Chapter 548: He’s gone.

‘Xula...’ the word stuck. A portal conjured immediately after Igna nodded. The queen stretched her arms in vain, wanting to have a thing she’d given up hope. Besides Staxius, no one had called her by the real name; even the fiancé failed in the end. A young boy, bearing the blood of her husband, and who also bore a striking resemblance – used the cursed weapons and knew stuff not even the closest confidants knew.

“The little pest,” gritted Eira, “-mother, please allow me to hunt them down!”

“No,” interjected Lord Lucifer, “-the lady queen needs a few to recuperate. You have another matter to attend to, isn’t that right?”

“Yes,” the jumpy attitude silenced into obedience, “-I’ll make the necessary preparations.”

A few hours later, at around 13:00, the cousins were inside Rotherham holding conniving smirks. All who walk past questioned the expression for it bared resemblance to those young boys would have after having completed a mischievous deed.

“Cousin,” said Julius holding his laughter, “-we really did it.”

“Yeah,” returned he emptily, “-I can’t believe it.” Realization hit after setting foot onto safe grounds, guards were lowered and emotions ran wild.

.....

“Two coffee please,” they dropped by into a neatly little café tucked between the growing town-square.

“Cousin, you’re crazy,” breathed Julius, “-standing up to them without care for thy life.”

“They couldn’t have hurt me even if they wanted,” remarked he, “-attacking is a declaration of war against Phantom. Arda can’t fight us despite their armies.”

“You’re right,” said he, “-we’ve only gotten stronger.”

Bells twinkled, two figures wearing puffed jackets entered, “-so cold,” said the little one.

“Celina, Alicia,” waved Igna, “-are you headed somewhere?”

“What do you mean,” she rushed over to grab his coat, “-where were you since yesterday!” as each table had been woodenly partitioned, she didn’t notice the blonde-haired man.

“Not very ladylike,” said he nonchalantly, “-look, look,” he signaled by raising the brows.

“What do you even mean?” she turned to cough, “-oh shit... hello, I’m sorry, my name’s Alicia, n-nice t-to meet y-you.”

“Good afternoon,” said the handsome Julius, “-are you a friend of my cousin?”

“Forget about him,” she forced her way into his seat, “-I’d never expect to meet the Julius here of all places.”

“Please, you give me far too much credit,” said he humbly, “-I’m honored to meet a fan, thank you for the support.” The manager took to express her love in a very loud way. Julius handled the situation and signaled, ‘take it easy, Igna.’

“Igna!” said Celina monotonously, “-hello, how are you?”

“Hello, how are you?” smiled he, “-did you sleep well yesterday?”

“Yes, and stop treating me like a child,” her gaze sneaked glances towards Julius.

“Look at you,” teased Igna, “-blushing at cousin Julius.” For a small little café, there were a lot of people. The dark-wooden floor and fresh-shiny furniture screamed novel and good-quality.

“Good job on fighting alone,” commented éclair.

“Yeah, whatever,” Celina and Alicia took to the prince immensely. He spoke and handled the situation nicely. Igna had his drink then left, leaving the two girls in Julius’s care.

‘I guess it’s time,’ outside on the cold-streets, ‘-time to pay Chef Leko a visit.’ He hailed a taxi and made for the hospital. ‘I came here to see my friends last time, now, it’s to see a dead body, what shame.’ Throughout the trip, the heart raced. The newfound courage faded with each step, the pain increased till the white-stairs leading inside.

“Hello, son,” said Lady Courtney, “-are you alright?”

“Could be better,” returned he, “-why are you here, mother?”

“The autopsy concluded. Everyone’s here to pay their respects.” Down the hall towards the morgue, the ins and outs of the nurses and patients lessened. The corridors seemed to stretch into forever; at one point, without realizing it, Igna halted at a doorway to stare at the floor. He hyperventilated. ‘Calm down,’ the hands cupped, ‘-slower, breathe slowly.’

Every noise, everything seemed distorted and echoey. The morgue laid a few steps forward, in addition to Lady Elvira and the others, an unfamiliar lady and two children stood idly.

“Come on,” whispered lady Courtney, “-man up, son, this isn’t the time to break down.”

Her words oddly gave confidence, ‘-who’s she?’ they approached.

“Igna,” said Lady Haru teary from the sight.

“Go on,” said Elvira, “-go talk to him for the last time,” she pushed and shut the door.

historical

Cold, decrepit, and silent, one step forth reverberated loudly in the ears. There, on the metal mortuary table, covered by a single white cloth, laid Leko. Pulling the cloth showed the lifeless pale visage, ‘-it is him,’ the heart sank, ‘-chef Leko...’ No words exchanged, he stood there and watched – standing respectfully at his side. ‘There was so much more I could have learned. Why didn’t you make Dungeon-Style cooking a real thing; there was so much to do.’ Inhaling deep, ‘-well,’ he forced a grin, ‘-there’s no use crying over your death, big brother. May you live in peace in the afterlife. Damn it, if only I could have used magic.... If only I had an ancient scroll, if only my powers of the death reaper were still here, I could have... I could have revived you and taken revenge. Even as a vampire, I can’t grant eternal life... you’d hate me if I did so. Exchanging your humanity for a never-ending life; so selfish.’ He covered the face, “-éclair, did you scan his body?”

“Yes, I’ve mapped it.”

“Thank you for everything,” he bowed, “-chef Leko, I’ll forever cherish our memories and lesson. You were and will remain a great man. I promise to find whoever did this,” reaching for the doorknob, “-I swear, they’ll repay it tenfold.”

All stood a few meters from the morgue after paying respects. “Igna,” called lady Haru, “-this is Chef Leko’s wife and daughters.”

“Good to meet you,” said he politely.

“Igna,” she jumped for a tight embrace, “-thank you for everything. Leko was very happy after he met you, he always spoke fondly about this little brother.”

“Please,” said he holding back tears, “-don’t, I can’t.”

“I’m grateful, thank you.”

Nothing brought people together as the passing of a loved one. More celebrated the end of life instead of the birth of one. The whole logic should have been inverted. Supposed the morbid nature added to why so many were fascinated.

“When will the funeral be held?” wondered Igna away from the grieving family.

“He’s going to be cremated here and now,” said Haru, “-it’s his will and wish. ‘I don’t want people to mourn my death, please cremate me and send my ashes to my wife and children, tell them father is deeply sorry.’ He was a caring individual until the end.” Per his wish, a white-van came as transit to the crematorium. Graves to the left and a garden to the right, final prayers exchanged and so, the renowned chef burnt peacefully. The wife and daughters stood hand in hand and watched, the children were sad but didn’t cry, the mother grieved but stayed strong.

“Igna,” said lady Leko, “-can I have a moment?” her cheeks and nose reddened in woe.

“Ok,” they moved outside to a quieter area, “-listen, I killed him.”

“What?” he halted under the tall foliage of trees.

“I killed him,” said she crying, “-I killed my husband. I wasn’t able to look after him, I wasn’t here to take care of him, and I wasn’t there to help. I killed him for being incompetent.”

“Please,” said he, “-the circumstances of his death are...”

“I know,” she sniffled, “-my husband worked hard to get where he was. He endorsed thee at Cle and left his legacy in thy hands.”

“I’m sorry,” back against a tree, “-I can’t carry on cooking anymore. He was the reason I cooked... I’m grateful for what he did, and I want to return, but I can’t. The kitchen makes me sad, the scar left behind by the Lordon, and now the passing of my teacher, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to hold a knife like a chef. I lost the right to do so, my selfishness and cowardice drove me out of Hidros, I set out searching for another path and left Chef Leko alone. I should have been the one at his side, if only I was here, I could have done something to help. Don’t you understand, lady Leko, I’m the one at fault,” he sunk to a crouch, “-I’ve lost the right to cook, I can’t... it’s gone.”

“Don’t say that,” she joined and crouched.

“I’m sorry, I should be the one consoling you...”

“Hey, it’s fine,” she patted his shoulder, “-I can’t afford to be sad. He left me with two bundles of joy, I can’t afford to give in to sorrow.”

“Can I ask a question?” the voice lingered between timidity and despair.

“Go on.”

“What’s your name?”

“Linda Leko-Goodwin.”

“A compound name?”

“Yes,” said she softly.

“What’s going to happen to the academy?”

“I’ll take over as director. I might not look it, I’m a red-collared chef too. The burden left is heavy, a good thing my shoulders are strong. Igna, the reason I called you out here was to ask for help in readying the academy for a future without my husband. Sadly, by what you said, I can’t do that anymore. I won’t force anything. I’ll try my hardest to make it work. Sorry for the trouble.”

“Lady Linda,” said he as she stood, “-I’m sorry for being useless.”

“Don’t worry,” she smiled, “-I’ll carry on with my husband’s legacy. Tis the duty of the wife,” a forced smile ended in a solemn expression whilst facing away. “See you around,” she scurried out of the garden.

‘I’m such an idiot. She wanted a shoulder to lean on, she wanted for me to take over what he left, but I can’t. It’s beyond me, I’m sorry Chef Leko, your disciple is nothing but a weakling. I can’t, I’m done, it’s too painful.’

Ashes in an urn; the Leko family returned to Plaustan the same night. She couldn’t care to stand still else grief would catch up. Instead, she ran far and focused on work and caring for the daughters.

Later that night, Igna took to staying alone in a pitch-black room. Weirds shapes formed out the darkness, an after-effect from drawing Orenmir was the partial capture of the restless souls.

*Knock, knock,* “-I’m coming in,” heels walked to a stop, *flick,* “-Igna,” said Courtney with crossed arms, “-still grieving over the death?”

“No, not really,” he pulled to sit upright, “-was just thinking about stuff. Can I help you, mother?”

“Yes, matter of fact,” the door shut, “-I have something important to ask.”

“Which is?”

“It’s concerning the realm,” she moved to stand at the window. The wind blew her hair out the visage, “-I need you to capture someone. Alive or dead, doesn’t matter.”

“An assassination, is this an order from the Godfather?”

“No, it’s a request from your mother,” she turned to grab his palm, “-it’s a tall order. I don’t want to impose this burden... I’m afraid it’s more of a suicide job than anything.”

“Is the target strong?”

“Yes, a demi-goddess.”

“Who is it?”

“Your cousin, Eira.”

.....

“Why?” the seriousness didn’t leave space for expressions.

“She can potentially influence the Alphian leadership. Marrying the emperor would grant so much power to Arda. They could break the alliance and join with the Wracia Empire and lay catastrophe on Hidros. I’m sure Lucifer’s thinking of such a possibility. There’s much to do, staying out of politics isn’t an option anymore.”

“Ok... how?”

“I don’t know,” said she,”-this responsibility is too heavy to shoulder alone.”

“Let me guess, it’s Queen Gallienne’s idea?”

She nodded, “-up to the task or shall I find another?”

“Is there a time limit?”

“Not really, as long as the alliance isn’t formed.”

“Then it should be simple,” said he, “-why go after Eira when we can go after the Alphian leadership.”

“The matter is in thy hands, dearest son. Also, lady Haru’s leaving for the adventuring academy. Go with, you’re still a student last I checked.”

“Yes, mother.”