Republic of Kaldstein, National Cemetery: 936, September 1st, Saturday, 11:00 AM.
The morning was calm and silent, with tiny snowflakes gently falling from the sky into the snow-covered dirt. Large columns of gravestones could be seen all over, expanding further into the enormous cemetery—which served as the resting home of many fallen officers from Cerberus.
With heads lowered, and expressions telling nothing but sorrow. A massive group of people gathered around a pristine coffin crafted with an elegant bronze, with a portrait of the woman everyone knew as Yeon Ki-Joon, resting on a small table next it. In front of the casket, an old lady had her hand gently placed on the coffin—her face held no emotion, and her eyes were lost in the distance. Jacob approached her from behind, stepping next to her with a pained gaze.
“She never listened to her mother…” the old lady said, referring to herself. “She always was such a brilliant woman... she could’ve become anything she wanted. A doctor, a lawyer, own land or lead a large corporation while building her fortune somewhere far from this hell… She could’ve married, and given me some grandchildren.”
Jacob clenched his jaw while holding the tears building in his eyes, taking a quick breath before replying. “Yeon was always thinking about others,” he said. “She chose this job out of the sincerity of her earth… to protect everyone who needed it.”
“And look where that led her…” the old lady’s voice was low and rough, accurately portraying her age. “Nothing has changed… she is gone, and the world remains the same. Maybe even worst…”
Her words made Jacob flinch, almost substituting sadness with anger as his tears finally dropped. “She was you daughter, how can you—"
The old lady turned away before he could finish his sentence, slowly walking towards the crowd as two men dressed in suits and shades helped her out—leaving with nothing more to say. Bloodhound—as well as Aria and Xun, were placed at the front of Cerberus’ officers attending the burial, and observed the events unfold in silence. Claire held Lucy in her arms, who remained quiet with furrowed brows curved lips—gripping her little hands on the lieutenant’s black uniform.
The same day of Yeon’s death, the girl was found underground in a sealed room by Jacob and lady Eutychia—who were incapable of breaking through its sturdy spectral walls—emanating a strange crimson aura that forced them to leave the area due to its effect on the princess. The days passed with no solution to free Lucy from the infernal room, a solution that showed itself at the arrival of Claire and her group. Like the key to a sealed vault, her spectral gear allowed the lieutenant entrance into the infernal room with little resistance—saving the crying girl from weeks of isolation.
Just before lowering Yeon’s coffin—decorated with many flowers on top, Jacob’s quivering hands lied on top before gently resting his forehead on it as well. Unable to stop the tears flowing down his cheeks, the man sobbed and gritted his teeth while slowly pressing his fingers into clenched fists—releasing his repressed anguish all at once. Readings, speeches and goodbyes were now over, and it was time to bid farewell to his old friend. His frightened and scattered mind told him nothing else but to stay by her side however, unable to move himself away to put an end to the burial.
With the help of Aria and Xun, he eventually stepped away and allowed Yeon to finally rest. Jacob’s red and swollen eyes observed as her casket was lowered, and filled with dirt by officers of Cerberus—leaving everything else in the goddess’ hands. The burial came to an end after an hour and a half, and only a few grievers remained a little longer. Distant family members took their leave a few minutes later, leaving Jacob to grief in his petrified state—incapable of moving his eyes away.
“I’m sorry…” Claire approached Jacob, stepping next to him in an attempt to sooth the reflective man. She held Lucy’s hand, whose face shown as much pain as the rest. “I should’ve been here to help…”
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“No…” his voice quivered while shaking his head, forcing a smile before falling back into sorrow. “You did what you had to… I just… I just wish there was more I could’ve done...”
“I know… we all do.” Replied the lieutenant, looking around the nearby area—spotting only Bloodhound waiting in the back for her, and Ivanna—a close acquaintance to both Jacob and Yeon. “I… I thought he’d be here.” She spoke softly while taking her eyes back to Jacob.
The man flinched slightly as his eyes widened, stopping himself from gasping at the lieutenant’s words. “He… yeah, I know…” he had no reply for the girl.
After Euthemia and Loki’s attack on headquarters, the company continued with its usual operations inside the Deadlands in order to keep the demons away from their borders. As only a few selected knew of Sovereign’s presence in Cerberus, most staff remained unaware of the man’s absence in the office during the weeks that transpired—a secret Jacob had kept from others like Claire.
“I understand he shouldn’t be seen often but… surely there’s something he could’ve done to be here.” The lieutenant said. “He loved Yeon like no other.”
“I know…” Her words only brought more stress to the already confused and broken Jacob. The once three headed dog who proudly guarded the gates of hell, had now been left with a single mind and body to carry its cumbersome duty—one that now lied on the shoulders of Arwen Rhys. “I’m sure he’ll come here on his own later. We shouldn’t… we shouldn’t distract him from his job.” The man began to speak in a soft voice. “He is a busy man… after all. We wouldn’t want to complicate things further…” he concluded while his tone lowered with every sentence.
Center of the Deadlands, Ruined Castle: 936, September 1st, Saturday, 9:00 PM.
“Hey, pal!” Sebastian casually strolled into the vast room of the ruined castle.
Its spectral walls depicted gigantic slashes and craters, pillars rested broken on the floor, which remained split by many fissures. The internal veins of energy running all over the room remained inactive, radiating no crimson glow to light up the gloomy and dark place.
At the end of the room lied a broken throne, as obsidian as the rest of the sturdy castle. A thin man of silver hair rested on it, keeping his head dropped to hide his face from the world. His breath was slow and wheezed every time he inhaled, utilizing his mouth instead of his nose to take in the oxygen.
“You…” he managed to utter.
Sebastain continued to approach casually, unholstering the shotgun from the strap on his leg and taking it into his hand. “Sorry, I just needed to pay you a visit.” He said, looking around the place as he walked closer. “You know… it’s kinda hard to find this place. I made a map and everything but, heheh… I still got lost on my way here.”
“Don’t speak to me so casually…” the god grunted. “What do you want?”
“Well, Callisto’s been acting strange lately so… can you take a look at it?” he shook the weapon in his hand like a toy. “Just give it a quick touch or something, like last time.”
With a slow and clumsy motion of Sovereign’s hand however, the major’s shotgun suddenly vanished into crimson particles. “Go be a fool somewhere else…”
“Hm…” humming as he watched his weapon disappear into thin air, Sebastian glanced back at the injured man sitting in his throne. “I see you haven’t fully recovered yet… it’s been a few weeks already.”
“I just need some rest…”
“What about Yeon? I was informed that today was her burial.” Informed Sebastian with furrowed brows. “I couldn’t assist of course, but I think you should’ve been there. Sovereign… you should go.”
His words simply drifted in the air however, as Sovereign had no reply to offer. His expression remained hidden under the shadow of his eyes, keeping his head as low as possible. Now standing close to the resting man in the throne, Sebastian’s bright smile completely vanished into a straight mouth furrowed brows instead—his amber eyes becoming absorbed by a fierce crimson.
“I fear my time is almost up, Sovereign.” He informed with genuine concern. “But even still… I’d rather my daughter sees me death than as a monster.” The major said. “There are still so many people trapped in Hemel… most of them by King. He knows what you want now.”
“He can’t stop me…”
“That’s not my problem…” Sebastian shook his head while clenching his jaw, taking a quick breath before replying. “Listen… I care about my daughter. I gave everything to you just to save her life… and I will give it all again if it means she can be happy, but... she cares about you too.” He continued in an attempt to persuade the wounded man in the throne. “Whatever you are thinking, can you reconsider? If not for me or Yeon, then for her… You trust her, right? Tell her who you are… let my daughter help you.”
“…”
“Sovereign?”
END OF CHAPTER