[center][b][i]The Living Funeral, thus named for the deceased who were alive and breathing alongside their mourners. They weren’t buried in a coffin of wood or stone, but in the minds of those they left behind. Only to be remembered with the other dead. Different cultures and peoples had different rites for this. Some danced, some drank, some prayed, some laughed, some cried, and some just left in the middle of the night. Everyone mourns in their own way.[/i][/b][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/jO6aJM5.png[/img][/center]
[indent][indent][indent][color=gray]It was the Spring of  100005 TK, or novannum 5, and the fruit trees were in full bloom, flowers dotted the green landscape, and a warm wind found its way through even the coldest of places. The nights were alighted with stars and the three moons glistened with joyous coronas. As if they were blessing the evening. Shatter bugs flickered in the darkness between the trees, glittering and shimmering every time they caught the lights. Naenia watched them almost as if they were hypnotizing her. Yet, while she seemed enraptured with them, her mind was buzzing with other thoughts.  There was no joyous celebration around her. Her folks had passed in Frontier Town, and her sister was lost in the depths of Ordai’el. The only people that would have seen her off with her fellow brothers and sisters of Death. They’d already held their vigil a month before when the moons were nowhere in sight. So the pitch of the night made their candles sparkle even more. This night was hers to do with what she willed, and what she willed was to sit in the forest outside of Ordai’el. 

The city rivaled the mountains and was capable of holding the entirety of Goan within it. It had glistening white towers that could be seen across the other Holy Isles. Around it was a circular white wall that then led to a crystal blue river that ran the length around it, and it culminated in one gate before that spilled out into lengthy stairs that swiveled downwards to the plains below. Leading up to the Holy City were lustrous green forests, lakes, and streams, and they contained many shrines to the gods. If someone wasn’t deemed holy enough to enter the Holy City, they could pray at those and look at the sparkling white towers. Now if they did that, all they could see was a wall of shimmering gray that blocked out the sky, the sun, and even the moons. It poured upwards into the atmosphere itself—impenetrable and cylindrical as a stone pillar. Naenia could even see it in the darkness. The pattering of stars blacked out into a light-consuming void before continuing on the other side. 

She looked away from the shatter bugs and back to the fire that burned before her. A stone brazier circled around it, built into the ground centuries before. Around her was a marble monument that had once been pristine but now was overgrown. Behind the flames was a monument to a god. It wasn’t to Dhorbris, though, but instead Ikphine. She’d been carved into the stone wall. Her face was painted alabaster white, and one hand was adorned with copper while the other was adorned in lapis. Her eyes were sightless baubles that felt like they stared directly into Naenia’s soul. She uncrossed her legs at the ankles underneath her long dress. While she was not in her armor, her travel gear was sturdy and protective. If she needed to protect herself, she easily could. Her deep brown hair was braided up, only allowing for a few strands to fall into her pale face. Her eyes reflected the hues of red and orange from the fire. She prodded it with a stick before throwing it in. 

[color=#804d4d]“Xanthe loved you, revered you, and even went in to free you,”[/color] Naenia spoke to the shrine of the Walking Goddess, knowing that she was only talking to herself. [color=#804d4d]“She had to hold onto the belief that you judged wisely in the killing of our parents, our friends, our town, and that your judgment was the key to the lock of her life. And sure, I suppose we’re all allowed to interpret our god as we wish. But why did it mean so much that she abandon me—and Ozul, I suppose—to save you? You’re a goddess. You’re supposed to do the saving. You killed the High King of Dragons, and you can’t fight some fucking fog.”[/color] Naenia spat onto the monument. [color=#804d4d]“You’re a liar is what you are, and I’m willing to prove it.”[/color]

She stood from the carved, stone bench that she’d been perched on. It’d probably held scores of worshippers before, but now it was just her. The fire painted her clothing in red and gold and deepened the shadows around her eyes. She leaned over and pulled up the large hammer she’d dragged up all the stairs. Having finally caught her breath, she hefted it above her head, holding it for a beat before slamming it down on the monument. It released a blistering crack, as the monument splintered under the force. Ikphine’s eyes drooped as her head caved in. Naenia pulled the hammer back, lifted it above her head, and slammed it back down again. More of the monument sloughed off, but it was far from broken. So, she did it again. And again. And again. And again. Each swing ruined the stonework more and more until it’d been reduced to an uneven pile of white stone. The copper and lapis hands had fallen off and into the fire. They crackled and spit fumes into the air as Naenia sank to her knees. The hammer had splintered in her hand and lay in two pieces. She pressed her damaged palms against her eyes. Tears mixed with the blood and poured down her face, dripping onto her dress. The hammering had silenced the animals around her, and the only thing that could be made out in that darkness was her sobbing. It was a deep and guttural thing. There would be no more tears after this. She’d have to harden herself before she entered Ordai’el. 

Yet, underneath the quaking silver of the stars, she cried. [color=#804d4d]“You killed her.”[/color] A deep breath punctuated her sentence. [color=#804d4d]“You killed her.”[/color] Another breath. [color=#804d4d]“You killed her.”[/color] A quivering sob came after that. [color=#804d4d]“And you’re going to kill me.” [/color][/color][/indent][/indent][/indent]