Chapter 92 - Death

Standing beside Alexjin, she looked over to the children putting flowers on top of the graveyard of the horses. 

"Mari and Lari, may you both enjoy find peace in heaven," Chase sobs and put his flowers with the rest. Then it was Geraldine's turn, she stepped closer on the graveyard and crutched down. Putting the white flowers on top, she whispered, "Your death will bring importance to the future."

A smile formed on her lips as she step back and watch the others say their final words. After that they went home and the children continued grieving. As for Alexjin, he never leaved his mother's side especially that she is now experiencing extreme pain.

With the time left, she went to the maret and bought food that could last a week and stored it at the kitchen. She also started taking out her important things and placed it on secret room she build underground that is located at the forest and used a rock as a disguise.

She used the time that Alexjin is busy taking care of his mother that he didn't pay attention to any body else. After she finished transferring her stuff, she took the dried flower that she'll use on Aurelie and waited for the perfect timing.

After waiting for a few more hours, Geraldine look at the ticking of the clock, "Five, four, three, two….. one."

"AHHHHH!"

A loud scream from Aurelie's room nearly broke everyone's eardrum. It was so loud and heart breaking scream of pain that Geraldine couldn't help but flinch. 

Even though she prepared herself for the events that will happen for the next hours. She still felt nervous that she might messed it up or something will change from what happened in the past.

The children who are resting upstairs hurried run down to see their mother but was stopped by Geraldine, "Stay here."

Then grabbing the flower from her pocket, she went to the kitchen and makes a tea out of the flower. Alexjin went out of his mother's room in panic with his eyes searching for a woman who can help him.

"Master!" 

Geraldine didn't speak and handed him the tea she just makes and Alexjin understood what she meant and hurriedly went back inside the room and made Aurelie sipped the tea until the last drop. 

They all waited outside as Aurelie's scream started to died down. 

"Master, will mother Aurelie be okay from her sickness?" Aaila asked as her eyes are focus on the door of Aurelie's room. She wanted to enter and help take care of her but they won't let the children be involved since her symptoms aggrivated after a day.

After a few minutes, Alexjin went out with sweat forming in his forehead and approached his master who is chopping carrots for the soup she's cooking.

"Master, thank you for the medicine you gave me. My mother doesn't feel any pain in her body but she's not getting well," Alexjin said in a low tone and sit next to Geraldine.

Geraldine patted his back in a comforting manner and whispered, "Everything's gonna be okay."

These words bring comfort to Alexjin as he got Geraldine at his side and shows his vulnerability to her. After that, he went to his mother's side again and didn't leave her side even if it's night. He would sleep at the chair placed at the side of the bed and holding his mother's hand so that he will notice if something happened to her even if he's sleeping.

At the middle of the night, when everythings is at peace. Geraldine is sitting at the living room with her eyes staring at the clock's arm as it moves every second.

Alexjin could feel a little twitched from his mother's hand that was holding his own. His eyes immediately lights up and look at Aurelie who is smiling weakly at him.

"My beloved s - son," Aurelie raised her hand and caress his cheeks with her eyes full of love.

"Mother," Alexjin leaned on her hand as if he's yearning for her love. 

"You are the b - best gift that co - comes to my l - life," Aurelie smiles with tears forming in her eyes and it didn't take long before it slides in her cheeks.

"Alexjin…" She whispered and handed him a letter with a rose seal, "This is my last will my dear son."

Alexjin's eyes looked at the white envelope and slowly took it from her hand, "What is this, mother? Last will? Mother, what do you mean?"

"Alexjin," Aurelie holds his sons arms tightly as tears continued to fall down on her cheeks, "I have so many things that I wasn't able to t - tell you but if y - you want to know the tr - truth. Please, ask Ge - geraldine, she k - knows the st - story." 

Aurelie coughed twice and puked out blood then she close her eyes as she felt her body going weaker and she started to see things. 

"The light is so bright, it burns my eyes," Aurelie whispered as she slowly close her eyes. 

Alexjin knows what's coming next but he's still denying it but the hand that was holding into his cheeks falls on the bed. That's when his world turns to darkness.

"Mom? Mother?" He shook Aurelie's body while his tears started to fall, "Mother, don't play this prank on me. It's not nice," he whispered and shook his mother's shoulder aggressively.

"MOM!" Alexjin couldn't help but scream with pain lace on his voice, "Mother! Please… Don't leave me!"

Geraldine who is standing outside the door close her eyes in pain and silently wipes away the tears streaming down her face. She couldn't do anything but listen to his cries and gives him time to grieve.

Because of ALexjin's scream, the children wakes up from their sleep and hurriedly went downstairs but was approached by Geraldine and gestured them to stay silent. The scream and cries of Alexjin is very vivid outside and the children understands what it means.

"Is mother Aurelie de.. de…." Aaila couldn't continue her words as she sunk on the floor, her knees loosing it's strength.

"Why… why?" Aaila put both of her palm over her face to cover the tears that is falling down.

The rest of the group crunched down and hugged on another as they silently grieve the death of Aurelie. Geraldine remained silent as she waited for Alexjin to come out. 

The night ends as the sun started to knock on the doors. The children fell asleep on the floor while Geraldine is still awake with her tea that gone cold and Alexjin's cries also stopped for hours and could hear sobs from time to time. 

"5:00 AM," She muttered while looking at the clock. It is the 3rd day and the day that the royal knights would come and take Alexjin away from the house. 

Knocking on the door, Geraldine whispered, "Alexjin, are you---"

Before she could finish her sentense, the door opened and reveal a man with swollen red eyes and puffy sad face. He open the door widely and took a step aside for his master to come inside the room.

Geraldine stepped in and saw that a white cloth over Aurelie's body. She didn't step further inside and went to hug Alexjin because she knows that he needed her the most at his lowest point. 

"I'm sorry," She whispered while caressing her back in a loving manner. These action touched Alexjin's vulnerable heart and hugged her back as he continued to sob. They hugged for 15 minutes before Alexjin removed his hand and look at Geraldine in the eye.

"Master, I want to make a proper burial for her," he said with determination.

Geraldine nodded her head in agreement, "Okay, what do you want to do?"

"I want to burn her body and scattered her ash on the river. My mother always love water even though she's a fire element user. I want it to be her final resting place," Alexjin said while blinking his eyes to stop himself from crying in front of his master.

"Very well. I'll prepare things needed to be done," She said and turn her back to go away. As she went out, she saw the children waking up and waiting fo her words but she only gestured for them to go and meet Alexjin.

Geraldine walked away as fast as she could before she could hear another set of cries from them. She prepared the woods and make it into a bed at the open field where Aurelie will be burned. Then going back on the house, she took the white dress that she saved for this day to come.

It is plain white long sleeve gown with flowers emboidery around the top and the ends of the cloth. She took it with her and placed it at the kitchen table while waiting for them to get out of Aurelie's room.

Looking at the clock, she counted the remaining house left for her as she needed to know what's inside the letter as Aurelie's last will to his son.