Guardians Of The Arcane Chronicles

Chapter 19: Condolences

The school hall was buzzing the same way it was right before every morning assembly. Kleopatra looked around at her schoolmates chattering happily away, eager to get their last minute gossip in before the school day began. She turned away from the podium to face the wall as the principal waited by the side, holding his papers. They did not know. Not yet.

"Good morning," the principal's solemn voice drifted to her ears. "It has fallen to me to deliver some tragic news. One of our Necromancy students, Orpheus Caesar, has passed away in an unfortunate accident. Necromancer Orpheus was a humble student..."

Kleopatra felt stares from her fellow student council members as the principal droned on with his eulogy. She looked at them in bewilderment, before realising how wet her face was. The student council president wiped her eyes and hurriedly excused herself before she embarrassed herself further. She decided to leave her vice president to read out the announcements of the day. Not like she herself was in any condition to speak to the school today anyway.

The school roof was as peaceful as always, with the exception of the lone figure sitting on the ledge this time. Kleopatra normally would have been concerned if it was a regular student, but not this one. This one was capable of flying.

"Skipping morning assembly?" She tried joking, but only managed to inject in as much humour as an undertaker at a funeral. "That's against the school rules, y'know."

"Then I'll see you in detention as well, Miss President."

Kleopatra sat down beside Felix.

"If there's anything I can do..." she started, but her voice drifted into nothingness. Who was she kidding? There was nothing anyone could do for a boy who had lost everything.

"I buried Marcia myself, and Orpheus' funeral was held over the weekend," Felix said. "It was organised by your father; Orpheus' family was just there for the food."

"I don't see why not." He shook his head, laughing dryly. "It's not like he doesn't have nine other Druid siblings who can carry on the family business as per usual."

"I'm so sorry, Felix." Kleopatra's voice wavered. "I could've done more- As student council president, I should've done more for my students... But I-"

"No, Kleo. Thank you for doing so much for us." Felix leaned back, looking at the sky as he closed his eyes in pain. "I've always thought that if I were strong enough, I could protect anyone. If I was powerful enough, I could help anyone."

Kleopatra looked at him silently.

"But I was wrong." He shook his head and chuckled slightly. "And now, everyone I loved is gone. All because I was a fool to believe only I had the power to make things right."

He turned to Kleopatra with tears in his eyes.

"Y'know, when I joined the Guardian Council, they told me that there will always be a risk of death. I knew that, and I accepted that! But..." His voice dropped again. "I didn't think it would happen to anyone else but me. It didn't matter how strong I was; how competent I was. I'm no hero. I'm barely even a good person. All this time, I've only been fighting for myself. I was just too stubborn to see it..."

Kleopatra pursed her lips. What was she supposed to say to that? Felix was right on all accounts, and she knew not how to comfort him.

"What do you plan on doing from now on?" she asked lamely.

"What I should be doing, being a good student and staying in school."

"What? Oh c'mon. Don't look so sceptical, Miss President." Felix laughed. "What else can I possibly do from now on? It's not like I can go back to the Guardian Council after my whole vigilante act. Thanks for speaking up for me, by the way."