Chapter 250: Flowers for the Fallen

“Hey Selina,” Alex said as he and Claygon trudged up to her on the path. The golem’s massive clay feet splashed through the growing puddles on the cobblestones.

“Hi Alex,” she said. “Are you all done with your spell practice stuff?”

“Well, ‘done’ might be a strong word, I think,” he said. “I-Argh!”

Brutus padded up to Alex, shook the water from his fur—with all three sets of jowls flapping—then licked the young man’s face.

“Aggggh,” he groaned, suddenly splattered in fur filled rainwater and dog drool.

Brutus seemed to spend a lot of his time shedding.

Selina immediately did what any good sister would do…start laughing until she turned red in the face.

“Aw, thanks, thanks a lot,” he groaned. “I’ve just been assaulted and you’re laughing. Ugh.”

Out of spite, he reached down, took the end of her cloak and wiped his face.

“Hey!” she cried.

“Not laughing so hard now, are we, you little…something,” Alex said, remembering Kybas and the possible unpleasant nature of his old nickname for Selina.

“Little what?” she asked, her green eyes narrowing.

“Nevermind,” he said quickly. “Uh, where was I? Oh yeah, I got started on the spell. It’s…I think it’s going well.”

“That’s really good,” she said, looking at his basket of books. “I can’t wait until the fall so I can start learning magic too.”

“It’ll be a lot of theory for you at first, Selina,” Alex said. “They don’t start the junior school out with spells.”

“You started that way. You learned a spell behind our backs all by yourself,” she said, glancing at his forceball.

“Yeah, well that’s not the right way to do it. And I didn’t do it behind your backs, I just did it in secret.” He wrapped his right arm over the injured one. “Anyway, what’s up? Did you want to show me something?”

“Yes. Here, hold this for a second.” She handed him her umbrella then opened her bag.

He leaned over and peered inside: several small bouquets of white lilies, all wrapped in wet cloth, were inside.

“They said we can bring flowers to the ceremony tomorrow-” Selina said. “-and offer them to the people that died.”

“Really?” Alex looked back at her. “I didn’t know that.”

“I found out earlier, so I asked Mr. and Mrs. Lu if I could go and get some for all of us.” She looked down at the flowers with an…odd expression. “I got some extra ones too, for the people fighting at home. The Heroes.”

She looked up at him. “And yeah…that’s what I wanted to show you.”

“It’s a good thing that you’re doing,” he said. “I think the people who died because of the demon summoner, and the ones who died because of The Ravener would have appreciated you thinking about them.”

“I hope so,” Selina said. “It’s the least I can do.”

He paused. “What’s with that look?”

“What look?” she asked.

“The one you just had? Are you mad about something?”

She paused. Brutus sat down beside him. For some reason, the need to get out of the rain…wasn’t nearly so urgent at that moment.

“Maybe,” she said.

“…do you want to talk about it?” Alex asked.

“I dunno.”

Her frown deepened and her big brother tried to figure out what to say. On the one hand, if there was something wrong, he wanted to talk to her about it. On the other hand…

…he looked down at the knife that Theresa’s parents had given her. Maybe he shouldn’t keep trying to pull every little thing she was thinking out of her.

“Alright,” he said. “If you figure things out, you can tell me okay.”

“…thanks,” she said. “You want to go back home now?”

“Yeah, good idea. We’ll get those flowers in some water and get them ready for tomorrow.”

###

“Today we are gathered in celebration, gratitude and grief,” Baelin’s magically augmented voice boomed over the stadium, cutting above the murmur of the crowd and the hiss of rain on the rain cover above.

Once again the seats were filled, and everyone watched the chancellor as he floated above a central platform where the glass cauldron that held the sword of Roal stood. He was flanked by Watchers of Roal, officials from the city, and nearly the entirety of the university’s faculty. In front of the platform lay a great stone basin filled with water.

Dozens of lilies and other pale flowers floated on the water’s surface: offerings for those who had fallen. On the sides of the basin, the names of everyone who had lost their lives in the attack had been carved in remembrance.

“One week ago, our city, our university and our campus were beset by a vicious wretch who thought to place his own beliefs above the lives and desires of the fine folk of this city,” Baelin said, and his voice seemed older than usual. More tired. “While it is an immeasurable tragedy, it is also a triumph. Those who strove and fought on the beach of Oreca’s Fall, in the stadium where we are now gathered, and in the botanical gardens—those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and those who thankfully, were not made to—are to be commended. Their efforts made the toll that we all paid much lighter than it would have been without them.”

He gestured down to the basin. “Hence, this monument will honour not the tragedy that befell us, but the triumph of those who fell, and those who survived the day. As the third chancellor of the University of Generasi, I have the deepest gratitude for all of your efforts, and sacrifices.”

Alex sat with his family and friends, holding Theresa’s hand. Selina—seated on his other side—had her hands folded in her lap. Their group was sombre, and there weren’t any tears today, but displays of grief were everywhere around them.

The Watcher with the eyepatch—Gemini—floated up beside Baelin.

“Today!” she shouted. “We honour the triumphs of the past as they seed the triumphs for the future! In battle, magic, research and craft, the victories of tomorrow are built on the efforts and successes of yesterday! And yesterday’s sacrifices!”

“The battles of yesterday-” The Watchers roared in unison, startling some of the city officials. “-seed the victories of tomorrow! Glory to those who still stand! Glory to those who have fallen! May we never forget them!”

“In a grim sense,” Gemini continued. “This year’s closing ceremony for The Games of Roal is the closest to the very first celebration of Roal’s triumph over Oreca: the namesake of our order did not succeed without sacrifice, or without loss of life! Many Generasians perished in the battle against Oreca, his priests, sea-beasts and divine servants, and that first ceremony honoured those who fought, stood and fell!”

Her good eye looked at the sword of Roal. “And today, we will do the same! Not only will medals and prizes be granted to those who won The Grand Battle and The Games in Roal’s honour, but we will also recognize and reward those who fought against the demon summoner! Please rise and proceed to the stadium floor when your name is called!”

Gemini stood tall, squaring her shoulders with military discipline and announced name after name of participants in The Grand Battle. One by one, Alex and his friends rose from their seats and made their way down to join the growing crowd on the arena floor. The participants were directed to form two lines, one on either side of the memorial. With the basin in the centre, it became three lines—the memorial for the fallen formed the third.

Other names were also called—a new row formed—and Alex saw Ram and other referees from Oreca’s Fall make their way down to join it. Next to be honoured were those who had fought in the stadium—including Hobb—and a number of Watchers were called from their places standing at attention near Gemini, joining the line with all who had helped to end the assault on Generasi.

Professor Salinger and Baelin joined the group as equals to the rest.

“And finally, for his most crucial role in locating the demon summoner and in the battle within the Botanical Gardens, I call Kybas of the Clan Chulu to take his well-deserved place here!”

Alex was stunned.

He hadn’t heard that Kybas had been involved in stopping the attack…and what was he still doing in the botanical-

“Oh shit, the harvest,” he whispered.

Theresa glanced at him but didn’t say anything.

Kybas came down the stairs with a mix of pride and nervousness as every eye in the stadium followed him. Harmless was by his side, as always.

The two of them took their place among those who had been part of the battle.

“Those who still stand are now assembled!” Gemini spoke again, placing her hands behind her back. “I will now call the names of those who were injured and are still receiving care. To each of you, know that you are not forgotten!” She read their names, then said, “The names called now are the last, but they are not the least. They may not stand with us, but they are here in spirit. Please honour them with a moment of silence as I call each name!”

One by one, Gemini announced the names of the fallen on Oreca’s Fall Island and in the stadium, and the mood became more sombre. Above, the rain hissed on the rain shield. Pockets of weeping travelled through the arena, breaking the silence.

‘This probably was what it felt like during that first ceremony to honour Roal; a mix of pride, pain and joy.’ Alex thought as he stood with his head bowed.

Once Gemini had called the last name and finished honouring them with a moment of silence, she spoke again: “And now, we shall proceed to the final part of the ceremony; the awarding of prizes for this year’s Games of Roal and commendations for those who participated in the battle.”

At that point, Baelin stepped out of line and joined several officials. They went down the line, presenting awards: each person who had fought against the demons received the University’s Milnos Thalaniel Award for Excellence in Service, which was a silver button forged in the shape of an elven wizard holding two staves.

Alex was surprised that he recognized the wizard: his was one of the two giant statues that stood in the courtyard of the university’s castle. Milnos Thalaniel was the second chancellor of the university, the one who had held the position just before Baelin. Alex had never heard of the award before, but Isolde had whispered that it was a very significant one to receive.

His chest swelled with pride as it was pinned on his shirt. Next, he was presented with the bronze medallion for The Grand Battle, along with a purse of coin equivalent to fourteen hundred gold pieces.

Baelin gave him a respectful nod and then continued down the line. He pinned the award on Theresa next and presented her with her bronze medal and coin, then he moved down the line to rest of their teammates. As Alex stood among these folk who had—either by choice, desperation, or simple circumstance—fought against the demonic horde, he had a revelation about Thameland.

‘This must have been how it felt for past Heroes,’ he thought. ‘At least for the Chosen, Sage, Champion and Saint.’

He remembered stories of days-long celebrations held to honour The Heroes’ triumph over the Ravener in past cycles. All of Thameland had been made safe and the people had returned home and The Heroes were celebrated in triumph.

‘How would that have felt?’ he wondered. ‘Standing in the capitol, knowing that everyone in your entire kingdom is celebrating your victory and your sacrifices?’

Then his thoughts turned bitter.

‘And how would it have felt for Fools who made it to the end?’ he thought. ‘Standing with your companions, knowing they had a bright future while you were doomed to go back to obscurity…or even mockery.’

His attention shifted to audience members who wept as the awards were being handed out. Their weeping grew louder when pins—and one medal—were laid at the foot of the memorial.

‘No, that’s not what I should be thinking about,’ Alex thought. ‘Fools might’ve had it bad if they made it through the cycle, but at least they got to live. How does it feel for those folks up in the stands? The ones with dead loved ones. How does it feel to see the living getting awards, while their loved ones are only names on a cold slab of stone now?’ He shifted uncomfortably. ‘And how does it feel watching awards being placed at the foot of some cold memorial while people talk about how they’re going to people who aren’t with you anymore?’

He swallowed hard, thinking of the expedition and something Isolde had told Mr. and Mrs. Lu one day during The Games: that Baelin wouldn’t always be there to help and protect them. While going on the expedition had him excited, there was something that was true: they were heading into a war zone.

He was going back into the belly of the beast to take its resources, its secrets and hopefully, learn ways to end the beast forever. As far as he knew, what they were about to do had never been done before, and that in itself was terrifying. In the end, The Heroes had never destroyed The Ravener permanently, but each cycle they always won by carrying out Uldar’s plan.

He, his friends, Baelin and what the expedition would be doing wasn’t in Uldar’s plan, it was something different. A completely new path. An unknown one. The path The Heroes was on was a known one and from what he’d seen, it was still scary. He was The Fool, he wasn’t supposed to be on a path to learn more about The Ravener and maybe end him permanently. There was no roadmap for him to follow.

There was only a new path filled with unknowns ahead of him.