than was probably safe, but he didn't seem to feel it.
Lory felt his own eyes burn as the minutes continued to pass. The fires eventually went out, embers cooling to a midnight black with no phoenix in sight.
They were truly alone.
Thank you for reading! I'm trying my best to not drag the ending out and write, but my brain is just so dead when I get home from work and finish helping my son to bed. Not including holiday insanity. Anyway, I'm hoping this will all start rolling pretty fast here in the next few chapters. Thank you for all your patience! This community is so supportive and amazing, it is truly one of a kind.
-Blushweaver.
T.T
-Imouto
And, for the first time on editing, Mr. Blushweaver!
-Mr. Blush