Chapter 49: Her Final Rest

  Lissy’s alarm clock was ringing early, and the sound felt as if it crawled directly into her half-asleep brain. She had not slept long, and she had not slept well either, although she was still grateful that she had managed to rest for at least a few hours. Her head felt heavy because the strange day yesterday refused to leave her mind. She kept thinking about how she had lost almost twelve hours without noticing it, and how that had happened right after her phone had shown those strange messages that still made no sense to her. Also, the news that Luxandra had died, which she had read later in her hotel bed, stayed in her head as well. The combination of the whole day felt unreal and unsettling, and the memory of it made her stomach tighten a little as she tried to wake herself up properly.

  She inhaled the stale air of the hotel room deeply, because she hoped it would help her focus again, and then she slapped her cheeks lightly with both hands. All right, get your nerves together, she thought. It is only because of the funeral today that you begin to go crazy. Nothing else.

  She pushed herself out of the warm blankets and went into the small bathroom. She brushed her teeth slowly, trying to force her mind into some kind of order, and when she was done, she opened her baggage to look for the outfit she needed today. She had packed a simple black dress, and she had bought it only for the funeral because she had never owned something like it before. Her own clothes were usually colorful and bright, completely different from Lily’s wardrobe. Lily had loved black, and she had always joked about it, and that memory pulled at Lissy’s chest as she held the dress in her hands.

  “Well, I’m in your dreary city now… I didn’t forget our promise and I’m even wearing black… you…” She stopped mid-sentence, because a sudden flashback hit her hard.

  She remembered when she had been sitting with Lily in Xantia on a calm evening in a beautiful clearing, watching the stars together and talking about the future. Their talk had grown more serious while the beauty of the digital world, which felt almost real in such moments, was shining around them. Lissy had been raised more or less in nature as a scout, since her whole family had always been somehow obsessed with the outdoors, but in moments like this she could only wonder how real everything in Xantia felt. The cold air of the night, the stars, the shooting stars, and the magical lights that were the game’s equivalent to polar lights made the world around them glow. It was moments like this that made Xantia so enticing.

  They sat together on the soft grass, the clearing glowing faintly in the digital dusk, and the stars above them shimmered like real ones. For a moment neither of them spoke, because the quiet felt comfortable, almost warm.

  Lily was the first to break the silence. “Hey, Lissy… what are you planning to do after you finish your studies in real life?” Her voice sounded calm, but there was a soft seriousness behind it, the kind that only appeared when she let her guard down.

  Lissy hesitated and picked at a blade of grass. “I am not really sure,” she admitted after thinking for a moment. “I keep telling myself that I should figure out something adult and responsible, but honestly… I kind of want to travel for a while. Just go somewhere far away and breathe a bit. And doing that alone would be boring, so my best friend Lily should join me.” She tried to let it sound like a joke.

  Lily did not answer right away. She was watching a shooting star drift across the sky, her demon avatar illuminated by its light. “Yeah… let’s do that,” she said quietly. “The dreary city I live in can’t be everything, right?”

  She glanced at Lissy with a crooked little grin that did not reach her eyes.

  Lissy returned the smile, but it felt a bit sad, because she had always known that Lily hated her real life. Even after all these years together, Lily rarely spoke about anything personal. She always hinted, never explained. There was always a wall somewhere between them, no matter how close they were online.

  She shifted closer and nudged her gently. “No. Life definitely has more to offer.” She looked up at the stars again. “Let’s make a promise, okay? When we finish our studies, we will find a place like this in the real world. A place where we can just sit and watch the sky together. Deal?”

  Lily turned her head slightly, and the usual playful confidence faded into something softer and surprisingly real. “Deal,” she said. Then she paused, and the corner of her mouth twitched. “But only if you are not dressed like a peacock. You have to wear black. Otherwise, I am not going.”

  Lissy groaned quietly at that and bumped her again. “Fine, fine,” she said with a reluctant laugh. “I will not look like a peacock.”

  Lily’s smile warmed just a bit. “Good. Then it’s a promise.”

  The scene in Xantia lingered in her mind like a dream she had once lived inside. She could still see Lily’s avatar watching that shooting star, could still hear the quiet seriousness in her voice, and for a brief moment she wished she could go back to that clearing and stay there forever. But the memory slowly dissolved the longer she stared at the black dress in her hands, and reality crept back in with the same heaviness she had felt since Lily’s death.

  Lissy slipped into the dress and stood carefully in front of the mirror. She brushed her hair and tied it into a neat braid because she wanted to look at least a little composed today. After she finished, she checked her phone to see if Tom and Clara were already awake, and when both of them responded positively, she took a last look at herself before leaving the room.

  The hallway was quiet because most guests were still asleep, and the soft carpet muted her steps while she walked toward the elevator. When she arrived downstairs, she saw Clara and Tom already sitting at one of the tables in the breakfast area. Clara waved at her immediately with a tired smile, and Tom lifted his cup of coffee in greeting, and Lissy walked over to join them, trying her best to push away the tightness in her chest because the day had only just begun.

  “So,” Tom said while drinking his black coffee, “Kaito called me. He should be on the plane now, but I don’t know if he will make it here in time for the funeral. And Matz should be on time.”

  “Kaito will be there,” Clara said with quiet certainty. “And even if he isn’t perfectly on time, he will still come, and that’s what matters.”

  Tom took another sip of his coffee and added, “I was thinking… maybe later, after the funeral, we should have something to drink together.”

  “Tom!” Clara scolded.

  “I mean in honor of Lily,” Tom added quickly, “just us, her guild.”

  “I… would like that,” Lissy said and exhaled slowly.

  “Lissy, you don’t need to drink alcohol if you don’t want to,” Clara said gently.

  “No… it’s fine. Maybe we need a kind of closure like that,” Lissy said quietly. “And we can also plan Lily’s farewell in Xantia there…”

  “Oh, right. Matz already made a list with invites for that,” Tom said absentmindedly. “Also, the Senate approved a memorial statue in Xerathene.”

  Clara’s head snapped toward him. “Wait, where? On the Senate Square?”

  “It’s still supposed to be a surprise,” Tom replied, “but aside from that, the Red Rangers and the PNV said they want to give their full support for our farewell. They also want to be present.”

  “Really? Even the PatchNotesVictims?” Clara asked. “Wasn’t their Guild Master—”

  The voices at the table blurred together into a dull, distant hum for Lissy. Her ears filled with buzzing, her head grew hot, and something tight wrapped around her chest. Lily’s funeral. Lily’s farewell. Saying goodbye. All of it had felt like a dream until now, and yet everything had suddenly become painfully real. Her pulse sped up, and her breathing turned shallow without her noticing.

  “Lissy, are you okay?” Clara asked suddenly, her hand touching Lissy’s forehead. Lissy had not even noticed that both of them had stopped talking and that Clara had stood up.

  “Yeah… I’m fine… it’s… just a bit much, sorry…”

  Before she could say anything else, Clara pulled her into a tight hug, pressing Lissy against her in a warm, steady motion. The older woman whispered softly, “It’s okay, Lissy. It’s okay. We’re here, and you’re not alone. Right, Tom?”

  Tom made a quiet, agreeing sound, far gentler than usual.

  Clara did not let her go right away. Lissy tried to push her half-heartedly away, her hands barely applying pressure. “Thanks, Clara… I’m fine now. It just felt so surreal… to be here with you guys and attend her funeral…” Her voice cracked softly, and her fingers curled weakly into Clara’s sleeve.

  “Let it out, it’s fine,” Clara whispered, her breath warm against Lissy’s ear as the first tears began to spill down Lissy’s cheeks.

  What a strange feeling that the roles are reversed. Normally we would comfort Clara and not the other way around, Lissy thought through the blur. The cute little elven crybaby from Xantia was, in real life, a surprisingly beautiful woman, someone she had met for the first time only yesterday, yet she already felt like a piece of family she had somehow lost and found again in the same breath.

  Lissy tried to compose herself, but the tears came faster before they slowed again. After a while her breathing steadied, and the trembling in her shoulders eased. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand and took a shaky breath. She was not entirely sure what this had been. Maybe it had been a panic attack, or something close to one. She did not know. But the moment Clara finally let her go, she felt already better.

  A bit later, the three of them left the hotel and stepped into the quiet morning air of the city. They still had some time before the funeral, so they decided to walk through the streets to keep their minds occupied. Clara suggested it softly, and Tom agreed without hesitation, and Lissy found herself nodding along because standing still felt unbearable.

  The city greeted them with a cool breeze and the soft noise of early traffic. They walked past old brick buildings and narrow alleys, and Clara insisted on showing Lissy a few tourist spots Lily had once talked about. She pointed out a small stone fountain decorated with painted tiles, and Tom mentioned that Lily had once complained about an ugly fountain somewhere in the city, so this one was probably the exact one she had meant.

  They wandered farther toward a historic market square where wooden stalls were being set up for the day. Vendors were arranging fruit, pastries, homemade crafts, and the faint smell of freshly baked bread drifted through the air. Clara bought a tiny pastry for Lissy even though she had already eaten, and Lissy accepted it quietly. It tasted sweeter than she expected, and she chewed slowly while they walked between the stalls.

  “It’s weird being here,” Tom said after a moment, hands buried in the pockets of his jacket. “You know… seeing the places she mentioned. It feels different when you stand here for real.”

  Clara nodded. “She always talked like the whole city was gray and miserable. But it isn’t. Not at all.”

  Lissy looked around. The morning sun was breaking through light clouds, reflecting off the windows of old buildings and casting warm tones over the pavement. She swallowed. The city really isn’t dreary… not like she said. And she talked about all the things we would see together… if I visited. It hurt to think about it.

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  They tried to fill the next hours with more wandering. They found a small park with benches covered in dew, and they passed a glass-walled library Lily had once mentioned because she liked studying there. Tom suggested visiting the 7-eleven store where Lily had worked, but Clara and Lissy both shook their heads at the same time, almost in sync.

  Instead, they stopped at a small café and ordered something warm to drink. Lissy held her cup in both hands, letting the heat sink into her fingers. The three of them talked quietly about the guild, about old raids, about the stupid jokes Lily had made late at night when everyone was overtired. They even laughed once or twice, and every time they did, Lissy felt a strange twist of guilt followed by a soft warmth.

  After that they bought flowers and blank cards from a nearby shop. Clara chose white lilies without hesitation, and Tom added pale blue forget-me-nots. Lissy hesitated, her fingers brushing over roses, then tulips, until she finally chose a simple bouquet of small wildflowers. It reminded her of the meadows in Xantia, and she thought Lily might have liked that.

  With their flowers ready, they walked toward the harbor because there was still time left before they needed to go. The harbor stretched wide and open, with wooden piers and cargo ships slowly moving in the distance. They sat together on the edge of a large stone platform, the cold seeping gently through their clothes.

  For Lissy, the day drifted by in a slow, dreamlike blur. Every time she saw a popular sight or a familiar street from Lily’s stories, her thoughts slipped away. She talked about this place… she said we would go here together… she promised we would try that café… or climb that hill… or watch the sunset from that bridge. Each memory stung, but also warmed her in a strange way.

  And yet walking through the city with Tom and Clara felt grounding. Calming, even. She was not sure she would have had the strength to do it alone. I don’t even know why I’m here, she thought. I don’t remember getting on the plane at all… I lost twelve hours, and suddenly I was already in the air. I didn’t decide to come, I just… woke up here. She hugged her arms around herself gently and watched a ship slide across the water. Maybe I tricked myself into believing I was strong enough to attend the funeral. Maybe I needed to trick myself. Maybe that was the only way my body managed to move at all.

  She lowered her gaze to the rippling waves and breathed in slowly, trying to make sense of the tangled knot in her chest. Also, she knew now that staying home would have been a mistake she would have regretted for the rest of her life.

  Lissy breathed out slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you for being here.”

  Clara’s hand found hers, and Tom gave a small nod. Yes, they were here with her, people she had known for years, even though she had never met them before yesterday. It was strange that she could not recognize them by appearance at all, but their voices and the way they behaved felt so much like Xantia that it grounded her. And it calmed her to know that they were not just pretending their friendship. After all, even after spending so many years together online, any of them could have turned out to be a completely different person in real life, someone who might have walked away now that Lily was gone. But they were here. They had come for her. They had come for Lily. And that meant more than she could put into words.

  And not only Clara and Tom. Matz was coming too, and even Kaito was on his way all the way from Japan. Both of them should be landing at the airport soon. They had discussed earlier whether they should pick them up, but in the end, they decided to meet directly at the funeral. Matz wanted to drive there immediately, and they did not know if Kaito would manage to arrive on time, since it was simply not in his control.

  A while they simply sat together and watched the big ships move through the harbor. For Lissy it was strangely fascinating, because she had grown up far inland among mountains and forests, not anywhere near the sea. The slow rhythm of the waves and the distant hum of engines felt unreal and calming at the same time.

  Eventually Tom checked the time on his phone and exhaled quietly. “We should get going,” he said.

  They gathered their things, placed the flowers carefully so they would not bend, and stood up from the stone ledge. Since they had left the rental car at the hotel earlier, they walked together toward the nearest taxi stand. The city breeze brushed against them as they moved, and Lissy felt that familiar knot in her chest tighten again, because every step brought them closer to the moment she had been dreading since she woke up.

  When they got into the taxi, they drove for about twenty minutes before it finally stopped in front of the address. When Lissy stepped out, she saw a large old church in the center of the city. It looked well kept and important, and the open courtyard in front of it was already crowded with people dressed in black. Several limousines were parked along the sidewalk, and more guests kept arriving.

  Lissy had expected something small, maybe a quiet service with only relatives and a few friends. Instead she found a large gathering of people she had never seen before, and the size of it made her feel even more nervous than before.

  Tom paid the driver while Clara gently touched Lissy’s arm. Together they walked inside. The church was bright and wide, and the sound of quiet organ music filled the space. People were taking their seats, talking in low voices. Lissy, Clara, and Tom chose a row near the back. Tom immediately checked his phone to see if Matz or Kaito had arrived.

  “It is getting close for them,” Tom said while typing a message.

  Clara looked around and seemed confused. “Lily had a very large family, did she not?”

  Lissy shook her head. “Not that I know of. She mentioned only a few people. She never talked much about them.”

  Clara frowned slightly. “She kept a lot to herself. Maybe she did not want to share everything.”

  Lissy nodded. “Probably.”

  Tom kept looking toward the entrance. “I really hope they make it in time,” he said quietly.

  A few minutes later he leaned a little closer. “I think they are here. They walked in together.”

  Clara let out a relieved breath. “That is good.”

  “We will meet them after the service,” Tom said, sitting back.

  The priest walked forward, and the church slowly became quiet. He began the ceremony with a prayer, speaking calmly and clearly. When he finished, he continued, “We are here today to say farewell to Lily Carter, daughter of Victor and Melanie Carter. Before we continue, we will share a few memories.”

  Everyone looked toward the front pew where Lily’s parents sat. Lily’s mother stood first, holding a handkerchief. Next to her was Lily’s father, a tall man with a rigid posture and an expression that did not change at all.

  Tom drew in a breath. “Oh. Ohhh—I know him,” he whispered.

  Clara leaned closer. “Who do you mean?”

  Tom nodded slightly toward the man. “Victor Carter. Lily’s father… OMG. He is the CEO of Carter Consolidated Holdings. His company owns a large part of the East Coast.”

  Lissy felt a jolt in her chest. “Then why the fuck was she working night shifts at this damn store?” she whispered.

  Tom had no answer. He only shrugged and looked toward the front again.

  Victor Carter spoke first. His voice was calm and steady, and he talked about responsibility and loss. Nothing he said sounded personal. Nothing made Lissy feel that he had truly known his daughter. When Lily’s mother spoke, her voice shook a little, but even she seemed controlled and distant.

  The priest began another prayer afterward. Lissy kept her eyes on her hands because she did not want to look at Lily’s parents again. Their presence made all the things Lily had hinted at feel painfully real.

  When the prayer ended, attendants stepped forward and opened the casket. People immediately began to stand and form a line to say their final goodbye. The line grew quickly as more people left their seats.

  Lissy remained sitting for a moment. Her chest tightened again, and her hands felt cold even though the church was warm. She wanted to stand up, but her body felt slow and stiff. Clara placed a supportive hand on her arm while Tom held the flowers carefully and waited for her to move. Lissy took a long breath, forced her legs to respond, and stepped into the aisle. It was finally time to say goodbye.

  Most people who approached the casket looked at Lily in silence and made a short prayer gesture. Others whispered a few personal words before stepping aside. The flowers and cards were placed on a prepared table next to the casket, and the church attendants would later arrange everything neatly at the grave. The entire ceremony felt strange to Lissy, especially because everything was so deeply religious. Lily had mentioned more than once that she was not a religious person. She had even joked that she was allergic to sermons. Lissy felt a small ache because it became obvious that the people who organized the ceremony had known a very different version of Lily. She reminded herself that she knew the real one, so if Lily had decided to keep this part of her life out of conversations, it could not have mattered to her.

  The line moved steadily, and Lissy felt worse with every step she took. Her stomach twisted, sweat gathered on her forehead, and her legs became unsteady. The distance to the casket shortened until there was no one else between her and Lily.

  Suddenly it was her turn.

  Her throat tightened painfully. Why am I reacting like this? What is happening? I can handle emotions. I am not someone who breaks down, she tried to convince herself.

  But then she looked into the casket.

  Lily’s face was peaceful, her eyes closed, her expression calm. It looked as if she was only sleeping and might wake up any moment. Lissy felt her pulse race, her heart hammered so hard that it hurt, and her hands became slick with sweat.

  “Oh… Lily…” she whispered, her lips trembling.

  She took a small step closer, but her vision flickered for a moment, as if a dark frame passed in front of her eyes. She blinked and tried to focus again, but the flicker returned. She lifted her hand to steady herself and took another step forward.

  “I… I promise I will…” she tried to speak, but the words would not come out fully.

  Her vision began to glitch in a strange way. Everything around her shifted between blackness and Lily’s face, blackness and light, blackness and movement. What is this? Am I losing consciousness? Am I going to faint? That was her last clear thought before her eyes rolled back and her body collapsed onto the church floor in front of the casket.

  Everything went silent for a heartbeat.

  And then she was somewhere else.

  She stood on a high cliff, looking down at a battlefield that stretched endlessly beneath her. Thousands of fighters clashed in a storm of steel, screams, and magic. It looked like scenes she had seen in Xantia, but it was infinitely more real. The noise was deafening, and the sight of blood, torn bodies, and frantic movement made her knees tremble. Spells flashed across the field, streaks of lightning cutting through the sky, and fire rising from ruptured ground. Creatures she recognized, and others she had never seen in the game, were fighting and dying in the dirt.

  “What… is this…” she whispered, her voice shaking.

  A sudden blast of thunder rolled through the air. The smell of ozone and smoke hit her nose. Something massive had struck the center of the battlefield, and she watched in horror as hundreds, maybe thousands, fell at once. Blue and silver traces of mana drifted above the dead like dust.

  A tactical spell, she realized. But how can I recognize this so clearly?

  More spells burst across the battlefield, forming waves of destruction and chaos. She felt the fear of the soldiers below her as if it ran through her own body. She dropped to her knees, overwhelmed and terrified.

  Then she saw her.

  Lilithia Nocturne.

  Lily, in her demon armor, wings spread wide, flying straight into the center of the devastation. Sparks chased along the edges of her armor, and the air around her vibrated. Lissy watched her engage in a brutal fight, cutting through enemies to hold the shattered line. More fighters rushed toward her, yet Lily did not fall back. She was fighting alone where thousands had already died.

  Lissy tried to scream for her, tried to run toward her, but her body did not move. She remained stuck on the cliff, unable to step forward. It felt wrong and terrifying. She could only watch as Lily was pushed back.

  A figure wrapped in crackling lightning appeared in front of Lily and charged with a morning star raised. Another figure followed with a broadsword. Both clashed with Lily, driving her back step by step. Their power was overwhelming, and Lily began to struggle.

  Then a third enemy joined them, striking from the side.

  Lissy screamed silently as Lily fought desperately, holding her ground even as more soldiers died around her. She looked unstoppable for a moment, but the three attackers pressed her harder with every strike until she was barely defending herself.

  Lissy felt panic rising in her chest. She tried again to move, but her legs remained locked.

  A new lightning pillar erupted behind Lily.

  A fourth figure stepped out of it.

  Lissy recognized her instantly.

  Luxandra.

  Clad in golden armor, her sword gleaming with divine light.

  Lily did not turn. She did not see the attack coming because she was fighting the other three.

  “Behind you! Luxandra is behind you! Turn around!” Lissy screamed with all her strength. Her voice tore through her throat, but nothing reached the battlefield.

  The golden sword pierced Lily from behind, clean and sharp.

  Lissy’s entire body went cold.

  “No… not again… do not take her from me!” she cried. “No, no, no!”

  Lily collapsed to the ground, her wings folding inward. One of the armies broke immediately, panic spreading like wildfire. Soldiers began to run in all directions. It was not an organized retreat but a desperate attempt to flee. The field turned into chaos and slaughter.

  Lissy screamed and sobbed as the scene unfolded beneath her. She could not move. She could not help. She was forced to watch everything fall apart.

  “Lissy! Lissy! Wake up!”

  A voice cut through the nightmare. The battlefield vanished in an instant.

  She opened her eyes and felt a cold hard floor under her back. She gasped for air as her vision cleared, and the high ceiling of the church came into view. Tom was kneeling beside her, his face tight with worry. People were gathered around her, voices overlapping.

  Someone said, “Get her some smelling salts.”

  Lissy blinked rapidly, confused and shaking. She looked at Tom, at Clara, at the unfamiliar guests standing around her.

  “What… where…?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

  “Oh, Lissy, you fainted in front of Lily,” Clara said, pulling her into a careful hug. Her voice was gentle. “It was too much for you. It is okay.”

  Tom and Clara helped her sit up and guided her onto a small stool nearby. Lissy tried to breathe steadily, but her chest felt tight and her heartbeat refused to slow.

  What she had seen felt far too real.

  It was not a dream.