Three days passed.
The fires had been extinguished.
The wounded had been treated.
The academy was still scarred by war, but the sound of hammers and rebuilding had replaced the sound of battle.
Today...
No one trained.
No one laughed.
Today was different.
Today, they would say goodbye.
A gentle rain began to fall.
Not heavy.
Just enough to soak the flowers placed along the stone path leading to the memorial grounds.
At the center stood a single coffin.
It was made of polished oak.
Resting on top of it were three things:
Mr. Stone's silver pendant.
His Ghost Killer cloak.
And the sword he had carried for decades.
Hundreds of Ghost Killers stood in perfect silence.
Teachers.
Students.
Veterans.
Even civilians from nearby towns had come.
Everyone had heard about the man who gave his life to save the academy.
Daniel stood in the front row.
He hadn't spoken much in the last three days.
He barely slept.
He barely ate.
His eyes never left the coffin.
Mary stood beside him.
Quietly.
She knew words wouldn't help.
Bill slowly stepped onto the memorial platform.
He looked at the crowd.
Then at the coffin.
For several seconds...
He couldn't speak.
Finally...
He took a deep breath.
"I met Stone thirty-two years ago."
A faint smile appeared.
"He beat me in our very first sparring match."
A few older Ghost Killers smiled through their tears.
Bill continued.
"I challenged him again the next day."
"And I lost again."
A quiet laugh spread through the crowd.
"So I challenged him again..."
"...and again..."
"...and again."
He looked at the coffin.
"I never did beat him."
The smiles slowly faded.
Bill's voice became heavier.
"He wasn't remembered because he was the strongest."
"He wasn't respected because he never lost."
"He was respected because..."
"...every time someone needed protecting..."
"...he stepped forward first."
Silence.
Bill's hands trembled slightly.
"I lost my closest friend."
The words echoed through the memorial grounds.
"And this world lost one of its finest Ghost Killers."
He stepped back.
Unable to continue.
One by one...
Teachers approached the coffin.
Each placed a white flower upon it.
None of them spoke.
They didn't need to.
Then...
The Great Eight walked forward together.
Felix stepped first.
He removed one of his old training gloves.
Mr. Stone had once given it to him after his first successful mission.
Felix smiled sadly.
"You always said my punches were too reckless."
"I still think you were right."
He gently placed the glove beside the sword.
Lucy stepped forward.
She placed a bouquet of white lilies on the coffin.
"I healed many people..."
She whispered.
"But I couldn't heal you."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"I'm sorry."
Noah approached next.
His right arm was wrapped in thick bandages.
The injury from the battle hadn't fully healed.
He lowered his head.
"I wanted to become strong enough..."
"...so no one would have to sacrifice themselves again."
"I wasn't strong enough."
Lily and Zoya placed flowers together.
Neither could stop crying.
David was the last of the Great Eight before Daniel.
He stood silently.
Then closed his eyes.
"The whispers..."
He smiled faintly.
"They've been quiet ever since you left."
"...I think..."
"...even they respected you."
He bowed deeply.
Finally...
Daniel stepped forward.
The rain grew slightly heavier.
He stood before the coffin for a long time.
Without moving.
Without speaking.
The entire memorial waited.
At last...
Daniel removed the wooden practice sword Mr. Stone had given him as a child.
Though worn with age, he had kept it all these years.
He gently laid it across the coffin.
His voice shook.
"You found a scared kid..."
"...who didn't know how to hold a sword."
"You taught him."
"You believed in him."
"You protected him."
Daniel's tears fell onto the wood.
"And when I finally became strong enough to fight beside you..."
"...you were the one who protected me again."
He lowered his head.
"I'm going to miss you..."
"...Master."
Silence.
Not a single person could hold back their tears any longer.
Even Bill turned away.
As the ceremony ended...
Six Ghost Killers slowly lifted the coffin.
The entire academy saluted.
No words.
Only respect.
Only gratitude.
Only farewell.
The bell of the academy rang once.
Then again.
Then a third time.
Each ring echoed through the valley.
Marking the passing of a hero.
As the coffin disappeared beyond the memorial hill...
A gentle breeze swept through the crowd.
Daniel looked toward the sky.
For just a brief moment...
He could have sworn he heard Mr. Stone's familiar voice.
"Stand tall, Daniel."
He smiled through his tears.
"I will."
The rain finally stopped.
And above the clouds...
The first ray of sunlight broke through.
End of the Academy War Arc.
To Be Continued...