It was hard to believe another year had already passed.
It was harder to believe it was well over a century now since he last saw his face; since he last heard his voice and his laugh.
Many could argue mourning over the loss of a loved one for that many years wasn’t healthy, or that it was time for the individual to move on and accept what had happened. Aki knew that, but he also knew a parent shouldn’t ever have to bury their child.
An entire lifetime had passed since he last saw the brilliant smile painting its way across his son’s face—a smile he knew he’d miss for centuries to come.
It was humorous to think how much had changed in his life since those days and how his life had taken a drastic turn in the passing year alone, yet as he walked along the winding path of Eversong, the forest looked no different than the day he parted from it in those years or even a few months ago.
The soft mid-morning glow of the sun basking down through breaks in the alluring veil of golden leaves set overhead; the rustle beneath the nearby brush and the blurred glimpse of russet fur belonging to a curious lynx cub streaking by in his peripheral. Even the warmed breeze and sweetened fragrance of the surrounding plant life and the fresh scent of the approach coastline encircling him as he traveled along the path remained to be all too familiar, yet it was all too surreal a feeling for Aki.
Since the moment he had roused himself awake that morning, nothing had felt right to him.
Adding to oddity of the moment was the subtle thud of another’s footwork trailing a mere half a step behind his.
This was a first. In all the years he walked along this path on this particular day, never had another accompanied him. Part of him still wished it remained as such. This time was for him and his son, no one else, but the other half of him was relieved to have Hamathiel there with him. He wanted the other man there.
It was heartwarming to know the arcanist cared immensely for him, his well-being and was there to offer him support where and when he needed it most. Seeing the other man going out of his way to bring a small Lilac shrub to compliment his Lily-of-the-Valley seedling, but to learn Hamathiel wanted to come along with him to begin with and even wanted to pay his respects to the innocent soul he had never before met or really knew much about? Foolish as it left Aki feeling to have thought any differently, having that thought alone in his mind proved to be more than enough to force his throat to start closing up.
This man truly did mean what he said.
If it weren’t for the comfort of his partner’s fingers intertwined with his, Aki knew he’d be crumbling right then and there. He knew such a thing was inevitable, but he at least wanted to get to the small gravesite before doing so.
As they wandered through the forest, Aki respected the fact Hamathiel understood he wasn’t in any sort of proper mindset to hold up a conversation. He appreciated Hamathiel not forcing any attempts at such on him and that he seemed to be content with simply being there. It wasn’t as if it was a long walk from the gates of Silvermoon to the far side of the Azurebreeze Coast but even with the surrounding sounds of the forest, Aki could only assume the prolonged silence was wearing on the man.
“Thank you for doing this with me, Hamathiel,” the monk eventually manages through a quivering breath.
“Of course, Aki.”
Straight to the point as ever and parting with nothing more than a comforting squeeze of the hand locked within his and the fondest of smiles, it was one of the many aspects of their relationship Aki valued. Even before the strings of their hearts became tangled together as they now were, they rarely danced around matters with one another once they actually managed to discuss them proper. This time was no different.
Rounding the final bend of the path leading to the small arrangement of rocks and withered shrubs from years past, it was only when they were scarcely a few feet away did Aki see to breaking his hand away from Hamathiel’s hold. Taking the remaining few paces forward before slowly dropping into a light crouch and eventually to the ground itself, any thoughts the monk had remained locked inside his mind.
He had many things he wished to say; countless things he knew he already spoke during years prior until it made his head spin and his ears bleed. Having another body overlooking him despite Hamathiel remaining a number of steps back wasn’t helping to quell the anxiety welling up inside him.
It was only Hamathiel there with him. Hamathiel, the man he loved and cherished to no ends and who possessed the kindest soul he had ever encountered.
What was he even worrying about? It wasn’t as if Hamathiel of all people was going to judge him and laugh at what he came to say. The other man understood better than anyone what it was like to lose one’s entire world in an instant.
With that thought in mind, Aki placed the small pot containing the chosen seedling over to the side to start work on removing the plants which had perished over time. It was then that Aki wonder why he hadn’t considered bringing one of his many trowels along. It would have helped quite a bit, but he also didn’t mind getting his hands a little dirty.
Carefully loosening small clumps of dirt free with his fingers as they worked to bury themselves beneath the cooled soil, Aki found himself smiling as his thoughts finally found their way off his tongue in a hushed whisper.
“I told you I would make it on time this year. I bet you believed otherwise, as even I questioned if I would be able to or not given the turmoil our world is facing right now. But I did. I did and I am here now.”
Hands slowing as Aki’s ears began to wilt back against his head, there wasn’t any helping the growing tremble in his voice while he did his best to focus on the retrieval of dried leaves and broken stems.
“I apologize for not being around as often as I should. I know I tend to tell you this every year, but this year in particular has been... As much as I wish I was able to spend every waking minute here with you, I am not able to do that anymore. It does not mean I do not still think about you.”
Swallowing hard against the forming lump in the back of his throat, it is in this moment Aki hazards a brief glance over his shoulder toward Hamathiel. It wasn’t as if he’d have seen whatever expression rested upon the man’s face even if he wanted to, not with the sting taking to his eyes and the slow tickles of warmed tears starting to roll down the side of his face.
It was then he noticed the weatherworn crocheted bird he placed there the year before when he turned back around. Astonished to see the delicate thing remained intact aside from the sun and rain having washed out its once vibrant colours, Aki remained surprised more by the fact it hadn’t been taken. To see it damaged in such a way that likely couldn’t have been prevented after all the care he put into preserving it over the years, it was crushing to see, but it wasn’t something to dwell on.
With most of the dried up plants removed and a small hole having been made for the new seedling, with hands trembling and his vision blurring further, Aki carefully sees to tipping the small plant from its current home in the pot before placing it within the hole.
“There is always far too much I want to and wish I was able to still say to you, just as there remains to be a number of things I wish we had the chance to do or all the places you wanted to go but were never able to see before—even if you insisted there was none.”
Exhaling another shuddering breath from his lungs, Aki slowly continued while idly fussing with gingerly patting down the dirt as he refilled the hole.
“There is not a day that passes by where I do not miss you, Orthoron. Even after all these years have passed; after all who have suggested it may be time to move on—no matter what they think or believe, I am not ready to. I miss you; I miss you more than words will ever be able to describe…”
It was then the monk’s hands ceased their efforts to properly level out the remaining dirt only to be retracted to his tightening chest; his form quaking when the streams of warmed and salted liquid finally fell freely from his eyes and brushed against the corners of his mouth.
Already? He was already falling to pieces? He had more to say, damn it. He had far more he wanted to say.
What felt like a mere few seconds to Aki was a number of minutes to the rest of the world, but he soon came to realize he was no longer facing the grave and instead found that his face was suddenly pressed to the familiar front of the man he had come to know and love. He hadn’t noticed Hamathiel had not only moved closer to him, but had also managed to pull him into his lap and into a tight hug.
Unable to do much more than sink further into the poor arcanist given the arm coiled tightly around his back with its hand slowly trailing up and down along his spine, Aki quickly found he wasn’t able to form anything more than a bunch of garbled and incoherent sounds when trying to speak.
It was only when he registered the soothing strokes of the other man’s hand against his scalp combined with the tender press of lips to his forehead, flushing cheeks and even to the corners of his eyes when a stray droplet threatened to fall did Aki manage to whimper out the smallest of thoughts.
Orthoron Paste, enriched with Turmacin, is a trusted herbal veterinary supplement designed to support joint health, mobility, and comfort in pets. Specially formulated, Orthoron for dogs helps reduce stiffness, improves flexibility, and promotes long-term joint strength. Turmacin, a natural extract of turmeric, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that provide safe relief without harsh chemicals. Pet owners looking to buy Turmacin can rely on Orthoron as a natural choice to manage joint discomfort and maintain active lifestyles in dogs. While generally safe, always consult a vet for possible Turmacin side effects or dosage guidance. Orthoron Paste is an ideal solution for enhancing pet wellness, making it a reliable option for joint care in growing and aging pets alike.
