"Wouldn't attending your own funeral feel strange?"
Shade raised an eyebrow and asked in a low voice.
The Guardians shook his head slightly. He was dressed much like Shade, though his clothes were somewhat more old-fashioned. Siris, who stood beside Father and was delivering the eulogy, had clearly noticed this new guest as well, but she did not pause her speech.
After Siris came Shade. Shade briefly expressed his respect for Mr. Lathers and acknowledged that he had laid an important foundation for the Golden Dawn Opera Troupe's current glory.
Shade had thought that after he finished speaking, Siris would ask the Guardians to say a few words, but she did not. Father announced that everyone should rise, then led them in a final prayer for Weilon Lathers's soul to rest in peace.
After the church service ended, the coffin was moved into the grave beneath the large tree. Led by Siris, everyone scattered a handful of soil over the coffin in the grave. The grave was then filled, leveled, and encircled with a ring of small stone pillars. According to Randall River Valley customs, the highest point of a grave should be level with the ground.
Everyone stood silently before the grave for a while, and then it was time to part ways once again. The Church's search and investigation throughout the city would intensify next, and no one would see one another again for a short period of time.
Seeing that Siris had no intention of speaking with him, the Guardians moved a little farther away to wait for a chance to speak with Shade.
Shade bade farewell to the young ladies one by one. Though partings were always melancholy, he knew that every farewell meant the countdown to the next reunion had already begun.
"These are letters