The next morning, our army moved out, carefully taking our fallen comrades with us. We had lost many. Nearly half of the troops we mobilized out were coming back as Amaranths. When we were far enough away, we all looked back to watch the Gateway glow, then shimmer out of sight as it moved to a new location, safe from being found once more.

On our journey home, our hearts were heavy. However, there was a sense of victory and pride as we flew back to our city. There was not a lot of talking; most of us were still too tired and sore to try and fake niceties. Upon our arrival, we were met at the gate by Claus and many citizens of the city, wanting an update and to do a headcount.

We entered the city, and I could see the faces fall as they realized almost half of our numbers were gone. CiCi cleared her throat, and silence fell over the entryway where the citizens had met us.

“The battle was long and arduous. We lost many friends yesterday, but we ended the battle in victory. Let it be known that the Spider Beast is no more.  Never have I ever seen braver people than the ones who left this city yesterday. Today, we will send our comrades off properly. With the respect and love that they deserve. I want the sending-off ceremony prepared before dusk. Please do your best to help us make this happen.” CiCi’s voice echoed across the square, and people began to move, turning and hustling out. Mournful gazes kept finding us, though CiCi smiled and turned to me, Claus, and Leon.

“Come, before the Sending, I need to speak to all of you.” We trudged to her office. Leon, CiCi, and I sank down into the chairs, and Claus remained standing.

“You guys look like you were put through the wringer.” He said tentatively. CiCI looked at him and smiled.

“The Gateway is able to be moved. We watched it fade away this morning. It was a hell of a fight, but we won on two fronts.” CiCi said, pride seeping into her voice. Claus let out a booming laugh.

“Wonderful!” He thundered joyfully, and I smiled at his jubilance. If I weren’t so tired, I’d probably be just as thrilled. CiCi’s face turned serious, though, and she shook her head.

“There’s more.” She said, and Claus paused, waiting for her to continue. Leon and I looked at her curiously, wondering if she was about to reveal what the Keeper had told her in the Gateway. “I’m going to be transcending after the Sending. The Keeper informed me of this last night. I have fulfilled my duties, and it is time for my next path.”

We were all quiet for a moment, but then I bolted forward.

“What the HELL do you mean you’ll be ‘transcending?’ You already did that. You are HERE!” I said, and the red-haired woman looked at me, sighing.

“The only way for Transcended to move onto another journey is to either transcend again or die. I did not die last night.” She said the last part quietly before adding with a smile, “And thank goodness for that!”

“But why now?” Leon asked, and Claus grunted in agreement.

“My time here is done, apparently.” She answered, looking at us in surprise as all three of our faces reflected the anguish we felt.

“Why is it done?” I pressed, and CiCi sighed as Claus put a hand on my shoulder.

“This has never happened, lass. Give her a moment.” He said, and CiCi sat down, putting her hands on her desk.

“I don’t know the rules. Only the Keeper does. What she told me was that I am needed elsewhere now, that I have accomplished so much here, and that somewhere, someone has decided I would be more useful elsewhere.”

“But you can’t go! You’re our leader! Our friend!” I said, and CiCi laughed.

“Well, I think you’ll make a fine enough replacement. I have taught you everything there is to know, haven’t I?” She responded lightly. I gaped at her and shook my head.

“Me? Me? Are you nuts?” I stuttered out in disbelief.

“Yes. And yes. This is the whole purpose of your promotion. I’ll admit I didn’t expect it to be so soon, but here we go.” She answered, and I threw my hands up. Leon grabbed my hands and smiled sadly at CiCi.

“So this is goodbye then, my friend?” He asked softly, and CiCi turned to him, her face softening.

“I thought there was no goodbye in the Cherokee language?” She asked him, and Leon smiled.

“There isn’t. It’s too final.” He answered.

“So, how about ‘until we meet again?’” CiCi asked, and he nodded, swallowing.

“I’m gonna miss you, lassie,” Claus said softly, and CiCi turned to him and sighed.

“If I remember you, I will miss you too, Claus. All of you. Every one of my Warriors. This place is my home. You’re all my family.” CiCi responded, her voice finally thickening with the faint sound of unshed tears, and I stood up and went around the desk, wrapping my arms around her.

“I don’t think I can do this,” I told her, hearing the pleading in my own voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You just took down the biggest boogeyman of all history. A little city of warriors is going to be easy for you.” CiCi answered and hugged me back. “Now. Go clean up for the Sending.” She ordered, and I let her go. Leon took my hand and led me back home to change into the funeral clothing appropriate for the sending.

We bathed together and took our time. His hands roamed the now dark bruises on my body gently, his lips catching most of them in gentle kisses.

“Does it feel better?” He asked quietly, and I laughed softly.

“Much,” I whispered, resting my head on his chest. We got dressed, and I hesitated at the door.

“It feels like we’re going to CiCi’s funeral too,” I whispered when he stopped next to me. My heart was aching, and grief was threatening to consume me.

“Oh, no. No. No. It’s not. It’s different. She’s transcending. She has a new important mission in a new important journey.” He told me, and I nodded, feeling the tears well up in my eyes.

“It just feels like a loss,” I said in a choked voice, and he tilted my chin up, looking down at me. His beautiful, earthy eyes smoldered with understanding and his own pain.

“I know, Starlight, but it is how those of us who transcended get to move on unless we die. This is the first time it’s happened. She has been here for hundreds of years. It is time to let her be free of this place.” He reassured me, and I nodded. I felt selfish for wanting CiCi to stay, but I finally realized that love often felt selfish. We walked to the town square where the Sending was taking place. The residents, Warriors, and civilians alike were there, and so were Malakaii and Okard.

When CiCi stepped forward in white robes, she looked out over the silent crowd. Her Soulmate was attached to her hip, and the Amaranths were laid out on a long table, stacked in a gentle pile that stretched the length of it. She drew her Soulmate from its scabbard and held it across her hands before addressing the crowd.

“Today we say goodbye to men and women who died saving our world. We send them off with reverence, eternally grateful for their sacrifice. Their lives here were cut short, but they have fulfilled their missions and today we shall send them off to their next life. Thank you, my warriors and friends, your lives were not lost in vain. We were victorious!” CiCi exclaimed, putting the end of her blade in the pile of Amaranth flowers and they all began to glow. They began to dissipate, glowing beautiful hues of the energies of the souls within them. They began to flow up in sparks of light and color as they began to disperse to the Gateway. CiCi was glowing a bright golden color. Her emerald eyes stood out vividly as she turned them to me.

“And now it’s time for me to say goodbye.” She announced and the crowd gasped. She walked to me and put her hands on my shoulder. “In my place, Yuzuki will watch over this world and keep it safe from harm.” She looked at me as she spoke, the question clear in her eyes and I nodded, tears filling my eyes.

“I swear it,” I told her through quivering lips and sadness. She smiled, her own soul beginning to disperse in a cloud of golden orbs.

“Until we meet again…” she said softly to me, before looking up at Claus, Leon, and Malakii, giving them a loving nod, and she was gone. The golden orbs shot out in all directions as if she had become a firework. The sky dimmed down to a gentle twilight, and I turned to the crowd, which was still quiet. I realized there were tears in my eyes, and I reached up to wipe them away before I stepped forward and cleared my throat.

“As CiCi said, I will watch over you. I vow to keep you safe. I vow to uphold the balance. I swear to lead you with kindness and fairness. To CiCi, none of you were just citizens and its protectors. You were her children, her brothers and sisters, her family. Today, I stand in her place, but not nearly as worthy as she. I will do my best, and I hope you will continue to help me learn and grow.” I said, bowing down to the crowd.

There was a long, tense moment after I rose from my deep bow. As I looked out over the crowd nervously. Claus began to clap his hands, cheering for me. Leon followed along, and then I saw people begin to smile; they, too, began to clap. I let out a sigh of relief, smiling out at the crowd. Though my heart was heavy. How was I going to take care of this place? I wasn’t CiCi, and I already missed her so much I couldn’t stand it.

“I know most of the soldiers that stayed here in the City probably stood watch over the city for long hours while the rest of us fought. I am asking if I can count on you all a little longer so that our battle-weary comrades may rest and recover from wounds if they have them?” I asked, and Claus let out a thundering laugh.

“Of course, you can count on us, lassie!” He boomed, and there were nods of agreement from the few Warriors in the crowd. I nodded and smiled before continuing.

“Good. Then, as of now, I give all Warriors who participated in the battle last night the rest of tonight off. Please go rest and rejuvenate yourselves.” The crowd began to disperse, and I turned to Leon. “I want to go home,” I said softly to him. He took my hand and led me through the crowd to the little house we often shared.

Once we were there, we crawled into my bed and, after a long while of comforting each other, we fell asleep in each other’s arms. I dreamed of CiCi, the smile on her face as she rose above us. I dreamt of Alice and my family. And I dreamed of peace. I slept fitfully. I would worry about being the leader of the Warrior City later. For now, for the first time in all of my life, I slept without worry. My father was gone. My world was safe. Most of my friends were still here. And the man I loved was holding me tightly.

For the first time in my existence, I drifted off into an exhausted sleep with the final thought that life was wonderful. And even though I would miss CiCi dearly, my heart of hearts knew that things were exactly as they were meant to be.

Chapter 18 Goodbye is never easy

The next morning, our army moved out, carefully taking our fallen comrades with us. We had lost many. Nearly half of the troops we mobilized out were coming back as Amaranths. When we were far enough away, we all looked back to watch the Gateway glow, then shimmer out of sight as it moved to a new location, safe from being found once more.



Chapter 18

Goodbye is never easy

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Hope Martin

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