When we got back, the first thing I did was unexpected.
Before I celebrated about getting the Ice Element. There's actually one thing I wanted to do before that. I head over to the most depressing place in this palace; the Cemetery Of the Monarchs.
The place was exactly as I remembered. Tombstones were aligned perfectly in rows, the most oldest of the tombstones were in the back rows, and the youngest ones were in the first rows. And that is where I'm heading.
I forced myself a smile as I was getting closer to the youngest tombstones, trying to shake away my most depressing memories. I hid the Ice Element in my pocket, as if I were to present it as a surprise to someone. And you know what? I am about to do that.
I have finally made it. The two tombstones still looked good as new, even after three years. I turned to the first tombstone, with the name:
King Alfred Clifford III (1976-2011)
I smiled and said "Good afternoon, Father.", and turned to the second tombstone, with had the name:
Queen Esther Clifford II (1975-2011)
"Good afternoon, Mother." I took a deep breath, "Guess what?" I waited for a moment, trying imagine my parents' ghosts asking "What?" I held my hand into my pocket, and took out my Ice Element. "I got it. Mother, Father. I got my Element. I get to use magic!" I now imagined my parents smiling at me and patting my head and saying things like: "That's so nice Edward!" or "I'm so proud of you, my son."
I blinked back tears as I imagined those scenarios, I also wondered if my parents were actually doing the exact same thing in the realm of the dead, being extremely satisfied about me getting my element. I knelt before my parents' tombstones with respect, and continued. "You know, I chose the Element of Ice because Claude also uses the Element of Ice. You both can say that I was inspired by him."
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I told them everything that happened at the Cave of Elements: The God Hephaestus being the warden of the cave, making two new friends after I saved one of them from a delusional Kevin in a black jacket, and being referred to as a young Rick Astley with blue hair. I can imagine that my parents would be interested in my story and will be satisfied that I had made two new friends. And I bet they would be laughing that I was being referred to as Rick Astley's younger self.
I took a deep breath, and went on to the more serious part. "Mother, Father." I turned to the sky, "And those who had fallen on that night, don't worry. I will not let your deaths be in vain. I promise." I clenched onto the Ice Element. "Melantha will not get away with her crimes. And with the Element of Ice, I will bring justice to the Dark Flower, and I will avenge you, all of you."
I sound pretty confident about that, even though I was not sure about how do I defeat Melantha, or the whereabouts of her location. But, that wouldn't stop me from letting her get away from her karma. And dear readers, I promise you all, that one day, I will bring justice to the Dark Flower.
I got up, and looked at my parents tombstones one last time. "This is farewell for now, Mother and Father." I bowed to the tombstones, and began to exit the Cemetery Of the Monarchs.
"Good luck, Edward." A ghostly female voice whispered right next to my ear.
And just as many people would react, I yelped and turned around. But I found no sign of the whisperer. But that voice, I recognized that voice. I haven't heard that voice in three years... that voice was my mother's.
"We wish you all the best." A second voice, a male's, whispered next to my other ear. This time, this voice was my father's. I turned to my parent's tombstones, but I saw nothing, no spirit forms of my parents, waving and smiling at me. Was I just hallucinating those voices? Or did my parents actually decided to show up and wish me luck?
Nonetheless, I nodded. "Thanks Mother, thanks Father." I bowed to their tombstones one last time, and I left the cemetery, with a confident smile on my face.