Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.4] Quest 365- Funeral Procession

Over the past few days, Artemis tried to get what Metis knew out of her, but it was fruitless.

"Tell me Khaos dammit!!!" Artemis lashed out at Metis.

"Lady Artemis, please calm down!!" Shouted Bell, holding her back.

"Artemis, please calm down!" Hestia pleaded with her.

"Ooh! This is rather nice tea you have, Hestia!" Metis said, not concerned about Artemis.

In that time, the Susanoo Familia, the Kali Familia, and several more Familias arrived in Orario.

Lenoa’s shop.

"How are you holding up, sweetie?" said Aomi.

"I’m doing well, Mom," Ai said with buffy red eyes.

"Nonsense!" Akeru said. "You look at you! Have you been eating!?" Ai had not been eating as much as she used to. "Haku, has she been eating?" He looked at his grandson.

"Grandpa, she has slowly been getting back on her feet." Haku nodded.

"Can you blame her?" Aomi said, glaring at her husband. "Now quiet; no yelling; it gets us nowhere." She looked back at her daughter. "How are you really holding up?"

"I’m doing fine, Mom... Just... you know."

Aomi could see a fragment of the light that filled her daughter's eyes.

"Well, we will be here for you." She holds her daughter's hands. "As long as it takes."

"Akio and Ayumu have stayed behind to handle business in Fuyukusa. It seemed the Izanami Familia were no longer fearful of Cirrus’ might now that he is…" Akeru takes a deep breath. "Anyway. I hope you are feeling better, eventually." Akeru said.

"What of Ayaka?" Ai asked.

"You know that girl. Ayumu said that she had planned to send her brothers-in-law from that shit-stained husband of hers to try and marry you while you were not in the best of states."

"What!?" Haku said, surprised. "How can she do that!? Isn’t she your sister, Mom?" He looked at Ai, but she had an exasperated expression.

"Hah… She never changes." Ai leans back in her chair. "Haku, if you wish to inherit the title of your father, you will have to deal with situations like these."

"I will… keep that in mind when one of my siblings tries to take advantage of me."

"Or try to kill you."

"She tried to kill you too!?"

"She did," Aomi said. "It didn't really pan out as she expected." Aomi took a sip of her tea.

"Real bloody," Akeru added. "You don’t mind me telling him, do you?" He looked to Ai.

"No."

Moonlight Tower.

"Thanks for letting us crash here so suddenly!" said Kali to Astraea.

"It’s of no issue. Artemis gave her permission."

"Speaking of her. Is she doing well?"

"I didn’t think you would care so much for her, Kali," Astraea said, a bit taken by her interest. "It’s not because of Callisto, is it?"

Kali could feel the hidden sharpness within Astraea's tone.

"A little. I just wanted to know if she was fine. She is probably the only god I know who had the whole mortal experience."

"She is doing well. She is with her daughter."

"That’s good." She nods. "So where are the eldest and youngest sons?"

"Far away from your children, Kali."

Takemikazuchi Familia home.

"I am very sorry!!" shouted Takemikazuchi, bowing along with the rest of his children. "Had I known you were coming along, Lady Amaterasu, we would have done more to make your stay more comfortable!"

Amaterasu looks around Takemikazuchi’s home and lightly smiles.

"These are fine enough accommodations." She assured him. "Did you think I came to Gekai with my empire?"

Takemikazuchi looked up from his bowing to meet the goddess's eyes.

"Really! You are fine with our home?"

"Yeah, me, her, and Tsukuyomi started out living in a rundown shack!" Susanoo said it gleefully, smiling. "Remember the time you ate those berries and—"

"Kushida, would you mind making your husband quiet for a second?" Amaterasu ordered.

"Su." Kushida walked to his side and smiled with her eyes closed. A deathly stare burrowed into him. "We should unpack."

"Fine! Don’t look at me like that. You could have just asked me kindly."

"Of course, but would you have done it?"

"That's fair." Susanoo extended his hand. "Takemikazuchi, you should have more confidence in your own home." He noticed the gold rings on his and one of his children’s fingers. "How about we go in and chat? It has been ages since we talked. I am sure you have some fun stories to tell."

The city really became the center of the world with so many gods and people coming. You would be better off listing the gods who couldn’t come.

After a week, it was finally time for the funeral.

Moonlight Tower.

"Haa…" Artemis lets out a deep breath. "Nothing." She said in a room with Cirrus’s inflamed body.

"You said it before, Art," Said Malion. "Metis is not an easy one to get answers from. Knowing she taught, Hera explains quite a lot."

"I tried to see what she was doing when we returned, but she was gone with the winds." Said Ryuu. "Speaking of gone, where are Hecton and Fafnir?"

"We are here."

From the shadows, they emerged from under Cirrus’s coffin.

"We have simply been busy doing master’s last requests," Fafnir said.

"That is??" asked Ai.

"Handling Sir Cirrus’s last will," Hecton said.

"You had his will!?" they all shouted.

"I did. He left it in his workshop, but seeing his body, I... I had reservations about showing it, so I waited."

"Did it say where he wanted to be buried!?" Ryuu asked.

"Or did he leave any last messages!?" Ai asked as well.

"What about his—"

"I will hand it over when the funeral is done," Hecton said, cutting off Artemis. "Until then, we will be hidden."

"Later. See you all after the funeral." Fafnir said as she melted back into the shadows.

"Hm." Hecton followed along.

"Fuu~" Ai takes a deep breath. She walks over to Cirrus and touches his face once more. "… It seems we will be separated once more."

"It’s utter agony not knowing what your fate is, Cirrus," Artemis said, coming up to him as well. "Ouranos said that your fate led you down this path."

"Not knowing what could happen to him..." Ryuu said, coming up to him as well. "I still feel we should at least cremate the body. I don’t want those creatures from the Dungeon to claim his body."

"Not with these flames still on him," Artemis said.

"I am more worried about desecration," Malion said. "Bree saw some suspicious people around the tower and around the Adventurer’s Cemetery."

"Probably people from Israfan," said Ai. "Even to this day, they still despise him for putting them in their current economic situation."

"It’s been years since then, and yet they still kept fighting. At what point should they stop and work to better their people?" said Ryuu. "When Lord Al-Kutba spoke of it and during the Behemoth raid, he said they portrayed Cirrus as a literal demon who was born from the sands. They even tell scary stories to their children."

"They won’t do anything," Artemis said. "They would be foolish to even attempt anything. Rethusa and everyone have been keeping a close eye on everything." She has her hands on the casket. "… Are all of you ready?"

"…Yes." They all said it begrudgingly.

"Ai?" They all look at her.

"…" She leans in and kisses his forehead. "You are going back to sleep, sweetie. One last journey, I will take care of our children, all of them. So please just rest."

They took turns giving him one last kiss before they closed the casket.

They all went out of the room, all dressed in black, into the lobby filled with all of their friends and family.

Eupheme, Ibic, Jane, Bell, Susanoo, Lance, and Ottar were picked as the pallbearers.

They pick up his casket and begin the procession.

The moment they left the tower’s premises, they were met with a clear road to the adventurer’s graveyard. Everyone was shedding tears.

Along the path were lined, shoulder to shoulder, citizens and adventures. Even the Xeno came out to pay their respects—all but Asterius, who stayed in the dungeon.

When they arrived at the cemetery, they walked to the back to find Cirrus’s tomb.

It was an impressive white marble tomb built with the help of many artisans. On the walls of the tomb, they depict his feats. From his battle with the Nuckelavee, the Hecatonchires, the Iku-Turso, the Primordial Fire, and the Black Dragon. They even have the Black Dragon’s scales placed along the tomb, telling smaller stories and even the songs he has sung.

It had all but one thing that Cirrus wanted: his time in the Kaios Desert.

"I thought you told them to add them." Said Ai to Ryuu.

"I did. They did not feel it reflected who he was." Ryuu said.

"It’s to be expected," Malion said. "Why would they put something that stains him? He has essentially been put on such a high pedestal that he might as well be worshiped as a god by the people of Gekai."

"He does not want that," Artemis said. "He does not wish to be heralded as something perfect."

"He just wanted to be known as a human," Ai said. "Flaws and all."

As they go to place him in his tomb, Artemis, Ai, Malion, and Ryuu keep an eye on Metis.

"She is doing nothing, Art," Ai said, glancing at her.

"I am sure she is going to do something." Said Artemis.

"Even Hera is keeping an eye on her—and she’s going up," Malion said.

Coming up before Cirrus’s tomb, she got the microphone from one of Ganesha’s Familia.

"Hello! Hello!!" she said on the mic. "We are here to grieve and honor the hero who finished the last of the three quests. The Heavenly Crown, Cirrus Zephyr! The Hero of Orario!!"

"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The large crowd burst into a cheer for him.

Metis glanced at Ai, Artemis, Malion, and Ryuu.

"Cirrus was a loving father and husband. He was a hero, but one that he never wished to be. But through his actions, the people saw him as one!" She walked around. "He slew the Nuckelavee that destroyed three kingdoms!" She swung her arm and clenched her fist. "Faced and subjugated the Hecatonchires with his trusted companion, his best friend, and sister-in-arms, the Grand—Oops! It is now Aspect of the White Night, Nox!"

"That's me," Nox said, leaning on Callisto’s head.

"Shush!" Callisto said.

"What? I could tell you those stories myself!"

Metis went to the other side.

"He then went and faced the Iku-Turso that threatened all sea life in the world with its poisonous body! Resulting in him disappearing for four years on an island where he worked non-stop to return!"

"Is that true, Mom?" Haku asked Ai.

"It is." Ai nodded.

"He worked really hard," Circe said. "Learn to build a boat over those four years through trial and error."

"Were you there, Nox?" Alise asked.

"You should ask Circe that." Nox glanced at Circe. "That’s when she and Circe met."

"As I said, he worked on building a boat and got heat stroke a few times," Circe said.

"He then helped push Evilus back during the darkest period of Orario’s history! He then left with his beloved to her homeland, where he built and created a territory that rivals Orario in terms of economic and medical power! He returned to Orario and continued to help the city! Eventually, he was called to action when the Primordial Flame! The Flame of Heaven, which Prometheus threw to heaven, and their champion, Epimetheus, took the burden of leading the charge and used the power to help humanity! But the flame made the champion immortal, and after 3000 years of existence, the hero and flame were driven mad! There, Cirrus came and faced the hero dead on!! They fought with power, might, and skill!! In the end, Cirrus laid to rest humanity’s first hero!!"

Metis enamored the crowd. The way she spoke without so much as taking a breath amazed them, along with her tone. It conveyed the feeling everyone had: pride in the person who did what thousands before him failed to do.

"It was because of that that you were born, Callisto," Artemis said.

"Ew!! Come on!" Callisto said, looking away.

"Hahaha!" Nox chuckled. "That’s also where I died."

"What!?"

"Then he was called to duty once more! The remnants of the Primordial Flame that were corrupted by 3000 years of humanity’s malice brought to life the Behemoth, Leviathan, and empowered the Black Dragon!! Cirrus forged many weapons to help them retake and seal the flames that resurrected these monsters!! While a collation went to slay the Behemoth, Cirrus traveled with his beloved wife, Ai, and along with help from the Poseidon Familia and School District slew the sea beast!! Oh, I should clarify, His wife slew it!"

"Lance, Leon, and Cirrus did most of the work," Ai said.

"Dad spun that giant ship in Melen," Haku said.

"Ooh!" Callisto, Auberon, and Alise were amazed.

"But in these two great monsters' deaths, Cirrus took on the burden that Epimetheus had and shouldered the corrupted flame! There, it poisoned him beyond belief! The poison clogged his lungs, veins, and nerves!! His life became a painful existence where even getting up from bed was a labor in itself! Yet he hid it! Hide it from everyone to ensure they still have a smile on their faces!! So when the Black Dragon became active again, he went and stopped it before more countries turned to ash!! He fought day in and day out with a body that wished to die, yet he pushed on!! Eventually, he succeeded!"

"URAAAAAAAAA!!!!!" The people roared, shaking the earth and even the city.

"And better than dying from poison, Cirrus took his fate into his own hands and ended it on his own terms. He closed his eyes and let go. Letting go of his pain and exhaustion, he returned to the origin of life—the sea!! In his honor, let us not simply remember him as an adventurer or a warrior but as a—"

"DEMON!!!"

From the crowd shouted several people in desert attire. They walk out on the open path, and everyone looks at them.

"HE IS A DEMON!!"

"HE DESTROYED OUR COUNTRY AND KILLED SEVERAL INNOCENTS!!"

Everyone looked at them. Many with venom, and many with disgust.

Metis, however, only smiled.

"Here we have people from Israfan! The country whose king incorporated the Vritra Familia, who was part of Evilus!! Which resulted in Israfan increasing their war potential, which added to more enslavement, murders, and more nasty war stuff!!"

The Israfan people's expression changed to one of surprise and shock.

"W-what!? O-our king did—"

"Sweeties, you don’t know the full story. So could you please leave before they throw you out of the city or, worse, brutally beat you within an inch of your life? You are literally crashing the hero who slew THEE Black Dragon."

"W-we are—"

"Actually, wait a second. Snap!!" She snapped her fingers, and everyone could feel a surge of magic beginning to swirl around Cirrus’s tomb. "You should stay and watch!!"

"Metis!!!" Artemis shouted. "What are you doing!!"

Metis looked at Artemis and smiled from ear to ear.

"I am doing what I came here to do!! Opening the path that Cirrus made to Elysium!!"

Behind Cirrus’s tomb, hidden with an invisibility cloak, Fels used their magic.

"Please come back, my son." They held the staff Cirrus made for them. "(On this day, I reject the laws of heaven—the Rod of Asclepios, the chalice of Salus. Thy voice forcing the power of healing beyond reach—I desire it regardless of the wait.)!!!"

Their magic circle appeared over the tomb, light surrounded the tomb, and a pillar of light shot forth into the heavens. Fels’ staff, Heaven's Shadow, activates, resembling that of a caduceus staff.

"(Tribunal of the King, thunder of condemnation. If thou art burned despite the providence of God—confront your own hell. Open Kaimon, beyond the river of the underworld. Listen, dark king. Wish to cross the threshold of insanity. Stop unexpected tears, scattered lamentation. The ultimate price has already been paid. Light of the road. To sacrifice given in the past, I want illumination of the foolish desire. I swear I will not look back.)!! [ Dia Orpheus]!!!"

The pillar of light shattered and reformed, parting the clouds in a spiral. Many watched this miraculous sight.

From Cirrus’s tomb, the blue flame grew massive and engulfed the whole tomb.

BWOOOOOSH!!!

From his tomb, several lines and connecting magic formulas appeared as the flame went along the lines as they spread throughout the building, down the pathway, and into the city.

"!?!?"

Several gods could feel something coming.

BWOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!

Then the whole city was engulfed in it.

Many gods looked at the formula and knew what it was.

"It’s a summoning spell," Freya said.

"But it’s different?" said Loki.

"These lines…" Odin knelt and lightly touched them. "Ahh... a summoning spell, beautifully augmented for... something? Odd." Odin lies fully on the ground, caressing the engraving.

"I guess some things never change," Loki said, looking at Odin.

"My lord, please get up!" said Brynhild softly.

 "Ooh." He smiles from ear to ear. "It—"

Then the planet roared to life.

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Even the sky darkened, for even the sun gave credence to letting the stars dot the sky to watch. Day and night, the sun and moon broke the laws of the universe to be with one another, giving us freedom to see them grace the world. Stars streaked across the skies; streaks of streaks littered the heavens.

The laws of the world were breaking from mere advent of what can only be called a Primordial Entity, a Cosmic Being.

Then they felt it. The fire around Cirrus’ tomb quickly dimmed.

Be it man or god, it evoked a feeling of awe and reverence. For the mortals, they had another; they had almost a need to worship this existence that had just come to their world.

Far. Far off at the coast, where the boundaries of night and sea were, a pair of emerald eyes with silver pupils glowed.

Ah~

A disembodied voice rung in the air.

Home at last.

Paradise had come out of the sea, the night sky leaves with the entity.

Tap!

Tap!

First, a pair of golden antlers emerged from the sea, shaped like a crown and decorated with several indigo-colored stars.

Tap!

Tap!

At the end of the antlers were weight scales. On him, covering the entity was a veil-like cloak of the night sky. It stuck to them as if it were caught in their antlers as they slowly walked onto the beach.

Tap!

Tap!

They had no skin; they were just pure energy, a soul. No mouth, for they did not need one. Their eyes were a pair of flawless emeralds, cut and polished to unparalleled perfection, with a small nugget of silver in them as pupils. A gaze like winter that could see many and through all.

They look down to find themselves naked. It was not bothered by it; it was a mere bump in the road.

Hmm. I’ll get to making them as I go.

The entity walked further along towards the woods, and the night left with them, selfishly covering them completely as a new set of star-touched clothes. But within the veil of night, several sea creatures came with them and swam along their long, veil-like cloak. They fall in and out of their veil-like leaves in autumn.

With each step they took, more and more life grew around them—the footsteps of spring, a garden wherever he went. And with a single thought—

Blip!!

—They were gone.

It took only a moment to make it to the center of the world, Orario.

Tap!

Whoosh~

The smell of petrichor sweeps through the area as did a new sensation. The space around them began to bend before eroding into something new. They were fixing their own mess on the dime.

Tap!

Standing at the end of the path to Cirrus’s tomb, the entity stood. Even the flames calmed in their presence.

"!?!?"

Several of the mortals and gods were both scared and enamored by the entity. They gave off a glamor that made all the mortals feel a sense of deep trust towards them, which soothed them.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

The entity walked forward. Its eyes darted around, a sight only the gods saw.

'They are here!’ They thought. ‘Ah~ so close! I am so close!’

The stars of their star-touched clothing hummed with a light pink.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

Ai could hear a familiar set of footsteps; she knew them from memory and heart. They were the same as her lost beloved.

"It... can't... be." She steeled her heart for the worst.

In their eyes, they were the most beautiful thing they had ever seen; they shone with a luster that could move the souls of any being as they walked towards the tomb. The crown of golden antlers with weight scales gave it a sense of majesty. All in all, it looked ethereal. Covering them was their veil, a breathtaking veil that had sea creatures swimming around in it, giving him an even more ethereal presence.

"Welcome back from Heaven and your long journey!!!" Shouted Metis with the speaker. "Cirrus Zephyr!! Nay!! Welcome to your world, Elysia!! The First God, Elysium!!"

"Ci…rrus??" Ai and everyone else said, looking at him as he kept walking.

The more they walked, the more sure she was of her belief. Their hearts swelled from a cornucopia of emotions bursting at the seams, only held back from the sheer absurd amount of curiosity on what is to come next.

I prefer,

Elysium spoke up, and their voice started to sound recognizable. They still felt to the brain as light rain on the skin.

To be referred to as Elysium, God of Nascent.

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