Chapter 1684: Funeral Procession Beside them stood Phil who was taller now, but still with the soft eyes of a boy. He hugged his parents gently, trying to hold himself together. But when he looked at the statue— at the horns, at the gentle smile, at the stance that always made him laugh as a kid— his chest crumbled. He remembered her waking him for school. He remembered her stealing his snacks because "grown girls need energy." He remembered her chasing him around the backyard. He remembered her strict scolding when he skipped class. He remembered everything. His breath trembled. His fists tightened. And before he realized it... He was crying too. But he held no hatred. No resentment. Because he knew— deep in his bones— that his sister would never want him to blame Gustav. She died for the man she loved. She died for a purpose. She died so the universe could live. Phil whispered to himself, "I hope you’re smiling, sis..." Then he wiped his tears and stood straighter. Reporters swarmed after the ceremony. "Mr. Vilandrobadia, any words?" "Mrs. Vilandrobadia, how did Angy behave as a child?" "Phil, what was she like?" "Do you have a message for Gustav?" "Do you hold him responsible—?" Security cut that reporter off immediately. And beside them, Gustav’s friends walked along with Angy’s family. Endric. E.E. Aildris. Elevora. Falco. Ria. Sersi. Xanatus. And dozens of others who had fought alongside her or been a part of their MBO academy days. They were dressed in black with badges pinned to their chests and expressions carved from pain. Reporters swarmed them instantly. "Endric, you are Gustav’s brother. How’s he handling this?" Endric’s lips pursed. He didn’t answer. "Aildris, any words for the viewers?" "Elevora, what do you want the world to know about Angy?" "E.E, do you know where Gustav is?" "Will he attend the funeral—?" But they pushed through silently, their emotions far too raw for media. E.E’s eyes were red. Sersi looked like she had cried until her chest hurt. Falco kept rubbing his temples, trying to stay strong. Aildris placed flowers at the base of Angy’s statue. Elevora whispered prayers. Even stoic Endric wiped his face once when no one was looking. They all knew it. They all felt it. She was gone. And the one person who should have been here more than anyone... Was nowhere to be found. --- From the beginning of the memorial To the placement of the last wreath To the unveiling of her statue To the intergalactic salutes To the moment her symbolic coffin was lowered into the ground— Gustav never appeared. Not a glimpse. Not a ripple of energy. Not even a shadow. The universe waited. The world leaders waited. Her parents waited... Her friends waited... But Gustav remained absent. Those who had never seen him might have called it disrespect. However, those who knew... They understood. The man who saved the universe had lost his own universe. How could he stand before the world and pretend he was whole? --- When the ceremony ended, the Vilandrobadia family extended an invitation. A tradition. A cultural practice. A final gathering in honor of the departed. Everyone who had been close to Angy was welcome to eat with the family. And so they all went— Endric, E.E, Aildris, Elevora, Falco, Ria, Sersi, Xanatus and others— to the Vilandrobadia home. The house was pleasantly warm, filled with photographs of Angy in childhood and teenage years. Her bracelets still hung on the wall. Her medals from high-school track race lined a cabinet. Her old training shoes were still by the door. The familiarity hurt. The scent hurt. Her favorite dishes were prepared—gentle soups, spiced rice, fruit-stuffed pastries. Her mother couldn’t speak while she cooked. Her father kept wiping his glasses unnecessarily. Phil served drinks silently, swallowing the tightness in his throat. The entire room was heavy. Falco whispered, "This... feels unreal." E.E stared down at his untouched plate. "She would’ve been stuffing her face right now... making fun of me for eating slowly." Elevora sighed. "She would have burnt the meal if she did the cooking." Endric leaned back, rubbing his forehead. "Big brother always teased her about that..." Aildris nodded. "She had a warm heart. Even when things were bad, she always looked for a reason to laugh." Sersi sniffled. "Especially when Gustav was around..." That name stiffened the room. Even Angy’s father paused. Phil swallowed hard. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶 He whispered, barely audible: "Does anyone know where he is?" Silence stretched and then E.E opened his mouth. But closed it without saying a word. Endric finally exhaled and said softly: "No. We don’t know where my brother is. He vanished immediately after the restoration." Aildris added, "...He needs time. More than any of us." Angy’s mother covered her face again, trembling. Her father clenched his jaw. "I... I hope wherever he is... he knows we don’t blame him." Phil nodded vigorously as his tears returned. "Angy wouldn’t want that." E.E whispered, "He knows... he just can’t face any of us right now." Falco murmured, "Can you blame him?" No one answered. The meal continued, but it was not a dinner filled with chatter or laughter. It was a meal of remembrance. A meal shared by the ones left behind. A quiet promise that Angy would never be forgotten. ... ... (( Two Years Later )) A quiet street on Earth basked in the soft amber of the late afternoon sun. Most people were indoors watching post-funeral broadcasts or sharing memories of the woman the entire universe had come to honor. Today was her remembrance since the universe was saved two years back. Only a few kids played outside, kicking a battered soccer ball, chasing each other, laughing with the innocent joy only children could still muster after the horrors they and their families had survived. The ball rolled to a stop when a man stepped into the street. He moved like a silent whisper with a deceptively calm bearing. He wore a long red jacket and its hem fluttered slightly with each step. Underneath was a black inner shirt, a few buttons undone as though he hadn’t bothered to fix them.