It was always bittersweet to watch the ritual for a Sister’s passing. There was something beautiful and glorifying about the way the stars seemingly welcomed the body as it drifted across the Ocean into eternity yet sombering in the realization that the Alkidike resting upon that pyre would never be returning to her sisters in this lifetime. Danika had always watched the ceremonies from beneath the shadows of the trees as a youngling and as an apprentice had drifted closer and closer to her mentor and the Elders until she too was standing before the group of Sisters who saw off the dead.

Tonight was no exception and Danika found herself moving alongside of her mentor, “Elder Gotin lived a very long and full life.” She commented quietly, a gentle breeze in comparison to the howling winds that wailed through the forest. The Sister’s family, her daughter and her daughters stood at the front of those bidding farewell to the beloved Elder. All of the years that Danika had known her as a mentor, a strict and fearsome Alkidike who had taught her with little patience for flaws and day-dreaming, the young mystic had never realized that she had such a big family. And it wasn’t like they seemed distant either as they were truly mourning the loss of their matriach. The thought made Danika’s antenna lower ever so slightly in shame - had she not been so bitter against her mentor when younger? Eventually she had learned to appreciate the dedication that the Elder had in pressing valuable studies upon the wily youth that had been Danika yet the young mystic felt that her appreciation had come too late. She had barely gotten a few words across to the Elder before she had receded into her home, often too frail and sickly to deal with meetings and battle trainings. Gino had never been too strong of a warrior yet her mind was sharper than any arrow Danika ever shot.

“Many say that they wish to die a true warrior on the battlefield defending their Sisters.” The sudden sound of her mentor’s serene voice broke through the silence and startled Danika.


Blinking the Alkidike glanced towards the older mystic with the phantom of a smile crossing her features, “Do you believe Gotin was disappointed to not die by the blade so many worship?” Danika brushed a stray dread away from her forehead as she studied the diminishing figure as it glided across the rolling waters, “Despite the pride of the warriors and the burning fires of glory that the youth adore dreaming of I believe that Gotin had seen plenty to understand the truth of living under Aisha’s care.” She gestured towards the Elder’s family with a nod of her head, “Living long enough to see your blooms bloom their own life is a reward that extends beyond the glories of dying in battle. While others may still adhere to the battlefield being the warrior’s true grave I doubt that Gotin complied with such ideals.”

“How wise of you, young Mystic.” Teased her mentor quietly as Sisters began to take up their bows and light the arrows with fire, “You are correct as I do believe Gotin never regretted her decision once.”

“A mentor in knowledge rather than simply the blade.” Commented Danika quietly as arrows of fire filled the night skies. While sometimes the ceremonies were quieter tonight was one for someone who had lived many years under Aisha’s grace and had taught many during her existence among the Sisters. Each who were truly touched by her would let go of an arrow in her honor and light up the night sky with their memories and fondness of the Elder.

Danika herself picked up a bow and along with her mentor shot an arrow into the night skies. However, Danika wasn’t satisfied with just that as a wind swept through the beach and rustled the trees that decorated the shoreline. It seemed that it wouldn’t just be the Sisters seeing off the beloved Elder but also Aisha. A small smile lingered across Danika’s lips as she pooled her abilities and watched as that wind sent petals of late summer flowers fluttering across the glistening waters towards the distant memory of the Elder.

And despite her sorrow at the passing of the old Alkidike Danika found comfort in seeing the crowd of Sisters who pointed at the petals and whispered of Aisha’s love and of their own love for the memories that the Elder had left all of them. Lover, mother, teacher, friend… Those memories were what made death so bittersweet and made everyone thankful to have known such a Sister. Danika could only pray that Aisha would allow her own memory to touch others as Gotin had touched those attending this ceremony tonight.

[806]