"Where are you gonna put that statue?" I pointed to the small wooden crate Kiori cradled around his arms.
"I'll just put it on top of the bookshelf."
"Is it heavy? I can carry it if you'd like."
If not with my arms, then telekinesis, or I could make a basket with wheels to function like a suitcase.
"It's fine, and it's not that heavy. I'll need to rest every so often so that my arms don't get tired."
I looked around as we walked down the street. Pedestrians were carrying leather bags and parcels, a stark contrast to the fancy paper shopping bags you'd see at luxury designer stores. A small wooden crate being carried around certainly stood out.
I'm guessing he doesn't want to get robbed.
I looked at Kiori to check if he had heard that internal thought. From the looks of things, he didn't.
Projecting internal thoughts is the first accidental application of my power. Yes, I'm in complete control of my verbal thoughts, but it's another issue if I can't control when they stay private or if I vocalize them without meaning to.
This could easily cause problems if I think something that's meant to be private, but announce it for everyone within proximity to hear.
However, I think I'm getting a better idea of when my verbal thoughts stay private and when they're projected. Just to confirm my theory, I'll wait until both of us are somewhere without anyone else around. Hearing disembodied voices without being able to identify its source would certainly freak people out.
We kept walking through the streets, but the surrounding area was populated. Although the thought of Kiori getting mugged had me nervous, he steered clear of any groups or persons he suspected would invite trouble. Of course, the fallback plan was to launch people who would attempt to rob him with telekinesis. Not high into the sky, but lightly send them into a nearby building.
Eventually, we had walked to the outskirts of town, closer to Megalia Academy.
He put the box down on the ground and held his arms out as if he was holding handlebars on an imaginary motorbike. Seeing that pose, it clicked that he wanted me to make the hovercraft. I recalled the design he drove and produced the floating vehicle in front of him.
"I'll drive, since I'm the one who made it."
Looking at the vehicle, I realized it had nothing to accommodate for storing possessions, so I produced a black plastic basket just big enough to store Kiori's crate just below the handlebars. The basket was placed inward, between the support of the handlebars and where I'd stand. Since the small crate had grooves, I adjusted the basket so that it had a gap down the middle about a centimeter wider than my finger's width. That way, it'd be easier for Kiori to take the crate out.
I took a look at the basket made to fit Kiori's crate.
"Just put your statue here. It'll be safe."
Kiori looked at the custom-made basket for his crate.
"Do you prefer to hold it, or…?"
"This… floating device. Is it common to see it in your world?"
"Well… the device itself is sort of a fictional design come to life. I just based it on some vehicles I remembered, and this was what was made."
After a moment, Kiori carefully placed the crate into the basket. I internally cheered that its purpose had been fulfilled.
"Don't take us to the dorms yet. There's someplace I want to visit."
"Alrighty. This will be the second time I've given someone a ride. Well, third time. You'd be the first, and Alicia is second."
"Alicia rode this with you?"
I got into the driver's position, firmly gripping the handlebars.
The hovering vehicle's design changed slightly, but its shape was still the same. Only that it was less bulky and more curved.
"Yeah, she took me to try a dessert she likes. A Juko pie crème without the crust. She said the crust is terrible."
"Did she ever say the name of the place?"
"Umm… I think it's… Galumps- no, Galumts bar."
"I'll just ask her later."
"So, where do you wanna go anyways?"
"There's someone I want you to meet. Just go that way." He pointed in a direction.
He didn't elaborate further as he gave me directions while I drove the hovercraft. I tried asking in sections that didn't require more concentration and focus, but he simply answered "you'll see" every time. Eventually, we arrived at what looked like a cemetery.
…
Cemeteries, graveyards, whatever you prefer, they're the burial grounds of the deceased. Depending on the culture, funerals are either a place of mourning or a celebration of their existence and impact before their deliverance into the afterlife. The only reason I'm aware of another perspective is because of a song called Astromania, the closely associated coffin dance meme.
"Just to be clear, Kiori. Is the person you want me to meet deceased, or do they manage this place?"
"Deceased, Nolval. Let me take you to her gravestone."
We walked past many gravestones of different shapes and sizes, all of them having characters of this world's language etched into their stone. My experience with funerals gave me an idea of what was written on the tombstones.
Then, Kiori stopped in front of a tombstone.
"Hi, Mom." He spoke.
The gravestone stood silent.
"There's someone I'd like you to meet. This is Nolval, my Altar Summons."
"Hello, Kiori's mother." I talked to the gravestone.
"Dad's still going on about me learning his trade to become a doctor or a nurse. But I don't want to be like him. I'm a mage, and I want to become a fighter like you, someone whose name has the kind of influence you can't help but be in awe of."
I stood by silently, letting Kiori speak whatever came to mind.
"Salil finally got expelled, so I don't have to worry about him anymore. I almost got kidnapped, but Nolval stopped that from happening." He turned toward me. "Although he was too enthusiastic about hurting my kidnapper." Kiori turned back toward the grave. "We got attacked 2 days ago. It was some crazy wind mage."
"Korons."
"Yeah, him. Only Ms. Ilko and a friend of hers were seriously hurt, but they'll recover."
He paused again. I'm guessing he's trying to find more things to say to make this visit not feel so wasted.
"Although dad doesn't show it, he misses you."
He said nothing else as I watched him stand silently over her grave.
Eventually, he decided we needed to return to the academy.
…
I've been to funerals before, and most of the time, my family was visiting a relative I've never heard of. The only exception to that was my grandfather, and even then, I never reacted as emotionally as my mother. Probably because I didn't know him like she did, being her parents and all.
With it being her obligation to wish for the best for me, she urged me to make decisions that, while necessary, I didn't feel ready to make. They were things I needed to hear in preparation for the day they'll eventually leave me. It was something I'm sure both of my parents were anticipating.
I wonder how they'll react when they learn they'll outlive me, having died a pathetic death in the comfort of my own home. Would they chide me for not being careful enough? Would they weep first upon hearing the news of my passing?
I wonder who'd attend the funeral if they decide to hold one for my body.
"Hey, Nolval."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for taking me here."
"It's no problem, I guess," I answered him, saying the words I've sworn to always say after a thank you.
"It must've been boring, right?"
That's a surprise.
"What are you saying?"
"Graveyards aren't exactly the kind of place you'd want to visit when you come from another world. They're monuments for the dead, reminders of their mark on history before their passing. You probably only came along because I told you to."
Although he wasn't wrong, I felt that I needed to say something.
"Kiori, your mother is someone important to you, correct?"
"Of course. She's someone I aspire to be like."
"The way you're talking… You make it sound like coming here isn't so important, but the things you've said earlier are a clear indicator of how important your mother is in your life, enough for you to visit on occasion. I can't speak for everyone, but what I can tell you is that you shouldn't downplay the significance of something so important to you just because I feel different."
His eyes widened in surprise.
"Also, I was a little shocked that you were introducing me to your mother. The graveyard certainly threw me for a loop, but… whatever. If you want me to visit your mother with you, just say the word, and I'll take us here again, no questions asked."
"You mean that?"
"Of course. And maybe in the future, when you've become a strong mage, I'll offer words of how awesome you've become to her!"
His expression softened into a smile. Good, optimism is hard to come by after a death.
We continued to walk back to where I parked my hovercraft, only to see another person nearby, inspecting the fictional design come to life. It was a man who appeared to be in his 20s, carrying a bouquet.
I willed the hovercraft to slowly move away from the man. From the look of things, the crate was still in the basket. Still, I took the crate out and gave it to Kiori.
"Just check to see if it's still in good condition," I asked him.
"If you're suspecting me of touching this… odd contraption, then I can assure you, I've done nothing of the sort." The man spoke, sensing my suspicions.
Kiori opened the crate and moved a bit of the paper stuffed around the statue.
"The statue's still fine."
"Now, if you'll excuse me, there's someone I need to visit."
The crate was placed back in the basket, and Kiori and I stood in our respective positions, seeing the back of the man's form retreating. As I maneuvered the hovercraft to drive back to Megalia, I noticed the grave the man stopped in front of.
It was Kiori's mother's grave.
"Do you know him, Kiori?"
"He was a knight training under my mother's command before she died. From what I've heard, he looked up to my mom and followed her footsteps to become a great knight like her."
"Does he have a name?"
"Gavin Inaktra, Captain of the Givilrin Knights."