-*let me tell you a story about a knight*-
Once upon a time, a boy was born from the woods.
And was raised by a family of wolves.
The wolves was loving and caring
Teaching him new things
But one day they were gone
This left the boy saddened
He tried to find them but cannot
And so the boy stood and hoped he could find a loving family again.
He found a small village, everything was dirty and smelly. He didn't want to stay for long, but he still hoped he could find a loving family... But he lost his path and ended up in an abusive household. Everyday was torture for him.
He has a power of three men even from a young age. Perhaps it was because he grew up in the forest, thus they abused his strength. Years had passed. He couldn't bare it anymore. One bloody day, he killed all of those that made a mockery of his existence. With the blade in his hand, he did not feel anything. Even all the blood he spilled. He looked at the dead bodies with a distasteful stare. No remorse. None.
Instead of an execution harsher than death, his abilities was recognized. And was put as a sacrificial pawn from an endless war with pointless outcomes. The boy exceeded their expectations. He survive through many battles. And so a merciless knight was born.
-He did not chose this path. This path chose him.-
Ever since I have lost my family. Everyday was nothing but torment after torment.... How come animals are more human than them their selves. It's pathetic...
But then there was this one single moment. Where a child came to me. Out of nowhere she gave me a flower. I took the flower and then in front of me.. an innocent child was smiling at me. Why is she not.. afraid? Is it just me, or everything is way too bright. Before I new it I was blinded by such light. Perhaps because of how I have been living in the shadows for innumerable years. I do not even know how old I am. Then her father picked her up worriedly. I knew her father, he's a knight also... I have killed hundreds of men, mercilessly... what for? I have been into countless battles for what? For glory? In honor for the ruthless King? While we won several times, I can see how we are still burning inside. But of all people I saw burning was myself. I see myself burning greatly as to like a witch being burned at a stake. For the first time of my life in that moment, I shed of what they call tears. Forgive me, brethren. Forgive me dear wolves.
At this point onwards, I have doubts on going to battles. The men I have slaughtered.
-From merciless to merciful-
Every victory is just a march towards another torment. Countless men slaughtered with no great visions in mind.
If this is my purpose I shall waste no time. I myself, need to perish from this Godforsaken world... In the end, I found no reason why there is a purpose to live. Why do we even live when we are all just running around in circles.
So I marched
At the woods where I come from
At the village I have once travelled
A little bit far north more
And behold, I arrive
Here at Lake Constance
I unsheathed mine own blade
And gripped it tightly
The blade who is a reminder
That who stands before this lake
Is no Knight but just a murderer
I have forgotten how to love.
That is my greatest undoing.
Yet was inevitable, as I have encountered nothing but pigs and forced to slaughter pitiful lambs.
I may be born from wolves, born to swallow lambs. But in the end I am nothing but just a lamb in wolf's clothing,
I stared upon the body of water
Fit enough to put all those I have slaughtered
I closed mine eyes.
As I was about to become one with the water. Forever.
I noticed something. Something had changed, the air seems different. So I opened my eyes. I was invited to Hell. A barred door, appeared in front of me. And so I thought to myself. If I'm going to perish from this world, I might as well suffer more, to account to those who I have killed. I walked upon the body of water knowing it would carry me towards the barred door. And so I opened it. And God knows what destiny shall reach upon me here.
-a surge of lighteth blind'd me and in searcheth f'r a h'rrible death to account f'r those who is't i've slay'd instead what i has't discov'r'd wast m're than just death-
My first expedition in Hell. I have not encountered something like this before. Everything was... phenomenal. I was intrigued by the light sources. It is not a lamp, torches, nor lanterns. It does not even look like it is emitted by fire. But more strange matters unfold upon venturing deeper. When I encountered numerous beasts. It seems like it's a pack. They are like wolves but disfigured. I tried leaving them alone but one of them detected me. It screamed and began to come at me followed by its pack. I thought about running but I stood my ground. I will live and suffer greatly that way I can account to what I have done. To live in order to slowly die. I inhaled. And closed mine eyes. The sword I have used mercilessly in lambs now I will use to behead those servants of Satan. "Those I have slaughtered, I do not ask for forgiveness. As I slowly succumb to the darkness. I will not join my fellow brethren, as to when my time will end, my soul will forever rest in this hell." I faithfully uttered, as I exhaled and opened mine eyes and I reached for the sword, and it only took one slash to decimate one pack of beasts. And then I closed mine eyes again.....
Two days had passed. Mine stomach is growling at me. It has been a week now, with no energy to store in my vessel. I can slowly feel, my head spinning, my arms shaking, my legs weakening. This is good. To die slowly out of hunger. And just I turn around the corner, I heard a beast screaming furiously. I turn around another corner, and I saw the beast trying to break down a metallic door. Its huge compared to the disfigured wolves. In this case, it can be compared with a disfigured man. Very. Disfigured. I theorize someone might just be in the other side of that door. A pitiful prey. I tried sneaking up to the beast but it quickly noticed me as I was stumbling upon my weakened state. Just about it was about to attack I noticed it takes a while before it hits, so with no other thought I stabbed it through its chest, and it dies instantly. Somehow this time, it felt like I just murdered a lamb again. I don't know why. And as I was about to fall when I entered the broken down door. I saw
-I saw a helpless hare before me.-
I stared at him, I... I stared.... I fell down. I steered my head to look at him. And I slowly closed mine eyes and fell unconscious again.
----In the winter days when I was still a kid, I sought for food with the wolves.... I have not yet found anything. But after days of looking in the harsh winter, I found a bunny caught in a bear trap. Without any hesitation. I helped the bunny. I wonder why.---
Was that a dream or a memory that I stumbled upon. The next thing I knew was a stranger trying to feed me. I started of with an aggression just because he's nothing but a stranger that might lurk danger. However, this fellow is a bit of a chatter which makes him less suspicious I reckon or the opposite. There's something that is strange that dwells this fellow, from his clothing, the way he speaks sounds so peculiar? Verily, I still don't trust him. But I prefer this journey to be taken only mine.
Upon hearing his useless monologue... What does he mean by to double the chances to live? I came here to die, and suffer alone. After we had made ourselves known to one to another, I declined his offer of companionship and said "I owe you no loyalty, begone. Let me dwell and abide the torment in peace.". I turned mine shoulders from his sight, but it seems he got more to say. "Fine, I don't have the right to force you, you saved me and I saved you. That's that." he exclaimed as if that is enough to influence me. "Indeed." I uttered these words, as I took mine leave, walking apace. I noted his fallen look, as I gazed upon him briefly, and thereafter I gazed ahead again. Verily, I do bear admiration for him, despite that many shall force their will upon me.
Thus I embarked upon mine odyssey of desolate solitude once again. Without a chatter it sure is very quiet. One day alone has flown, and I do take back what I had spoke. This fellow showed a wondrous stubbornness in following hard upon me still. I sighed as I continue on this "solitude" journey of mine. If he gets eaten alive so be it.
Been marching for days with no rest. Little rests did I allow, and those but to grant mine stalker a breathing-space, as I did heed his failing wind upon following me restlessly. And proceeding yet another mile forth, I do sense the very essence of the atmosphere alter. As if it tries to tell me be at my best guard. The presence of mine fellow is gone, either he died or he felt the pressure also, albeit none of it concerns me. Then upon walking for another minute, a large ominous door rests before me. I have left behind of what fear means to me now. Ergo, I placed my unshaken hands at the massive handle and opened it.
What I saw inside was an empty large circular room, the floor at the center seems odd, as well aware also of the beast that lurk inside the room. I stood at the center, and just as I expected, the enemy started to show itself... dramatically inside the walls. The beast appears to be a woman of some sort, but i believe it has heightened intellect compared to the other beasts. It has no eyes, and its head is split open similar to like a fly trap. Her "dress" is covered with sharp rock spikes. She's attached to the walls as if it is her. It keeps laughing. Smiling at me as it creepily hugs herself. "This.. I'm not sure if I will make it alive, so... I hope this hurts." I expressed, as I inhaled, closed mine eyes and gripped mine sword tightly. And as the beast was about to attack me with its rock bending abilities, -
-I exhaled-
And opened mine eyes. I swiftly dodge the boulders. She kept laughing while throwing boulders at me. Left, at my back, left again, right, I dodge it all. I kept dodging her as I try to think of a way to defeat her. Then a set of boulders is about to spiral down to me again. Left, right, right, in front, three, at front and sides.. !! I looked up, and there was a massive boulder about to crushed me. But I stood my ground. And crushed the massive boulder with my raw strength alone. This killed the smile of the beast, I smirked in return. It enrage her of course. Boulders are flying everywhere, I jump and jump, danced around the room, with each step contributing to the whole performance. The beast was still furious, with every throw of her boulders she groans. And then upon the light reflections I noticed two pieces of crystal at the beast. Engraved in her head and another one in her chest. With no hesitation, I instantly threw a piece of rock with all my might and precisely hit her crystal in her head. This was a mistake however. As it did kindle her wrath exceeding, her force grew twofold. What I must did was threw a projectile simultaneously both of her crystals. I tried throwing several rocks but failed, and it began protecting its chest knowing its my target. But alas, another fatal mistake was made. My sidestep was my undoing, a boulder grazed at my left shoulder disrupting my rhythm. A sinister smile was visible to the beast as it quickly made two hands out of boulders and grabbed me tightly. I groaned a little with a grimace. The beast then laughed so hard. Then it stopped. "Klein." It maliciously said. I only gave her a stare as I was not that surprised. Her smiled dropped for a second, then went back again. The beast then decimated the center floor of the room revealing "true hell" the beast spoke. "I Knoww Whaaat you've been throuuuuugh" She said as she continue to smile ominously. "You wishh to sufferrr for eternityy. I'm one offf the onee that couldd bring it to you.." She laughed. Then I cast a glance at the hell hole... and I stared at it. I hear the screams. The men who ran. The men who begged. None of them which didn't live for another day upon meeting my gaze. Do they have a family? A loved one? A promise they will live another day? I have crushed it all didn't I. And with a sigh, I murmured willingly
-Drop me-
The beast made me her last smile and dropped me off...
"Ever since I have walked upon this world, I was already made to be a killing machine, alone and unlovable,... but how I wish I have someone I can say goodbye to.. So I can smile at the end of my journey." I murmured as I fall down the pits of hell. Without a single trace of closure and still full of regrets and sorrow....
But an idiot suddenly appeared. "Do you really want to end things just like that?!". He roared as he managed to grab me by my hand but he fell too. He however manage to grab the edge with his other arm. "Live! *groans* ack- I'm here!" he groans. "I'm here!, so LIVE.".
I stared at him dead in the eye.
"If you end things just like this then it won't bring any peace to anyone. SO QUIT SHITTING AROUND AND LIVE. YOU WANNA SUFFER RIGHT?! THEN LIVE! LIVE WITH DIGNITY. LIVE AND CARRY YOUR SINS."
"It would never be washed away upon the shore, but you can rebuild yourself. And these sins can become your foundation. Rebuild yourself! No matter what happened in the past. It's never too late to build something new. Someone worth building it for." He exclaimed as he struggles to pull me.
I smirked
and look down at my feet
and below the pits of hell.
A rain of tears fell.. and closed mine eyes again.....
Then as loud as the thunder I yelled.
I clambered upright, Anis's stalwart arm lending me support, whereby I reclaimed my sword fallen amidst the battle ground. Gathering myself, I took my stance, and with mighty intent, I launched forth the blade with all force I could command, hurling it as a deadly bolt through yon beast's chest! It sought to parry the stroke with sundry shields, yet proved unable to withstand the ferocity thereof. The monster uttered a deathly shriek as it succumbed to its mortal wound, yielding its last breath.
I kneeled upon the relief I have felt and fell down. And I laughed.. I laughed.... And cried I went.
Anis bespoke me softly
"You won't be alone from here now on."...
"I'm here."