Then Erza stepped forward, her spectral form gliding across the white space. She moved close to Reinhard, her hands reaching out to gently hold both of his hands.
Her smile softened while she gazed at him softly before saying. "We do, but you don't need to feel so sad. Even though we might not be there physically, we will always be with you."
The others laughed, the sound carrying agreement and affection. They patted his back, ruffled his hair, and offered irreverent winks and elbow jabs.
Someone ruffled his collar, another squeezed his shoulder, and he was pulled into the center of the circle.
It was equal parts farewell and victory parade, but Reinhard was at its heart, the recipient of every joke, every compliment, every affirmation.
A bit back, Voyer and Garius began recounting the high points of the final battle, embellishing details and arguing over who had distracted the most roots or who had made the biggest spectacle of their demise.
