nocturna | dreamcatcher ff

chapter 1 : the loss

I am blessed with seven daughters; each and every one possess the power to rule. But not all has the same goal, that I observe. In my lifetime as King, a father I shall.

My eyes can see the desires of their hearts, but much of this secrecy was at the behest of the sisters themselves.

I trust the princesses of Insomnia to rule, however, there could be only one that must held the utmost power.

To the land of Insomnia, I bestow upon them.

***

The afternoon saw a somber procession, the path to the Hill of Two Moons shone with silver in the Sun, dim and muted in the light rain that chilled the kingdom. Banners borne with the family emblem led the way. The day when the kingdom nearly all was lost, but for the royal siblings, their whole world becomes astray. They lost themselves into the rift of their own minds, stemming the tide of darkness in their white mourning dresses. 

The seven sisters walked side by side between the sea of knights. A royal blue scarf wrap around their right wrists, the fabric embodies the family crest in golden and white embroidery. Knights stride with straight eyes through the slits of their helmets and heads held high, each wearing the Insomnia Crest placard on the left side of their belts.

No tears ran from their eyes, though they were filled with sorrow, for they had no more to shed. No sobs were heard, throat dry and felt like a broken glass. As the knights escort their princesses to the memorial grounds, Gahyeon mournfully holds a cracked and dented helmet in her hands, ignoring the fangs of metal as they jab into her palms. She wants the slight pain, to help her remember the father she held dear, and how he was taken from her. 

The walk felt long and difficult, stretching the painful time to hold on to their composure. Minji tighten her grip on her father's sword, as tight as the feeling in her chest. The tears threaten to fall, but she refuse to show weakness to her people. She told the same thing to her sisters, twice to Gahyeon. She mentally pinch herself to not look behind her to check on the youngest, blocking out the sound of strained sobs coming from her.

***

They entered the memorial grounds located under the weeping sky of Two Moons. The crowded servants all bowed and knelt as the princesses passed, none willing to stand until they stride to  the graves of the King and Queen. The souls of the forest behind them are quiet, the clouds halted its journey with time.

Gahyeon walked up to the eldest and handed the armory to her. Minji gave her a look. 

"Are you sure?" she asked. The youngest nodded without hesitation, no words exchanged - just a solemn silence between them. Minji's faint pink lips crept into a small smile. She avert her gaze to the third youngest and gestures her to stand beside her.

Yoohyeon's warm hands are carrying a small golden urn of ashes as if protecting it dearly. The gentle wind flutters her raven locks, whispering undecipherable lyrics in her ears. Minji could sense some hesitation from her but brush it off with a reassuring smile. 

"Come," she persuades her. Yoohyeon complies and take a few steps forward, all eyes on her and the urn with her family emblem. Both stood before the marble slab marking the King's grave, only a lingering memory before them and hereafter.

The King refused to be buried but cremated, the same way the Queen chose her funeral. So as their journey together will not be over, taking each other's hands into the afterlife.

Minji takes the urn from Yoohyeon, carefully and composed. She gazes upon the urn that held her father's ashes and inhale a deep breath through her nose. Then she knelt down and carefully place the urn on the marble slab. The other sisters - Yubin, Gahyeon, Bora, Siyeon and Handong - gathered behind the two, hands intertwined.

Yoohyeon watched with a side glance as Minji's fingers wrapped around the hilt of her father's sword and draw the metal out of its sheath. The eldest stared at her own reflection on the clean blade. The metallic silver that once bathed in the blood of his enemies in a war that does not determine who is right, only who is left.

Minji grasp the sword upside down, the tip of the blade facing the marble. With a heavy heart fallen into an abyss, Minji plunges her father's sacrifices into the slab.

***

Dusk is coming. The light drains away barely enough shadows, the last of the sun rays cosseted behind the soft grey clouds. Each hue deepens in noble solemnity, finding unity in the night.

"Leave us," Yoohyeon commanded the remaining servants. They bow their heads before making their way to the castle. She watched them leave before joining her sisters. She took a seat next to Minji who stares at the beauty of the Two Moons.

The forests below are green and motherly. The flock of birds flying in patterns with such companionship. The horizon is a shade of blue and purple before moonlight brought upon the time of reflection and awaiting day to be renewed by the light of the sun.

After some time, the sound of movement had her frozen, her heart began to beat faster. The longing is over; at one point, she has to come back home. 

"It's getting dark. It's not good keeping him longer," Minji said. Yoohyeon looks over at Gahyeon who was holding the urn, embracing him for the last time. She remain silent as she ignored her sister. Her thumb strokes the urn like her father would do on her knuckles to calm her down during her nightmares. She blinked once, then twice. A lump in her throat, tears welled up in her eyes.

Minji places a hand on the youngest's shoulder. "We have to let him go."

Gahyeon's grip on the circle urn is not too tight as to not break or scatter her loved one's ashes. She hated her mother's funeral because it is exactly the repetition of that; letting go of another parent. She closed her eyes and suck in a long breath through her nose and exhales a shaky sigh. As much as she hates it, Minji is right.

The King would get lost at nighttime if they release him too late.

Gahyeon stood, feeling the ache in her legs, stillness and cold are never a good combination. With the urn carried on one hand, careful and dear, she opened the lid to unveil the King's ashes. She tries to hold back the seething torrent of tears as her voice quavered with her grief.

All the sisters rise on their feet, eagerly waiting for their turn to let go of their father to the other world where he could reunite with their mother. Gahyeon gathered the dusts in her hand, digging her nails into her palm. She could barely utter her final words for him as the tears streamed down her face. 

". . . Good night, father."

The silence hid her cries. She unfold her fingers and finally scatter his ashes into the forest below the hill. Gahyeon never look away from the hovering ashes as she passes the urn to Yubin. The sisters handed the urn after their turn is done, until it reaches Yoohyeon.

She took a good look on the remaining ashes. A handful means Minji would not have the chance to perform the mourning. Unlike her other sisters, Yoohyeon took half of the ashes and handed the urn to Minji. 

The eldest looks at her with a soft gaze. With a sad smile, she dug her hand into the urn and grab the other half. Together, the two sisters utter their final goodbyes and release the King's ashes at the same time.

They watched the trail of dusts follow the leaves in the distance, the swirling blur of dust, drifting afar into the heaven he dreamed to rest.

Until the last of his remains dances with the breath of the wind, the view faded to blackness and the night begins.

***

It's been three years since my last book, but hey . . .

I'm back :)

- Al