The sky was overcast, and a fine drizzle began to fall, shrouding all of Altor in a misty veil of rain, as though even nature had surrendered to grief and could not help but weep.
A black hearse drawn by four oxen advanced at a steady pace. More and more citizens braved the hazy drizzle to stand along both sides of the street, watching with subdued sorrow as it passed.
It had been only a few days since that frenetic concert that had nearly incited unrest across the entire city, yet the melody still seemed to echo in the heart of everyone who had heard it. Upon learning the news of Lucian Evans' death, the lingering emotion and awe that had not yet faded overwhelmed them, and grief rose unbidden.
For the spirit of never giving up that Lucian Evans had shown them, for the precious, pure joy he had brought, they poured into the streets to bid farewell to Altor's pride — the brilliant musician Lucian Evans.
Tiny droplets of rain struck their faces, leaving them damp and glistening, mingling with tears as if to deepen the mournful atmosphere of the procession.
Had the timing been a week later, had this not been in Altor, such a spectacular scene would have been difficult to achieve. The streets on either side seemed packed with the entire population of the city.
Watching the hearse recede into the distance, some who were deeply emotional or fanatically devoted to Lucian Evans rushed into the street, let the rain drench them, and joined the funeral escort.
As more and more people in black coats, faces heavy with grief, spontaneously followed from various side streets, the procession swelled ever larger.
When the hearse entered the Nobility District, the nobles who had been invited to attend Lucian Evans' funeral were mostly left stunned. They saw heads packed dense as a black sea flanking and trailing the hearse — an endless, countless mass of "funeral escort" flowing forward like a dark tide tinged with quiet sorrow.
Aside perhaps from the municipal plaza of the Altor concert, they had never seen so many people gathered together, united by a single purpose. The nobles seemed to experience a sudden revelation: that when these countless ordinary people banded together, they unleashed a terrifying force — one that seemed unstoppable, capable of devouring everything in its path.
"Who would have thought Lucian Evans was this popular and revered?" A noble of knight rank remained comparatively composed amid the spectacle, murmuring to himself. "If my funeral could draw even half this many escorts, it would be the greatest honor short of a true god descending or a lord bearing the coffin. Even in death, I would have no regrets."
Once the hearse had passed, the nobles too joined the escort. This was a part of the Church of Truth's funeral rites — all those attending the final ceremony were required to accompany the hearse on the last stretch of its journey. It was not devotion to Lucian Evans and his music that drove them to set aside their rank and walk alongside commoners.
Before the Golden Cathedral, Cardinal Gossett watched the massive, solemn escort with a slight change in his expression. He instinctively traced a cross over his chest and whispered, "Truth alone endures!"
When the coffin was carried into the Golden Cathedral, the commoners in the escort who had not received invitations were reluctant to leave. Standing in the fine, misty drizzle, they surrounded the church in prayer and blessing.
This stirred indescribable feelings in the bishop and the priests, as though the one about to be interred was a saint.
…………
Inside the great hall, the coffin was placed beneath a cross, symbolizing that the deceased was a devout believer.
The funeral music ceased. Cardinal Gossett held aloft a milky-white sacred cross and spoke with solemn dignity: "Merciful and compassionate Lord, today we offer this prayer for our brother Lucian Evans. He has completed his journey in this world, and You have received him. We believe with all our hearts that all who believe in You, accept You, place their faith in You, revere You, and walk the path You have set will receive Your salvation, and find rest upon Heavenly Mountain."
The nobles, musicians, and performers who filled the great hall closed their eyes and followed the prayer.
"He was a pure, devout, and noble man. His music, as You have taught, brought strength and joy to the world. May he continue to offer beautiful hymns of praise in Your kingdom…"
After the prayer, Gossett gazed kindly upon Natasha, Joel, Elisa, John, Victor, and the others, then swept his eyes across the hall and spoke in a measured tone: "The Lord teaches us that death is as the night, but after the night, light will surely come. Death is not to be feared, for our departed brothers and sisters shall ascend to Heavenly Mountain and dwell in the same kingdom as us, still able to commune with one another and offer prayers on each other's behalf."
After the blessings and prayers came remembrances from family and friends. Joel, Elisa, John, and Victor each stepped forward to speak, recounting the small moments of Lucian Evans' life. Some wept too hard to continue, others grieved with quiet restraint, and still others followed the Lord's teaching by comforting those around them, helping them restore their inner strength and press onward toward the future.
As the remembrances drew to a close, Natasha stepped to Cardinal Gossett's side.
She wore a conservative black gown, her upswept hair veiled in black lace, her expression tinged with gentle melancholy as she recalled happy times spent with Lucian Evans. At last her emotions settled, and she spoke quietly: "He once told me that if he should pass away someday without having written a will, the 'Brons' estate should be donated and placed under the care of the
At these words,
Natasha continued, "He wished for all the income from the estate to fund an award and a competition. The award would honor the single finest musical composition produced across the entire continent within a three-year period, selected by vote of all full members of the Altor
The Brons estate had been selected by Natasha and given to Lucian. It was valued at several thousand Gold Thalers, and its income was quite respectable — roughly a hundred Gold Thalers per year, equivalent to the annual earnings of a renowned musician. Over three years, that amounted to three hundred Gold Thalers. For many impoverished musicians or budding piano enthusiasts, even half of that sum would be an extraordinarily generous prize.
"Mr. Lucian Evans had a heart of gold. At every moment he cared about the development of music and those just beginning their musical journey."
"They will be built atop Cassia Hill beside the River Belen, so that everyone who comes to Altor, and every child at play, will be able to see them and know those brilliant names."