The Book Of Flowers

Beginning and End

"..."

"..."

Silent. The sound of waves pounding the ears of everyone there, as they sailed towards the final determination

Cyth, he's heard what he needs to hear from Walter. Her regrets, her pain, and her feelings right now, Cyth is already able to understand everything...

After a long time let him suffer like that. Letting him be in the wrong hands, while assuming that he is the greatest villain of this life

...

They've been quiet for too long. Walter doesn't even seem to want to talk right now, making Cyth even more uncomfortable

The situation is very awkward. The two enemies are sailing on one ship now, but they can't talk about anything with each other

...

"... What are we gonna do once we reach the sea of blood, Walter?"

Walter chuckles. "Of course to kill each other" he responded later

"Why? We can do this without any more bloodshed. That's enough isn't it?" Cyth replied out of anger

Walter sighed, knowing full well that it was something that Cyth was going to do

"Even if you take me back, I can guarantee we'll never be friends again. Anyhow it is"

The hurtful words he had just uttered. The words that made Cyth aware, if such a fact could not be avoided

"You got a tobacco pipe? I want to suck a little" Walter asked

"I have, but it belongs to Captain Alice"

"... Then don't. That must be a gift from him to you, the captain's taste once"

"That's a sign that I'm a captain. That's why I'm not sucking on it right now"

...

"Still inferior and naive as always huh...?"

Walter sighed, propping up his head with one hand on the sidelines of the ship

"I want to talk to the others because you make me uncomfortable, but I still tie them up right now. Where could they talk to me, right?"

"I'm sorry then. I'm also uncomfortable right now"

"Then don't drag me too, fool"

...

A small laugh began to be heard in Walter's ears, as he slowly turned to look at Cyth who was smiling wide enough now, staring at the still dark sea

"Why laugh?" Walter asked

"This is my first normal talk after all this time"

Walter was stunned to hear Cyth still smiling. The smile that he had not seen for a long time, was replaced by his face that would normally be riled up when meeting each other

And now, the former friend who is now his opponent began to speak that this was his first normal talk, to himself an enemy

"Talk... Normal?" Walter asked again

"I never spoke four eyes to anyone other than Erin after that day. Even he always made the atmosphere become even darker when he remembered the captain"

"Hm... Sounds a little troublesome"

"It's very troublesome. I even wanted to cry because she always acted that way...

Everyone also always forces their attitude so that no one needs to be moody. They're acting like a bunch of clowns under my command, and that makes me a little riled up"

No one behaves like they used to after that day. They were all always moody, but tried hard to keep the atmosphere bright for the good of everyone

The remaining nine people, none of them could always smile again after the death of their previous captain

"I want to ask you one thing. Is Uncle Broke gone too?" Cyth asked

"Yes. I shot him in the head, so he wouldn't have to feel too much pain"

"Well... Though I at least wish you would let go of uncle. He was eager to sleep in a very, very quiet place, in his hometown"

"... I can't forgive him, because special soldier Rosalia is with me. And he too..."

"Why is she too?"

"... Uncle Broke loved his family so much"

Families. What Walter meant was everyone who was part of the Black Hunt

The only place he could feel happiness, that even his quiet and quiet hometown could not beat

"... He left a will for you?"

"... He initially only distracted everyone by talking about a lot of insignificant things in front of us. Then, when he asked me to shoot him, I realized that it was neither a challenge nor a reproach

He asked me to stop killing you, by ending that chain on himself. He wanted me to stay alive, for some reason

You can imagine my own reaction"

...

"Why did he distract like that? Why would he ask you to kill him?"

"Because you're the only ones left on the boat that day"

And he couldn't see another way out. Even if he tried to escape, he knew Walter would be rewarded

Butwhy? He saw with his own eyes that Walter had slaughtered most of the Black Hunt crew. But why would he want to keep Walter alive?

"You know why he wants me to stay alive, Cyth?"

"... Why?"

"Because he wants me to apologize to you"

'Apologize to them. But you don't have to accept the answer'

"He said that to me. It sounds rough in other people's ears, but I understand what it means. For my last respect for her, I ended her life quickly"

Walter's face dropped the more he tried to remember everything that had happened

"I think he's weird. I don't deserve to be forgiven, even though I think of him as his own family. Sometimes a family can cross the line, and they are not much different from other humans in a certain perspective"

Walter once again sighed, this time with his face that finally looked lethargic

He no longer needs to tell me anything. Everything was clear, that's why Broke didn't say he needed to accept the answer

But...

"... I'm the exact opposite" Cyth replied.

"A family is just a human being in general. They are not perfect, and sometimes we can get upset with them. And precisely because of that, Uncle Broke...

He wants you to apologize not just as a family. He also wants you to apologize as a human being in general, so that no regrets are left in your heart" Cyth added

Walter raised his head, turned to look at Cyth straight away and exchanged glances

What he had just heard, made him realize all the meaning he needed to know from Uncle Broke's words

That's why he said that Walter didn't need to hear the answer. He does that so that the burden on Walter's shoulders can escape from something he doesn't necessarily know the answer to

Humans in general. They are all different, and sometimes something can upset us. And since they are different, no one can know what each of them is thinking

They can think of someone. They can think badly of that person. No one will be able to know until they dismantle it themselves

Walter can finally get every shard he can. Something he needed to know so that he would not continue living in regret until the end

...

"Cythe"

"Yes?"

"Thank you..."

It was the last word he said until the journey was over, while Cyth did not know what he was grateful for

Even the answer to her apology hasn't been told yet, but somehow she's grateful

But, he couldn't hear anything anymore. Walter's eyes are now filled only with every wave that passes while in the moonlight

The journey, it finally ended. They have reached their destination

......................

-- Blood sea border, east Xiang --

That's when Cyth remembers what he had to do. A determination of life and death, path and end, both enemies and friends after years of waiting

An ending that will determine the next story

"You need a bullet?" Walter offered

"No. I always keep a lot of ammo in my jacket pocket" Cyth replied, confident

"Good then"

Walter also pocketed the ammunition of the pistol that Cyth refused

"Captain! You don't have to do this!" Yu called

But another minded Erin instantly made him stop talking after that

"Don't doubt captain Cyth's decision" He said, silencing everyone who wanted to follow Yu

The two men stood close to each other. The two people who will decide who deserves to continue pursuing the future and who does not

"Well... Here you go, Walter"

"Back to you, Cyth"

The two people standing on the deck were standing on the deck with their backs to each other. They also move forward with one rhythm, like well trained soldiers to align movements

One thing Cyth had in mind this time was that he knew Walter would not hesitate to shoot. He knew that Walter was eager to stay alive for the future

As he continued to move, time felt slow. He looked towards the ocean that was starting to be watered by the sight of the sky that was starting to change color from black

He thought one more thing...

How beautiful the seas were when he had fully seen them well, just as in the early days he sailed. He recalled, how happy he was to see the sea first, just like now

"Stop!" Walter gave me a cue

That way, Cyth immediately obeyed him

He has to shoot. After 10 seconds they counted, he had to immediately turn around and shoot

She must. So that he can continue sailing. Let him know what fate awaits everyone during this journey. So that he can continue...

And along with all his friends. All family...

1

0

Cyth turned around, and...

*DOR!!*

Two bullets flew through the air...

Among the thunderous sounds, when the two people could feel the breath of death, a memory of the past was triggered

The past is forgotten, as the two former friends look into each other's eyes before death picking up one of them on the deck

Same deck when they just play shoot first

'Haha! I won again!'

'You cheated! You always turn around when I haven't finished counting!'

'uh? I count slower'

'No. You two turn around at the same time. It's just that Cyth hesitated to shoot you just now'

'No, Erin told me. You're the one who sucked, aren't you?'

...

'Why didn't you shoot? It's a duel, even if we're just messing around'

...

'I can't shoot my own family'

'Huh...? Though this is just a joke, imagine when he had to duel life to die with me later'

'That'll never happen! You guys are like brothers to me!'

'But I'm human too, Cyth. We are always changing'

...

He recalled, when one of those hands touched his shoulder, while 2 eyes stared directly at his soul

'And Cyth, if I turn into a person you can't recognize...

Shoot me dead. Don't hesitate...'

One of the bullets went into someone's chest, so he fell backwards slowly, with warm blood beginning to spread in their chest...

*BRUK!*

A body fell onto the wooden deck, as long as the other remained standing firm despite the wound on his shoulder

The one who fell... He was shot, right in the heart

...

...

"Walters..."

The winner was determined, as Cyth stared at the helpless Walter on the wooden floor

Everyone who saw him also fell silent. There was not a single cheer of joy or anything like that, whatever came out, even though they saw their enemy fall helplessly before them all

There was only silence, as they looked at the face of their captain who had changed in surprise

Cyths... He slowly walked towards Walter while trying to straighten out everything that had just happened. Even until the wound on his own shoulder he did not care

And when he got right next to Walter, his knees gave up to support his body

...

"Haha..... Ye... Really do it - In the end..."

"... Walter.." -..."

"It's okay... I deserve this... After all that..."

...

"I... Surrender fate... My body to you... I'm not-I'll be in trouble*Uhuk!!*"

...

"Cythe... Stop over... Don'tdon't... Crying out..."

"... Walter--"

"You're a man... Don't-"

"-- I'm also sorry to you-- After all the things that happened-"

...

"Ha... Haha... I'm thrilled... Heard it..."

His breath began to disappear, as he stared one last time at his friend who was beginning to look blurry in the view

"Accept... T-so..."

...

...

...

The light left his eyes, after which his body was already completely stiff...

There were no more words that Walter could say anymore, when everyone realized that his body was starting to stiffen

Her... It's gone. He was gone, just as the sun began to rise and hit his body, as if he was driving his soul to a place far above the sea

Walter Herb, it's gone. They've accomplished their mission and their lifelong grudges. But...

Seeing Cyth who could not help but cry, all his subordinates also dissolved into his grief and sorrow

That's the end of their old story. An old story they will forever miss. The old story where most people who walked with them has gone a long way

An old story that brings a new story. The story begins that day, Walter Herb's death is something that changes Black Hunt forever...