Chapter 26
1231 Words
26
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, not a raindrop in sight. It was a beautiful day, way too beautiful for a funeral. Life was too cruel sometimes.
The entire Valkyrie body was gathered at the edge of the forest. The burial ritual would usually be held on a cliff, but there weren’t any nearby. But at least Professor Brynhild had managed to arrange a wooden altar.
Surrounded by hollyhock flowers and a crown of purple lobelia, Oda awaited her last ceremony. She looked so peaceful, it was hard to believe she was murdered. At least, she had to be. There were no signs of an accident and Wind Children didn’t just die. It had to be foul play. I just didn’t know why.
I shot a look at Flavia, wishing I could give her some support, but she was lost in her thoughts. She didn’t even react when Professor Brynhild lit a torch and passed it around.
“Flavia.” I nudged her, breaking her from her own world. “Here.”
Without saying anything, she accepted the torch and lit the candle she was holding.
As soon as everyone had a burning candle, Professor Brynhild placed the torch down and conjured a scroll from her pocket.
“Heir of the East. Will you perform the final rite for your fallen companion?”
“I will.” Flavia’s voice was broken, but still, she stepped forward to accept the scroll. Her hands trembled and yet, she held her head high. If there was ever an example of duty, this was it.
She took a deep breath, trying to regain some control.
“Child of her mother, your battle—” A sob escaped and her hand shook even more. Yet, she continued. “Child of her mother, your battle is over now. Child of her father, it’s time to rest now. Child of the universe, do not linger for the living. Release and be wind.”
She grabbed the torch and held it at the bottom of the pyre. The fire licked at the wood, quickly igniting and combusting into flames.
Flavia raised the torch to the sky in the last farewell to a friend.
In unison, everyone lifted their candle and let the passing wind steal the flame. So Oda could return to the place where every Wind Child came from. Home.
“Release and be wind.” The last wish echoed through everyone. North, West, East, it didn’t matter. Underneath the sky, we were all children of the same mother.
One by one, the students left until it was just me and Flavia. She hadn’t moved since she lit the altar.
“Flavia?” I reached out to her, but changed my mind.
Instead, I joined her at the front of the pyre. The heat was almost unbearable, but she didn’t seem to notice. The fire licked at the wood, the flames growing longer and hotter as they devoured Oda’s body.
Haunting shadows were cast on Flavia’s face, highlighting the grief and sorrow in her eyes.
“Are you okay?” I asked, even if I knew she wasn’t.
“No. Oda was my best friend, my right hand. I’ve known her my entire life and now she’s just… gone.” For the first time, she turned to look at me. “How is this real? How did I just say goodbye to my oldest friend?”
“I don’t know…”
“The last time we spoke... We had an argument. She told me I didn’t appreciate her enough, but I didn’t listen. She went to the library to cool off.” Her voice shook as she continued her story. “I realised during lunch she was right. I don’t— didn’t appreciate her enough. I was going to tell her, but… I never had the chance.”
“I’m sorry…”
She directed her gaze at me, her eyes cold as steel. “You knew.”
My stomach coiled into a knot. “What?”
“I saw it. You knew something was going to happen.”
“Favia, I—”
“Don’t lie to me. I know what I saw.”
“I can explain…”
Her voice was no longer broken. It was cold as ice. “Explain.”
“A couple of days ago, I was bitten by the headmistress’ shadow catzel and I discovered I was a Shadow Walker. I carried a cursed mark that predicted someone would die in, back then, in seventeen hours. I didn’t know who, I swear. I was worried it was going to be you or…” I swallowed Ryoko’s name. This was not the time.
For a moment, Flavia remained silent as she listened to the raging of the fire.
Her hands balled into fists as she glared at me. “You knew someone was going to die.”
“Yes, but that’s all I knew. Professor Brynhild made me promise I wouldn’t tell anyone—”
“Brynhild knew?”
“I… Yes?”
She swallowed audibly, her face a mixture of emotions. “You should’ve told me. If I’d known, she wouldn’t have died believing she was worthless to me.”
“Flavia…”
“And after I defended you. I stood up for you in front of the entire school. I believed in you, I trusted you.” Anger carved harsh lines in her features. “You betrayed me and now my best friend is dead.”
Her accusation slashed through me like a poisoned dagger. Her hateful words spread through me, filling me with regret and shame. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I thought, I was just trying, I didn’t… I didn’t know what to do!”
“I’ve heard the myths about Shadow Walkers. They only ever bring doom and destruction with them. I guess you just proved that all the legends are true.”
“No! They’re not! I’m not—”
“Don’t bother. I will never forgive you for this, Ylva Helgudóttir. You’re dead to me.” Without another word, she threw the torch in the pyre and left me at the burning altar.
The guilt crippled me and I sank down to my knees, falling into the grass. Tears streamed down my face as I cried out to whichever god was listening. I never asked for this, I didn’t want any of this. I wished I’d never known, that it never happened to me.
Brynhild was right. This wasn’t a gift. It was a curse.
“Why!” I howled, rage and despair battling in my chest for dominance. “I don’t want this!”
I should’ve let Ryuga take it from me. Then I would’ve been rid of this wretched power inside of me.
Dark plumes of smoke curled into the sky and drew heavy clouds to the Academy. With a loud boom, the first thunder rumbled and lightning flashed. Rain poured down and soaked everything within minutes, including me.
The cold water seeped into my clothes, assaulting my senses, but I couldn’t feel it. Not really. It didn’t really matter either.
Flavia was right. I was to blame. I could’ve used the knowledge for good and given everyone the time to say goodbye to their loved ones. Given everyone the opportunity to die without regrets, but I didn’t. I kept that right for myself. I was such a worthless piece of s**t.
I didn’t know how long I laid in the rain. I didn’t care. It wasn’t until someone pulled me to my feet that I realised just how cold I’d gotten.
“Ylva, what are you still doing here?” Professor Brynhild’s voice was filled with care and concern. I didn’t deserve either.
“You’re ice cold.” She wrapped her long coat around me and tugged me away from the smouldering pile of ash. “Let’s get you inside, you poor thing.”
She said more things, but they didn’t register. It didn’t matter. She should save her pity for the people around them. They would need it more than me.
Whether I wanted it or not, I was the harbinger of death and destruction.
- Writer
