Overworld: The generation of heroes Volume 1

8. The Funeral

(Nobody's Pov:)

A few days had passed, and it was time for the most dreaded and saddest part of all: the funeral. Oliver did up his black tie and placed a fresh black blazer over his white, long sleeved shirt. He hadn't worn this jacket since his aunt's wedding, which was a happy occasion. Oliver stared at his reflection emotionlessly and sighed. "I will do this, I will do this..." he repeated to himself. "Why the long face, master?" a small voice came behind him. Green light hit Oliver's face; it was Sadu. She was surrounded by Nibbles, Fluffy and the rest of the Airidans. "It-it's my father's funeral today..." he stuttered, sniffing. "Poor old guardian, he didn't deserve this," wailed Spookks softly. "I know, I know," replied one that looked like a pigeon, comforting her. "but people must die, it's how life works, dear Spookks." "Hey, Oliver, can we come with you?" Nibbles asked. "Well, I- I don't know..." Oliver responded nervously. "Ugg, please," Fluffy butted in. "he was our master to, you know. Plus, nobody will be able to see us except you."

Oliver looked up and saw the tiny faces of the airidans looking at him, begging for his approval. "Ok, fine, Fluffy has a point about not being seen," Oliver eventually said. "But I'm taking the talisman box with me. I don't want you to be kept away from them just in case if I need to learn how to use one." The Airidans cheered, then entered the box. Oliver placed it one of his bags, then took his father's brooch and placed it with the talismans. "Ollie! We need to go!" Farah shouted. "Coming, mum!" Oliver shouted back. He took his bags and came downstairs, his mum, aunt, uncle, and cousins already waiting in the hallway. Farah wore a black dress with wide sleeves and a long pleated skirt, skin coloured tights and black heels, along with a black beret decorated with beads and red roses, added with a black birdcage veil. Clarice, however, had a long black dress with flower-pattered lace on the skirt and the sleeves, added with designer black heels, a royal black hat, red lipstick, sunglasses, and a Victorian mourning veil. Darla and Sandy both had Victorian mourning dresses, except Darla's had puffy sleeves and lots of lace detail, and Sandy's was a plain long-sleeved dress with a white pearl pendant. Delilah had a normal black dress while Edmund, Kane and Oscar also wore black suits.

"Why is Aunt Clarice wearing a mourning veil and you aren't, mum?" Oliver asked. "Because it's fashion, Oliver," Clarice responded, shining her red nails. "Yeah, from the 1800s," whispered Farah to herself. "What's that, Farah darling?" Clarice said. "Oh, just praying for Nate," Farah replied, faking a smile. Darla tutted, then said, "let's go and not fight." The family went to the church earlier than all the guests. After they arrived, they met up with Nathaniel and Edmund's younger twin sisters, Noelle, and Nevaeh. The two sisters were married with children, however they lived together as they had a very strong connection. The sisters were already outside the church when the family had arrived. The sisters weren't identical although they were twins; Nevaeh had dyed her hair a dirty red colour, had very light skin and brown eyes. She wore a black dress with long sleeves and a pleated skirt, with steel capped boots. She also had a black maid hairband with bows and lace, with a silver necklace with a blue gem in the middle. Noelle, however, had her natural hair colour, which was light brown, but also had light skin and brown eyes like her sister. She had a black dress with short puffy sleeves, a wavy skirt, and black tights with tight heels, with straps. She had a weaved leaf crown as an accessory.

"You have arrived," Nevaeh spoke in a wise and mysterious voice. "Well, yeah, it's a family funeral," Clarice replied, getting out of the car; as well as having hatred for her brother-in-law's wife, she also didn't like his younger sisters, as she found them weird and even creepy. "I know you hate me and my sister, but he was our older brother," Noelle explained. "we must bless his soul before he joins the other spirits of our ancestors in Heaven." "Mommy, what's an ancestor?" Delilah asked, toddling out of the vehicle. "Don't worry, honey, she's speaking a different language," replied Clarice, walking into church. "Sorry for my wife, you know what she's like when it comes to going to England," Edmund said to his sisters, bowing before them (the family greet the twins by bowing to them) and following his wife and children, being followed by Darla and Sandy. Then, Farah and Oliver bowed to greet the sisters. "Young Oliver, you have grown," Nevaeh stated. "Yes, Aunt Nevaeh, I have," Oliver replied nervously, worrying if his aunts would react badly, but Farah then interrupted. "Sooo, Nevaeh, you're wearing your family pendant I noticed! May I ask why?"

"You should know by now, Farah," Nevaeh replied in a cold but still wise manner. "this pendant belonged to my grandmother Celia, and it was my grandfather's present to her for their marriage. When she died, I took on wearing it every day to honour her and the symbol of it." The whole family knew Nevaeh was extremely close to her grandma but were always confused why she always wore the pendant everyday. "The guests are coming," Noelle butted in. "we must enter the church." With that, Oliver, Farah, Noelle, and Nevaeh entered the church. It was a grand building with stained glass windows and a beautiful altar and aisle. The McRae siblings each decided to be buried in the same church their grandparents and parents married in, hence why the funeral was held there. It was quiet and calm, until the guests started to arrive; they were mostly family members and friends of Oliver's father, but he still felt very uncomfortable being surrounded in a giant, now noisy building. A few minutes later, the first hymn, and 6 men, including his uncle, carried his father's coffin.

The service was long and boring, and all Oliver could think of was his father. He stared at the long, wooden box lying on the small, delicate table covered in a white, drooping table cloth at the front of the altar, tears in his eyes. His mother, uncle, aunts and other relatives and friends made speeches, sang hymns and about an hour or two later, the service ended, and the coffin was carried outside. As Oliver walked out of the church, his mother put her hand on his shoulder and said, "He's in a better place, dear, I know it." "Yeah," Oliver agreed. "it's going to be weird not having him around." The family and guests headed over to the graveyard, and over towards a giant rectangular hole, with the coffin above it. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust..." the vicar said, as everyone bowed their heads. "Amen," the vicar finished. "Amen," repeated the guests, as the coffin lowered. Farah sadly stepped forward and threw some roses onto the coffin, Oliver and Edmund joining in, followed by Clarice and the 5 cousins. Afterwards, the guests proceeded to walk away to the place where they would have the farewell party. As Darla walked, she noticed the talisman she stole was glowing and vibrating.

"M-mom, I need the bathroom," she stuttered, panicking. "Fine sweetie," replied Clarice. "but be quick and meet us back at the house." With that Darla ran off to the toilets,locking the cubicle and sighing. Then, she took out the necklace, and it began to glow widely...