Tens of Thousands of Rethans had gathered from across the planet to attend the funeral. Millions more watched on, staring solemnly at their television sets. There was nothing to hear apart from the sound of trickling rain and the marching of heavy feet.
Six elegantly armoured Rethans had carried the closed casket, followed by a thousand Rethan soldiers of varying ages. They had walked a great distance, in perfect rhythm, from the outskirts of Thre-Sypria to its centre, to the Keep of the Beloved. If anywhere was considered holy by the Rethans, this temple was the most sacred place of all, flanked by a beautiful city, its beautiful army standing around it.
The Keep of the Beloved was even more beautiful than both combined. Gold effigies of the most honoured of all Rethans lined the long, sloped path up to the thin, tall, palatial building, and its pure white walls were decorated with golden patterns. Inside was a single straight path. On each wall were hundred upon thousands of rectangular slots, laced with gold and silver, numbered in plates of precious stone. Some were filled with elegantly decorated caskets, some were empty, waiting patiently for a body to fill them.
There, all the great heroes were put to rest. Today, a new hero would join them.
General Elkay Theanon had served the Rethans well. He’d put a halt to plans of enslavement. He had done so much for Rethan society. For his successes in life, his resting place would be extravagant. As per Rethan tradition, his casket was to be placed inside his own little slot within the Keep of the Beloved. A normal Rethan would have instead been incinerated and placed in an urn. General Elkay was no normal Rethan.
As the Rethans approached the Keep of the Beloved, High General Photeianos was waiting for them. By his side stood six of his favourite Ksa. Not only was Photeianos the leader of the Rethans, but he was also considered their spiritual leader as well. Above them, camera drones hovered, absorbing everything and feeding it to all those not present, watching via their many screens.
The casket was placed on a long, silk-covered table in front of the High General. A temporary resting spot, for both the casket and the Rethans carrying it. Photeianos approached the casket, dismissing the six Rethans.
Finally, the High General spoke.
“We should not be here today. Not under these conditions. We should be at home, or at work. Living our lives. Yet here we are, wearing our finest, watching on as we send this soul onwards, down the river of renewal.”
Photeianos looked around. No one was making eye contact, their gaze forced down towards the ground. Above, lightning could be seen, scraping its electric claws across the sky.
“Elkay Theanon was the best Vice General I’ve had the honour of serving with for a very long time. Whenever I needed him, there he was, eager to assist me. Eager to assist you.
“What few Rethans saw of Elkay was how much he wanted to do for us, the people, Rethan society, Rethan existence as a whole. Elkay cared more about us than himself. His deepest desire was to see everyone living fulfilled lives, and by the Light, he was so close to his goal.
“It hurts me, that someone so pure, so kind, so beautiful, so strong, could be killed in such a horrible way. It horrifies me that someone could take Elkay’s life. It sickens me that Elkay was killed by his own kind, by the very race he served.
“I loved Elkay. I loved him dearly. And you all loved him too. Even if your personal views disagreed with him. I know that he loved all of you, no matter who you are.”
Photeianos paused. The six Rethan carriers bowed, then lifted up the casket once more.
“Today, my fellow Rethans, we lay to rest the one being who cared most about us. May his soul return to the river of reincarnation, may his parts return to nothing.”
The six Rethans started to carry the casket past Photeianos, past his Ksa, deep into the dark temple. They marched along in silence, until they came across an empty slot on their right. The Rethans shifted their weight and delicately placed the casket inside the empty slot, before placing a lavishly decorated plate above it.
Finally, the Rethans all turned around and exited the Keep of the Beloved. As they did so, the six Ksa closed the temple doors behind them, then once again stood behind the High General.
“Sleep well, Elkay Theanon.”
Photeianos dismissed his Ksa and the casket carriers, dismissing everyone else in the process. The camera drones switched off, and the gathered crowds slowly began to disperse.
The six Rethans, the Generals of the North and South, walked away, away from the Keep, away from the dead, their duty done, their hearts heavy. They had buried a friend today, locked a casket up forever within the Keep of the Beloved.
Little did they know, that casket was empty.