Chapter 397 - To The Other Side

Macheo opened his mouth with words that struck his skin with a chill more intense than any cold, "...Fedrin. He didn't make it." 

"What? What did you just say?" He asked with wide eyes that didn't want to see any truth from what he had just heard. 

A ringing filled his ears, listening to the thumping of his heart louder than any words from his companions, though he still heard Macheo loud-and-clear. 

"By the time we found him, it was already too late. It looked like he tried to blast the flower with fire magic, and ended up hitting himself with it in the process," Macheo said solemnly. 

His blood ran hot with a flurry of emotions, though in his mind, he fervently wanted to reject such a reality. 

He could hardly feel the embrace of Iris as she wrapped her arms around him; the reality of death felt as if he was ensnared in yet another illusion. 

"Well, he's not all the way gone yet...but there's nothing we can do. None of our heal users could save him from those types of wounds…" Macheo muttered. 

Hearing this, he immediately grasped the Lucrauvian royalty by his shoulders, shouting at him, "Where is he?!"

Macheo's scarlet eyes looked at him before looking down towards the ground, putting one of his hands on the adolescent's wrist, "Look, Ren...I don't know if you want to see him like that. I don't know if that's any way to remember a friend." 

He clenched the prince's shoulders tighter, causing him to wince slightly, "I need to see him." 

Begrudgingly, Macheo accepted with a nod as the two guided him through the cave, though the spot where the elf remained wasn't but a minute's travel away. 

It was a tucked away patch of nature within the vast, open cave, laden with abundant vines and flowers. 

He saw the entirety of the Weltwanders, gathered around something he already could surmise was there. 

"Fedrin…" He whispered with tears lining his voice. 

Stumbling forward, he pressed past the large, crimson-furred panda and the draconic knight before he fell to his knees beside the high elf. The once noble, wise high elf with illustrious, sable locks was unrecognizable. 

Most of his upper-body was left completely charred, his skin having been melted away by what could only be a powerful release of fire magecraft. 

It was clear the elven man could recognize nothing around him as his eyes were glazed over with the coming veil of death; only weak, sparse breaths exuded from his absent lips. 

Even as a flood of sorrow swept over him, he couldn't fixate on anything; trying to focus only intensified the ringing in his ears, and the blur in front of his eyes--meddled by tears as the smell of charred flesh filled the room. 

"How could this happen, Jay? We were with him…" He asked. 

Though no words could reach the ears of the man who was without skin, hearing, or sight any longer. 

Kneeling beside him, Jae-Seong caressed his back with a regretful expression. As he looked up at the usually vibrant, frivolous man who tried to comfort him with a smile, he could only remark to himself how sad his puffy eyes were; stained with tears. 

"I wish I could answer that, Ren," Jae-Seong somberly embraced him. 

I'll be askin myself that for a long time, Jae-Seong thought. 

"...I'm sick of this place," Aiko spilled her words out, laced with tears, "nothing ever can just be...good. It never goes right." 

Her words echoed what they all felt; it was the grim reality of Purgatory shoved right into their faces. 

He grabbed onto the man's burnt, feeble hand—letting tears spill out as he felt a weak return of his hold as the faint sensation of his fingers grasping his hand was felt.

"Fedrin…you told me, didn't you? You have to find your wife and daughter…that's why you've endured this hell for so long!" He shouted with a voice strained from grief, "so get up, dammit! You can't fall here! Not when you're so close!"

His emotion-driven spiel brought a painful silence embroidered with fresh, potent anguish to the others. 

"Ren…"

Hongse gently pulled him away, giving the young man a comforting embrace against his soft, crimson fur. 

Silence sat in the air for a bit, but it was the newest member, Mencius, who stepped forward, kneeling beside the man who was on his last breaths. 

"It saddens me to say…I didn't have the opportunity to know you very well, my friend," Mencius spoke gently, "but at the very least, I can give you a soft departure."

They could only watch with tearful eyes as the tranquil, verdant-haired man of effeminate features closed his eyes, holding his hands together in some sort of prayer. 

As if calling the very spirit of spring itself, flowers bloomed from the grass around Fedrin, flourishing with brilliant colors as a gentle wind centered around him. 

"…What is this?" He asked, watching the petals of varying flowers dance in the air. 

Mencius remained in his tranquil stance, slowly returning his verdant eyes to an open state before answering, "'The Bridge of Final Blossoms'…it is an art practiced in my homeland; it is a way to painlessly allow one to pass…and to let them experience happiness in their final moments. Even if we can't save those who've already stood themselves on the threshold, we can help them gently depart."

The circular flow of flowers: sky blue, rose red, yellow like the morning star; they all ushered in an air of tranquility that stifled the painful tears of the Weltwanderers.

As he looked down at the laid out elf as his last breaths were exuded, faint tears that evaporated upon meeting his burned skin were seen. 

Ushering forth the finality of the gentle art, Mencius waved his hand to the air, "Shishi."

With the air of flowing, blossoming nature coming to a serene close, the final breath from Fedrin left his lips.

"...Where am I?" 

Surrounded in a realm of warm, comforting light, the high elf turned side-to-side, looking down at his own hands. To his surprise, no sign of the flames were left on his body. 

"Papa!" 

A voice called to him from behind; a young voice so familiar, yet had grown so distant all of these years for him. 

Hearing it, he stopped for a moment--his blood running still as did his heart before he swiftly turned around to face the voice. 

"Lyla?!" 

The shout released all of his emotion as his voice fell apart with tears brimming as his eyes met with those waiting behind him in the enigmatic, but comforting realm. 

A young girl with locks just as dark and straight as his greeted him with a smile, and a woman with radiant, golden tufts awaited him with the same, warm expression. 

"Lyla...Morcia…" 

I get it now...he began to realize, this is...what awaits beyond the end, isn't it? 

As much as the sight of them made him want to collapse with a spectrum of emotions, he rushed forward instinctively, embracing the two tighter than he had ever held anything. 

Only a small patch of gently fluttering grass sat around them, accompanied by a peaceful, verdant tree hanging over them. 

"I'm not letting go. Never again...I'm never losing either of you ever again!" 

All this time, were they waiting for me? So patiently, for over a hundred years, they waited for me? Was my quest inherently a waste? No...I've found them, haven't I? 

Isn't that all I sought to do?...Yes. I suppose it is, he thought. 

Holding his beloved wife and daughter close to his chest, so fervently and tight as he feared they may just be carried away by a passing breeze if he let go, he smiled at last. 

I suppose even a feeble, old soul such as myself can attain his dreams. 

Thank you, everyone...Ren, Iris, Valerie, Hongse, Jae-Seong, Macheo, Aiko, and Mencius...I've found them now, he thought. 

"I suppose it's time we finally go, isn't it?" He smiled softly. 

"Yeah!" Lyla replied giddily. 

Morcia nodded with a tranquil smile to him, "Let's go, Fedrin. It's time you finally relax."

Pulling away from the embrace he never wanted to leave, he stood as he held his daughter's hand, while his wife held her other. 

Walking off together, there was no uncertainty in his heart; in that moment of passing respite, he was truly happy. 

I guess it is about time this old fool takes his leave.. Goodbye, everyone.