Establishment (3)
After my short speech, silence descended upon the park.
Countless people stood still, their mouths shut tight.
Their eyes, all without exception, held a complicated gleam.
As if lost in thought, their gazes seemed distant and heavy.
“...”
Being in that kind of situation was quite burdensome.
It felt as if the heavy silence was crushing me.
However, I didn't falter.
Since I had come this far, I couldn't afford to show any sign of weakness.
I had stepped forward, declaring myself as a protector.
I had to maintain an unwavering demeanor, at least enough to let someone breathe a sigh of relief while looking at my back.
With steady steps, I descended from the podium.
My stomach churned with pressure, and fatigue seeped into my entire body.
“Haa…”
A soft exhale escaped my lips, dissipating into a cloud of white mist.
It was a belated sigh of relief.
The sharp tension slowly began to fade.
Perhaps because I was free from the intense gazes, I felt like my legs would give out at any moment.
I should be thankful.
At least, I didn't forget my prepared remarks or stutter awkwardly.
It was all thanks to the relentless practice I had put in yesterday.
Rachel and Ariel had actively helped me as well.
‘I can’t do this twice…’
If I were a refreshing protagonist from a novel like Allen, I could have moved people with impromptu speeches.
Unfortunately, I didn't possess such eloquence.
I could barely utter a word in front of strangers, let alone deliver a speech.
I should be glad I didn't faint up there.
The sole reason I could deliver the entire speech without a hitch was the result of sheer practice.
I wasn't naturally gifted with the ability to move people's hearts.
I simply revised and rewrote the script countless times and diligently memorized it.
“…Now, all that’s left is to wait.”
So much had happened.
They would need time to process everything.
It was still the beginning, and until their contemplation reached a conclusion, it was my turn to wait.
-Next, we will have a eulogy from Head Professor Aron, representing the faculty…
As I stood there in silence, a faint voice reached my ears.
I forced my stiff legs to move.
As tempting as it was to return to my dorm and collapse onto my bed, the memorial service wasn't over yet.
As the acting representative of the Headmistress, I couldn't afford to slip away, show fatigue, or throw a tantrum.
Besides, the most crucial task still lay ahead.
With effort, I straightened my back.
I fixed my posture, ensuring that my precariously built composure wouldn't crumble.
***
-May the children rest in peace beside the stars.
With Aron's final words, the memorial service truly came to an end.
Now, it was time for everyone to pay their respects to the memorial monument one by one.
It was the most important ritual and the final act of mourning for those who had departed.
Of course, it was impossible for all the students filling the vast plaza to pay their respects individually.
Naturally, only a select few would stand before the monument.
As the acting representative of the Headmistress, I had to lead the ceremony from the front.
A sea of black mourning clothes stretched out before me.
I stood at the edge of this surging wave of sorrow, facing the remnants of those who had left us.
‘This feels… strangely familiar…’
A bland thought crossed my mind.
Come to think of it, I was also standing at the forefront during Master's funeral.
It was a vivid memory, so clear that the paint would come off if I rubbed my palms together.
Yet, five months had already passed.
It was a moment to reflect on the passage of time.
I gathered my swirling emotions and raised my head.
Before my eyes stood five memorial monuments, tinged with gray.
The lifeless figures of the children.
They had lost their innocent and overflowing vitality and had become cold, hard stones.
An unpleasant feeling washed over me.
I quietly bit my lip and fixed my gaze on the children.
[A flame that sought justice with a mighty hammer, a courageous boy.]
[Here lies Carl.]
[A dawn that sought to protect the weak with the tip of a cold sword, a noble boy.]
[Here lies Devlin.]
[A light that sought to illuminate the world with sacred divinity, a beautiful girl.]
[Here lies Orlen.]
[A ray of sunshine that sought to shatter darkness with a shining flail, a warm boy.]
[Here lies Kaestis.]
[A petal that sought to sway gently with a soft spear, a kind girl.]
[Here lies Lia.]
Carl.
Devlin.
Orlen.
Kaestis.
Lia.
I repeated the names engraved on the tombstones, each syllable imbued with sincerity.
No one welcomes death in this world.
Perhaps everyone feels the same.
Even I, who had chosen suicide in my previous life after being driven to despair, felt fear in the final moments.
How much more terrifying must it have been for these children who had been living ordinary lives, enjoying each passing day?
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
I tried to maintain my composure, but my insides felt like they were being torn apart.
As I grappled with the pain that seemed to pierce my very core, a voice called out from behind me.
"Are you alright?"
"..."
I turned to see Professor Sharon standing there.
Her blue eyes were filled with concern as she looked at me.
"...I'm fine."
"Here, take this. It's part of the procedure, and it falls upon you, Student Raiden."
"Yes... Thank you."
What Sharon handed me was a bottle of wine.
I stared at the red bottle with mixed emotions before finally accepting it.
The coldness of the bottle against my fingertips sent a shiver down my spine, and I involuntarily shrugged my shoulders.
"Haa..."
With a deep breath, I pulled out the cork.
Then, I straightened my posture, held the bottle high, and approached the monument.
In the Empire, wine held two significant meanings: sacrifice and blood.
It was often used to commemorate the dead.
It was customary to pour wine onto the tombstones, symbolizing the washing away of all the pain of this life for the departed.
I tilted the bottle in my hand.
The liquid flowed out through the small opening, covering the surface of the monument and staining the gray stone with red.
I inhaled the scent of alcohol that wafted from the bottle.
Quietly, I murmured,
"...I will remember you all."
Some may see your deaths as nothing more than leaves falling in autumn.
But I, for one, do not wish to forget you.
You were the ones I failed to protect.
I will remember your names, forever etched in my heart as a painful reminder of my failure.
And I promise you this.
I will not let your deaths be in vain.
I will fight tooth and nail to survive and lead this world to a happy ending.
So remember my name as well.
Shine brightly as stars in the night sky, illuminating the world.
When the winter wind blows and cries a mournful song, I will not turn a deaf ear to your sorrowful calls.
"Rest in peace."
I filled the empty vessel of my heart with the memory of the departed.
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