AA. 220

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Shawn said. His face and expression suggested sincerity, but Nil felt so numb that he didn’t care enough to scrutinize. It all felt meaningless. “Udit was a good man.”

“I made lamb biriyani,” Ateeq said. The former Wilson Ludus Summoned seemed to accompany Shawn wherever he went. The pair went on quests together, participated in arena events as a duo, and almost always attended social functions together. The extent of their relationship remained undisclosed, and Nil never cared enough to pry. He didn’t ask Selia, and she didn’t share any details. “Udit was kind to me when I joined the Forge.” He pushed the sealed pot into Nil’s hand. “He joined me for lunch once. Apparently, my biriyani reminded him of when he was a boy.”

“Thank you,” Nil managed to say, forcing a little smile.

“How about I put it away for us?” Selia said, taking the container. “I’m sure I can find some room in the fridge.”

They weren’t the only ones who had brought food. Isabella’s husband, an Italian man, had baked a vegetarian lasagne and also prepared a tiramisu. He stood talking to a group of ludus staff and holding their daughter. Meanwhile, Isabella had taken over hosting duties and was serving drinks to all of the attendees with Sammy and Susan. The youngest Roy seemed glad to have something to do and proved much better company than Nil.

Emily sat red-eyed and expressionless in a corner. Lily hadn’t left her side since she woke after her ascension. The bruiser interacted with all guests who offered condolences, ensuring Emily didn’t need to speak much or for too long. Seeing the two together helped Nil feel somewhat better. It meant his sister wasn’t all alone. He worried about whatever was going on in her head. 

Andrew, the man known for seamlessly fitting into any and all situations, seemed the most out of place. He went around the room making awkward conversations, checking on people who didn’t need to be checked on. Regardless, Nil was glad for their presence, along with that of everyone else. 

“What happened to him?” Nil heard someone ask. “He was just fine, cheerful even. Wasn’t he? Did—”

“Udit was just old and past retirement age,” a woman replied, cutting him off. “He had heard issues, and we found him wearing a smile. There is nothing to discuss here. Save it for later.”

The pair had the decency to discuss the matter on the balcony outside just out of earshot of everyone but those with a Body of Gold. He didn’t want Sam or Emily to overhear discussions on the matter.

“He was under a whole lot of stress, though.” The man pressed on. “Little guy wanting to fuck off to a Control World. The daughter risks it all in the Cleansing. Son hooking up with a fucking assassin. They didn’t make it easy on him or his heart.”

The woman slapped him so hard all sets of Silver Realm eyes shot to the balcony. 

“Can’t you be decent and show tact for once? It can’t be that hard, can it? This wasn’t anyone’s fault. He was old, a mortal, and pushed himself hard for far too many years. It was Udit’s time. He lived a full life and did right by his family. It was time for him to move on.”

“I’m sorry,” the man mumbled. “I liked him, that’s all. The suddenness of it is jarring.”

“Death happens. Arena. Quests. Accidents. Natural causes. People pass in far worse conditions than Udit Roy.” The woman’s voice was soft and comforting. “Fortunately, all of his wards are set. Powerful, affluent, and full of potential. Udit knew that they were all set and could take care of themselves. They no longer needed him, and he knew if they’d be just fine if he called it a day.”

The hair on Nil’s arm stood on end, and a shiver ran through his entire body. He’d been numb all day, but now tears distorted his vision. He knew it was okay to shed them. No one present would judge him, but they refused to flow free. 

“I get it. I get it. Isn’t it weird they told us to wear all white, though?”

“Cultural difference? I’m not sure about that one. Udit was still religious, and maybe this is just how they do it in their faith.”

Two others joined the pair, and the topic of conversation changed to less personal and intrusive topics. The afternoon blurred. All of his friends, colleagues, and several Forge staff dropped in to offer their condolences. Udit was a likeable man and befriended people wherever he went. Nil didn’t get the extent of it until the funeral. He thought dealing with all the people passing through would exhaust him, but their anecdotes and encounters warmed him, pushing the numbness aside.

When the flow of guests slowed, he joined Emily on the couch. She lay her head on his shoulder and sobbed. Nil held his sister, letting her blabber and dampen his shirt. It wasn’t long before Sammy joined them. He didn’t shed tears but sat on the other side of Emmy. His usual awkward teenage demeanor melted away. The young man stroked his cousin’s hair, and in that moment, Nil saw a glimpse of Udit in him. It was how Sammy carried himself and comforted Emily.

“It’s time,” Isabella said, interrupting them. “I’m sorry. They’re not going to wait any longer. The crematorium’s slot will also run out—”

“Do we have to do the whole song and dance here?” Andrew asked. “Who says we have to go to the crematorium and all that nonsense? This is Nexus property. Our medical staff did the autopsy. Susan and Selia cleaned Udit up and dressed him. Why let some strangers do the final bit?”

“What are you suggesting?” Nil asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Would old-man Roy protest to cremation in the Forge’s workshop? There is a surplus of sandalwood in storage too. The new alchemist said I can use it for my projects.”

“You can’t be serious,” Shawn said, frowning. He looked to Ateeq and their colleagues for backup. “That can’t be sanitary, right?”

“The forge can burn so hot that the process will be swift with minimal fumes,” Andrew replied. “The workshop is also full of self-cleaning, purging, and sanitizing enchantments. Let's not argue. The decision isn’t ours.” All eyes moved to Nil and his family. “What do you think? This place runs as well as it does and is what it is because of Udit’s management. We wouldn’t have grown at the same rate without him.”

Nil glanced at Emily and Sammy. “I’m all for it. What do you think?”

“This world is too good for him,” Emily said. “It took everything from him.” 

“The Forge helped him get back to his old self,” Sammy added. “It made him feel important, like his work actually mattered. Cremating him here and maybe spreading his ashes around the world tree might be the best send-off.”

Nil nodded. “He’ll nourish the soil and live on through the flora forever.”

“I don’t like it, but the decision is yours,” Shawn said. “It just feels inappropriate.”

“I agree with Shawn,” Isabella said. “But until a new Nexus representative or manager is installed, it's a bit of a free-for-all, isn’t it? Nobody is going to stand in your way.”

“Not that anybody could even if they tried,” Selia stated. Several faces hardened, Shawn and Ateeq included, but none said otherwise. With his Body of Gold, near-Silver Soul Weapon, and power seed close to ascension, there were few in the ludus who could stand up to him. Several channels unrelated to Festus often referred to Nil as one of the world’s strongest and a probable rival to Adrian and Earth’s other Gold Realmers. “No offence intended. I just mean that Udit was important to this place, and if his family wants to complete his final rites here, they should be allowed to do so.”

“I agree,” Andrew said. Susan and Lilly parrotted the words. More followed. 

After the Forge’s medical examiner completed his examination, she returned Udit to his bed. Nil preserved him using Absolute Array afterward until Emily woke from her ascension. Then, as per Udit’s wishes, they summoned a Hindu priest for the final rituals. Neither Nil nor his siblings believed in any of it, but they went through with it all to fulfil their father’s wishes. Now, they continued to do the same.

Instead of using a gurney, Nil created a rectangular slab using silvery Source and coated it in Equilibrium. It was malleable and slid under Udit before lifting him off the bed. Even though Nil needed no assistance to carry or move it, several stepped up to assist with the Forge manager’s final departure. Traditionally, only men assisted in the task, but Isabella, Emily, and Lily formed three of the six. Nil, Sammy, and Andrew did the rest.

There was no chanting or speaking. Everyone moved in silence, slowly exiting the apartment and descending the stairs instead of taking the elevator. They moved as one, and a procession followed. Time seemed to slow. Heartrates hastened. Every breath was a labor. Things eased when they exited the staff building, and the magical flora’s lights washed over them. 

A paved path directly led to the training building, which contained the Forge’s workshop. However, something invisible and powerful tugged him toward the World Tree. Nil couldn’t tell whether it was a physical or psychic force. He followed instead of fighting and no one fought him on it.

The lights coming off Yggdrasil’s daughter gained luminosity as they got closer. Surrounding flora also glowed brighter but to a lesser extent. For a moment, Nil was sure the world tree was reacting to him, then he told himself that it was Meatball responding to his emotions. The ground trembled around where his familiar had burrowed. Ripples spread through the dirt, and the local flora seemed to breathe with him.

All of Nil’s assumptions proved incorrect when they reached the tree. The tree’s giant trunk that seemed made of several woody appendages twisting into one unravelled, revealing a wide opening. Gold and green wisps floated through it. Everyone froze as the Source construct rose from hands and shoulders, floating freely. It moved through the opening, and the trunk closed. 

“What the hell?” Isabella gasped. Murmurs spread through the crowd.

The rippling grassy earth ceased rippling, and a mound rose like an active volcano. It exploded, spraying everyone, and a silver and ash-brown sphere emerged. The color and pattern reminded Nil of the sphere he had received from Alexander Woodson. It was supposed to help Meatball absorb the world tree if they decided to take it and leave the planet.

The Ironroot Drakeling has ascended to Silver Realm. She is now an Ironroot Drake. The young drake has adopted the name Ferra Radix. However, as her bonded companion, you may continue calling her Meatball. However, Ferra Radix would prefer it if you only did so in person.

More notifications awaited Nil, but he ignored them for the time being. It wasn’t important. Meatball, or Ferra Radix, as she preferred to be called, unfurled, revealing a body that was no bigger than her old. Her carapace still appeared woody and dense but tinged with rust-red. Similarly colored scales covered her underside, but they also contained emerald hues. 

“Nil?” Emily took Nil’s hand and just squeezed it. Her voice was hoarse and trembled. “Did Meatball just eat Baba’s body?”

Nil shook his head. “The world tree claimed it. I think he’s forever going to be part of it.” The squeaked at him, and he understood. “Meatball told her to do it. For me.”