Chapter 187 A Serene Send-Off

As I approached the boat, Ivica's body came into view. She lay there peacefully, surrounded by an array of colorful flowers. Her simple white dress flowed gently in the breeze, while her long red hair fell delicately around her face, now pale and unmoving.

Though her eyes were closed, she seemed to exude a sense of calm and serenity, as if the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. Even in death, she remained as stunning as ever.

Ivica's sister stood silently beside the boat, her hand caressing Ivica's forehead. She appeared lost in thought, her empty eyes fixed on the still figure lying in front of her.

However, upon sensing my presence, she gave me a single, lifeless glance before turning back to her task. She appeared indifferent to my arrival, her face devoid of any emotion.

As I moved toward her, I noticed that she was arranging a large bouquet of colorful flowers, which seemed to be for Ivica's final farewell. Her movements were slow and deliberate as if each flower was being placed with great care and attention.

I didn't want to intrude on her private moment of mourning, so I silently stood there, watching her gentle movements as she carefully placed each flower into the arrangement. The scent of the flowers filled the air, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.

After a few moments, Ivica's sister spoke softly.

"She loved these flowers. She always said they reminded her of the beauty of life."

Her voice was low and filled with emotion, and I could see a hint of sadness in her eyes. I nodded in understanding, not wanting to interrupt her thoughts.

After she was satisfied with the flower arrangement, she took a final, lingering look at Ivica's lifeless body. It was apparent that she was struggling with the thought of parting ways with her sister.

But eventually, with great reluctance, She began pushing the boat away from the shore, her thin frame trembling with the effort. It was clear she didn't have the strength left to do it alone.

Seeing her struggle, I stepped into the water to help her. The water was colder than I had anticipated, and I felt the chill seep into my bones.

As I got closer to her, she looked up and met my eyes. I could see the surprise and confusion etched on her face, even though her expression remained emotionless.

Without a word, I placed my hands on the boat and started pushing with her. The combined effort made a difference, and the boat started to move toward the center of the waterfall.

The sound of the rushing water grew louder as we got closer, and the mist from the waterfall soaked us to the bone.

Together, we pushed the boat until it was floating peacefully on the calm surface of the water.

And as the boat carrying Ivica's deceased body floated further away from us, I couldn't help but feel a heavy sense of regret wash over me.

I looked upon her pale, lifeless form and wondered if there was anything I could have done differently to save her. But now, it was too late.

The soft murmur of the waterfall provided a soothing background melody to the scene, while the boat gently rocked to the rhythm of the waves as it moved further.

(*Note: From now on, Ivica's twin sister will be referred to as Evica.)

And as the boat drifted away, Evica drew out a bow and a red arrow with a flaming attribute from her storage ring.

Without looking back, she aimed the arrow at the boat, her hands trembling as she struggled to steady her aim. I could see the pain and grief on her face, as I stood a short distance from her.

Feeling a sense of empathy, I waded over to her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Let me help you," I said quietly.

She didn't acknowledge my presence, but her body seemed to relax slightly. Together, we steadied the arrow and aimed at the boat, my arms supporting hers.

After taking a deep breath, she released the arrow.

SWISH—

The arrow flew through the air with a hiss, striking the boat with a resounding thud.

THUD—

Flames erupted from the arrow's impact and quickly spread across the flowers and wood spreading to engulf the boat in a fiery blaze.

The sound of the crackling flames mingled with the roar of the waterfall, creating a mournful symphony that echoed through the forest.

As the boat floated away, we stood in silence, watching as the flames consumed it.

Evica remained stoic, her face betraying no emotion. But I could see the tears glistening in her eyes as she watched her sister's body disappear into the flames.

I stood beside her, offering her silent support as the boat burned, carried away by the current and we both paid our final respects to Ivica.

***

The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow across the sky. We stood in silence, watching as the boat floated away, flames dancing on the water's surface. The orange glow illuminated our faces, but eventually, the boat was out of our sight and only the smoke from the fire was visible, a dark smudge against the darkening sky.

The silence between us was heavy, and I wasn't sure what to say. I could sense that Evica was lost in her own thoughts, so I decided to break the silence.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly, turning towards her.

She gave a small nod, but didn't say anything. I could tell that she was still struggling with the loss of her sister. I reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort.

"If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for you," I said gently.

Again, she gave a small nod, but didn't say anything. We stood there in silence for a few more moments, before I finally turned to leave, my clothes drenched from the water, Evica spoke in a low voice, "Thank you," she said, finally breaking her silence. "I couldn't have done it without your help."

I nodded in response, sensing a strange aura emanating from her with my left eye, making me feel the weight of the emotional moment.

"Of course. And I'm sorry for your loss," I replied softly.

Her expression remained distant, her eyes fixed on something in the distance. It was clear that the grief weighed heavily on her, and I knew that it would take time for her to heal from the loss of her sister.

I was about to leave, giving her some space to mourn in peace when I heard her call out my name.

"Ares," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

I stopped in my tracks and turned around to face her. That was when I noticed that she had retrieved an envelope from her storage ring and was holding it out to me.

"...This is a letter from Ivica," she said, her voice low and unsteady. Her face looked pained as she spoke. "She wrote it in her final moments. I'm not sure what it contains, but she trusted you enough to entrust it to you."

Despite her efforts to hold back her emotions, a single tear managed to escape from her eye and trickle down her cheek. She looked away from me, wiping the tear away with the back of her hand.

As I observed her, a pang of sympathy ran through me. I wished I could do something to console her, but I knew that words wouldn't be enough. So, I just took the letter from her, sensing her gratitude in the way she held it out to me.

A mix of confusion and curiosity stirred inside me as I held the envelope in my hand. I wasn't sure what Ivica had written in her final moments, but I couldn't help but wonder what it was that she wanted to tell me.

"...Thank you," I said, my eyes fixed on the letter.

She remained silent, her eyes now closed as if seeking comfort from the sky above. Her wet hair clung to her face, and water dripped down her cheeks, mingling with her tears. I could sense the heaviness of her sorrow, and I didn't want to intrude on her solitude any longer.

With a final nod of farewell, I turned and got out of the water. My clothes were drenched, but I didn't mind as I was lost in my own thoughts.

As I made my way back to the academy, my mind couldn't help but wander to the letter Ivica had left me. What could it contain? Was it a final goodbye or a message of some sort? My curiosity gnawed at me, and I couldn't wait to read it.