"Is the sun already setting?" Mim said as we walked outside.
"Yeah, you ordered too much for yourself..." I lifted my finger at her.
We had finished it all when neither of us wanted to waste the food we had.
I wanted to take a carriage to the Kraiger crossroad with her... I guess it's too late now...
"But it was too good!"
"I can't disagree with that." I nodded as I spoke.
At least she was able to eat both lunch and dinner at once...
"But now we need to go home already, while I wanted to show you even more..." I could feel my being weighed down by my expressions.
"Oh... I wanted to do it as well..." Her head lowered even deeper than mine.
"We can do it tomorrow, so don't worry about it. We have enough time before I leave again." I lifted my head back up, showing her a smile—having lifted her head as well.
"Really...?" She looked at me with glistening eyes even in the darkness.
"Yes, really."
"Okay~ Lets go everyday! Tomorrow, the day after, the day after that—let's always be busy together!"
"Yes we will..."
What is this feeling I have...
It's difficult to see in front of me...
"Mim do you want to sit on my shoulders?"
"Yes~!" Her voice echoed down the final corner of the alleyways.
"But no matter what keep covering your eyes okay?"
I lifted her up and softly put her on my shoulders.
Fighting should be easier this way... but I should watch out for her head.
Looking up at the sharp debris that sticked out of the walls or roofs in these alleyways.
I could feel my hand tighten around my sword with each step I took.
"We're almost home Mim..." I was unsure who I said it for, as we turned the final corner.
This iron smell...
It was a common smell in Kage, but never this fresh.
Someone has been killed...
"Mim cover your eyes for a bit longer."
"Okay..." I could hear a tremble in her voice.
A slither of light shone from my blade as I advanced forward.
I can't see or hear anything here...
But then, a man—covered in a dark red veil—laid stretched out on the floor.
I raised my head as I looked at the door,
There was no one,
Whose house is this...
I rushed in before I even looked at the nameplate.
As soon as I entered there were two men covering the floor, laying alongside their weapons.
But the blonde haired couple was nowhere to be found.
"Mim can yo—"
Interrupted by the creaking of the door to our room, I grabbed my sword and rushed forward.
"He i—"
I cut his head off, before he could speak.
Who are these people?
Soft coughs could be heard from the left room—my parents room.
I pointed my sword at the door, and took a small step forward, bringing Mim down from my shoulder, and I reached for the door.
Were can she stay? I looked around the room for a safe place, and told her,
"Keep your eyes closed, only open them when I tell you—okay?"
She just nodded.
As long as she understands.
I held her hand, and brought her to the corner of the middle room, next to my parent's room.
"Wait here, and don't move."
I held my blade, and pushed the door open.
A creak more ominous than normal sounded.
One almost telling me not to enter.
But I still did.
Light slowly reached inside the room, revealing two bodies clad in red at the entrance—that obstructed the door.
Then I chose to walk in.
As soon as my first eye passed the door.
I saw it.
A sight I wished to forget.
The 33 years old man, carrying handsome, masculine features, along with a lean body—one showing the life he lived before.
Ewan, a man who had been living in Kage for the past 14 years and 353 days.
He lived alongside his son—Tjer.
A young boy, that carried the same shining gold hair—a beautiful inheritance from both parents.
"Stop running Tjer! Come here." Ewan had been running after his son through their humble home in the middle of the accursed city.
"No!! I won't become a knight!" Tjer screamed back, with tears welling up inside his eyes.
"No, no. You will!"
"Why don't you become one yourself!" Tjer screamed—even when he knew the truth,
"Tjer... do as I say and practice with me. Now!" The first vein bulged down Ewan's forehead.
"No—" As Tjer spoke, his footing disappeared, the only thing left in his sight was the roof.
"Got you." Ewan said, carrying Tjer over his shoulder, while slowing his breathing down—making the vein disappear.
"How did you even catch—"
"ME!?" Tjer screamed, kicking his legs against his father's back.
"Just do as I say." It wasn't just one vein that popped out, his arms had started to tremble at his son's disobedience.
"Okay... but let go of me first." Tjer said, calming his legs down, closing his eyes.
And as soon as Tjer touched the floor, he ran again.
But before he could launch himself—his father's wrath had struck down.
Tjer could feel his brain shake following the heavy bonk that echoed in his head, doing everything he could to keep his balance.
He sat down, already knowing what had happened—it had become a common occurrence after all.
As she heard the ruckus from the next room over—a woman carrying a soft face, long shining blond hair, and a bloated belly—one fitting her eighth month pregnancy.
"EWAN, what did I tell you!?" Mila, Ewan's wife, and Tjer's mother came in, screaming at her son's father.
"B-but HE has to become a knight. NOW!" He had hoped that she wouldn't involve herself this time, but he still retaliated.
"But he is MY son. He needs to be healthy to take care of his sister," she said, holding her belly with a soft smile.
"But yo—you are going to kill him!" Her entire expression twisted, pointing at Ewan as she screamed.
The boy had seen his parents change with each passing day.
From kind, diligent parents, into ones obsessed.
Is it my fault?
Those were the thoughts that crossed the young boy's mind, folding under the weight of his life—one that became heavier, with each passing day.
He had always wanted to ask them, but he didn't dare to.
Always afraid of their answer.
He was left with just one dream,
To survive, and not become like his parents.
He knew his mom could be convinced and said,
"Mom, Dad—don't worry about it, I want to go train. It's my dream after all."
He showed a broad smile, with eyes only able to look at the floorboards holding his parents.
"Sigh... please be careful, and don't get hurt, okay!?" She brought the back of her hand to her forehead.
Ewan lifted his sword of the wall, strapping it around his waist.
"Let's go now Tjer," Ewan said, opening the door.
"Okay dad, I'm coming," Tjer said, grabbing his wooden sword.
Light slowly reached into his eyes, followed by the illuminated darkness spread out on the streets.
It had been two years since he first saw this scenery—it had become natural to him, he was able to evade everything while walking down the alleyways.
When they reached the exit, they continued east.
They walked for more than an hour down the road that led to the far off lights.
When they arrived at their usual spot, his dad held the right side of his chest, taking the same breaths he always did, eyes closed.
He had always told Tjer not to imitate it.
And he never did, but he had seen it—maybe thousands of times.
It had become impossible to forget.
Each movement Ewan did, he could remember it all.
As Ewan opened his eyes, he unsheathed his sword, pointing it at Tjer.
He showed him a new technique every day.
And Tjer followed those movements.
The movements that were like a dance, flowing along each attack.
And as if he had gone on a run for days, Tjer collapsed onto the ground, followed by his dad who had not shed a drop of sweat.
But most all, both were unharmed.
"Tjer get up. I need to see something," Ewan said, grabbing his sword.
"..." The boy wondered what it was, wishing to just lay down next to his father—even if that was all they did.
Even a single moment was enough.
"Here take it."
He threw his sheathed blade at his son.
Tjer almost fell as he caught it, pushing his entire weight forward to stay on both legs.
"Unsheathe it. If you can, I will teach you something tomorrow," Ewan said, sitting upright, staring at his son.
Tjer used a single hand, imitating his father.
He tried to unsheathe it, slowly revealing a reflection of his face.
Huh?!
He was confused by the smiling face that appeared, and continued onward.
But before he could see the tip, his arm had started to cave in.
He lost his balance as he started to tumble over, almost reaching the ground as he realized—I am not my dad.
He took hold of the sword with both hands—still too small for the handle that fit his father's hands.
But he was able to recover—standing upright again—holding a V-shaped stance with his feet.
He recreated everything his father had thought him.
It might not have been as good as he could, but it was good enough.
"Okay be ready tomorrow. I'll start teaching you the real techniques," Ewan said, trying to hold an expressionless face, but the smile still came through.
Something that even Tjer noticed.
"What were you teaching me before then?"
Tjer asked, smiling at his dad's expression.
"These were just the preparations." His expression has steadied out again.
While Tjer forgot to respond, looking at the blade he finally held in his arms, feeling a heat boil up inside of him.
He looked up again, and noticed something,
Huh?!
The sun was reflecting silver in the corner of his eyes.
As he saw his dads figure slowly diminish in the far distance.
He chose to run after him, forcing his body for the last time today.
They walked side by side, calmly disappearing into the sun.
I opened my eyes as the early morning sun touched it.
I did not waste any time as I jumped out of bed into my shoes, remembering my dad's words yesterday.
I opened the door to the next room, and saw my parents sit together at the table.
"Good morning mom and dad."
My face had appeared into my mom's sight, but she did not greet me back—No.
Her mouth opened up with her face tensing together.
It was a look of absolute disgust, quickly shifting her gaze away from me.
Dad stood up abruptly, stumbling as he pushed himself up.
He stepped in close, crouching down until our eyes were a hair's width apart.
As soon as we locked eyes, spit rained down my face,
"CALL ME SIR!"
His face twisted—no long recognizable.
With spit dripping down my face, he calmly turned back and sat down—as if nothing happened.
That was the last day Ewan looked into his son's eyes.
That was the day Ewan stopped being Ewan.
The day he stopped being a father.
It was the day I lost my parents.
"Mom... dad..." I muttered softly as I stood over the strangers' corpses.
Their clothes were soaked in blood before I even saw their faces.
My legs trembled, I couldn't stand upright any longer, and I let my sword fall down its scabbard
I raised my arms in front of me,
"MOM... DAD...!" I screamed, running towards them.
I crouched over their bodies, and put my hands on both their chests.
Hands calm down, please... The only thing I felt was my own trembling.
Until, my right hand felt a thump.
It was soft, but it was there—followed by a soft wheeze.
But my left hand couldn't feel anything,
Why... why can't I feel anything... My lower jaw trembled as I held her wounds, scooping her lost blood back into her cold body.
I could feel my heartbeat throughout my entire body—my heart almost jumped out of me.
Everything was spinning.
My head felt light, and my eyes were burning.
But nothing came to quench that burn.
"Tjer—" I had almost ignored the voice that came from beside me—it was a feeble whisper that reached my ears.
"Wh—what happened?"
"Wait no don't, save your energy!" My bloodied hands grabbed my hair.
"Tjer.... run!" Blood ran down his mouth as he spoke.
"No! You'll both survive... please... get up... dad please..." Embracing his body as I spoke.
He lifted his arm up, albeit slightly, and whispered,
"T-jer... take care... of Mim..."
My arms trembled as he spoke.
"Tjer... follow your... path..."
"I ..."
I can't hear him, I can't hear him—why... even now...
"Dad... No... I ..." Even I spoke fragmented, stopped by something beyond us.
Unable to tell him my true feelings.
Why do I have to lose everything... why...
"I promise to become a knight, I'll achieve my dreams." My head hung with each word I said, unable to stop my fist from trembling.
"No matter what... so please dad..."
"Follo...w yo...ur own—"
He couldn't even finish his last words as time had come for him.
But then a voice came from behind me.
I realized that I hadn't lost everything yet.
"Mom...? Dad...?" The voice trembled, I turned around, and saw the little girl stand there.
Mim...
She lifted her hands in front of her, tears were shattering on the red soaked floorboards,
"MOM! DAD!" She came running toward us, screaming.
"Please... wake up...!"
"Mom... dad..." Her knees scrapped on the floorboards as she dropped herself next to them.
My mind had started to clear up, breathing became easier—but my teeth were still holding my bleeding lower lip from trembling.
I sat in between both of them, with only one thing for me to say,
"Mom, dad... I'm sorry fo-r everything..." The trembling worsened, unable to keep my voice from cracking.
I swallowed the lump that stopped my words from coming,
"I promise to protect her... I'll live my life for her like you wanted me to..." My voice had started to clear up.
And the door creaked right behind us.
One thing was clear,
We don't know him.
I need to move. I looked over at Mim, who sat with her back to the door—she was the closest.
I reached for my waist as I lifted my gaze up.
A man appeared, veiled in black.
He came in as if he didn't exist, letting himself be noticed.
"Sorry kid. But no one her lives." He breathed in, and lunged forward, aiming for the first target in his reach—the little girl.
The daughter that mourned her parents, hadn't noticed it yet.
The man moved faster than my blade could reveal itself.
The reflection of steel had started to shine.
But it kept itself inside.
She would be given a peaceful death...