Uneventful Days [CCC Knock Knock! thingy]

Note: I just reposted this because Othello the Cat pointed out that I had typed MCCC and not CCC. After having that mistake claw through my brain, my OCD got the best of me. So here's the one with the real title!

Knock! Knock! Knock!

He could smell it already. Death doesn't create the best of scents when it claims another soul. Shade, however, has gotten used to the smell of death. In fact, he’s gotten used to almost everything death could throw at him. He’s seen wars, plagues, murders and accidents of all kinds. Nothing bothered him, except for one thing.

The door swung open. A young blonde woman stood beyond the door frame, staring up at the hulking behemoth that was Shade.

“Hello?” she asked. Shade noticed the wiped away remnants of tears on her cheeks.

“This must be the grand-daughter,” he thought to himself. He hunched over to get a better view of the girl before him. “I am here to get your grand-mother. You must be the grand-daughter if I’m not mistaken,” Shade spoke in a deep tone.

“Oh,” she said, her voice no longer disguised by false happiness, “Yes, I’m the grand-daughter. Luxanna. Luxanna Crownguard.”

“May I come in, Luxanna?”

“Yes, please.”

She opened the door as wide as she could let Shade pass. Shade struggled briefly to get through the tight doorway, scraping his rough, stone body against the granite door frame. With a loud thud, Shade entered the room. He quickly glanced at the large entrance hall. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each with a golden Crownguard crest dangling underneath. Each wall of the room was riddled with large, cathedral-like pillars and cream-colored, marble pillars. The sounds of family members sobbing echoed through the room.

“I’ll take you to her,” she stated as she motioned Shade towards a pair of staircases, draped with red carpet.

Shade’s footsteps thundered through the building, forcing Luxanna to cringe with each step. Soon, they reached the top of the stairs and made their way to a bedroom in the eastern wing of the castle. As they got closer, the cries of the family members mourning their loss grew louder. As they walked, Luxanna turned to Shade.

“So where do you take them?” she asked.

“I guide them to the Shadow Isles. That, I’m sure, you know already.”

“You are correct but I meant where specifically.”

“There is a place within the heart of the Shadow Isles where I am sworn to protect.”

“Isn't the Shadow Isles a dangerous place to be?”

“For the most part, yes. However, the place I guard is safe from any dangers that any spirit might face. There can safely rest in peace.” “I see.”

Luxanna pressed her hand against the bedroom door and gently swung it open. Inside were several people. The women in the room remained seated, sobbing into damp handkerchiefs. The men stood behind the women, resting their hands open their shoulders in a poor attempt to comfort them. Lying on the bed was the now deceased grand-mother of the Crownguard family. A doctor removed his hand from the corpse’s forehead and placed the assorted bottles of medicines and chemicals back into his bag. He looked up at Shade, almost intimidated by him. The doctor expressed his apologies and left the room. The rest of the family looked up at Shade, knowing what he was here for.

“Will she be okay?” a woman asked behind her tears.

Shade assumed she was the mother of Luxanna seeing by how saddened she was compared to the others.

“Yes, she will be safe with me.”

Shade reached out his hand as it began to glow. Suddenly, a blue orb floated out of the grand-mother’s lifeless chest, lighting the room with a dim, blue light. The soul of the grand-mother slowly made its way to Shade’s hand.

As the soul touched his palm, Shade turned to the family who were staring in awe from the sight before them and asked, “Is there anything you would like to say to her one last time?” The mother wiped away what she could of her tears before responding, “I love you, mother. Take care.”

A faint, ghostly whisper emanated from the soul. This was a sound only Shade could hear. He listened closely as the orb spoke before returning his attention to the family.

“She says that she will miss you dearly and that she is extremely proud of every single one of you. She loves you all, dearly.”

On Shade’s back where two small doors that opened. As they opened, the whispering moans of hundreds of other souls seeped out into the room. The soul of the grand-mother joined the others before the doors closed again.

“I will make sure that she will rest peacefully,” Shade affirmed as he exited the room.

“Thank you,” the mother expressed, with a new feeling of relief.

Shade nodded his head as he turned, making his way to the entrance of the castle. As he squeezed back through the main door, Luxanna came running down to him. He paused as she approached him and, without a notice, hugged Shade as hard as she could. Shade was surprised by this act of kindness.

Luxanna exclaimed, “Thank you!” as she hugged Shade, holding back the sadness that was overwhelming her.

“It’s only my job,” Shade stated.

“I know but I don’t think anyone else deserves this job more than you.”

“Well, thank you, Luxanna.”

“Please, call me Lux,” she insisted, giving away a faint smile.

Shade simply smiled and turned around, walking out of the Crownguard castle. Lux closed the door behind her, pausing briefly to watch Shade carry her grand-mother, and countless other souls to their safe haven. Despite losing a loved one, Lux couldn't have felt calmer. Shade, on the other hand, did not know what to feel. He’s not entirely sure if he deserved this job more than his brother and that thought will always come back to haunt him. Shade exited the gates of Demacia, leaving another uneventful day behind him.