He was the last to step into the damp little cavern, tucking his map away as he did so, and by then it was already clear what Remi and Ronin had found in the dark. Though he had barely known the farmer, still Jigano bowed his head gravely. The body was not unexpected, but there had still been a spark of hope that Emmett, resourceful and enduring, might have found a way to survive until he could be found. That spark was now extinguished, and now there would be one more farm lying fallow in the Outskirts for the harvest.
Remi looked far more affected, and Jigano waited until the alchemist was focused on his magic to step forward, nodding solemnly to the others of the rescue-turned-funeral party. He knelt down to close the farmer's eyes with gentle fingers before pressing his hands together with a bowed head. "Ludo, if you have not already, please guide his soul home to Mort," he prayed, his heavy heart roughening his voice. "Safrin, please light his way from Vi's halls. Frey, please help us find beauty even in his loss, that Rae may bring new life for us to remember him by." Prayers gathered from the Naturals, from Amalia, as he sought to honor the ways of his new home.
Then he stood, taking the torch in a steady hand that held it overly tight as he raised his head, face grim in mourning. In the other hand he lifted the rope and waited for the shell of the man who had faced Zariah with dignity and courage, who had fought the decline of his land caused by the barrier and fed his family and friends from the fruits of his labors, to be prepared for its return to the light before it would be placed in the final resting place designated by what remained of his family. When all behind were ready he led the way back through the coiling caverns and silent tunnels so that they could bring Emmett home one last time.
Remi looked far more affected, and Jigano waited until the alchemist was focused on his magic to step forward, nodding solemnly to the others of the rescue-turned-funeral party. He knelt down to close the farmer's eyes with gentle fingers before pressing his hands together with a bowed head. "Ludo, if you have not already, please guide his soul home to Mort," he prayed, his heavy heart roughening his voice. "Safrin, please light his way from Vi's halls. Frey, please help us find beauty even in his loss, that Rae may bring new life for us to remember him by." Prayers gathered from the Naturals, from Amalia, as he sought to honor the ways of his new home.
Then he stood, taking the torch in a steady hand that held it overly tight as he raised his head, face grim in mourning. In the other hand he lifted the rope and waited for the shell of the man who had faced Zariah with dignity and courage, who had fought the decline of his land caused by the barrier and fed his family and friends from the fruits of his labors, to be prepared for its return to the light before it would be placed in the final resting place designated by what remained of his family. When all behind were ready he led the way back through the coiling caverns and silent tunnels so that they could bring Emmett home one last time.
