357 Goodbye (2/2)

This temple enshrined the saints who placed their consciousness into the aether after death and transformed into holy spirits. The spirits slept inside the temple and slowed down their decay, waiting for the time they needed to step onto the battlefield. However, a man's consciousness was so insignificant and temporary compared to the world.

When the slow death finally came, the bell would ring to announce the passing of a holy spirit. This was the sixth this century. The archbishops outside the temple murmured amongst themselves.

”It must extinguish in the end?”

”He is a saint but it is the sixth hundred year, after all. No living thing can escape it.”

”But he's different.”

Someone sighed then they fell silent.

The one that would soon extinguish was the powerful musician who had started the age of Romulus six hundred years ago, the eternal emperor of the Romulusians—holy spirit Aeneas.

Someone entered the temple. The traveler from faraway walked past the stone coffins on either side and stopped before the altar. There, the unclear face of a holy spirit looked up from the weak flame and looked at the comer.

The newcomer was completely different from before. He was no longer eerily handsome, but his long hair was still as golden as before. Within a few short months, he had aged to a middle-aged man. He looked timeworn but was still fat.

The double snake emblem on his cane still shone. Seeing the holy spirit in the fire, he smiled.

”Hermes?” In the fire, Aeneas looked at him. His eyes filled with recognition. ”Long time no see.”

”Yes, long time no see.” Hermes sat beside the altar and rested against the pillar. He said softly, ”I'm here to see you off.”

”Thank you.” Aeneas nodded. Hermes lowered his head and pulled a pipe from his pocket. Sadly, the lighter was wet and would not ignite. After struggling for a while, he sighed helplessly and cursed.

Aeneas pressed a finger onto the pipe. The weak embers lit up the tobacco.

”Thanks.” Opening his mouth, Hermes sucked in deeply and let out a long breath. ”I sat on a carriage for days. I'm so tired.”

Aeneas looked at him. Hesitating, he asked quietly, ”Are they…okay?”

”Of course,” Hermes answered. ”It's good enough to be alive nowadays, right? And anyway, it's good enough for them to have a place to stay as a group of homeless wanderers. What about you? You stay here like it's a prison. Want me to take you out for a walk?”

”I had a dream before you came,” Aeneas. ”And you were here when I woke up. What a coincidence.”

”It's good to dream. What did you dream? Tell me about it.”

”I dreamed of my family flame.” He sighed. ”I dreamed that I left this place and returned to the family flame, reuniting with my ancestors. But when I woke up, I felt scared. I've done so many things wrong. I don't know what they will say to me.”

”Don't worry. You did many things right too,” Hermes said. ”If there's an afterlife, you'll definitely be rewarded there.”

”Is there really an afterlife?”

”No.” Hermes shook his head. ”You've lived for so long, Aeneas. Do you still not understand? Humans are just as you can see—seventy percent water, calcium in the bones, blood in the body. They breathe when they're alive, and when they're dead? There's nothing anymore.” Pointing at his head, he said softly, ”There's no 'soul' here, Aeneas. I'm sorry, but there's no afterlife.”

”I see.” Aeneas sighed as if he had settled down. ”Thank you.”

”No need to thank me. This was my duty. You were the first man I ever met. I have the responsibility of witnessing your death. I just didn't think that this day would be six hundred years too late.”

”Soon, it's coming soon… In the blink of an eye, it's already been six hundred years.” Smiling, Aeneas closed his eyes. In the fire, the holy spirit half knelt on the altar and lowered his head to the person before him. ”I once stepped onto the path of destiny as guided by a god and accomplished something great. Now, six hundred years have passed. The traces I've left on the earth have disappeared and I will disappear as well. You've witnessed all of this.”

Hermes lowered his eyes. ”Aeneas, you've witnessed me as well.”

”For people like me, we had strength while we were alive and did some things so we were known as heroes and kings. Sadly, I have my limits. After living emptily for six hundred years, I wish I could do something for those lost folks. But sadly, I can't do anything. Hermes, I hope you can guide them just as you guided me before.”

”Everything has a life, Aeneas. Fate guided you,” Hermes said softly as he smoked. ”I will take care of them for you. Don't worry. There's still an old man with a good head. They won't live badly in the future.”

”That's great.” Aeneas smiled in content. His dim figure flickered in the flames and gradually dissipated, turning to ash. Amongst the ashes, the old face slowly shattered. He uttered his last farewell, ”Goodbye.”

”Yes, goodbye.” Hermes closed his eyes.

The flame extinguished. The ashes scattered like birds flying in the sky.

Hermes reached out. Catching some falling ash, he clenched his fist. ”Goodbye.”