Chapter 39: [Fate?]
"That woman... her soul has gone on a long journey now. Maybe she’ll find peace there. A better life."
Kael’s breath caught. His chest tightened.
The old man looked toward the earth one last time.
"This is the end," he said. "And this... this is the beginning."
Kael watched the shallow grave being covered—one scoop of earth at a time—until all that remained was a mound of silence.
The rain didn’t stop. It fell without mercy, without pause.
He stood there for a moment longer, then muttered under his breath, just loud enough for himself to hear:
"...This is the end... and this is the beginning."
His own words now. His truth.
The old man gave a knowing nod, and Kael turned to him, his voice low but sincere.
"...Thank you."