When the Land meets the Sky: A Tail of Two Mages

Chapter 40 - Requiem for a Hero

Yukio's POV

Six days have passed since the battle against Rose and Leyla. As rough as that was on everyone, recovery efforts and proceeded nicely. The most rewarding experience during this time was to watch Apollo and Artemis reversing the damage to the palace. Oiamh and Zero have both been resting in their respective abodes since the battle. They were both severely drained of their physical and magical strength.

I was sitting on the edge of the roof of the palace as I contemplated the past. "So much has occurred in the past 16 years. So much has changed..." I muttered to myself.

"There you are!" A voice called to me from below.

I leaned forward to spot the source of the voice. "Oh, Naomi? I'm surprised you're here," I returned. I leaped downward along the walls of the palace and landed gracefully next to Naomi. I regained my composure and looked toward her. "How is Oiamh?" I asked.

"I'm glad to report she's up and moving. She's still weak from being magically depleted, but physically she's recovering nicely. Zero on the other hand. He has yet to regain consciousness. I had intended to visit the sky manor to check on him, but if he's still unconscious, I would rather not interrupt those who are tending to him. I was on the way to the medical tent to see if I can assist Esterra at all."

Honestly, I was intending to check up on my beloved Phoenix as well. Now's as good excuse as any to do so. "I'll join you, if you don't mind?"

"Sure," Naomi replied, and we started toward the tent.

"By the way, did you happen to hear?" I stated, trying to make some conversation. "They say the Phoenix Empress is here at the palace assisting the healers. Apparently, it was Esterra who requested her presence. I wonder how she managed to pull that off."

"Probably because she's Empress Celest, Esterra's grandmother. I'm sure she had mentioned that to you before?" Naomi responded. Her voice conveyed a sense of confusion. All I could respond with was a sheepish giggle as I rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment. I should have known better about that.

Desperately trying to change the subject, I regained my composure. "Anyway, how are you holding up? I can imagine the pain you're enduring trying to prepare Trodaí's funeral."

Naomi's face appeared to droop a little. "Well, amongst the grief and busyness of the recovery effort, it's been a challenge. I'm trying to prepare all this alone. Oiamh is already swamped with her own duties and I'm sure she's grieving herself, despite that." Naomi looked at me directly. "That aside, one of the reasons why I'm going to try to help Esterra is that she's been nearly going non-stop for days trying to keep the wounded soldiers alive. Using so much magic as he has, she must be beyond her limit at this point."

I kept my distance from Esterra for a while so she could focus on her work. I knew I should have checked on her more often. Once we arrived at the tent, an unfamiliar man came out.

"Oh, there you are Naomi. I've been trying to find you so we can discuss details about the funeral," he said.

Slightly disappointed that she could not assist Esterra, she turned to me for a moment. "Can I leave Esterra in your hands, Yukio? I was not expecting the funeral plans to progress so rapidly."

"Of course," I replied. With a nod, she and the gentlemen walked away discussing various details of the pending event. As they moved out of sight, I let out a deep sigh then made my way into the medical tent.

What I found was the sight of my beloved, hunched over in a chair, clearly about ready to fall over. She slowly lifted her head at my approach. "Y..uki...o?" Esterra asked weakly. Her gaze could barely reach mine.