539- A Father's Eternal Name
POV Thalyndra Moonclaw:
I didn't pay attention to the path, still lethargic with everything that had happened. We crossed the forest, moving further and further away from civilization. I heard the sound of the lake, the water swaying gently. The moon was already welcoming us in the sky, as the sun withdrew. I spotted a huge stone in the middle of an empty clearing.
I approached slowly, my steps wavering, feeling the weight of all their gazes upon me.
The imposing stone rose before me, ancient and carefully carved. I had never seen it before, but its meaning was clear from the weight of the inscriptions engraved on its surface. Names. So many names, of so many who had passed, each one eternalized there, carved into the rock as reminders that their lives would not be forgotten.
Anton stopped beside me and pointed to a recent inscription. My heart almost stopped when my eyes found his name — my father's. William. Engraved with precision, his name was now part of something greater, a tradition I had never known, but that touched me deeply.
"This is the place where the names of those who have passed are carved," Anton said, his voice low and solemn. "An eternal tribute. Here, he will be forever among our own."
I approached slowly, extending my hand to touch the letters carved into the cold stone. As I ran my fingers over the inscriptions, I felt a mixture of pain and relief. It was hard to accept that he was gone, but knowing he would never be forgotten... that brought me a strange sense of peace.
"He is eternalized in Eldoria," I commented in a whisper, feeling the carved letters on my fingertips.
Anton nodded.
"Yes. And now, you have a place to go when you miss him. This is a way our parents found to eternalize those who have passed, the stone has been here for years, even before our birth, and so it will remain."
I turned to them, my vision blurred by tears. I sniffled, pulling air into my lungs, trying to control myself.
"You did this?" I asked, my lips trembling.
"Anton ordered it and Myrion came to carve it earlier. Lana and I only provided moral support," Aurelka said, shrugging as if it were nothing.
I ran my hand over my heart, feeling so small, so devastated. When I thought I couldn't have more, they showed me I was wrong.
I had a solitary vision of the future, so every little gesture from them still surprised me.
They cared about me, so much, to the point of defending me, protecting me, seeking my happiness. They carved my father's name on a stone that belonged to the Eldoria, as if he had, at some point, been one of them, just so I could have a place of mourning.
Nothing I did or said would be able to demonstrate how grateful I was.
"I... I just..." I cleared my throat. "Thank you for everything, for so much." Myrion made a dismissive gesture with his hand.
"Nothing that helping me won't solve."
"Helping you?" I inquired, arching an eyebrow, knowing he would say something extravagant.
"Yes, now that you're in the family, you need to know that I'm always in need of cover."
"Cover?" He nodded.
"The females pursue me too much and they're obsessed, so you need to cover for me when they find out about each other. That already pays off your debt."
"You want me to... protect your indiscretions?" He gasped, pursing his lips in a grimace.
"It's not indiscretion, it's just... some slip-ups in my personality."
I stared at him, without reaction, not knowing whether to burst out laughing, be incredulous, or both. Being Myrion Eldoria, I knew he was telling the truth in every word.
"Keep your crazy lovers far away from me," I ordered, pointing a finger at him. "I don't want to get involved in that."
He made a sound in his throat.
"After everything I did for you, this is how you thank me?" He raised his hands, showing me his palms. "Do you know how hard it is to carve that hard stone? I spent hours just to write a single letter."
"I'll buy you an ointment," I replied. He straightened up, seeming startled by me.
Anton pulled from the pocket of the white pants he wore the handkerchief that belonged to my mother and extended it to me.
"I can do that for you."
Swallowing with difficulty, I denied with a nod and took it. He had already done so much for me, and that was something I could do myself.
I looked around and walked to a wide-trunked tree that stood near the stone. I knelt before it, dirtying my white dress. I placed the handkerchief beside me and began to dig, finding some resistance in the hard earth.
I didn't give up, even when my fingers began to burn, the skin scratched and my nails hurt. They remained silent, respecting that moment, letting me act alone.
I managed to dig a deep hole. Some roots made the process difficult, but didn't stop it. I picked up the handkerchief, my hands trembling from the effort, my fingers injured, dirty with blood and earth. I placed it inside the hole, depositing it delicately. I looked at it one last time before pouring the earth I had dug over it, until it disappeared from sight. When I finished, I sat on my knees and let my hands fall to my sides, breathing with difficulty.
I deeply detested her, but I also loved her. How was it possible to harbor two such conflicting and distinct feelings?
Anton knelt beside me, pulled my hand and gently rubbed his shirt against my palm, cleaning it to check the wounds. The skin had already healed.
"Now, you have two places to mourn your loss," he whispered, leaning in and kissing my forehead. "No matter what she did, she was still your mother. Don't blame yourself for feeling this way, Little Beast. You are strong and fearless, you're enduring much more than any of us could bear."
I stood up with his help. As I turned, I met the gaze of Myrion, Aurelka, and Lana. There was no judgment, only compassion.
"I'm finished," I announced, clearing my throat.
"What do you want to do?" Lana asked, crossing her arms in front of her body.
I looked at the sky, which had darkened in the last few minutes, and let out a heavy sigh.
"I don't want to go to the party, I know it's in honor of my father, but I don't feel well enough right now to interact with so many people."
"We don't have to go, they'll drink so much they won't even miss us," Myrion commented.
I pressed my lips together.