WORLD OF EYES

chapter 7

Ferrum's funeral was a somber affair, the air thick with the scent of burning incense and the quiet sobs of mourners. Lilith stood at the front, her once vibrant eye now an empty gap, a constant reminder of the horror that had been visited upon her. The priestess spoke in hushed tones, her words a gentle balm to the grieving hearts. But Lilith felt nothing but anger and a burning need for vengeance.

Aurelia's hand was a comforting presence in hers, her own eye red from crying. They had faced so much together, and now, she had lost her beloved friend. The pain was a knife twisting in her chest, but she had to be strong for Lilith. For all of them. Even after the truth behind Ferrums death and sickness.

The priestess spoke of Ferrum's valor and sacrifice, her words echoing through the stone chamber of the Willow's Bend chapel. The candles flickered, casting eerie shadows across the faces of the mourners. Sal stood at the back, his gaze flickering between Lilith and the casket that held the remains of his best friend. The guilt was a heavy weight in his stomach, a constant reminder of the choices he had made.

The ceremony was a blur of incense and sorrow. Lilith's single eye, now a piercing shade of emerald, remained dry, her grief buried deep within her. Aurelia, her hand in Lilith's, wore her pain openly, her face a canvas of anguish. Tristian, the love of Lilith's life, was gone, and with him, a piece of all their hearts.

Tristian's normally jovial spirit had been replaced by a tempest of anger and grief. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. He had seen the world through Ferrum's eyes, felt his pain as if it were his own. The friendship they had shared had been as strong as any bond of blood, and now it was severed. The tears he held back burned like acid, his voice a choked whisper as he whispered his final goodbye.

Lilith felt like a shadow of herself, a hollow shell filled with regret and self-loathing. She had been the one to take Ferrum's eye, the one to unwittingly doom him to a fate worse than death. The guilt was a noose around her neck, tightening with each passing moment. She had taken something precious, something vital, and in doing so, had damned him to the very fate she had sought to prevent. Her own loss was a small price to pay for the pain she had caused.

Tristan's eyes blazed with barely contained fury, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the pew. He had lost so much already, and now, the one person who had truly understood him, who had been there through the darkest of times, was gone. The anger was a living thing inside him, a beast that roared for vengeance. He knew Lilith didn't mean to harm Ferrum, but the pain was too raw, the betrayal too deep. He didn't know if he could ever forgive her.

Lilith felt the weight of Tristian's gaze, the accusation in his eyes like a physical blow. She had taken Ferrum's eye out of desperation, a desperate gamble to save herself. Now, she was forced to face the consequences, to live with the knowledge that she had doomed her friend to an agonizing death. The guilt was a crushing burden, a heavy stone that threatened to drag her down into the abyss of despair. She could feel the anger emanating from Tristian, and she knew it was only a matter of time before it spilled over.

The priestess's words grew softer, the final prayers offered to the void that had claimed Ferrum. The mourners began to file out of the chapel, their footsteps echoing through the hollow space. Aurelia's grip on Lilith's hand tightened, a silent message of support and solidarity. But Lilith knew that even Aurelia's unyielding strength couldn't ease the ache in her heart.

Tristan remained rooted to the spot, his eyes never leaving Lilith's back. The anger within him was a tempest, raging against the love and friendship that had been torn apart by her actions. He clenched his fists, the nails digging into his palms, as he struggled to contain the fury that threatened to consume him. Tears streamed down his cheeks, a silent testament to the depth of his pain.