What's that thing they say about a rose by any other name?

Chapter 16: The funeral of a dear friend

4 days later

No One's P.O.V:

"The Sages think themselves to be all-knowing, But we alone are wise to the virtue in those acts of folly," Pierro said with a white knight chess piece knocked down one of his black pawns by the Tsaritsa. The chessboard with two pawns off to the side and the Anemo and Geo Gnosis near the board's edge. Pierro holds his hand for the hellfire butterfly to land on the recent pawn that fell over on its side before speaking, "In this war, not even a single pawn may be spared... Because on this chessboard, 'Checkmate' is not where the game ends."

In a Cathedral hall, Columbina was singing a soft melody laying her head on the coffin with the other harbingers standing in different areas with the moonlight shining through windows. Pulcinella stands a few feet from Columbina and slams his cane on the ground before declaring, "We are gathered here today to remember our dear Comrade. In honor of her sacrifice, all work should halt for half a day as the nation mourns her passing."

Pantalone chuckled and intertwined his hands with his ring shining from the moonlight before speaking in his cunning tone, "Merely half a day? People say the Northland Bank's true currencies are blood and tears. But Mayor, even speaking as a banker, that sounds a little unconscionable. And I do believe we shouldn't forget that our florist was there to witness Signora's death."

"Rosalyne died in a foreign land, and Yumie is preparing a gift for Rosalyne. But you heartless businessmen and dignitaries always with a convenient excuse to remain in the comfort of your homeland. You couldn't hope to understand. So Why don't you keep your mouths shut! We don't want to make the children cry." Arlecchino said before looking at Childe in the corner of her eyes and giving a knowing smirk. Childe rolled his eyes, looked at her while sitting on the bench, and spoke annoyedly. "Hey, c'mon now, I don't think this is the right time or place for a fight."

Sandrone stares blankly at the coffin with a tone that speaks disgusted at the order to be at the funnel with her robotic golem. "Utterly risible." Capitano looked at the coffin and sighed before speaking in a tone that respected Signora's death. "Though her methods tarnished her honor, Lohefalter's sacrifice is a great pity. Her loss shall not hinder our progress. But Dottore, What of Scaramouche and the Gnosis from Inazzuma?"

Dottore was looking at a vile full of blue liquid and chuckled before looking at Capitano with a smirk and saying in a knowledge yet sadistic tone, "Conventional wisdom holds that Divine Knowledge cannot be rationally comprehended. After conquering the Divine Gaze, he will make his next move. But I must say, I believe my daughter will try to get revenge for our dear Comrade."

"I will get the traveler to pay back for what she caused. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. It is what Rosalyne is owned." Yumie said, wearing a dark red turtleneck sweater and tan pants, with black boots and heavy with dark blue fur around the neck of her dark purple coat, holding a bouquet of dandelions and red poppies, walking toward the coffin and putting it on it before she put Signora's mask next to the bouquet and gently touched the coffin. Yumie felt Columbina gently touching her hand, and Yumie looked at her before shaking her head. Yumie fixed the bandages on her hands by asking Mila to peel the snake scales on her body four days ago. Yumie and the other harbingers started to stand near the coffin, with Pierro coming out of the darkness to bid Signora farewell and the Tsaritsa on her throne holding the hellfire Butterfly on her finger. Pierro finally spoke while looking at Yumie, who was crying silently. "It's time to end tonight's foolish theatrics. Right now, you have no captive audience. Let every worthy sacrifice be carved in ice and, with this nation, endure for all time. In the name of Her Majesty, The Tsaritsa, we will seize authority from the gods."

The harbingers start to leave the Cathedral but Pantalone and Capitano look behind them to see Yumie, who hasn't moved yet, both of her hands on the coffin. Capitano walks to Yumie and holds her shoulder gently, making Yumie look at him with tears coming down her face. Capitano gently guides her away from the coffin, and Pantalone sees the tears on his gem's face. When the three harbingers left the Cathedral, Pantalone wiped his gem's tears away gently while Capitano went to the carriage to drive to Yumie's manor with Pantalone and himself to help Yumie in this time of grief.