Chapter 9

Mr. 44 was gone.

The Mages simply opened up a hole in the ground and placed his wrapped body within. Then covered it up with the thick black soil. Away from the daylight. Into the darkness of the earth.

"L-let us not look upon this day with sadness.." Mr. 288 spoke. He seemed to know what to say when others did not. It was as if he had done this before. "Let us remember our friend, Mr. 44, with love in our h-hearts. Let us remember his good cheer and kind words. That… is the w-way he would have wanted it to be."

Mages and Genomes alike stood in a dappled crescent at the base of the Sacred Hill. Their heads were bowed in respect to the passing. Though no tears were shed, there was a deep, grieving silence, only broken by the passing breeze and trickle of water in the distance.

Garland refused to bow his head.

His cold blue eyes were focused sharply on the rise of grass and flower on the near horizon. It was hard to tell in the daylight. But he was sure he could see the Mist Spirits of the departed Mages watching. Mr. 44 was probably there too.

Dammit. I'm sorry Mr. 44. I couldn’t stop them from conductin' their stupid ceremony. I know you're still here. I refuse to pretend you are dead.

There was a pressing silence through the glade.

Mr. 288 turned to the boy with a soft voice. "Garland. I know that you were very close to Mr. 44. You were one of his best friends. Is there anything you wish to add? In honor of his m-memory?"

Garland felt his body tremor in rage.

In honor of his memory! Screw this shit!

He was about to say such aloud when he felt a tiny tug at the curve of his tail. Turning, the boy saw Vivi catch his eye meaningfully. Vivi had asked him not to say anything about the Mist Spirits to any of the others. He said it would only serve to upset and confuse them.

Seein' the way Vivi reacted… I suppose the others would take the news even worse.

Taking a deep breath, Garland glared up at the waiting Mage, then at the crowd that had turned to watch him curiously. The boy's eyes focused once again upon the Mist Spirits who were watching from the hill. It was impossible to pick out Mr. 44.

Then he turned back to Mr. 288.

"No. I have nothing to say."

…except this is all totally pointless…

Mr. 288 made a strangled, stunned sound. Garland could hear Vivi hiss under the brim of his hat.

"N-nothing?" Mr. 288 asked, voice incredulous. "Not even to say good-bye?"

…not a damn thing…

"No."

I refuse to be a part of somethin' to honor someone who's not dead!

Still taken aback, the Mage seemed to realize that to push the issue would only make things worse. Mr. 288 turned back to the ceremony, attempting to clear the shock from his tone. "T-then… let our dear friend sleep well…"

Garland shook his bushy head, feeling a sound rising within his throat. He wanted to shout at them. He wanted them to see.

Just look up there! You will see them all! C'mon! What the hell is wrong with all of you?

Sensing the agitation, Vivi again halted him, a slight touch on his arm this time.

"Garland.. please stop…" The little Mage begged, a tiny whisper. "They won't understand."

The boy tossed a heated glare to the ground.

Vivi's right… what's the point? They won't believe me. I'd just have to go and try to persuade 'em that I'm tellin' the truth. It's not worth it.

Garland relaxed his stance, a sign to Vivi that he would comply. His tail twitched, a sign that he was still pissed about it.

The rest of the ceremony went just like that. He kept his eyes on the ground, away from the crowd, away from the newly-dug plot of earth, and away from the crest of the Sacred Hill. Vivi kept one hand upon his arm. Be it for comfort, support, or warning, Garland didn't know.

This is all so… so… stupid.

With the formal parts of the burial over, the crowd began to thin, drifting into smaller groups, huddling for comfort and support. Vivi had also left the Sacred Hill to go be with them. One thing Garland noticed about the Black Mages... they were all deeply involved with each other. The loss of one had a vast effect upon the others.

Genomes were a good deal less pained, but more confused. They acted as if they had never seen death before. Maybe back on Terra… things didn't die.

Garland felt a prickle upon the back of his neck. There was someone standing over him, a shadow cast across the light over one shoulder. Malice. Pure unrestrained malice. The boy turned stonily, finding himself staring into the slitted luminous eyes of a Mage.

Mr. 299…!!!

Garland forced himself to stay put, remembering thoughts of the day before.

I won't let this loser intimidate me! I refuse…!

Mr. 299's voice grated, oozing scorn. "So… even at his death, you shame Mr. 44's name with your impudence… what a disgrace."

"How heartless." Garland spat back up at him in a teasing voice. "You'd ridicule a child who is suffering the loss his best friend.."

The Mage loomed closer. Garland did take a step back then. Only to see Vivi standing right behind Mr. 299… unnoticed in silent observation of the situation.

Okay, you bastard. Time for you to show Vivi what's really goin' on in your head… Then maybe he'll believe me!

"Do you honestly think I give a damn about your feelings you worthless little cod?" The Mage snarled.

"No.. and I don't think you give a damn about honoring Mr. 44's name either, piss-wipe."

Mr. 299 was doing all in his power not to lash out at the boy.

Garland was doing all in his power not to laugh in his face and ruin the scene.

Vivi was staring in horror, still unnoticed.

"You… will regret your insolence.. mark my word." Mr. 299's voice was low, and quite scary. Garland had to admit, the Mage had intimidation of small children down perfectly.

"What are ya gonna do…?" Garland taunted. "Sic your shadow monster on me again?"

It was an unintentional flinch.

Hook. Line. Sinker!

The Mage's anger had the best of him. With the tiniest of motions, he branded himself guilty. Garland could see that Vivi didn’t miss it either.

What a dumb-ass! You have totally given yourself away. If I didn't hate your guts, I would thank ya!

There was a really wicked flash behind the glow of Mr. 299's eyes. Garland felt a tremor run through him at the sight. There was something there… something not quite right… targeting in on the boy…

"Uh-um…"

At the sound of the voice, Mr. 299 snapped his head up.

At first, Garland had thought it was Vivi who had interrupted. The voice was quiet, gentle and soft-toned, much like the little Mage child. Turning to face the sound, the boy could see it was actually another adult Mage… he looked a lot like Mr. 44… except Mr. 44 had been bigger. And this Mage was dressed sorta… different. Funny. A big yellow feather stuck out of the base of his pointy hat.

Garland didn’t know who the Mage was, but he was thankful for the interruption.

All that Vivi needed hear has been said. It's a good thing this fellow came along or there might have been a knock-down-drag-out-cat-fight. I really shouldn't provoke full-blown Mages like that…

"Is there… um… some trouble here?" The other Mage inquired, head tilted slightly. The feather bowed with the motion.

Garland liked his voice. It was so light and peaceful. And cheerful. Despite everything.

Mr. 299 began to make a distance between himself and Garland, nearly trampling Vivi in the process. The rough-voiced Mage snarled, making his way out of the glade as quickly as he could. Vivi just watched after him, still in shock.

Yeah… Go on… cover your ass…

The other, funny-dressed Mage began to hum a good-natured tune just under his breath, bouncing lightly on his toes.

Garland couldn't help but watch him.

He's… weird. More than most the Mages. But… he did manage to have good timin'.

Vivi finally turned back to Garland. His eyes had grown rather pale. The boy could see he was still struggling to believe what he had just heard.

"What's wrong Vivi?" The strangely-dressed Mage asked.

"Uh-um.. n-nothing." The little Mage replied. "Thank you, Mr. 78…"

There was a smile behind the other's voice. "For what?"

Garland nearly gawked. Didn't he see what was just goin' on here? And he asks 'for what'!

"Oh.. uh.." Vivi seemed a bit perplexed at the question as well. "Well… Mr. 299…"

"OH! That?" Mr. 78 laughed. "Yeah. I thought it was really rude of him to heckle poor Garland… you know… after all that the boy's been going through." He paused for a moment. His voice wasn't so cheerful suddenly. "M-Mr. 299.. hasn't been himself lately."

"Really?" Garland asked, a quiver at the tip of his tail.

This guy doesn't seem all that with it… but he might know somethin' that would help.

"I m-mean, after all.." The older Mage weaved back and forth between one foot and the other. "You weren't being rude not to say anything at M-Mr. 44's burial.. If someone had asked m-me to say something right then.. I'd not have been able to think of anything either.."

That's because you probably don't have a thought in your head…

The boy grimaced. "No.. I mean… 'really' about Mr. 299. You said he has been acting odd?"

"Hmmm?" Mr. 78 managed to hold still for half a second. "OH… that..! Uh.. yeah. He used to tend his flower garden all the time. Lately.. he's let the weeds come in. It's just not like him."

Garland did everything not to groan aloud.

"My… you're right. It's not like him at a-all." Vivi agreed.

"What a tragedy." The boy glowered sarcastically, hoping that Vivi was not actually being serious.

"I know… We'll all m-miss him." Mr. 78 placed a hand on Garland's shoulder. "I'm sorry for your loss…"

"Um… I was talking about the weeds.."

The Mage froze. "Um… what weeds?"

"The ones in Mr. 299's flower garden!"

"OH! Yeah!" Mr. 78's eyes lit in a smile. "I almost forgot about those. What a shame." The Mage continued, nodded sagely to himself. "A real shame. I know we'll all miss Mr. 44 a lot."

Uhhhh…

Then Mr. 78 grasped Garland in both large hands and proceeded to crush the breath out of him in what was supposed to be a kindly hug. "If you ever get sad. Or lonely. Call on m-me. I'm always around.. here or there. I love to talk."

"Geehhh…" Garland squirmed in the Mage's strangle-hold. "Thanks…"

Mr. 78 finally released him, then tilted the brim of his hat. "I m-mean it… I'm always about. Just look for m-me."

"O-okay…." Garland nodded, partly just to work his way out of Mr. 78's hollow train of thoughts.

The jovial Black Mage then turned without another word and strode toward the village humming under his breath. The bright yellow feather in his hat bobbed with his bouncy stride.

Garland and Vivi watched after him, but found no words to exchange.

~Chapter 10~