Pale moonlight fills the temple, quiet now that the ceremony has ended…-.
In Necropolia, Land of the Gravekeepers who watch over the peace of the dead, a marriage ceremony had occurred for the royal family.
Nox: “Thank you for coming today. I’m glad I asked you to take care of the flower arrangements.”
With the wedding ceremony over, Nox spoke his thanks to Raven now that everyone else had left.
Raven: “What do you mean? You could have just traded for the flowers; I don’t think there was much need for me to be here…”
Nox: “Since it’s you, I thought you’d be able to select flowers that best suited this country.”
Raven: “…”
At Nox’s words, Raven’s eyes wavered slightly, even the though the sadness etched in his features did not disappear.
Nox: “…white tulips mean ‘new love’ in the language of flowers, but.”
Nox gently picked up one of the white tulips decorating the venue.
Nox: “I wonder why you selected something that also means ‘lost love’?”
Raven: “…what reason do you think I had?”
Nox: “That’s fair. For example… something like this kingdom is one that represents the end, but it’s also a place where new love can bloom. I didn’t think you’d choose something that means ‘resurrection’ but am I wrong?”
Raven: “You can decide for yourself what meaning I had behind my choices. Rather than funeral flowers, I thought this was my chance to choose flowers that celebrated someone’s happiness.”
At those quiet words, Nox just smiled faintly.
Nox: “Love that is returned upon meeting the end, love that goes unrequited… many types of love come into being and vanish in this country. Though I know everything comes to an end, I wonder why… this place is one that sees the creation of new love.”
Raven: “Who knows… but no matter to what extent love is painful, and no matter if it is forbidden, it is something that does not disappear. Even if that love should one day be lost to eternity and drag you down to the deepest pits of despair.”
Raven gently reached out to the moonlight spilling through the stained-glass window, as if reaching out for someone far away.
Nox: “Even if you know it’s gone, you can’t help but feel it… huh.”
Nox closed his eyes as if in prayer, and quietly kissed the flowers in his hands.
Nox: “Someday… I wonder if the time will come when I can find that.”
His voice was so quiet that no one else could hear, and it was swallowed up by the darkness.
Wrapped in silence, the white tulips that decorated the temple shone in the pale moonlight.
END