Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 7
Chapter 45: Requiem of a Chrysalis
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
It had been three days since the orgy as I was back home in my office while making funeral plans for C'Torrha. The letter that was addressed to me was proof of her death as I looked at the report of what went down in the Westerian town of Bramblewood. The ambush was too much as I read more about what happened in which the friend who was with me on Shiganshina met a tragic end, but not without sacrifice. It wasn't long until I saw Reiko coming into my office as she was saddened by what was heard as I even told her about what happened to C'Torrha on the ride home on the train. The Chonoid who lived on Shiganshina would soon be laid to rest as we both had to pay our last respects to our fallen friend, for this wasn't over for our enemies, the Executive Division.
"This isn't right," I said as I looked at the letter on my desk.
"C'Torrha was a good friend, but she would be sad if she saw you that way," said Reiko
"The townsfolk in Bramblewood were saved by her in which the mayor of the town decided to have a mourning period up to seven days. As for the Executive Division, their reign of terror has spread everywhere and there's no end to it."
"Farewell, C'Torrha…"
I saw Reiko shedding tears as I did my best to comfort her in this darkest hour. As for dealing with the loss of a friend, I had to attend the funeral as it was my way of honoring the one who was there with us on Shiganshina. The very loss of it made us ache as it was too much to bear in which C'Torrha was a close friend who fought to the bitter end. Picking up the letter, I was looking at it as I noticed a recording device on my desk. Picking it up, I turned it on as I heard C'Torrha's voice one last time, for she was there defending Bramblewood till her last breath.
"To whoever gets this, it is known that I have fallen on the battlefield," I heard her say. "The soldiers that were crafted from the late Darbus Toller have entered into the town and have overwhelmed the townsfolk. I fear that I will never relay my message to those in the Order, including my close friends, for I will unleash my final stage of spores on the soulless soldiers who have come to terrorize the townsfolk even further. I cannot let the people suffer, for I will unleash my spores on my enemies, even at the expense of sacrificing myself in the process. My name is C'Torrha and this is my final message, signing off and to always keep fighting."
I set the recording down as I wept with a huge sorrow. C'Torrha's loss was yet another reminder of how this war was escalating from a power grab to total terror. All I did was weep as I clutched at the letter in my hand, for the loss of a friend in this war was something that gutted me the most…
A few days ago…
C'Torrha arrived on Westeros after conducting missions to put a damper on the Executive Division's terrorism that has gripped the entire Ashizoka System. After getting some information about Lorne and Liesel's dangerous involvement into sending their soldiers and Ketch machines here on Westerian soil, she couldn't let it slide as she saw many of the soulless fiends causing havoc all over. When she entered into the town of Bramblewood, she noticed the townsfolk harvesting their fruits and vegetables for the upcoming autumn as August was coming to a close and coming into September. The warm air in the final days of summer was soothing, but not for long as C'Torrha was ready to file a report to her superiors before leaving for the Order's main headquarters on Westeros. The day was calming until she saw a wounded soldier from the Westerian Army staggering towards her. He was not doing too well as he had a message to give to whoever was in the Order. It wasn't long until C'Torrha took the letter from his hand as she read it gingerly, for the bad news would soon reach everyone involved in this long and grueling war.
"It's a message for Lady Shion," said the wounded soldier.
"I see that some of your military's dissenters would conduct more chaos by going to the capital of Raithwall," said C'Torrha. "Their mounting disapproval of their matriarchal monarchy continues to grow after the latter brought the Medical Corps to help tend to the wounded."
"Nicole Tetrax is the worst when she even praised her father for killing any medical worker who dared to tend to those in need." The wounded soldier groaned in pain as he was being swamped by his injuries. "Damn them for committing treason on the Empress and her family."
It wasn't long until C'Torrha saw another Chonoid arriving as she was dressed up in Medical Corps garb. C'Torrha recognized her as she was someone that grew up with her on Dorne years ago, for she was using her extra appendages to craft a silken webbing for bandaging. When C'Torrha saw the other Chonoid get out her medical kit and open it up to get out some alcohol towelettes to clean up the wounded soldier's injuries. The gash on the soldier's left leg was horrible as the other Chonoid cleaned it up as best as she could while applying some gauze and her silken webbing to wrap it up with. By the time the soldier was bandaged up, he was ready to be carted to the clinic as two members of the Medical Corps came with a stretcher to get him to safety the moment he was carted away. It was clear that war showed no prejudice, for it was also merciless as well.
"It's been years since we both left Dorne, K'Vayii," said C'Torrha.
"It's been hell for everyone in this ongoing war," she said gravely. "With Kazuo Mitani dead and Reuben Winchester succeeding the Medical Corps, the new Medic General has been working round the clock."
"The dissenters from the Westerian Army are plotting to attack Raithwall and that is not all." C'Torrha looks at the further message on the bottom of the letter. "They even sided with the Executive Division to overthrow the royal family who rule this planet."
"We cannot let that happen. The military on this planet is already suffering enough trauma as it is, but there's not enough to stop this insurrection."
Without warning, a surge of soulless dolls in gold armor arrived as C'Torrha recognized them very well. She noticed them pulling out their guns as they were ready to shoot in which they showed no mercy in their onslaught, for they won't let up in their dangerous tactics. The townsfolk around Bramblewood were running for their lives as the sound of gunfire filled the air. It wasn't long until C'Torrha was ready to protect the townsfolk as she didn't want the soulless dolls causing damage to everyone, for this war has gone far enough.
"V'Kayii, get everyone out of here!" she yelled.
"What about you?" she asked.
"I noticed that our enemies have been causing havoc to collect souls as profit for Crossroad demons. I won't let it continue! The ones who I showed respect to will usher this galaxy into a golden age, for I also want the Second Galvanic Uprising to end!"
V'Kayii gathered up most of the townsfolk as she ushered them to an underground bunker. As for C'Torrha, on the other hand, she wasn't afraid of death as she was willing to protect the needy from the clutches of the Executive Division, for their wrath was now all over the cosmos so far. Just as she was about to release her spores, she was shot in the chest as she was reeling from the wound she sustained. The black blood from her body was flowing out of her as she refused to give up in battle in which she didn't want anyone else be fodder for the Executive Division, even at the cost of her life.
"I have lived my life in both shame and redemption, but I cannot let my duty be in vain!" she said as she fished out a recording device. "To whoever gets this, it is known that I have fallen on the battlefield. The soldiers that were crafted from the late Darbus Toller have entered into the town and overwhelmed the townsfolk. I fear that will never relay my message to those in the Order, including my close friends, for I will release my final stage of spores on the soulless soldiers who have come to terrorize the townsfolk even further. I cannot let the people suffer, for I will release my spores on my enemies, even at the expense of sacrificing myself in the process. My name is C'Torrha and this is my final message, signing off and to always keep fighting."
The onslaught of the soulless dolls was inching closer as C'Torrha was ready to lay down her life to protect the townsfolk in Bramblewood. She wasn't about to go down without a fight as she shed her skin into her final form in which she unleashed a torrent of spores down on her enemies the moment they dissolved their insides on contact. With her wounded body already compromised, she noticed the soulless dolls dead while standing as she shedded a tear the moment she was glad that no one was hurt, for it was her final act of duty as a member of the Order after all.
"Farewell, my friends…, for I am grateful to fight till the bitter end…," she said while taking her last breath. "I leave the rest to you, Sam, for you are a god after all…"
It wasn't long until C'Torrha turned into a chrysalid husk in which the townsfolk were both relieved and saddened by her death. The wounded soldier staggered out as he saw C'Torrha's chrysalid husk on the ground in which he prayed for her the moment she sacrificed herself to protect everyone. It wasn't long until an Order of Letters ship arrived as it touched down in a clearing. When James got out of the ship, he saw V'Kayii standing near the chrysalid husk of where C'Torrha stood as she wept in front of it, for she was saddened by the sacrifice of her close friend.
"Damn it," said James as he also saw the soulless dolls that were dead from the spores. "C'Torrha must have unleashed the spores on Darbus' fall collection before her passing."
"C'Torrha…," said V'Kayii as she wept. "May the Terran God grant you mercy so you can reunite with your mate and children in the Grey Havens…"
"I'm glad that everyone is safe, but we should honor C'Torrha's sacrifice to protect everyone in this town."
It wasn't long until the mayor of Bramblewood emerged from the bunker as he was shocked to see C'Torrha's chrysalid husk on the ground. He was saddened to see the Chonoid lay down her life as he saw the recording device on the ground the moment he picked it up and gave it to James. He was eager to give this recording to me right away as he had to let me know about what went down in the first place, for he was loathing the Executive Division for their malignant tactics on the sly.
"It's not right to see someone die on the battlefield," he said gravely.
"But this insect saved our lives," said the mayor. "No, I won't let her death be in vain. She will be mourned in a week of mourning, for her sacrifice saved us from death."
"C'Torrha's death won't be in vain after all, for she saved you and your kin from becoming soul harvesting fodder, which was once used in the Elder Days. As for our fallen friend in the Order, let's hope that she gets the peace she deserves…"
James prayed in front of C'Torrha's chrysalid husk as he was saddened by the loss of my fallen friend. Still, he was no stranger on the battlefield as he was a war veteran who saw tragedy that came and went, for he had to tell me about C'Torrha's sacrifice immediately…
Meanwhile, back in the present…
I arrived in Bramblewood by train as I saw everyone surrounding C'Torrha's chrysalid husk praying while others were bringing flowers and stuffed animals to it. Even the wounded soldier who saw C'Torrha before her death was praying as he was also holding his crutches in his hands, for he didn't forget about how her sacrifice saved everyone from the onslaught of Darbus' leftovers. I also prayed for my fallen friend as I felt sadness for the one that I met during my exile on Shiganshina at the time. The townsfolk who were here in Bramblewood were busy gathering up the soulless dolls that were dead as they piled them up and had them salted and burned in a clearing with dirt. I also noticed James offering help to those who were traumatized by the invading soldiers as they were also enjoying a meal that consisted of tteokgalbi with rice and kimchi on the side. I was happy to see him consoling everyone affected by the trauma as they were also thankful that C'Torrha laid down her life to protect them from the Executive Division's wrath.
"I got her final letter," I said.
"The mayor of this town is grateful for your friend's sacrifice, but he doesn't want the chrysalid husk to be moved out of here," said James.
"C'Torrha was born on Dorne, but died on Westeros in which her chrysalid husk must be returned to her homeworld for burial."
"We should make an exception for this, Sam. C'Torrha's husk may not reach Dorne, but we should also bury it here in Bramblewood in which the townsfolk are grateful that she saved them."
"Fair enough…"
I used my raw power to cover C'Torrha's chrysalid husk as it became an entombing mound to honor her memory. I felt sadness as I prayed for my fallen friend in which she was someone that was with me, for her sacrifice wouldn't be in vain after all.
"Well, C'Torrha, at least you're at peace," I said as use my hands to clasp in prayer. "I don't know much about your life other than you losing your mate and children, but you had friends with you on Shiganshina in which I was more than glad that I met you. Even Reiko was happy to meet you in which she helped you when you felt sad. It seems that the mayor had made you the patron saint of this town in which you laid down your life for the greater good. Be at peace, my friend, for may the gods watch over you in the afterlife…"
It wasn't long until V'Kayii walked towards me as she knelt in front of me in which I was viewed as the god of the entire Ashizoka System. I never expected adulation before, but I had to accept it as I also had to comfort those who have lost close friends and loved ones on the battlefield. I was loathing this war as I wanted to put an end to it by destroying both Project Amaterasu and Project Helios altogether, for I hated the Second Galvanic Uprising already.
"You knew C'Torrha very well," said V'Kayii as she stood up.
"You were a friend of hers, weren't you?" I said.
"C'Torrha and I grew up on Dorne in which we were dealt the worst hand. We were close friends when we lived in the Great Hive until a group of greedy Terrans came in and were threatening to destroy us. It was when the Order gave them a cease and desist letter in which they never came back until some of the Terrans who lived on Dorne ganged up on C'Torrha in which one of their own fell in love with her. We Chonoids are an all-female race like the Trostians, but we breed with only men of our choosing. When I saw C'Torrha's mate killed, the one who did it left a sulphur trail in which her own children were also dead in their eggshells."
"So, it was a demon who killed C'Torrha's family…"
"I was the one who tracked the killer in which he was what you described with his eyes flashing black. It was also when I found an angel blade on the ground in which I up and killed him in order to avenge the family that C'Torrha worked hard for. Even though they were avenged, it didn't stop the Gar'Vanat from enacting their decree of banishment towards my close friend. It was cruel and unjust in which I vowed to have my own methods of justice, but I decide to heal instead of fight."
"Your people on Dorne should've had leniency and compassion towards C'Torrha, not banish her."
"The Gar'Vanat view family as sacred and if one loses what they created or the other way around, they are banished from Dorne to rot in space. When I got word that C'Torrha fled all the way to Shiganshina, she sought friendship and solace to the Khajiit widower who lost his own mate in which they made their homes in the old Draaza ship that was embedded in the Dabb Mountains. I just wished that there was more sympathy and compassion instead of exclusion." I see V'Kayii shed tears as she broke down crying. "I can't stand all the loneliness that tears us all asunder. It's not right that C'Torrha got dealt a losing hand when she lost her family, only to be banished from the only home she knew. Now that she's gone, her body is in a much bigger housing husk in which you crafted it to give her a proper resting place instead of the cold void of space. If only everyone on my homeworld would be more lenient than banishing those who lost loved ones. It's not right!"
I had sympathy for V'Kayii as I saw her kneeling in front of C'Torrha's resting place in which she prayed for peace to her fallen friend. From what I have heard, I wasn't too happy with the outdated laws that the Great Hive enacted on Dorne as I had both great sadness and sympathy for what happened to my fallen friend that I knew on Shiganshina. Still, I honored her sacrifice as I also vowed to end this long and weary war, for Project Amaterasu and Project Helios were next on the docket…
Shion was in her office in the Order's main headquarters on Westeros as she was looking at the report that happened in Bramblewood. The death of C'Torrha sent shockwaves as the Order was mostly on edge in which Shion was saddened by the loss. Even though the crisis was averted in that town, there was also the fact that the Dornian Government was wanting to bring her corpse back, but it wouldn't be easy as the arrival of the Dornian ambassador was simply about to be nervewracking and neverending as well. The Dornian ambassador was a human as she was dressed in regal garb with carrot red hair and hazel eyes, for she was demanding to return C'Torrha's corpse to her homeworld for burial soon enough.
"I see that you come in unannounced," said Shion.
"I demand that the Chonoid's corpse be returned to Dorne," said the Dornian ambassador.
"I can't grant you that request, for the governing body of the Great Hive has banished her from her homeworld years ago."
"How could you deny a Chonoid a proper resting place when she died on foreign planetary soil? What will my people think if they won't get back the fallen, banished or not. As for the Great Hive that the Chonoids live in, they have no say but my government sees it fit to bring C'Torrha's corpse home for burial."
"According to the townsfolk there in Bramblewood, the mayor there refuses to offer it back home in which he noticed a husk covering the body in which it serves as a resting place for a fallen friend like the one who was banished from her homeworld. Even V'Kayii of the Medical Corps told me about how the Gar'Vanat in the Great Hive refuses to welcome back anyone who has lost their family from tragedy. Therefore, family is sacred to Chonoid traditions on your homeworld in which it is prized above anything else."
"How dare you do this to the Dornian people?! How dare you?! Denying a Dornian a proper rest on their homeworld is grave sin to my people! If I had my way, I would abolish the Chonoid's moral police, the Gar'Vanat, and install funeral arrangements to welcome the fallen back to my homeworld! Do you know what will happen if the body isn't returned to Dorne? It will cause famine everywhere in which it will never be sated when it comes to everyone succumbing to their fates!"
"I've heard enough! Like it or not, C'Torrha's body stays put in Bramblewood, is that clear to you?! I have respect for your people, but if one of your own is banished from your homeworld, he or she is never allowed to return to it again. As for your 'famine' story, it's all a hoax just to scare people to return the banished against the wishes of your own government and the Gar'Vanat that governs the Chonoids that live in the Great Hive. You can't go above the law on this and neither can I."
"Watch me!"
It wasn't long until the Dornian ambassador pulled out a gun as she pointed it directly at Shion. She wasn't about to let her keep C'Torrha's body here on Westeros as she was itching to force her to give it up against the wishes of her own government. Shion sensed the anger in the Dornian ambassador as she also refused to give up C'Torrha's corpse, for it already had a resting place in Bramblewood after all.
"Give up the body!" yelled the Dornian ambassador as she was ready to pull the trigger.
"How petty of you to pull a gun on me," said Shion as she pulled out a short sword. "You know that you don't bring a gun to a knife fight, but pulling it on me? You should pay more attention to what the government on your homeworld say instead of pulling a gun on the one person who is trying so hard to keep the Executive Division away from Westeros."
"C'Torrha was born on my homeworld of Dorne and all Dornians must be returned to their place of their birth!"
"Khivra, do not overstep your duties as ambassador!" said an Alpha Chonoid as she came into Shion's office. "You dare to pull a gun on Lady Shion and you will risk your job being revoked, so I suggest that you cease and desist."
"What about the fallen, Qo'Ornha? Would you do the same if you were in my shoes?"
"C'Torrha may have been banished from Dorne, but her place is here in which the people in that village were thankful for her sacrifice."
Khivra stormed out of Shion's office as Qo'Ornha was happy to intervene in order to keep her fellow Dornian in her place. Even though the Alpha Chonoid arrived here on time, she was also saddened by the loss of C'Torrha despite the fact that she was banished from Dorne all those years ago. Still, there was the final respects to a close ally, but there would also be discord coming from Khivra's constant anger towards those who refused to return the fallen Dornians back to her homeworld, for this wasn't over yet.
"I can't dishonor the town of Bramblewood, but C'Torrha's corpse must be returned to Dorne," said Shion. "Khivra will finally get her way after all, but there will also be consequences."
"No, C'Torrha's corpse will stay put in Bramblewood, for she will be on the path to sainthood after saving the townsfolk," said Qo'Ornha.
"The Dornian ambassador pulled a gun on me earlier. I can't piss her off any further than what I can muster."
"Do not forget, Shion Ashizoka, that the Westerian people are fervent worshipers of saints who watched over their towns and villages. C'Torrha's presence in Bramblewood will offer the townsfolk hope in which her sacrifice won't be in vain."
"I just hope that our flighty ambassador doesn't disrupt the funeral…"
Shion was hoping that no one else would cause more problems as she had too much at stake. As for the loss of C'Torrha, it was felt not only in the Order, but to all who had seen her protect those in need, for it was her legacy to do so till the end…
I stood in front of C'Torrha's burial mound as I saw the various flowers and stuffed animals adorning it. I felt bereaved from seeing the resting place of my fallen friend as I continued to pray in front of it. The passing of a close ally was too much for me to bear as I remembered my time with C'Torrha during the exile on Shiganshina, for I couldn't bear to lose any more friends who have fought at my side. The memories of my time with my family on Shiganshina started to flood me as I was starting to have a panic attack. The squeezing pain in my chest was too much for me as I collapsed onto the ground in which I couldn't contain my grief any longer. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, I saw James rush to my aid as he noticed me hyperventilating from the panic attack that I was suffering from, for he was no stranger to seeing people suffer from bereavement.
"Take it easy, Sam," he said to me. "You need to slow your breathing down."
I was calmed down as I was at the mercy of James, who was concerned about my mental health. The fragility of what I suffered from was starting to weigh heavy on me as I broke down crying in front of C'Torrha's resting place. I wanted to save her. I wanted to do more as she was more than just a banished Chonoid who lived her life on Shiganshina, for she was our friend who was there to stop the Executive Division till she drew her last breath. All I did was weep for the one ally who greeted me and my family when we left Alecrast after the Gale Canyon incident, for I couldn't contain my sadness any longer.
"I could've saved you," I said as I wept near C'Torrha's grave. "I could've been there for you when I had the chance." I continued to shed more tears than I could normally muster as I couldn't contain my grief. "I'm so sorry for not being there. I should've known about it earlier… I'm so sorry for not saving you. Please, forgive me…"
"C'Torrha wouldn't have wanted you to break down like that," said James cautiously. "From what I heard from Reiko that your friend had a lot worse when she was banished from her home after she lost her mate and children. Chonoids who live in the Great Hive on Dorne must value family the most in which it is very sacred to them and if they lose it by accident or not, they're automatically banished from their homeworld to live in misery elsewhere. A Chonoid must never speak against the Gar'Vanat or else they will face execution or banishment."
"When I fled with my family to Shiganshina, C'Torrha was living there in the Dabb Mountains in which she mourned the loss of the family she wanted to cultivate, only to see them killed and the one who did it was a demon."
"Is it Plantagenet?"
"Plantagenet?"
"He is Milverton's right-hand man in which he also had a habit for rubbing people the wrong way in which he had the gall to possess innocent people who had close ties with the Order."
"Seto told me about him in which he bore a grudge against Reuben for having a demon exorcised. He even had the gall to possess Elise in which he wanted to use her body to drown herself with."
"Plantagenet is a demon who is into a lot of men than women in which one of his gay lovers turned out to be a man who got suckered into making a demon deal to get rid of his wife, only to be in Hell instead. For the record, Plantagenet also had an obsession with the man that C'Torrha loved, only to reject him in which he retaliated by having the latter killed along with the offspring that were cultivated. The bastard is dangerous, Sam. He even gives gay people a bad name in which some of them want nothing to do with him, but he's not without having Milverton's minions watching his every move. The last gay man who saw Plantagenet went into hiding in which he even warded his own slug roe home with Devil's Traps all over it, but he blew the whistle and gave the info to Seto."
"Thank you for the information…"
Without warning, I fainted onto the ground as I was overwhelmed by the lingering sadness that gripped me since C'Torrha's death. The lingering bereavement took a toll on my body as it was too much to bear, for I felt the grief holding me down like a vise grip. It was too much for me as I lost another friend who was close to me, for my sadness and bereavement were more than enough to put me through the ringer…
I was dreaming as I found myself in a structure that resembled a cluster of withered trees and oversized honeycombs. It wasn't long until I saw C'Torrha coming home as she saw a man dressed in a white suit and pink shirt as he had a brown mullet and brown eyes while standing in front of some smashed insectoid eggs. She saw him to be a demon as his eyes flashed black in which he also had bloodstains on his clothes the moment she saw her mate dead on the wall. The sight of the tragedy horrified me as I saw C'Torrha threatening to go after him until he fled in a plume of smoke. What happened afterwards was very saddening indeed as I saw C'Torrha remove her mate's corpse as she cradled him in her arms. I never saw her weep out in the open before until I woke up in a room that was similar to that from a bed and breakfast inn. What I didn't expect was that I noticed the door opening up as I saw Shion enter in which Qo'Ornha followed her in, for they were ready to pay their respects to my fallen friend.
"I should've saved her," I said as I looked away in grief.
"There was nothing you could've done, Sam," said Shion.
"C'Torrha suffered so much and she died protecting everyone till her last breath."
"We Chonoids mourn for our own just like Terrans weep for the loss of a close friend or loved one," said Qo'Ornha. "C'Torrha was a close friend who got dealt a tragic end, but she wouldn't have wanted to be resurrected from the dead, My Lord."
"I know… I've met her when I first saw her on Shiganshina in which she even told me stories about how she longed for a family, only to see her mate and children taken away from her. No…, I'll put an end to the Executive Division once I shut down Project Amaterasu and Project Helios. It's best that C'Torrha will rest easily in the Grey Havens."
"I have heard stories about how your past self was first killed by the one called Jake Talley, only for his brother to resurrect him at a price with only one year to live. Both yours and the Hunter Corps captain's have been killed off and resurrected several times in which they both died and finally resided in the Grey Havens in the clothes they wore in their encounter with La Llorona in the Elder Days."
I felt the grief bogging me down as I felt a much deeper sadness for C'Torrha, who lost her life defending Bramblewood from the Executive Division's soldiers. Still, I wanted to save her, but all I did was mourn for her loss as I continued to shed tears for my fallen friend. Qo'Ornha never saw me with such sadness and grief before as she now knew of how much that C'Torrha meant to me as a close friend, for she was someone who found a family in all of us after her devastating loss till the end.
"You still shed tears for the fallen, My Lord," she said.
"C'Torrha's chrysalid husk will remain here in Bramblewood, for the people here viewed her as someone who saved them from the wrath of the Executive Division," I said.
"Then so be it," said Shion. "Even though the Dornian ambassador still gets pissy at us for having to keep C'Torrha's corpse buried here in Bramblewood, the mayor of this town had a final say to pay respect for the one who fell in battle."
I got up from the bed as I left the room in which I was in the main lobby of the bed and breakfast inn I was put at. What I also didn't expect was that there were several members of the Order waiting for me as they were aware that I was unharmed. Still, I had to preside over a funeral as I left the building and walked towards the burial mound where C'Torrha's corpse was put into. The sight of the many flowers and stuffed animals adorned the mound as I was now ready to issue my final respects to my fallen friend, for she was someone that found comfort after enduring a loss. With the members of the Order and the townsfolk coming to pay their respects, I was more than ready to give C'Torrha a proper funerary blessing to her way to the Grey Havens, for she was a close friend who gave up her life to protect those in need.
"We are gathered here to pay tribute to our honored dead," I said. "In life, C'Torrha was both banished and exiled while living her life on Shiganshina. When Shion sought her out, she didn't regret her choice to join the Order after dealing with the soulless dolls that Darbus Toller crafted to go after me with. She was a warrior who endured loss, but gained friends in this ongoing war against the Executive Division, for she will be both missed and revered. Alas, C'Torrha, you were a good woman who protected those in need who will never forget your sacrifice in this battle, for your deeds will never be in vain. Be at peace, for there will be those who are waiting for you to enter into the Grey Havens…"
I heard the sound of Amazing Grace blaring through a set of bagpipes as I saw the other members of the Order pay their respects to C'Torrha. What I didn't expect was that rain was falling down as I also noticed Shion and Qo'Ornha coming out of the inn and paid their final respects to my fallen friend, for her sacrifice will never be forgotten in this time of war…
Liesel was in an old bunker as she was not too happy with the outcome of the battle in Bramblewood a few days ago. She was itching to put a new one in the Order for foiling her plans as she was growing weary of failure. When she was about to depart, she saw Lorne returning as he was itching to operate the Sol-3 that was hovering above Westerian aerospace. Project Amaterasu was waiting in the wings as both Lorne and Liesel were ready to go after the ultimate prize just to do so, for they weren't about to lose this war on the horizon.
"I almost had Bramblewood until that bug stepped in and killed our artificial dolls!" yelled Liesel.
"We still have Project Amaterasu to operate with," said Lorne.
"We're not about to back out of this shit, Lorne! We've already lost Tobias and Julilla to the likes of that walking freak!"
"We need him alive, sister! If he is dead, then there goes the possibility of activating Project Amaterasu. His raw power it needed to bring out the core of any form of planet, for it's vital to have him be the ultimate prize in this war that Tobias started."
"Have it your way then, but the ultimate prize won't stay alive for long!"
Liesel made it clear that she wanted me dead as she would stop at nothing to bring Project Amaterasu to fruition. When she stepped out of the bunker, she saw a white crow perched on top of a tree branch as it was a sign of an omen in her favor. She was ready to cause more havoc here on Westeros as the time to jumpstart Project Amaterasu was about to begin…
I was on my way home as I took the train out of Bramblewood and straight back to Tenzo Village. Even after I paid my final respects to C'Torrha, I was grateful that she saved the townsfolk from the wrath of the Executive Division as I viewed her actions as heroic till the end. By the time that the train reached the station, it stopped as I got out of it in which I was ready to return to the castle. Just as I was about to do so, I saw Reiko standing in front of me as she was happy to see me home. When I saw her running towards me, I hugged her warmly as I wanted to be home with her and the rest of my family, for I had been through enough tragedy for one day.
"I paid my final respects for C'Torrha," I said.
"C'Torrha would've wanted you to give her peace and comfort," said Reiko.
"There's already been enough tragedy for one day, for the children can't hear of this right now."
"Sammy…, I already told the children about what happened to C'Torrha… Dirk felt sad and Carly broke down in tears in which I tried to console them as much as I could. Even Gyatso and Kanna wanted to pay their respects to our fallen friend."
"I understand…" I saw Reiko shed tears as I wiped them away from her face. "The children must know how life begins and also how it ends. The passing of our friends and loved ones can cause the most pain and grief and it hurts us all. C'Torrha endured so much when we first met her on Shiganshina, but her sacrifice to protect the townsfolk in Bramblewood won't be forgotten."
"Then Bramblewood will have a saint who will protect them."
"Saint C'Torrha it is…"
Reiko and I left the station as we were making our way towards Tenzo Village. When we got there, we saw Carly sitting on the bench in front of Bert and Ernie's with tears in her eyes in which she was saddened by C'Torrha's death. When we sat down next to her, we were ready to give her so much comfort as she was in dire need of our attention, for she didn't forget the memory of our fallen friend so easily.
"It's okay to cry, fusspot," I said as I wiped the tears from Carly's face.
"I miss C'Torrha," she said as she sniffled.
"We all do," said Reiko.
"She's not ever coming back, is she?"
"No, but she's not alone. Do you remember when she told us about how she lost her family before she lived on Shiganshina? It devastated her in which she was longing for the comfort of the family who saved her from despair."
"It was when some meanies killed her family, didn't they?"
"We saved C'Torrha from despair, only to hear that she laid down her life to save others," I said as I was overwhelmed by grief. "Our friends and loved ones may have been in our lives, but their memories will never be forgotten."
"And I will make a shrine to honor C'Torrha. She deserves to be honored after she saved those people in that town."
"And we'll do it," said Reiko. "I remembered C'Torrha coming here to visit in which she felt the comfort of our family on Shiganshina. I even made some pies that had some of the fruit that grew on the volcanic soil in the Dabb Mountains at the time in which C'Torrha loved the sight and taste of them."
"Can we have pie later?"
"We'll have one after dinner, fusspot," I said.
And so, Reiko and I gathered up Carly as we were on our way back to the castle. As for what would happen next, I had to be ready for it as the ongoing war was becoming more dangerous than anticipated. The loss of C'Torrha weighed heavily on me as this wasn't the first time that I lost someone close in which I later noticed a ray of sunshine coming out of the clouds after a small amount of rain. I was grateful that C'Torrha was well at last as she was reunited with her mate and children in the Grey Havens, for I prayed hard for her passage up there…
To be continued...