(Present Day)
There was no rain. You'd think during a funeral it always rained yet right now there was none. Seems that's just a movie thing. It was just dull though. Windy even, the zephyr tried its best to blow away all the sadness in the air but it was failing. Terribly.
For every tear people wiped, more soon came after.
A weakening feeling that lingers deep to your very soul negating your very joy and nature as you realise those so dear to you are no longer here with you.
That's what losing someone felt like.
A friend. Losing a friend.
" We are gathered here today to mourn those very brave souls who lost their lives in the Utrecht tragedy ".
There were soldiers all around, each holding a rifle ready to do their part of this unfortunate ceremony.
"Gregor Vale"
The soldier's fired into the air. The smoke blinding. There was more than a hundred of them.
"Jai Laven"
They fired again.
"Otis Draven"
They fired.
"Jun seo"
They fired.
" And The Captain Ghazul Alexander ".
They were hesitant. For a split second. It seemed more like fiction that Captain Ghazul could be killed.
But they swallowed.
The hesitation was defeated and they faced their rifles to the skies. Then they fired their last salutations to the captain.
" The four Sentinels and the captain who lost their lives in the tragedy will remain in our memory till we are the ones who being buried ".
The man speaking was Gregor's father. He was a scientist knows all around for his immense knowledge of Arcane. Like everyone here he was on the brink of crumbling to the ground and crying. But someone had to be strong and give the speech.
" Vengeance is only sort by the losers. But know that the deaths of these 5 ", He paused wiping his tears, his voice was stricken with so much hate you could sense it, " the one responsible. The fiend responsible will be personally hunted by the Hero association and we will not stop till it is dead ".
His fist shook hard. His nails, almost digging into his palms. " Till it dies terribly as it deserves".
The crowd felt just like he did. That fiend would pay.
" You know it's kinda funny",Maud said turning to Guile.
" What is?"
" He smiled till the very end. How crazy does a person have to be to do that ", she was laughing trying to hide her anxiety.
She looked just like Ghazul. Just like her father. Guile wasn't one for pep talks. What was he supposed to tell Ghazuls daughter. He was barely keeping himself together.
" Come Maud. Come on love ",
It was Elle. Guiles wife. She knew Guile couldn't console her. He was never good at expressing his empathy.
Elle grew up to become a beautiful woman.
Her hair was now cut shot in a beautiful pixie cut that complimented her narrow facial features and her beautiful siren eyes. You couldn't even tell she was 33.
Right now her embrace was everything Maud wanted. But she put a tough exterior. She was too grown for these things...She was too grown for..
Elle hugged her before she could react and just like that all her problems, all her sorrow just escaped the cage and she started crying.
She held on to Elle so hard that she forgot Elle was 5 months pregnant. Her tears fell down hard and she struggled to catch her breath with each soulfull shiver.
" Your father put in his soul and life to being a superhero and he enjoyed every second of it till his last breath Maud. The only thing he loved more than protecting people was you ", Elle hugged Maud harder, " In that way he was more sane than all of us. He surrounded himself with what made him happy. A decision very few are smart enough to make and even less are strong enough to follow ".
The hug lasted for such a long time.
Guile stood just beside them. His hands in his pocket and his lollipop in his mouth.
He knew now what he would name his kid ( he could tell it was a boy but Elle insisted he keep it a secret). He would name him Ghazul.
Guile walked slowly to the grave as it was being lowered to the ground. He knelt down to it. With each step he realised just across him was his dead friend. None of it felt real.
" Old friend. You enjoyed yourself till the end. Now ", he dropped his red bracelet into the hole, " You've left me alone now. You've left Maud alone. Anyone who knows you, should know you couldn't care less about revenge. Neither do I but",
A rain drop fell on his knuckles.
His fist clenched on impact.
" You were the best friend I've ever had Ghazul ", Guile shuddered hard. " Most captains don't live to 60. I'll probably die before 50 with how reckless I am ", he laughed.
Guiles fist clenched harder in anger.
" Now I'm not mad Ghazul. I'm not mad. But ".
He shudderd.
" I will kill that thing. Not cause it killed you, that's your fault for dieing.
I'll kill it just so we don't lose. I'll win for both of us brother ".
" No matter what. I'll make sure I don't die before I kill it. Then ",
Guile stood up and tied a blue knot on his wrist.
" Then I'll join you ".