Chapter 1407: Mourning
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"So today we'll be mourning the lost students? I see…" Jonathan nodded as he heard what Arthur, and I were talking about earlier. "It's truly a pity so many students died… And it makes me filled with frustration I was unable to save them. Those young warriors, with a much brighter future ahead. It is simply unfair."
As a mentor that has trained many apprentices and knights, Jonathan felt another level of frustration when he heard the news. He was technically a teacher too, an instructor and someone that had a passion for teaching kids and raising the next generation. I patted his shoulders, as he slowly calmed down a little.
"Don't worry, we'll stop those Nightmare Demons from doing any more of this," I said. "I promise you, Jonathan."
"Maria… You don't really need to- Ah… well, thanks," he nodded. "I'll help as much as I can myself."
"Still… Those twelve could have been fifteen without Master's help," Partner said. "So at least, you were able to save a few, you made a difference, master!"
"That's right," Emeraldine nodded. "You've definitely changed the fate of three people destined to die. Even if their original powers are gone, as long as their lives remain, there's always a chance to start anew."
"Hmm, indeed!" Nia nodded. "When my… when my husband passed away, I truly felt lost. But I had to raise my little boy and provide for him no matter what. Despite how hard it was, I worked very hard to get where we were even when I thought of giving up many times, and when you appeared and changed my life, I was glad I never gave up, as fate gave me the opportunity to meet you, Maria… A-And everyone else too, of course."
"Aren't you three ways too sweet?" I said. "Thanks… And yes I do appreciate myself for doing that too! I was pretty awesome, and I was kind of scared it wouldn't work, but thank whatever god it did."
"Oh, mom, Arachne's over there!" Nyx said, as she walked by my side. "Arachneee! Over here!"
"Arachne?" I wondered.
I looked into the walls at the street in front of us, and Arachne was walking over the walls like a spider, focused on hunting a little bird and then leaping over it, grabbing it with her jaws and devouring it whole.
"Gulp… Oh! Nyx! Mama!"
She leaped towards us and pretended she wasn't just acting like a little wild kitten right there… It was quite something to see, but well, Nyx does the same sometimes.
Young kids from races of powerful beings like dragons or… giant spiders do have such tendencies I suppose.
She greeted us with a cute smile.
"Arachne, why were you hunting that bird?" I wondered. "Does your family not feed you?"
"I ate a sizable breakfast from the fake family, but it wasn't enough! I need a bigger meal mama!" Arachne said. "I'm hungry…"
"I see… I-I guess they would provide you with what a human would eat. Anyway, do you like your family?" I wondered.
"They aren't my family, they're just people I'm living with," Arachne said. "I pretend to be a nice girl, I nod and all, but I don't really like them that much. I'm just doing like you requested, mom."
"A-Alright then…"
I suppose her cold demeanor, her original personality, is still very much there for everyone else that isn't us. She's a little calamity after all, and spiders themselves just have different personalities at the end, I suppose.
Once regrouped, we met with the other girls once we went to school and reached the classroom, the kids had to sadly depart to their classrooms, but I accompanied them all using my little Phantom Clones, connected to me, so I'm always with them and watch out for anything dangerous that could happen to them.
"Maria, good morning...!" Alma was the first one to greet me with an adorable and gentle smile, although she looked slightly sad too. "A-And everyone else as well…!"
"Hey, Maria!" Emily waved her hand at me very nonchalantly. "Ah, and you guys too, hey!"
"You guys are late!" Sofia said. "The Funeral is going to start pretty soon!"
"Good morning girls," I greeted them. "Wait, we aren't having classes before that?"
"It'll be like just an hour of the teacher talking about stuff," Emily shrugged. "But yeah, we'll be mourning those that couldn't make it for a little while before we see them depart to the cemetery."
"I see, I guess I understand," I nodded. "It's really sad what happened, so many people… not just the students but even the instructors…"
"Yeah…" Alma sighed. "We survived and you even helped three people make it as well but… even then, so many were lost… I-I don't even know what to think anymore. What to say…"
"I'm kind of the same, yeah…" Emily sighed. "Stuff's heavy… damn Nightmares."
"We are studying and working hard to become Dream Warriors, all of us," Sofia said. "A Dream Warrior is… a hero. And yet, we couldn't do a single thing to save them. If it wasn't for you and Nyx, we would have been just as helpless as them…"
"Sofia…" I muttered. "So you want to be a hero…?"
"I mean… I know it sounds stupid; you can laugh all you want but… The powers we have, I believe they're made to protect people," said Sofia. "From both Nightmares and also other bad people, right?"
"Well said, and there's nothing stupid about it," I nodded. "Ah, the teacher's here… Let's just sit down for now."
"Good morning students…" the teacher walked inside; she looked rather depressed after everything that has happened. "A lot happened yesterday, huh? How is everyone dealing with things? Is everyone alright? Maria… and your group, how are you feeling? Is everything fine too?"
"A-Ah, well… yeah, I mean, I'm fine," I said. "But yeah, it has been… quite hard."
"Hmm…" Alma nodded.
"A lot happened…" Emily said.
"We are very sorry for those that we lost…" Sofia sighed. "I wish I could have been stronger…"
"You don't have to blame yourself for that…" the teacher smiled bitterly. "It's not your fault, Sofia. It's nobody's fault… maybe just our fault. We've failed you students; we were your guardians but… look where things have gone to. In regard of the entire establishment, I am very sorry."
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