Colliding Elements (Original Draft)

27. A Great Passing

A low rumbling came from above in the gray skies, making the already depressing feel on the temple even greater. People walked around in white clothing with some sort of metal intertwined into the fabric. Some walked towards a woodsy path going into a valley between two fire mountains, the destination many people would travel to today.

Heres walked with his wooden staff towards the valley. His dark brown eyes kept towards the ground and the corners of his lips fell downward. To know that his colleague's apprentice passed on before he did was something rare.

"He was still young..." Heres muttered to himself as he walked up the flat stones in the valley. "I should have passed before him."

"Don't beat yourself over, old man." A young male spoke from behind Heres, quickly walking alongside the earth Elemental. He also wore white robes, but there were no sleeves, showing off the Pisces symbol and a pig on his arm. "He died an honorable death just like his teacher, or should I say your old friend?"

Heres looked at the blonde and smiled. "The man you were named after?" They both shared a small laugh before the elder gentleman continued to talk. "Niver died doing a great deed for our land. And your father passed on protecting one of our many homes."

"He did," Niver spoke.

They soon reached the top and entered an area filled with white slabs covering the lava rock, the twelve animals of the yearly zodiac decorated each slab by standing atop of them in three varying metals: gold, silver, and bronze. The two men walked through the main pathway and into a higher area of the graveyard, entering an area that housed full body statues of men and women made of gold standing on top of white slabs. Niver and Heres walked down to the right of the statues to where there stood an empty white platform, the name Adroushan already etched into it.

The blonde man lost his brightness for a moment upon seeing it, gray eyes losing the happiness they once had. "It will be sad to see him gone. To think he never got a chance to be a grandfather."

"Not every leader gets to see their family grow. Many of us pass before seeing our legacies grow." Heres spoke and placed a hand on Niver's shoulder and shook it lightly. He gave the man a smile as they both looked at each other. "Just keep your head high and keep learning from Shasa and Creswell. You'll become a great leader one day just like your father was."

"Thank you, Heres." Niver smiled and looked back at the white slate. "You will be here for the ceremony tonight, correct?"

"I will be, and hopefully the rest of the Elemental Four will be here too, along with our successors."

Heres went to take his leave, seeing a woman walking up to where he was once standing. She wore a simple white gown that had a brown leather belt around her waist, its color was just a tad warmer than her dark skin. Her gaze met Heres's for a moment and she gave a small smile, her eyes filled with sadness.

"I'm sorry for the loss of your friend, father." Her voice was light and delicate.

"He was also your family," Heres spoke. "Go to your husband. This has definitely hit him hard."

She nodded and walked past Heres as they both began to move again. He took one glance back to see Niver embrace her as she was now close enough to the man. It was both a heartwarming and depressing sight to see. While there was love, grieve came from it at the same time. Heres then left them after that, leaving the couple there in the fire graveyard.