Chapter 282 Another Goodbye
"Eliza, can you bring out her casket."
The warmth of the moment began to fade as everyone understood what they were about to do.
Eliza nodded. She silently walked to the center of the room and placed the casket there. Running her fingers along the side, Eliza was reminded about the letter that Keela had left her and now she was asked to never share all of its contents, only portions.
"Eliza, can you open the casket and say a few words," Jack asked. "I think you're the one most fit for it."
"Yeah… I'll do that." The enchantress carefully unlatched the coffin's lid and lifted it.
Once opened, everyone could tell that the coffin's enchantment wasn't perfect, only slowing the decomposition of Keela's lifeless body. But even with a slight stench of death and the beginning signs of decomposition taking effect on Keela's body, everyone could still make out her final smile that she left them.
"She…" Eliza did her best to summarize some of the letter's major points but it took some thought. She didn't want to divulge what Keela wished to remain secret. "Keela was someone raised with a lot of pressure on her shoulders. Since young, she was always following the plans of her family and was forced to accept them, something I can understand well.
"But before the largest decision someone had ever made in her place came to pass, Jack appeared in her life," Eliza continued. "If Jack hadn't agreed to take her away, she would've been forced to marry a perverse pig for a husband and be one of his silent trophy wives all her life. Since Jack accepted her wish and stole her from her family, Keela was given a chance to live life on her terms.
"She had no regrets…" Showing the opened envelope to everyone, Eliza took moment to quell a portion of her emotions. "She left me this, which is the reason I'm still alive and the reason she died in my place. But she died on her own terms… And that what she always wanted. Keela lived her life on her own terms and she happily gave her life for mine on her own terms. It's something that I'll never forget… Something… that will always remain with me…"
Losing control, a tear showed itself on Eliza's cheek as she looked to Jack. "She wanted us to live our lives on our terms, no matter what they are. We shouldn't worry about what we can't control. We should focus on what we can control and make an effort to always enjoy life… Like she did…"
A few minutes passed as more tears streamed down Eliza's face and she gradually lowered the envelope.
"Thank you, Eliza." Suddenly, Eliza felt two arms wrap themselves around her and a soft voice in her ear. "I'm sure Keela would be proud of you."
Jack then looked up to the others. "Let's all say our goodbyes before we let her rest in the nearby mountains."
One by one, the party members approached the casket, each saying their final words to the cleric. Eventually, the only one left was Eliza, who was still standing in the same spot and struggling to take another step.
She didn't hear the others, Eliza only heard words from the letter in Keela's voice. "Don't be sad… I did this for you… You always stood by me and shared my pain… No matter what, you always remembered me and treated me like your best friend, my first real friend… I may have joined the party for Jack, but I stayed because of you… I think I love you…"
"Eliza."
Brought back to reality by her husband's voice, Eliza was startled. "Jack, don't scare me like that."
"It's your turn," Jack ignored her banter. "Do you want us to leave the room?"
"... Yes, please." Eliza nodded as the party member started to exit the large bedroom. "Jack… you can stay…"
Surprised by Eliza's sudden statement, Jack smiled and closed the door. He then walked over to his wife, waiting by her side.
Eliza was already beside the casket and looking back at Keela's soft smile.
"Keela… I… You were my first true friend too. You understood my troubles growing up in a noble family and we were always together for everything. I'm going to miss you so much… I love you too, Keela… But… I also love my husband, Jack… No matter what, I'll never forget you and I'll always keep your love with me, okay?"
Halfway through her little speech, Eliza had grasped Jack's hand, holding tightly and not daring to ever let go.
Baffled and dumbstruck, Jack kept his thoughts to himself. In the end, he had no say in the current situation and just made sure to stand by his wife.
"Can you forgive me, Keela? I loved you, but as the sister I always wanted but was never born… I'll never forget you… Never…"
With her final words slowly coming out, Eliza reached up for the casket lid. She closed it carefully as if she were trying not to wake up Keela sleeping inside.
Jack nodded and stepped toward the door, but a hand stopped him. A warm yet wet face buried itself in Jack's chest.
"Jack… Can you please…"
Without a word, Jack leaned into her, embracing Eliza and resting his head against hers. At the same time, Jack cast silence around them. "Eliza, take as much time as you want."
"J-Jack…"
No longer trying to seem strong, Eliza let all of her emotions go.
"Keela… Why did you do that?! Why did you…"
Jack remained quiet. He was her rock and her shoulder to cry own. The hero was dense at times, but he would always act accordingly if he could come to understand the situation. And this situation only required his presence and his touch, not a single word.
Time passed slowly for the two of them, but for the rest of the world, fifteen minutes had passed before Eliza and Jack opened the door.
"Let's go." Jack led the way. "We can all drink after this and enjoy the night. Tomorrow, we'll part ways for the time being."
Once Jack and the others left the city limits and could avoid prying eyes, the left with Appa to a nearby mountain.
There was nothing left to say. Each party member helped dig a hole and place Keela's casket inside. Next, they took their time to fill the hole and pat down the dirt. Finally, Rydel etched a small cross on a nearby rockface, marking the fall of an adventurer.
"To Keela!"
Suddenly, everyone turned to see Eliza with a full glass lifted high in the air.
"Keela didn't give up her life for us to be sad. She gave it up so we could be happy. We should honor that," stated Eliza as she passed Jack a bottle of Keela's favorite wine.
Jack followed her example, taking out a glass and filling it before passing the bottle to the next person. He also took out a second glass along with a bottle of juice that mimicked the wine.
Soon, everyone had their wine glass raised high, including Lina with her juice.
"To Keela!"
In unison, they shouted and in unison, they drank from their glasses. The party felt a new level of togetherness, even toward their newest member who hadn't even taken part in the battle. That was a defining moment for the party and a memory they would all cherish.
After their drink, the party returned to Talmook and the hotel they had paid for. Maynard, Rydel, and Dirk spent the night at the bar, not caring how much they spent so long as it was for a good drink. Daliea paid for a separate room and retired early, still feeling some anxiety since she had been chosen over Keela to be revived.
Jack began the night with the other men at the bar but soon made his way upstairs. When he opened his door, he was blown away by what he found.
"J-Jack…" Maura stumbled over her words.
"Jack, we both feel like you've ignored Maura long enough, right?" popping her out from behind Maura, Eliza spoke for her fellow wife.
"I… You're right," Jack admitted, feeling a bit more open after getting help from alcohol. He closed the door behind him. "Maura, I'm sorry for not treating my wife properly. How can I make it up to you?"
A blush covered all of Maura's face. "Well… W-we could…"
"Need some help?" Eliza giggled, giving Maura a little push.
Unprepared for Eliza's nudge, Maura fell into Jack's open arms. If any more blood could've rushed to her face, Maura's head might've exploded.
"Yes."
That was all Jack said as he leaned in to kiss her.
Maura didn't fight back. She wasn't expecting it to go so fast, but Maura welcomed Jack's advance and kissed him back.
Jack led his beautiful wife to their bed as Eliza left the room with a wink. That night, she stayed with Daliea.