After Erika's confession, she didn't pursued the topic anymore. It seemed that she realized it wasn't really fitting given the situation. And honestly a relationship at this age wasn't something she had in mind either. But perhaps she felt more relieved by having told me that.
I reciprocated to her feelings, but she seems to have realized, similarly to how I think, that this wasn't really the time nor the appropriate age to think of such things. I guess Erika is way smarter than I make her up to be.
Her father's funeral ceremony began already. Not many people attended as nobody really knew him. Only our group of friends and our parents. But we were already a sizable group of people. My mother, father, grandmother, and twin siblings, Chris's father, mother, and little siblings, Eric's uncle, and aunt, Erdrich and Elizabeth's priests Jack and Seth, and… I think that was all.
Everyone left some flowers, and we even brought food, leaving it as an offering as well. Interestingly enough, the deities of this world do interact with its inhabitants. Leaving offerings does works and doesn't leave the food rotting there for eternity or something, the food is quickly taken away, disappearing when it is offered and taken by the gods. Perhaps they enjoy food.
Her father was put into a coffin of high quality, as his eyes were closed, as if sleeping. He looked rather peaceful, as if he had done everything he wanted to do and passed out without regrets. I suppose he really did it all.
He committed many mistakes perhaps, and what he did could be questionable, but… he was someone that loved his daughter, and gave the last years of life yesterday to give her the living body he always wanted to give to her.
"Goodbye papa…" Erika sighed, without crying anymore, she had cried so many tears, that perhaps they couldn't flow out of her eyes anymore.
"I am sure he's in a better place now, dear." My mother said.
"He was a good man that protected you and cared for you." My father said. "I am sure the Holy Spirits will reward him."
"He was… he was a good man, yes." My grandmother sighed.
"We are going to miss our dollmaker. I always bought him dolls for my little girl." Said Chris' father, he actually had an older daughter that wasn't in the village anymore, Chris' big sister, a red-haired adventurer that moved to the capital a couple of years ago. We might end up finding her one day.
"He also made very good furniture. He was such an incredibly talented carpenter…" Chris' mother said. "And also affordable."
"Yeah… He was a man that did what he did for the people of the village, despite not many knowing him well." Eric's uncle said.
"May his soul rest in peace." Eric's aunt said.
"May the Holy Spirits bless him." Jack said, praying.
"May the Holy Spirits bless him." Seth also prayed.
Elizabeth was at their side, doing the same.
After they finished, they nodded to Erika.
"That should do it." Jack said with a smile.
"I believe the Holy Spirits have welcomed him into the afterlife." Said Seth. "There is no human soul without sins, but such sins are forgiven once the true intentions within the soul are seen. Your father will have a good rest. A well-deserved one."
"Thank you…" Erika sighed with a smile, as she hugged Elizabeth.
"Everything is going to be okay, alright?" Elizabeth said, kissing Erika's forehead and comforting her with a hug.
Erika nodded weakly, as she received the comfort of her friend.
When the ceremony ended, we had a dinner at Erika's house, we all brought food and began grilling meat, preparing stew, boiling pasta I made myself, and making all sorts of other delicious preparations.
Erika's new body demanded a lot of food due to how much energy it required to function properly, so she had a very big appetite. That didn't change from her previous body at all. In fact, I believe it was multiplied.
"Hmm… This pasta is so tasty, and the sauce too…" Erika sighed happily. "I can't help but smile…"
"I was saving this recipe for a special occasion." I said with a smile. "I ended forgetting to make it for Ellergest's dinner, but I decided to make it now that I had all the ingredients."
"These noodles are like those from the soup, but way thicker, and the sauce is so nice with it. The parmesan cheese you put over it is amazing too!" Eric praised my cooking.
"Man, this is killing it." Said Chris.
"What a comforting meal…" Erdrich smiled.
"This is master's Magnus Opus!" Eleanora celebrated.
"You're really liking it, huh?" I sighed.
"Of course! I love your food, it is always filled with so much love and care." She sighed with a smile.
"That's… certainly something to say to me." I said. "But perhaps I do have an innate talent for it, I just don't really like to admit it…"
"I guess that's how you are, Blake." Eleanora said with an enamored smile.
"Well now, don't begin saying corny things out of the blue… There's more if you guys want." I said
"I want seconds!" Erika said, having already finished her plate after just two minutes.
"Of course, seconds it is." I said happily, quickly giving her a second serving. She happily chewed the noodles without any problems, happy to be here with us.
I guess this comforting scene of everyone happily enjoying life must have been what those that have left us wanted to see.
Life keeps going, even after everything we have lost.
It is a journey filled with so many hardships, yet there are so many things in it that are worth the hardships.
Despite the reasons that the soul of Asmodeus was reincarnated, and despite the strange intentions of the one named Lucifer, I cannot help but enjoy this life.
Deep within my own soul, within my previous self's emotions… I can tell.
This was one of the things he desired the most.
I wish moments like these could last forever.