After a few hours of sleep, I wake up to an adorable Thultu cuddling with me in bed. When I reach down to gently stroke his head, he stirs, "Momma, you are awake?" He says as he wipes the sleepiness from his eyes. Lysara is still in bed, so we leave her to sleep more while I sit up on the side of the bed and put my boots on. I ask Thultu softly, "Are you ready for breakfast?" He says in a whisper, "Yep!" We then go out of the tent, and I go for our stash of rations and grab two, one for him and one for me. We take our rations and sit down by our little aid station we have set up. As we eat our breakfast, I look around the square, and it looks like they are setting up funeral pyres for our ceremony for the dead. Thultu asks while he eats on my back, "What are they doing?" I replied while pointing to the pyres, "Well, you see, when someone passes on to their next life, it is the duty of their loved ones to send them off properly by burning them on a pyre like one of those. The most important part is that we dance while they are burning. The ceremony is to send their souls to the next life with a smile, seeing their loved ones dancing, remembering the good times of their lives. So they can have a good start to their next step."
Thultu looks a little deflated because of the heavy topic and says, "I understand. I will make sure to dance my best dance for Papa." I tear up a bit, and I say, "I will dance my best dance as well." The funeral process here is different from Perdita's, but Lysara has mentioned it to me before. It stuck with me since they are more celebratory in their funerals than humans are.
Lysara comes out of the tent and wipes the sleepiness away from her eyes, she asks, "What are we dancing for?" She then looks around and she instantly retracts, "Never mind my question. Oooo food." She says as she reaches to grab a ration for herself, and she joins us. Lysara asks, "Do they have a powerful fire mage to help with the ceremony? If not, I can borrow someone from the capital. Actually, let me inquire about that now. We will probably need an ice mage as well to make an ice pillar in the middle so the demons dancing don't cook in the heat." She says as she takes her rations with her on the go, while eating on the move, and asking some of the locals.
While she is out asking locals, Keylira is arriving and is getting situated to hand out supplies to whoever still needs them. Since everyone at this point has a tent that needs one, she is focusing on rations and torches, and organizing those. Lysara returns and says, "I will have to borrow someone from the capital. They said if they had a powerful fire mage, the damage wouldn't have been this bad in town in the first place." She scarfs the rest of her rations down as quickly as she can, and then she comes over to kiss me and Thultu, and she says, "I am off. I will be back soon with someone who can help move the ceremony along exponentially faster, and thanks for the help, Keylira." Keylira waves with her hand as if to say 'it is not a big deal', then Lysara heads to the departing tent, and then her presence disappears. I ask Sky who is eating the crackers from my rations I set aside, "Can I get you to stay here? If they start the ceremony, I would like to return to participate. I am sure the locals who are helping with cleanup would like to participate as well." Sky replies after his bite, "You can count on me!" he says as he nuzzles into my pet.
I ask Thultu, "Do you want to go help Dysis clear out rubble after we eat?" He wipes his mouth adorably to get some of the peanut butter that was all over his mouth off and says, "Ok! Can I help, too?" I shake my head, "It is a little dangerous for you to help clear the rubble, but you could help keep Dysis entertained while she works with your cuteness. You won't be able to hear her in that form. You would have to transform into your lizard form. Since she isn't going to be flying, you will be able to get on her back. Just be careful not to fall off because she is really big." Thultu beams with excitement, "That sounds fun!" Keylira heard the whole exchange, so if Lysara gets back, she will be able to pass along where we are. I mean, not like that would technically matter since she can feel my presence, but verbal communication is still good. I pick Thultu up with ease and place him on top of my shoulders, and he puts his arms on top of my head. We walked to Dysis.
We get to Dysis, and Thultu takes off his clothes and transforms, and I go up to Dysis and say, "Do you mind if Thultu keeps you company while we work?" Dysis shakes her head and says, "No, not at all." She lies down and I hop on her back carrying Thultu and place him down carefully on her back. He starts running all over her back, having fun in her fur. I say, "Careful, Thultu. Remember that Dysis is tall, and falling from her back will hurt, so be careful. She doesn't like it when you touch her wings, so make sure to be a good boy and don't touch them. Ok?" Thultu slightly deflates, "Ok, I will be careful, Momma." I pat his head and I hop off Dysis and help the locals clear rubble and load it on Dysis's sled she is pulling. When she walks to the dumping site, we stage the next load to make it easier while we wait for her to return. The flirty succubus shopkeeper and an incubus are helping Dysis with this and they fly to the dumping ground and use their super strength to unload the rubble. We work with a good system until around the afternoon, when Sky comes to tell us they are about to start the ceremony. I signal to the locals helping with cleanup, and we all stop working, and I take the harness off Dysis for now since we are going to take a break while we attend the ceremony. This way, she can get a snack, take a bath, chill, or do whatever she wants to do while we are away.
We get back to the square, and Lysara is there, so I go straight to her with Thultu on my shoulders. He does the 'I want down' wiggle, and he runs to Lysara to hug her. She picks him up and asks, "How are things going with the cleanup?" I replied after I kissed her (because priorities), "We are making progress. We are working well together. I am impressed with those earth mages who erect buildings with their magic. They are incredibly detailed and are structurally sound as well. You did great in recruiting them." Lysara replies while patting Thultu on the head, "Father is the one who recommended I bring them for the rebuild for that reason specifically. I can't take the credit for recruiting them technically." I replied, smirking at her lips, desiring another kiss, "Well, you are still amazing regardless." Lysara purrs and kisses me again and says, "Ok. Let me talk to the local leadership and get things started. There are a lot of people waiting for us." She hands Thultu back to me, and she goes to the local leadership off a ways out of earshot, so I can't hear them. I ask Thultu, "Hey kiddo, do you need anything? Food, water, a bathroom break?" Thultu nods and says he has to pee. I take him to a nearby building that is still standing. We borrow its facilities so he can pee real quick before things start.
When he is done and we get back to the square, Lysara is making an announcement, "We will be burning several deceased at a time with a fire mage. We will also be erecting a giant ice pillar in the center so it doesn't get too hot. They will also be putting a barrier of magic ice around each pillar to protect the people outside as well. It will take approximately 10 minutes for them to burn. We do ask that you give the pyres some space when they are lit due to how hot the fire will be. We have arranged the pyres in a circle so those who want to dance to send off the deceased can do so in the center of the circle. The first ones to be sent off are-"
Lysara then grabs a list that the local leaders have created, and she starts naming people on the list, and their families walk in the spaces in between the pyres to the center. The ice mage erects the pillar of ice, and the people gather around it. They made sure to put enough space in between the pyres that even if they were lit, there would be space for people to walk safely. Even with the ice barriers. After Lysara calls out the individuals going first, their families go in the center, and they load up the pyres with the deceased, and the fire mage lights them with beautifully blue flames. I can feel the heat from the pyres. There is a lot of space in the middle, so the people dancing don't cook, but they are still sweating from the heat. Even with the pillar in the middle, the dancing mourners are sweating profusely.
I take Thultu over to where Lysara is and I say, "I think we might need to have a separate area so they can rehydrate and cool off after they dance." Lysara, seeing the people sweating while dancing in the heat, nods, "I agree. Go to the capital quickly and grab two large barrels of potable water, and we will set up a few spare tents in preparation for your return to put the barrels in for them to drink out of. We will scrounge up some cups for people to use here as well, so don't worry about that. OH! Also, get 2 snow room stones. We can place them in the tents with the water barrels." I kiss her and reply, "Sounds like a plan. I will be right back then." I pass Thultu to Lysara, and I run to the departing tent.
I went to the capital and first bought the snow room stones, which were sold in insulated packaging and with instructions on how to use them safely, and secured those in my bag. Then I bought two large barrels of potable water. If I were human, I would not be able to hold both of these. With my vampiric strength, I can carry them with ease on each shoulder. I get back to Entre, and they have set up some tents and are ready for me. I place a snow room stone and a barrel in each of the new tents so they aren't cramped in a single tent. I go to Lysara, "Hey boo, do you want me to get more water? I have a feeling those barrels aren't going to be enough."
Lysara holds my hand, "Yeah, let's go ahead and buy several ahead of time. If there are some extra we will leave them here for the people of Entre for their recovery. You have a few hours before we get to Rhixl or Neo if we keep this same pace, so don't worry about missing out on participating." I go to kiss her, "Then I am off. I wish I could borrow some strong individuals, but I don't want to accidentally keep them from mourning/celebrating the life of their loved ones. Wait! I just had a thought that would go around the weight problem of this circle. I can just use the large circle you used for Dysis. Where did you put that circle in the capital?"
Lysara lightly smacks her palm to her face, "Oh yeah, that sounds more efficient, doesn't it. My brain isn't working at full capacity right now since most of my attention is still on the ceremonies here. I put that circle behind my laboratory. You should be able to find it easily. It is very large and hard to miss. I love you lots." I squeeze her hand, "I love you, too." Thultu says, "I love you both!" I bend down to kiss him on the forehead, "I love you too, Thultu." Lysara pets him on the head, "Yeah, kiddo. We love you soooooo much." She says with a beaming smile. His little tail is wagging in her arms adorably.
I get to the capital, and I buy barrels two at a time and place them on the circle and run back and forth until I have almost cleared out their inventory. I buy most of their inventory, which takes 6 trips. I place the 12 barrels in the circle, and I put mana into the circle, and it takes A LOT of mana to activate this circle.
I got back to Entre, and there was a huge hit to my mana. I have never felt a huge chunk of my mana leave me before, so that was a new feeling. I feel lightheaded, and everything is starting to blur. Before I do anything, I eat lunch. Eating helps restore mana faster. After eating, I don't feel much better yet, though food doesn't break down immediately, since the food has to break down into energy. I should start feeling a lot better within the next 30 minutes or so. I take two of the barrels and throw them over my shoulders, and take them to the square. Very slowly.
Between the sun weighing down on my skin and my mana exhaustion, I am completely worn out.
The ceremonies are still going strong, and I go to take the barrels to the tents, but I get stopped by Lysara. She stops me and makes me put the barrels down and then she holds my face, "You must be low on mana, boo. Don't worry about any more barrels until you feel better. Did you eat something?" I nod, "I ate a ration first thing when I noticed how lightheaded I was." She pats my head after sighing a sigh of relief, "Good girl. Go in a tent and drink some water until I see color return to your face. Since the barrels are close by, I will get some strong volunteers to go grab what you brought, so don't worry about that anymore. Just rest for now. Here, take a snack from me that should help restore your mana as well." She tilts her head for me so I can go in to get a snack.
Her blood tastes most delicious at this moment.
When I am done drinking her blood, I go to pick up the barrels to take them with me, and she bops me to stop me. Then she kisses me and then pushes me into the tent. Inside the tent are a bunch of people escaping the heat of the funeral ceremony and rehydrating. Instead of going to the barrel, I just use my canteen so I don't have to worry about taking their water. Taking a look at the cup situation, it appears that the cups are running low on stock. I will have to talk to Lysara about making another trip to the capital to pick up some cups. I should have bought some, anticipating this. I sigh as I drink, enjoying the chill from the snowroom stone.
After about 20 minutes or so, I don't feel as lightheaded anymore. I go out to Lysara, who is still cooperating with leadership to make the ceremony go smoothly. She is sweating bullets herself. I take my canteen up to her and tell her, "You need to hydrate, too." She takes the canteen and takes several moments to chug water. While she is chugging, I let her know about the cup situation. She hands the canteen back to me and says after wiping her mouth, "Ok, I will have someone go to the capital using my circle, and it WON'T be you. You spent too much mana today, and I want you to take it easy. There are plenty of people here with enough mana to use the small gate comfortably, so don't worry about it. Here, take our adorable Thultu and continue to rest. I will come get you when Rhixl and Neo are up, so don't you worry about that." She hands the tiny, sweaty Thultu to me, and we go to the recovery tents.
Once inside, I hand Thultu my canteen and he chugs water. I ask him if he is hungry, and he says, "Mummy gave me some food not too long ago, so I am ok right now." I pat his head. This child must be feeling all sorts of emotions right now. I tell him, "Thultu, if you ever want to talk about anything, my ears will always listen to what you have to say. I want you to know that I will always be on your side no matter what. Ok?" He nods while still chugging water. He cuddles me in this tent and we just enjoy the coolness of the tent. I have to closely monitor Thultu's condition since he is sensitive to cold temperatures. Once he started shivering, we called it and left the tent.
It has been a couple of hours, and Lysara came up to us and said it was time for Rhixl's and Neo's ceremony. I put Thultu down and asked him, "Are you ready to dance for your Papa?" He nods with a face full of emotion, and I hold one of his hands, and Lysara grabs his other hand, and we all go to the center of the funeral pyres where everyone has been dancing. When the fire mage goes around and lights the pyres, we start singing the funeral ceremony song and dancing to it in this heat.
"Souls are rising to the light
Dancing free in endless flight
Memories like stars so bright
Carry on beyond the night
Whispers soft the wind will say
Love will never fade away
Celebrate the lives they knew
Every heart so pure and true
Guiding light will lead them through
To a world forever new
Footsteps fade, but love remains
Echoes sing in golden chains
Time may pass, but not the flame
Burning bright in every name
Whispers soft the wind will say
Love will never fade away
Celebrate the lives they knew
Every heart so pure and true
Guiding light will lead them through
To a world forever new"
The people spectating are helping with singing since it is hard to sing and dance at the same time in this heat. I am dancing as Lysara taught me to during the harvest festival, and Thultu and Lysara are both dancing and singing passionately as well. This whole ceremony has been full of passion since the beginning, though. Everyone cares about someone who was lost during this nightmare. Everyone is sweating up a storm, but they are dancing like their lives depend on it. For the ones we love. We must make sure our loved ones are sent off in celebration, and they see our dances before going to their next lives. This must be what everyone else has felt during one of these ceremonies.
I have been to a burning ceremony before when I was young for my grandparents' ceremonies, but my memories of them weren't that pleasant, and I didn't feel much of a loss then, and everyone was sad, not lively like this. I much prefer this method of send off for my loved ones over the sad mourning like they do in Perdita. This is the first time I felt the hole inside from losing someone I cared for. Though my time with both Rhixl and Neo was short, they grew on my heart quickly. Most people dancing have watery eyes like I do while trying to keep as happy a face as they could muster for the dancing. I have been thinking of the fun memories and dancing to those. I can smile when thinking of happy memories.
The 10 minutes for this dance felt like an eternity.
Once the dance was done, we all went to the recovery tents while they set up the next round of ceremonies. There is an intermission in between burnings so they can get set up, and also, if people are mourning multiple people, they want to allow them to recover before getting back to dancing. When we get to the tent and Thultu drinks his water (we gave him the canteen first, obviously). He then asks me with a serious expression after he passes the canteen back after chugging water, "Do you think Papa saw my dance, Momma?" I pat his head, and Lysara grabs his hand to comfort him, and I say, "He most definitely did. Rest easy, that you sent him off right. He would have been so proud that you held off the tears temporarily to help make him happy during his send-off. That was great for the ceremony, but you can cry as much as you need now. Some of the human men I know say crying is a sign of weakness, but I think it is the opposite. It is proof that you care enough about something to shed tears for it. Crying shows how much something meant to you." Thultu starts crying along with a few other people in the tent who heard what I said, then he says, "I miss him so much. I just want to see him again."
I start crying with him, "I pray to the goddess that you meet your father again in your next life, pumpkin." I pause and sigh, then continue, "I don't have a lot of experience with a lot of loss in my life, but with everything that challenges us, all we can do is take everything one day at a time. Though I may not know about loss, I DO know depression. There may be days you might struggle to get out of bed, and that is ok. On those days, getting out of bed is your biggest accomplishment, and during dark times, small goals are very important to keep moving forward. Just know that both your Mummy and I will be here for you from now on through your darkest hours and your brightest. You are stuck with us now, kiddo." I say as I lean down and kiss him on the forehead.
After kissing him, I wrap my arm around him, and Lysara does the same on the other side, so we both are giving him a side hug while he continues to cry. Lysara says, "I agree with everything that your Momma says. Crying is how one's soul heals from loss." When Lysara says this, the WHOLE tent starts crying. Her influence among demonkind has improved a lot since our journey started. We continue to hold him while he cries and show him affection while we all just cry in silence.