Chasca told herself she wouldn't cry again but couldn't help it. When she and Aether reached the grave, a familiar pang bit at her heart. Chasca stared at the tombstone marking the resting place of her sister's ashes. Tears welled, and it was impossible to stop them from flowing.
"Heh," she sniffed, "I guess I'm not as strong as I thought."
His hand folded into hers.
"That's not true," he said. "You've been strong for too long. It's okay to be sad."
He gave her hand a little squeeze. Together, they rested the wreath atop the grave. Chasca knelt, and Aether got down beside her. His presence calmed her mind, washing over her like a hot spring or her mother's feathery embrace.
A cold wind blew across the grave, whistling up into the trees and ascending even higher across the clouds. Chasca had so many things to tell her sister, but the wind swept them away. Her voice couldn't catch a breeze to fly anymore.
Those dreams of Chuychu felt so real. Now, they were all gone. It still didn't feel real to her. Honestly, she still half-expected to wake up one morning and find Chuychu chiding her. Funny. She never thought there'd be a day when she'd miss getting reprimanded.
Chasca took off her hat, resting it over her chest.
"Did I ever tell you about Tadhla?" Aether had fixed his gaze on the horizon to the distant Sumeru desert. "She was a hunter I became friends with. One day, she died."
"I'm sorry."
His eyes clenched shut as a pained expression crossed his face. With a deep breath, he opened his eyes once more, turning them to the sky.
"There were others like her. Teppei, Melus and Silver, Kosekimaru, Jebrael, Ruu, the Captain… It doesn't get easier, but each day, it will hurt a little bit less. And it helps to remember there are still people who love you."
A single tear fell down his cheek. But when Aether looked at her and smiled, she knew he'd be okay. Chasca waffled her fingers with his and held tight. He squeezed right back. At that moment, she knew that she'd be okay too.
They rested there a while longer. Then, hand-in-hand, they walked away to a little cliff where they could watch the sunrise and catch a nice breeze. They reached the pier, sitting down, as the first ray of light broke over a new dawn in Natlan.