Chapter 60
"May the light of Liveratus and all the other Firstborns illuminate their way now that the light of their life has been extinguished. Sir General, now is the time for you to send them off."
The burial ceremony for the fallen bodyguards took place on the very same day as when the poor men died. Just transporting them to the city took half of what remained of the day after the fight, making it hard for Saulus to organize the ceremony before the light completely faded away. But if he wanted to send his men, his friends, his trusted soldiers off, this was the only time he could do it.
"May your path be just as glorious as your life on this world was. On the day of your departures, I bring the light for your future journeys. May the Firstborns accept you in their grace."
Bringing down the torch that was burning in his hand, Saulus set the fire to a huge pile of wood on which the bodies of his loyal retainers were resting. In just a moment, the oiled wood took the fire, quickly turning into a huge ball of flames.
Stepping a few paces back, Saulus watched the climax of the ceremony in silence, with his face devoid of any emotions. Even though his heart was aching, showing sadness right now would defeat the point of the entire ceremony.
"May they rest in peace."
The quiet chant kicked in, whispered by all the men and women gathered around the fire. Looking around without moving his face, Saulus noticed several women who were trying their absolute best not to cry. Holding on to their kids who were the only ones allowed to shed tears, they stared into the flames as if expecting their husbands and partners to send them some kind of message…
But even the red moon, already visible in the night sky, wasn't enough to make such a miracle happen. Even with how everyone assumed it was the source of power for all the lords on the continent, outside of the simple folk treating it with mystical sanctum, normal people never felt its influence over their life.
Even in such moments as the current one.