Verosh watched as the bundled figure floated across the crystal waves. The hybrid was a bit distant from the groups of Sisters who watched along the shore, but his heart still ached for the older mentor who had helped him in his younger years while training with the spear. Mykoa had been a gentle spirit with plenty of patience for the usually more volatile apprentice who lashed out at others and pushed himself beyond his limits, injuring both his body and his pride should his efforts fail. As much as he believed that her spirit would be resting peacefully with Aisha, the young warrior would still miss Mykoa. His deep respect for her had brought him to an event he normally avoided for fear of irritating some of those who felt a hybrid should not walk along the sacred shores of Chibale. Verosh didn’t care today since he wanted to say a final farewell to his mentor. A ghost of a sad smile crossed his lips as he lowered a bundle of flowers into the water, a piece of driftwood acting as their boat while they floated quietly behind the fading body of his mentor. The flowers with their delicate crystal petals had been his mentor’s favorite and Verosh made certain that some would follow her into her next journey as her spirit left the world they knew. He always believed that there was a happier place for everyone when they passed and he could only hope that Aisha would allow Mykoa to bloom again one day. Verosh actually felt his gaze burn with tears before he finally pulled his gaze away. His role was finished here. He had seen Mykoa off onto her next journey and given her the flowers that he should have gifted so long ago.

What a stubborn fool he was back in those days of his youth.

The hybrid could clearly remember all of the times he had lashed out in frustration while training with Mykoa. He had wanted nothing to do with the older huntress at first. Only his mother had understood him, accepted him and allowed him to train while other Aishans were still prickly about the idea of such a strange, male hybrid learning their ways. So Verosh had made certain to be snappy, to be aggressive so that he would never been mistaken as being weak in the presence of other full blooded Alkidike. Despite all of that she had always stood by his side when others had tried to blame him for situations, the pure Aishan apprentices wanting to pin trouble on the hybrid male who stood out more than others with his unique blend of wind and aishan traits. Eventually he had warmed up more to Mykoa and learned a bit of patience from her, a miracle according to his own mother who often watched his short temper being tested by others. He had spent a good few years getting closer to the older Aishan, learning her fighting style and how to tell poisonous plants from edible ones in the jungles of Jahaur while his mother went out on various expeditions with other Sisters. She had been the one to help him out of most situations, to teach him more cunning ways to avoid trouble rather than rushing into it and causing bigger fights. His mother would have just encouraged him to keep swinging his fists back at others but Mykoa was more creative than that. The very thought brought a smile to Verosh’s lips as he remembered those days again. At least he knew that he hadn’t left her with only a bad impression since he had started helping her out more over the years, bringing gifts and doing chores around her home since she had no close family. Her only relatives had apparently been involved in the previous war, their extremists tendencies a drastic difference from the Aishan warrior who had been more welcoming of earthlings and their hybrid children. So in a sense Verosh had adopted her as family and they had bonded while training together. It was why he would continue to remember her, bringing her favorite flowers to the ocean every year to keep her spirit alive in his own memories. A heavy sigh left his lips as he paused along the path to take one final glance at the crowd of Sisters who were slowly dispersing now that the ceremony was finished. Verosh could name a few of them but still he kept to himself as he didn’t want to cause any trouble during his mentor’s ceremony, his heart was heavy enough as it was. “Best wishes Mykoa. May your spirit be happy and free to hunt wherever you please.” He murmured before finally walking away, his steps as quiet as the empty hut that would never again house his mentor and their friendly spars.

[812]

FIN