Death & Gelato

( Story contains theme about death and loss during times of war.)

It was a scorching summer afternoon down in Valendale. And likewise, Kasra couldn’t wait to taste the sweet and sour Fairy Berry from Rimbotos Gelato's and cream of the nine realms. The reaper took out his scroll and looked at the list of names he needed to collect today. Vasra of Kith, Death by dragon fire, Miyoko of Asharai, death by falling off a cliff, and last but not least, Rimboto, death by shock.

Kasra scratched the back of his head and wondered what that meant by shock, but on a typical day of work, he didn't ask questions; he simply appeared at the appropriate time, where he was ordered, and the Creator took care of the rest from there.

He thought to himself. But Rimboto?....His Gelato's so good, no one in all the nine realms makes Fairy Berry cream like him. To achieve that tart, sweet, and sour concoction, it will be a tragedy. You know what, I'll go in one more time, because once he's gone, the Gelato will not be the same.

Many of the townsfolk walked past the reaper of souls, not realizing who he was, but such was the way most mortals lived. There was a veil between the seen and the unseen. The line was only getting longer at the shop, and it was getting hotter. No time to waste. Kasra stepped out of the unseen realm and disguised himself as a young, handsome man with dark auburn hair and simple traveler's attire. As he waited in line, he looked for his favorite flavor, Fairy Berry.

The line was moving at an incredibly slow pace. Kasra hated how time worked in the mortal realm; things were always too slow for him. After what seemed like ages, Kasra's turn had finally come.

"AH, there he is, my favorite regular, come to get some Fairy Berry?" Rimboto had a coarse voice, one that was filled with both wisdom and kindness.

"Yes, please, I'd very much like that, but I think today I'll take the whole bucket." Kasra said as he tapped on the glass.

"My, my, your sweet tooth must be killing you today, huh?" Rimboto let out a hearty laugh.

Kasra awkwardly smiled and replied. "You have no idea."

"Alrighty, that'll be… twelve silver pieces."

Kasra dug into his pouch, knowing the knowledge he possessed, he thought it would be wise to give Rimbato much more.

"How about…" He rummaged through the coins in his hand. "Ten golden dragons."

Rimbato's eyes shot wide with surprise. "No, no, no, I can't. That's too much."

"Just take it, you deserve it for all the kindness you've shared." he handed Rimbato the golden dragons.

"We need to talk, Kasra. Here, come sit with me to the side; my workers will handle the rest from here."

"No, no, I can't wait here. I have to go," Kasra said.

"It's rude to disrespect your elders, boy." Kasra couldn't help but smile after he heard that. If only you knew Rimbato, if only you knew…

"Very well, come share with me this delicacy that is Fairy Berry."

Both Kasra and Rimbato took chairs that had a beautiful view of the Valendale sea. The sun was beginning to set, and both sea and sky were filled with vibrant hues of sapphire and ruby.

Kasra ate a spoonful of his favorite Gelato. The sweet-tart taste of the Covenheim berries exploded, followed by the intense sour crystals of Asharai. Kasra licked his lips after his first spoonful.

Rimbato didn't do much; he just sat, watching the sun set. He hadn't even touched his Gelato. All he said was.

"I don't deserve this." His tone was low as though he were trying to hold back tears.

"Why do you say that, Rimbato?"

Rimbato looked at Kasra, tears welling up in his eyes. "You know why I opened up this shop?"

"Why?" Kasra said as he took another spoonful of Fairy Berry

"I did things that I regret, I opened up this shop to make amends for the atrocities I committed in the war between the realms."

Kasra remembered the war and the number of lives that were lost over petty quarrels. The souls he had to carry in those years…Most of them were children.

"There was this child I met in an abandoned town that I had razed to the ground. We thought no one was there until we heard coughing from one of the abandoned homes. She was a sweet girl, maybe ten or twelve, whose family was gone in a single night. I lead the legion that razed her home–" At this moment, Rimbato's eyes began to glisten, and tears of regret rolled down his face, wetting his beard.

"Apologies, Kas, I need just a moment to collect myself. You shouldn't see me like this." He said as he wiped away his tears.

"All is well, my friend, it's good to get these regrets off your chest before your last moments." Kasra took a scoop of the Gelato, closed his eyes, and focused on the flavors. A tragedy that this will be the last Fairy Berry he makes.

Once Rimbato had collected himself, he continued his story.

"My men and I were scouring the town to make sure there were no rebels left in one of the homes that was still standing. I heard crying. I went to see who it was and found a small Orcish child. She was covered in dirt, soot, and dried blood, painted on her forehead where she had been hit. I remember her eyes, the way she looked at me." Rimbato turned his head toward Kasra, and Kasra could tell that the retired warrior was reliving the moment just as he spoke it.

"Continue," Kasra said while taking another scoop of Fairy Berry.

"As I said, the way she looked at me, I can't tell you what it was that made me turn in that moment. Before her I had seen plenty of destruction and death caused by our war. But something about this child was different. I told her I wouldn't hurt her and placed my weapon down. She refused to get near me and told me 'Why did you kill my family? What did we do to you to deserve such hate?' "I was astonished by the girls' literacy, something I thought was rare amongst Orcs. But the girl had lost a lot of blood, and she fell to the floor. I quickly ran over to her, held my hand, and laid her across my lap." Rimbato had to stop speaking again; the pain of the moment felt too real for him.

Kasra watched as the man's past deeds were eating at his soul; he'd seen this phenomenon many times. Sometimes mortals are punished in this world for their deeds, and the regret and pain they feel is a precursor to the pain they will experience. He took another scoop of the Fairy Berry and chewed it thoughtfully.

Rimbato continued his tale.

"I wiped the blood from the child's head and the blood that held her eyes partly closed. She opened them wide; they were the color of bright amber, her pupils so dilated that you'd think she was a cat. She shook in shock, her breaths long and ragged. All she then told me was this. 'It was my birthday today…my father was getting me my favorite food.' I then asked her. what that was, and she said–– and she said—" Kasra finished his sentence as Rimbato burst into tears again.

"Fairy Berry…" It all made sense now why his Gelato tasted so good, why Rimbato opened his shop, and began to live life the way he did. Helping those in need and doing good for the less fortunate. Kasra was familiar with the girl; her name was La'mina. Kasra thought back to the very moment he pulled her soul from her body, and how pure and happy she was to be free. A smile broke across his face.

"Why are you smiling, Kas?" Rimbato said as he wiped away more tears.

"It's nothing, but I can tell you that she'd love this and she'd be happy to see that you had changed your ways. Sometimes, the evil things we do bring us back to the light. It is in moments of reflection that this begins to make more sense or no sense at all, truly…it depends on the person, really."

"You speak as someone who has seen death countless times," Rimbato said, taking a scoop of Fairy Berry.

"More than my fair share."

"Have you also fought in war?"

"Not necessarily that."

"Then like what?" Rimbato shifted uneasily in his chair. Kasra noticed this and took another scoop of fairy berry. He'd gone through a quarter of the bucket at this point.

"Are you sure you wish to know?" Kasra raised a brow and stared at Rimbato quietly for a moment. He noticed the essence of his soul shifting uneasily within his body. It was trying to hide.

"Yes, I told my past, now you tell me yours."

"Very well–but before I do, I do want to say thank you so much for the delicious gelato you've given all these years." Kasra took one more scoop of the Gelato and chewed it slowly, savoring the sweet and sour taste as it melted on his tongue. He then snapped his fingers, and the world around them went dark. Like a veil has been placed over them.

"I have witnessed the dawn of creation itself, I've watched countless nations rise and fall, I've collected the souls of those ignorant enough to think they could outrun me and the souls of those who seek me. Simply put, Rimbato, I am death, and your time has come…"

The shell that was Rimbatos' flesh had gone cold. The shock had taken him, and he had died. His soul was a pained one, scared of what may come, it spoke.

"What's happening? Where am I? Kasra, what is this place?"

Kasra shed his human shell and adjusted his appearance based on the deeds Rimbato had committed in his life. He was surprised to find himself quite good-looking, but there was a sour smell, like a mortal had forgotten to wash for a week.

"You're time in this world is up, my friend. Do not be afraid, now you must be judged."

"What will happen to me?"

"I only hope good things, but it is not up to me, dear friend. Now come on out, don't be shy, it will be more painful if you hide from me." Kasra reached out to Rimbato with his right hand, which seemed to disappear into his body as if he were dipping it in water. He found Rimbatos' soul, and it tried to fight back not wanting to leave its temporary home.

"Rimbato, this will only be more painful the more you fight."

"No, please, I'm not ready. I don't want to go my family my family please let me go back let me do one more good thing!" His soul began to shake, and Kasra felt the man's weeping as small vibrations up his arm.

"My friend, you've fulfilled your purpose in this world, you've lived, you've loved, you've hurt and caused pain to yourself and others. But most of your life was filled with good."

"Will it hurt if I stop fighting?"

"It will only feel like the prick of a thorn ." As Kasra replied, Rimbato's soul loosened its grip on its shell, Kasra began to pull it out, much like honey flows from a jug. He then opened his bag of souls and gently placed Rimbato's soul in it.

It was done. Kasra sometimes wished he could feel the way mortals did, but that would make his job much harder. Better for it to be this way. He thought to himself, he snapped his fingers again, and the veil that had covered him and Rimbato lifted. He looked at Rimbato's face, and it was a peaceful smile. This provided Kasra with some comfort, as no one had noticed their interaction. Time was much slower in the realm of the unseen. Best for me to leave now before people think I killed him. He thought to himself. Kasra stood up, took one more scoop of his favorite Gelato, and walked off to collect his next soul. By the time he faded around the corner someone screamed. “Someone please! My fathers not breathing, get a healer!”