TOTCF content because my brain go brr

Grieving

The biggest headline in years internationally was Cale's death. Their beloved commander, their generous hero, a brother, a son, a guardian. Someone who many people owed their lives, their livelihood, their families. And the fact that Choi Han, his loyal swordsman, had witnessed it.

Roan kingdom was beginning a long period of mourning. Most people were wearing dark colours in commemoration and the day had become a public holiday. In honour of Cale and his dreams, the public holiday was so people were not to work at all. 

Choi Han had disappeared. Both families, the Henituse family and the one Cale had personally curated were grieving. Raon, Ohn, Hong were crying every night, and refused to leave his bedroom. They had taken all of his clothes, sleeping in them, throwing their piggy banks at the wall. 

A lot of the family hadn't processed, hadn't believed, don't trust that he is really dead. It's another scam, its a trick, he was going to show up any minute now. Hans had shaking hands most days, Rosalyn had taken a long time away from work just to hang out with his family. 

Ron was blanking out. He would zone out and would snap out of it finding himself getting clothes for his young master, heading to his office and making Cale's lemonade. Beacrox was worried for him, as when his father realised what he was doing, he would almost breakdown.

Beacrox helped him sit down as Ron blinked confusedly. Tears were filling his eyes and he pushed his tears away when Hong ran to him and hugging him. Ron picked him up and Hong snuggled close to him. He was wearing the commander jacket. Lock sat down next to Ron and rested his head.

The rest of Lock's siblings were following Beacrox around or hanging around Ron. They felt a little bit lost and scared without Cale. Cale wasn't a big part of their life, but the atmosphere was different without them. They felt a bit empty.

Sherrit was always carrying Raon, and she also hadn't left Cale's bedroom. Beacrox went to get him a glass of water and looked over at Choi Han. He was in the corner, curled up near the front door. He was dealing the worst with Cale's death.

Beacrox brought his father the water glass, but his mind was still on Choi Han. Maybe it was because Beacrox didn't care too much about Cale, but he wasn't grieving as hard. He was eternally grateful that Cale saved his father from mermaid poison, but he didn't feel as sad as everyone else did. 

But Choi Han was definitely doing worse than the rest. He had watched it happen. He had seen Cale die. He hadn't moved fast enough. He hadn't seen it coming. He hadn't protected him. He felt immensely guilty. He watched Cale's family move around and his heart fell faster. He didn't deserve to be a part of this. 

Their conversations, their care, their grief echoed loudly to his ears. He was surrounded and suffocating. He couldn't breathe. He clung to his chest and his mind felt overrun. His aura turned a darker black and surrounded himself with it. He pushed himself off the floor and ran. 

Choi Han's mind went over the incident over and over. The memory of Cale's head rolling on the floor. The way that he tried to reach him but he couldn't reach him in time. The way his words got stuck in his throat. The way that the shield broke and dissipated. The way blood spu-

Choi Han's aura got more aggressive, and he had gone out into the Forest of Darkness. It was like his brain was in autopilot. He only felt worse as Cale's wind ancient power pushed him along. He was the closest to Cale's body, making him the heir to his ancient powers. 

And no matter how he used them, he couldn't overwhelm himself to the point of coughing out blood. His body was perfect for carrying these ancient powers. He doesn't overheat, doesn't faint, doesn't hurt.

Choi Han was sick to his stomach. He fell outside the villa. The one that Cale had built for Lock's siblings. His ancient powers surrounded him as his aura aggressively moved towards every living thing. His family had died. His family died again. The Harris village, and his foster parents were taken from him as he couldn't protect them. Cale was taken as he couldn't protect them.