Chapter 41: Chapter 39: Final rites

Eirlathion looked out over the dead who were gathered together. He had been standing here since early on, watching all the mourners. He had known the people of this village since it’s creation. Every new elf who arrived at the village, and every young elf born since  the village was established.

He remembered Calnor, the young elf who ventured to the new grove of Lakira trees planted and nurtured by a magus. Although Eirlathion had raised the trees that made up this village, as a magus he could not be the leader of the people. He had higher duties, and therefore it was not the way of the elves to bind down one such as him to a village. Therefore, it was the promising young man Calnor who had officially founded the village when he came.

As he looked over all those who mourned the losses, he couldn’t help but reminisce about the first time he met these people, both the dead and also those who grieved for the dead alike. 2 mothers of children less than 40 years of age (equivalent 12 year old human) had been among the dead, and when he saw those children unable to tell the parent they had lost apart from the other charred corpses, simply dropping to the ground and crying over the lined up bodies, he remembered the day each of them were born.

He was unsure if it made things better or worse that the dead could not be identified. With the few who were killed by arrows instead of fire, he had to look into their lifeless faces. When he did this, many of the faces he saw were men and women he remembered when they were still children. Seeing those visions of the past while looking into the lifeless face he saw before him, it was incredibly painful.

For those who were killed by fire, the faces of those men and women were destroyed beyond recognition. This left him with a deep sense of unease as he looked at each charred form. He would find himself repeatedly asking ‘who were you?’ as he ran through the faces that were no longer present. He wished desperately he could walk up to each of the dead and say goodbye to them by name, but he was unable to tell who each of these bodies belonged to.

For those two children though, Eirlathion was certain they would like to see the faces of the mothers who gave them life, even if she was lifeless herself.

Thinking of the children, Eirlathion once again thought about the hostility the nymph showed those who took refuge within it’s body last night. Although it went against tradition, it was very understandable that there was a lot of hesitation to give the bodies to this nymph. Several people had pushed for the spirit of Eirlathion’s house to receive them instead, hoping it may gain the strength to oppose this hostile spirit.

He was glad that Asa seemed to have the power and ability to keep the nymph under control. He agreed with what that child said, that the best way for those girls to survive would be to get them out of this village. However, a secret part of him was glad that the nymph had managed to convince her out of that plan. He knew the nymph would become even more hostile, and that it would have the ability to request Asa and Tia give it mana sufficient to practically act as though it were a dryad (lukis,) but at least the nymph would be controlled.

But, no. Ultimately, it would be for the best to get those girls out of this village and keep them alive. The faster the better. If those girls are gone, and the boys go with them, the nymph will be cut off from the incredible source of spirit energy that had been fueling it’s rapid growth. Several times, he had considered pulling down the isolation barrier he had put in the nursery room. The only reason he had not is because such an act would certainly mark him as opposed to the nymph.

Perhaps, now that he knew those girls where quite capable, he might find the chance to convince one of them to do it. Asa seemed particularly capable of extrapolating information from hints and clues. Maybe he could somehow get the message to her without it alerting the nymph. She is likely the only person in the village capable of doing such a thing without facing retaliation.

That would only buy them time until the nymph became a dryad though. Ultimately, they had to get those girls and their birthmate humans out of here to stop feeding it. The girls also had to be kept alive at all cost, or the malice of the nymph would turn to an outright desire to kill, and the target would be everyone in the village.

The worst case for certain would be if a frightened young man or woman from the village made it to the capital and gave an incomplete version of things, resulting in an order for an assassin to be sent after those girls. At that point, whether those girls live or die, the problem will be beyond resolution as the malice of the nymph would become a true rage.

The people of the village were right to fear what giving the nymph these bodies would bring, but for now there was not much they could do. Of everyone in the village, Eirlathion was the only one who could do anything at all. He had to find a way to get those girls out of the village. He looked to his apprentice at his side. Kiria would likely feel troubled traveling together with the daughters she fled from. What decision would she make? It was hard to even discuss the idea with the tree spirits of the village telling the nymph everything that went on. They had no ability to defy the most powerful among them, and all of them loved Asa as well. That is the thing these foolish youngsters failed to understand.

While Eirlathion was lost in thought, the mourning period came to an end and Calnor stepped toward the base of the true body of the nymph. He then turned to face the mourning survivors of the village.

“My friends. Children of this grove. Last night, our people were made to face a true disaster. We all know, the twelve demons have claimed the lives of many elves before us, but we have seen our way through this disaster by the grace of the tree spirits who protected those who were vulnerable, and by the helping hand of the children who live within the Nursery tree.” The elderly elf said.

Eirlathion had to raise his brow. He wondered exactly how much of what he was saying were his genuine thoughts, and how much was a performance for the nymph who everyone was terrified of.

“By their hand, those who lay among the dead were far lower than what might have been otherwise. This is not to discount the bravery of the young and able-bodied who bravely protected the village, fighting with all they had to act as the shield that protected the trees and the people who live within this grove.

“Today we remember the loved ones who we must now forever part with. Nirlu, Ladarin, Urumain, Sulisar, Idiri, Kesisu, Emezu, Akiram, Isuzu, Dulo, Malken, Tiarsu, Telahren, Nimuzu, Kagaru, Iksunim, Idaka, Aki.

“The faces of these 18 brave men and women became the sun that would give life to all who live within this place. The faces of these who lay before us now, they will never be able to share a pleasant conversation with us again, but it is because they fought and died that we were able to live as we do now.

“Dulo and Emezu are two of the more painful losses among the fallen, each leaving behind a young child. Kisares, Sakisu, the loss you have suffered is one that cannot be expressed in words, to each lose a mother so young. I hope that the two of you will grow to support one another, and to know that you are now in the hands of the entire village.”

Calnor’s words drew attention to the two aggrieved children. The older Sakisu simply looked down as he was comforted by a nearby woman who placed an arm over the shoulder of the boy. The much younger Kisares did not take the reminder well and immediately began crying loudly.

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“Now, I will allow some time. Now is when you should all say your final goodbyes before we return those brave ones who died to the trees so that they may continue to protect us.”

Several uneasy glairs were directed toward the nursery tree at these words, but no one dared to put voice to what they really thought of this. The few who would be stupid enough had either received a very harsh talking to before the funeral, or were confined to their homes. It was a tragedy that they could not say their goodbyes to the departed, but no one wanted to risk a word spoken in anger upsetting the spirits. The spirit of the confined ones homes would likely still relay anything they said, but at least this way it is made clear they do not speak for the whole of the village.

Eirlathion glanced to his apprentice. Usually, he might take her with him for the next part of this ritual. However, her situation was sensitive. She had rejected those daughters she had, one of whom was loved by the spirits. The nymph would not accept her.

He gave the hand of his apprentice a squeeze. “You also did a great thing for these people.” He said. “Many more would have died if you had not warned us.”

She looked down and would not meet him in the eyes. He could hear the objection in the mind of this apprentice he mentored, but thankfully she was smart enough not to voice it. She believed it was the daughters she bore who brought this tragedy in the first place. Saying such a thing would certainly bring the ire of the nymph though, so she remained quiet.

“Wait here, I must do my part for the ceremony.” He walked slowly around the far side of the lined up bodies, leaving plenty of time before he reached the destination for which he aimed. The people would normally approach the loved ones they had lost at this time to say the last goodbyes, but few even knew who was who among the dead. So, they all remained along the sides and knelt as they cried.

There were only a few who walked among the unrecognizable bodies, touching each of the charred corpses as they cried.

The fire of the demons served several practical purposes. Eirlathion was aware of them all, but after seeing this sight he quickly became aware of one more. The way that it tormented the minds of those left behind, it was a truly horrifying sight. Fire was known to be a horrible thing for anyone who communicated with the plants, but even in all the centuries Eirlathion had lived he rarely had to encounter such a wrenching sight as these people who could not even recognize the loved ones they had lost among the faceless dead.

He reached the front, next to elder Calnor, and stood beside him as the two of them assessed the crowed. They waited what might be thought of as a reasonable amount of time. The only people still milling about among the bodies were some of the people they were concerned about causing problems. A glance to the people on the side was all it took to have someone come in and escort them off.

Calnor stepped forward again. “I trust you have all finished. We will now lay these who have aided us to rest and entrust the strength of these bodies to the nymph. I will now turn this over to the magus. Master Eirlathion, please, we entrust those of fallen of the village to you, please convey them to the nymph.”

The elder bowed to him and then walked away to the side. Eirlathion stepped up and looked over the fallen and then knelt to the ground and placed a hand on the forehead of the blackened corpse closest to him. “All of you, thank you. For giving of the life you held to protect the grove and those who live in it. As the souls have passed from these bodies, the form you have left behind shall go to nourish the trees which protect those you left behind.”

He stood and walked toward the body of the nymph. Normally, when a nymph or dryad is the one to receive the bodies, they would have their projection watch over the ceremony. Perhaps even say a few words as well. It was the first time this nymph was receiving this ceremony. Such a slight would normally be forgiven, but the situation was far more tense in this case.

Just as Eirlathion arrived at the side of the tree, the nymph’s projection finally appeared. It looked at him with something that looked like eyes of bitter apology. He wondered if Asa had said something to it. Those were the kind of eyes it was showing. Whatever the case may be, seeing this made Eirlathion breath a sigh of relief as he placed the same hand covered in putrid ash against the side of the tree as he began to pour in mana.

“>Nymph<” He called the nymph by the name the girls had given it. “Please accept the bodies of the fallen of the village. Be nourished by them, and use the strength which you gain to protect the people of this village against all who might come to threaten us.”

The nymph stared silently for a moment, then Eirlathion saw the brow of it’s projection twitch as it glanced upward. Then, the projection of the nymph bowed toward the people gathered.

“Yes. I will receive these fallen warriors. As you show gratitude for the sacrifice they made to protect each person and tree of the village, so too will I use the strength they give me to guard the children living under our branches.”

The people shifted uneasily like they could not believe the words of the nymph. Whatever the case may be though, the roots from the ground began turning aside the soil as it opened up to receive the bodies. Several bodies at a time began to sink into the ground. They would each lower down into the ground, each a short distance below a major root as the corpse would be allowed to decay and break down as it provided nourishment to the tree of the nymph.

Thus, although trust was strained and the relationship between the trees and the elves had grown tense, each maintained the traditional roles in this ceremony to lay the dead to rest. Eirlathion hoped this might be a time to mend the strained relationship between the two sides. With this performance, he may even have a chance to convince them. The nymph listens to Asa. The nymph properly performed it’s duties for the ceremony in obedience to Asa. If they would listen to that, then it may be a first step to lowering the tensions.

Things were still not good, but the future is starting to look promising.