Some time after, once the whole affair between the Eirwens brothers and the Aristocracy board had calmed down, a funeral was organized in honor of the Eirwens brothers.

Just as they both had wished to, they were put to rest where they belonged, along with their brother, Paul, on the land where their family and their clan, in their time, once lived.

Present to put the Eirwens brothers to earth were the high-ranking members of the scavengers who all personally knew the brothers; members of the brotherhood, who had put a halt to their activities to give the brothers and leaders their final farewell; and finally, Shania and Aryan, who, despite not being official members of the brotherhood, were well known to be involved in almost all their activities, besides also being known to be very close to the brothers.

Only two presences were felt missing for this farewell; it was that of the woman known as Mathilda and the other one referred to as' The Mother’, while they were represented by their respective representatives' Lidya and Raziel’.

With the sudden death of the brothers shrouded in mystery, the absence of these two from the funeral raised many questions and complaints among those present, especially the members of the brotherhood, who were left in the dark as to what truly happened. Yet, though questions and complaints were raised among those present, since it was a funeral, they remained silent and unvoiced.

***

Inside a closed room of the Aristocracy's fortress, Mathilda sat on a chair, with Lydia next to her, as she was communicating with someone through a device.

"Greetings, Sister. Greetings, Lydia, "spoke Paul through the communication device.

"Greetings, Lord Paul," answered Lydia respectfully.

"Has something happened?" Paul asked, noticing, even through the device, the ambient room.

"Their funeral has been held today, Lord Paul. Early this morning," Lidya explained.

"I see... Did you go to it? " Paul asked Mathilda directly.

"I did not."

"I see..." both siblings smiled bitterly at each other. "In any case, I must say thanks again for the lift," he sighed. "I was thinking that this head of mine was about to fall off from my neck."

"It was nothing, after all. It all happened because of our carelessness," Mathilda simply brushed off.

"Well, I cannot deny that. In any case, I hope you will take good care of our guests. My life somewhat depends on it, and I don’t really see myself dying such a painful death anytime soon, "Paul announced in a tone so hard to ascertain that it could've easily been mistaken for a joking one, but everyone in the room knew that he was only serious.

"You don't have to worry about that. I have learned my lesson. "

Through the device, Paul stared silently at Mathilda before commenting, "Though I am not implying that it has not always been the case, I can’t help but notice that your complexion today looks quite pale, Sweet Sister."

Mathilda sighed, commentlessly.

"Well, I can't say I don't understand why," he paused as if searching for the right words to say, "I too was quite close to Austen. I admit that he was to me, one of my first friends, but you shouldn't take this too much at heart, which I believe you do."

Not denying, Mathilda answered, "It is because, I admit, I cannot say I carried out my duty well, if I had-"

"It's because your perception of reality has always been somewhat subjectively off. That's always been the way you were," Paul interjected.

"You think?"

"Yes. And I also think you’ve carried out your duty to the best of your ability. Do not let this incident, sad though it be, take a heavy toll on yourself. Take a pause. I heard your beloved Young Lord is back. Go cradle him the way you used to. I don't know, take your time to cut yourself off from all of this. We all would understand," Paul advised, "Now, I still have pending business with the Cabal so I think this would be all for me today."

Without even giving Mathilda the opportunity to say goodbye, Paul shut the device off, leaving Mathilda and Lydia in an abrupt silence.

"Was he actually trying to be nice?" Mathilda asked after a while.

"I think he was," confirmed Lidya.

"I see."

Though one could argue that it is partly due to the fact that the two siblings have never been particularly close, or at least not close enough to be comfortable with exchanging actual nice and caring words with one another, hearing Paul’s words made Mathilda realize that indeed, there had to be something wrong, as he had earlier said, about her, for she even found that little display of genuine concern that her brother displayed, odd if not off to receive and accept.

Changing subject, "How was it, Lidy? The funerals." Mathilda asked to Lidy. who in her stead went to Schlain and Austen's funerals, while she didn’t.

"Many members of the Brotherhood were wondering what happened to their leaders. And those who know the truth... I think they are all still processing the truth. Whether they can understand or not, remains a mystery that only the future holds.

"I see. That should’ve been expected. "

"My Lady, if I may add... their funeral, I think you should’ve, at least, attended it," Lidya voiced out.

"I could not. I don’t think I’ll have the bravery to face them anymore, and even less, him, after what I have done to his revered older brother and beloved little brother."

"My Lady, you have not made that decision. I had," Lidya reminded.

In a way, one could say that Lydia was the one who set the brothers on the path that led them to their deaths by assigning Schlain that mission. But still, Mathilda understood very well that all Lidy did was for her, and all she was guilty of was giving the last hammer hit that sealed the brothers' coffins.

"Lidy. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. Thank you for making that decision for me," Mathilda said gratefully. "I know he, too, was a friend of yours, yet I made you go through this."

Assigned to her as a child the moment she was discovered to be an Aina-user, Lidy has always faithfully been by Mathilda's side, even following her in her escape from her family and the church to bear and keep her child of light's son at her side.

She even dedicated the following fifteen years to serving her by being her son’s governess in the Edouard Castle, and now again, she was back at her side, waging a war against something that seemed hopeless to win against.

"Have I ever taken time to truly thank you for all you’ve done for me up until now?"

"No, and you don't have to, My Lady, especially because I understand you better than anyone else, having been by your side for so long."

Peering at her, Mathilda asked, "And aren’t you tired?"

With a smile, Lidy announced, " I am, aren’t you, Mathilda?"

Meeting the eyes of the longest and most loyal friend she had ever had, Mathilda, with a sigh, confessed, "Fine. I admit I am. There was a time where, I believe, I would’ve brushed all of this off with ease, but this life, passing times, dear friends and comrades lost along, takes such a heavy toll. "

"We lost David, Syrius, Austen..." sighing, "I’m just not as strong as I used to be anymore."

"But isn’t it just fine?"

Lidy reached out for Mathilda's shoulder.

"You know that I will always follow whatever path you choose, Mathilda. And as such, I think I should go ahead and say it. Don’t you think it’s enough? Just as Lord Paul had said, You’ve done your best and that’s enough."

"If there is something I have to reproach you, after all those years, My Lady , other than what Lord Paul earlier mentioned, it would be being oblivious as to when to stop. I believe we are at such a time. We did our share, we did our time. Now, it’s time for us to step down and let the others take over. "

Mathilda dwelled silently on Lydia’s words before, after much deliberation, answering, "I think you're right. It's time for me to retire from all of this. I’ll soon talk this out with the others. "

"And I’m certain they will understand."

"--But for now, before I do so, I would like to prepare everything for his arrival. He has just returned to the continent and what I am doing is already dragging him into messy mud that is not his. "

"It should be tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, he should arrive at the fortress by tomorrow," Mathilda confirmed, finally smiling, "Though a party in this mourning atmosphere would be quite out of place, I believe he earned at least a decent homecoming."

"Understood, I will prepare that as soon as I can."

"Please."