Chapter 378 - The Missing Romeo (I) Part 2
Chapter 378 - The Missing Romeo (I) Part 2
Having finished our meeting in the open air, Mea and I entered the capital. Although I was worried that I would have to queue again, there was a person of royal blood with us. Taking advantage of her privileges, we immediately got into the city.
We were met by Mia, who was Kiara's personal servant. She returned to the capital before anyone else, apparently to report the sad news. Around the same time, she began to prepare for Kiara's funeral.
I placed Kiara's dead body, which I had previously hidden in the Dimensional Storage, in a coffin prepared by Mia. Fran and Mea, looking at her again, could not hold back their tears.
But not a single muscle twitched on Mia and Quina's faces. But not because they did not grieve. It is just that the court maids should not show their sadness outwardly. Real professionals in their field.
The funeral plan I heard later was very different from what I had imagined. That is, I, of course, imagined something like a Buddhist funeral, or a European funeral that I saw in the movies.
But the local view of life and death was completely different from the world where I come from. So, of course, the funeral ceremony was unlike anything I had seen before. Moreover, this is the funeral of the half-beast people.
For a start, there seems to be an emphasis on the very moment of death. After all, this is the moment when the soul is separated from the body and ascends to heaven. Unlike on Earth, the existence of souls here is a generally accepted fact, so praying for the happiness of the deceased in the afterlife is especially important.
Therefore, in a sense, the very moment of passing away is a funeral. After that, only the body remains, which is considered an empty vessel, devoid of a soul. Of course, this does not mean that he is thrown at random, however, the body itself is not given great importance.
So, as a sign of respect for the deceased, his body is simply protected from turning into undead. After all, a strong adventurer makes a correspondingly strong undead.
Therefore, if the body of the deceased can be carried away, it is carried away, and if this is problematic, the body is simply burned and buried. It looks like bones are not being harvested either. It is necessary to make sure that no one else identifies the deceased.
If the deceased can be carried away with him, then a ritual of protection from turning into undead is performed over him, after which he is buried. However, the main thing at the funeral is not the deceased, but the living.
At a time when the Earth is sometimes said figuratively that the family says goodbye to the deceased, this is exactly what happens in this world at funerals. At the funeral, those present can see the deceased in a coffin, accept the fact of his death, and receive the support of others to come to terms with the loss.
But there are no funeral gifts or wreaths. Indeed, they cannot be carried away to the afterlife. And prayers for happiness in the afterlife and other ceremonies are conducted not by some monks, but by family and friends. Yes, there is not a single priest at a funeral in this world, this is another important difference from the Earth analogue.
- The funeral of Mrs. Kiara will take place in four days. The day after the return of the Beast King.
- What? Have you contacted your father?
- Yes. Since the magic device for remote communication does not work between continents, and there is a chance that the conversation might be overheard in Bashar, I used the Adventurer's Guild Mail Falcon. He replied that he would return immediately.
Wouldn't it be too quick to return from another continent in just three days? They will have to march without rest. However, when your country is at war, this is not surprising.
They tried to start it exactly when the king is not in the country. Although this alone did not create any particular problems. Still, the military power significantly exceeds that of the Bashar kingdom.
- Madam Fran, what are your plans? If you want to, you can get a job on the same fast ship, which will sail the King of Beasts. According to my plan, His Majesty will first disembark at the port of Graysir, and then return to Balbora during the day.
- Can I ask for something?
- I understand.
Fran agreed to Mia's proposal. But these words only worried me more.
- Hey stop. Would you like to attend Kiara's funeral? I asked.
- Hmm? There is nothing wrong with that.
Yes exactly. I still can't get out of my head thinking from my own world. Since Fran was with Kiara in her last minutes of life, there is no point in attending the funeral a second time. While I thought it was amazing how easily she was able to come to terms with her loss, for half-beasts, it seems that it was in the order of things.
But neither Mea nor Quina reacted at all to Fran's words that she would not be present at Kiara's funeral. Although, Mea, upon hearing that Fran was going to sail, immediately became sad.
- Well, Fran. Maybe you will stay a little longer?
- Sorry. I made a promise to someone.
“We are obliged to take part in the auction in the Kingdom of Cranzer,” I said.
- That's how … Then you really need to hurry. That's the problem.
- Madam. Didn't you think that if you get so upset it will make Fran worry again during the trip?
- Yes you are right.
- Besides, there are still a few days.
- Right! During this time, we can play enough!
Quina is just a master manipulator. In an instant, Mea's tension was dispelled. It seems that she has already decided for sure that Fran and Mea should maintain a relationship …
- Yeah. Let's play enough.
Fran was also eager. After all, this is her first close friend. I hope these three days will be filled with good memories.