The Third Crossing

8. My Inevitable Fate

All the recruits in the Sun Castle were allowed to venture outside its walls for one day. The reason was Lan's funeral, which would be held in the city at the Shrine of the Dead.

Akira had no problems with the late lad, but attending the funeral was just an excuse to spend as much time as possible away from this prison. He would quickly reconcile his parents and siblings, and after that, he would find the nearest tavern to drink what the lips of the Soldiers of the Light were prohibited from touching. A simple plan, it was. But it almost failed because of Kim.

"The pain is unbearable." Clutching her blanket with both hands, she explained to Akira why she wouldn't be able to attend Lan's funeral. "That's why I sent for you. I need someone around just in case, you know."

Standing by his cousin's bed, Akira glanced at the other empty ones in the dorm room. All the girls here must have left already lest they miss the funeral. What was he going to do now? He couldn't leave his cousin just like that.

Unless he found a volunteer. Yes, there must be, at least, one person who wouldn't go to Lan's funeral for any damned reason. The lad was not that popular after all.

"What will the others say after they find out that I didn't show up?" Akira warily asked.

Kim arched an eyebrow. "You fear they might judge you? I thought you stopped caring about anything related to Sun Castle."

Akira heaved a deep sigh. "It doesn't matter how I feel about anything, Kim." He shrugged. "I just have to do what I'm supposed to do, right?"

His cousin clenched her jaw, certainly because of the colic. "The damned red mantle." She took a deep breath, and then she went on, "You won't get over it, will you?"

Akira wasn't in the mood for this conversation for the time being. Not now, not ever.

"You know what's funny?" Kim smiled wryly. "None of us got what they wanted, did we? I guess that's how this world works."

Footsteps approached the dorm room, and it was Minjun Sen who entered. "You still here?" he chided Akira, his hands clasped behind his back as he slowly approached Kim's bed. "The last coach is about to leave."

Akira exchanged a silent look with his hurting cousin before he said to the slender, dark-haired tutor, "I'm staying, Minjun Sen. Someone must look after her."

Minjun's eyes betrayed his concern. Kim's complaint must have reminded him of the novice that had died in his hands yesterday. No one would be ready for another shock like this.

"What's wrong?" Minjun asked her.

Kim feigned a smile. "I guess it's last night's dinner."

"Nobody had problems with last night's dinner." Minjun laid his palm gently on Kim's forehead. "You are slightly feverish. Did you take any medicine?"

Kim shrugged. "I drank some anise to alleviate the colic."

"Anise?" Minjun Sen curled his nose in disdain, then he turned to Akira. "You should hurry to that coach before it leaves. I will take care of her."

Akira wanted to thank Minjun Sen heartily for saving his day, but come to think of it, he realized how that might sound to his cousin. "I know you will, Minjun Sen." Akira bowed to the Red Cloak, then gave Kim an apologetic look. She seemed irked that he was abandoning her in such a condition, but that didn't stop him from striding to the door and across the hallway outside the dorm room.

Yes, Kim was right about him. He had stopped caring about anything related to Sun Castle.

* * *

The Shrine of the Dead, where the funeral was held, was more crowded than Akira had imagined. Family, friends, peers, tutors, even the Archmage himself; all of them had come today to bid Lan farewell before his soul started its journey into the spirits' realm, all of them donning white cloaks to remind themselves that when death came, all colors and ranks became obsolete.