Septober 25th - 60th entry (Priestly Demise)

Septober 25th

- My heart feels so heavy lately. There has been no word of Char, and old Loarnic Priest has died this day.

Palkeera did not say anything to me while I had gotten ready for the funeral. I did not own any proper funeral clothing for a Loarnic death, so I was reduced to just wearing my student robes and leaving my hair combed long and unbound.
Palkeera came with me. She knows how much this hurts me, she was the one who brought me to the Loarnic temple in the first place. The Priest taught me to speak, read, and write Loarnic, as well as helped Palkeera improve her own language understanding so she could better teach me.
I bought a wreath from a merchant to take as an offering.

The temple was already full by the time I had arrived, but Palkeera had easily lead me through the crowd and to the front.
The old Priest’s body had been laid on a marble slab. They had bathed and dressed the body some time before the funeral had begun.
I, like so many of the others in the crowd had, placed my wreath around the base of the slab. The Priest’s son was barely holding in his grief when he placed a hand on my shoulder in thanks. He looked so sad, so tired. I returned to Palkeera, who stood behind me for the whole ceremony, her own hands resting on my shoulders for comfort.  
The ceremony started with Azzanadra saying a few prayers. I wish he had said more. This man had done so much for so many people. He offered food to the homeless and gave education to the poor. He had followed his faith for his whole life, does that not deserve more than a few brief sentences? I know Azzanadra is a very busy person, but I wish he had said more.
Then the Priest’s son went up to the body and, with an ink brush, painted the Priest’s elokaseesis black. It is over, he is dead. The old Priest lives no more, not now, not ever.
I thought I saw something. There, for just a moment, a skeletal figure in blue robes. It looked right at me, or many it was just scanning the crowd.
I had stepped back against Palkeera, who looked down at me in question. I tried to tell her, but at the moment, under those circumstance, I had not the words to explain what I had seen. By the time I looked back, the figure was gone. An illusion? Had I imagined it? The more I think about it, the less sure I am about what I have seen.
A skeleton with glowing eyes in a blue robe. I wonder, if I told Palkeera now, would she think I was simply overly distressed? Would she believe me? Do I even believe myself?
I think I started to choke during the memorial. Palkeera kept squeezing my shoulder to remind me that she was there.
When the cremation fire was lit, the crowd had started wailing in their agony. Many people, unable to handle the scene, went away from the crowd. I saw grown men and women, veterans hardened by war, weep like the little children among the mass.

The fragrant wood and incense they burned did little to distract from the idea that a body was being burned, through it did help cover the scent. To keep the burning body from becoming visible, the acolytes kept piling wood up around the heart of the flames. Bundles upon bundles vanished into the controlled blaze, and the awful crackling of the fire accompanied the anguished laments of the congregation. I will never be able to forget this day as long as I live.
As the sky had darkened into the evening, the cinders floating high above the fire became more noticeable. They had begun adding the offered flowers and wreaths into the flames when the announcement was made that the Priest’s son would be the next head Priest of the Loarnic temple. Not that anyone had any doubts, but they made it official.

Palkeera brought me back to her office after she decided that I had had enough for the night.
I am writing this here in my journal now, listening to the sound of Palkeera writing at her desk. The blue robes that I saw earlier, I wish to ask about it, but I am not sure how to bring it up to my Mentor. She seems very busy right now.
I am just going to go to bed, try to put it out of my head.

Fallen has Priest Velarium, long serve Priest Gekkevo!