I got sloppy. Again.
And it's doomed me. Again.
I should start at the beginning. My name is Lierin. No family name, not anymore. I left that behind with my last life. When I was alive, I was a duelist. A good one, too. My and my curve blade cut a swatch of death across the dueling scene. Nothing brought be greater joy than watching the light fade out of an enemy's eyes.
Until I fought her. I should have known she was a caster. I didn't realize until too late, when I felt her spell rush through me. That was the end of my life. As I lay dying, she stood over me, asked what I wanted done with my remains. I cursed her. She cursed me right back.
She raised me from the dead, as this...thing. Made me her own personal toy. Mocked me. It took years to break free of her control, to turn her other toys against her. To finally watch the light fade from her eyes. It didn't bring me joy, though. Not like it used to.
But it did bring me peace, if only for a moment. So I set out to do it again, and again. I took up my blade again, and turned my new powers back toward dueling. I can disguise myself as a living elf, so no one knows any better. I always make sure I'm hidden away when the sun goes down, when my disguise melts away.
Most duelists use swords, which don't actually do all that much damage to me. Makes it easier to kill them.
But I got sloppy, I got careless. I had just killed a man in the street. I was in the bar, bragging and partying. I issued an open challenge. Someone accepted.
I didn't expect him to pull a hammer. I didn't expect the hammer to hurt so bad. I didn't expect my flesh disguise to disintegrate immediately. But he did, and it did. I stood exposed before the town. I expected them to destroy me there and then, but they didn't.
They bound me up, shipped me off. And now, here I am. Waiting to be obliterated in some ritual show of force.
They call me a monster, but at least I always gave my victims a chance. This isn't a duel. This is an execution, dressed up to look good for the masses.
But I'm the monster. Right.
