A few minutes later, the three of us left the house.
Theo walked ahead, carefully carrying his little wooden sword with both hands.
He held it like it was the most precious thing in the world, his small fingers wrapped tightly around the handle.
His steps were slow, deliberate, each one carrying the weight of his sorrow.
I wonder where he got that sword from.
I hadn’t seen it before.
There were a lot of things in that storage room so I think he got it from there.
But why was he carrying it?
What was the use?
A sword at a funeral?
Garrett followed my footsteps while I guided him through the forest.
His hand rested lightly on my shoulder, his steps matching mine.
The path was familiar now, well-trodden from our previous excursions.
He’d memorized the rhythm of it, the rise and fall of the terrain.
The farther we walked, the quieter it became.
The birdsong faded.
The rustle of leaves grew softer.
Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, as though the forest itself was mourning.
Eventually Theo stopped.
“We’re here.” He announced.
Garrett tilted his head, listening to the sounds of the clearing.
“…It’s peaceful.” Theo nodded solemnly, his small face serious.
“It was one of Bibi’s favorite places.” He took a shaky breath, his small chest rising and falling.
“Bibi was the nicest friend I ever had.” His voice wavered, tears threatening to spill over.
“I never thought she’d depart this world so soon.” I bit the inside of my cheek.
Don’t laugh.
Not now.
Theo would never forgive me.
“Mister,” Theo said, turning to Garret “Would you bless Bibi’s grave with your sword?” Garrett instinctively reached for his waist before remembering his sword wasn’t there.
His hand hovered over empty space for a moment before dropping, the realization settling over him.
“I’m afraid I don’t have it.” Garret said sadly.
“I brought one!” Theo proudly held out his tiny wooden sword.
It looked almost comical in his small hands, the blade barely longer than his forearm, but to Theo, it was as real as any steel blade.
So that was why he brought that sword along?
This was making everything even more funny but I couldn’t laugh.
I had to be serious.
For Theo I had to be serious.
Garrett accepted it.
“…Thank you.” He stepped forward and carefully stretched the sword out in front of him.
The wooden blade trembled slightly in his grip.
“…Am I touching the grave?” Garret asked cautiously.
“A little lower,” I replied.
He lowered his arm.
“Lower.” He bent his knees.
“A little more.” He crouched.
“Almost…” He slowly lowered himself into a squat, his muscles straining with the effort.
“There.” I said.
The tip of the wooden sword finally touched the small mound of earth.
It was a tiny grave, barely visible beneath the leaves and moss, marked only by a small stone Theo had placed there.
Garrett paused for a moment before speaking.
His voice was solemn, measured, carrying the weight of genuine respect.
“Bibi.” “As a knight, I have the honor of blessing your resting place.” “May your soul find peace.” Garret said and then stood up.
Theo sniffled loudly, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.
“Thank you, Mister.” Garret handed the wooden sword back to Theo.
“It’s ok” Garret said.
I stepped forward next.
This part, at least, I was used to.
Ever since meeting Theo, I’d performed more funerals than I ever had while serving as the Sol.
They had been so many funerals that I couldn’t count.
There were also some memorials also.
“It is with saddened hearts that we say goodbye to someone precious.” I rested my hand over the tiny grave, my palm pressing against the cool earth.
The soil was soft and damp, carrying the scent of decay and new life.
“Bibi wasn’t simply a friend.” “She was family.” “A sister.” “A mother.” “A grandmother.” “She meant so much to all of us…” I smiled gently at Theo.
“…especially to our dear Theo.” Theo nodded firmly, his eyes shining with unshed tears.
“That’s right.” Theo said.
A warm golden glow gathered around my fingertips.
It pulsed gently, spreading through my hand and into the earth below.
The light was soft, comforting, like the warmth of a hearth fire.
“By the authority bestowed upon me…” “I bless your journey in the name of the Goddess.” A thread of holy energy sank into the tiny grave, disappearing into the soil like water into sand.
It left a faint shimmer in its wake, a blessing that would linger.
“Rest well…” I paused.
“…Bibi the Beetle.” Silence.
A long silence.
Then Garrett finally spoke.
“…Beetle?” “Yes,” Theo answered sadly.
“The bravest beetle I’ve ever met.” Another silence followed.
Garrett said absolutely nothing.
Not because he was speechless.
But because he was trying very hard to process the fact that he had just conducted a knight’s blessing…
…for an insect.
I folded my lips inward so hard they hurt.
Don’t laugh.
Do not laugh.
Theo would cry.
“I’ll always remember you, Bibi,” Theo whispered.
His voice was thick with emotion, cracking on the words.
“You’ll always be my friend.” Theo said, crying.
Garrett let out the quietest sigh I’d ever heard.
It was barely audible, a soft exhale of resignation and something that might have been annoyance.
“…May she continue to rest in peace,” he said solemnly.
We walked back home in silence.
Theo held his little wooden sword against his chest as we made our way through the forest.
His head remained lowered the entire walk, his small shoulders hunched.
Neither Garrett nor I disturbed him.
Some silences were sacred.
The moment we reached the house, Theo stopped.
“I shall retire to my room,” he said quietly.
“Alright,” I replied with a small nod.
He slowly climbed the stairs without another word.
His footsteps were slow and heavy.The wood creaked beneath his weight.
His bedroom door clicked shut.