About Valor☼
The nights came swift as they did dangerous. Sounds escaping only moments before the death of thousands. My people trained in the art of magic for centuries in hopes to make safe passage to other lands we believed to be safe . Life after life was taken, as we soon found out that it was like this everywhere. Storms ate away what little cover we had, defending ourselves and scrapping for food was our only hope.
I picked up my first sword at a young age, it was as if it spoke to me, guiding me in the path to surviving. Intense training for years brought my passion, my religion to light only to be shunned as a waste to my people. How could a non spellcaster make it in a world like this?... Determined to prove them wrong the timing couldn't have been better. An evil beast and its kin made it inside the first gate checkpoint. Many lives were lost that day and while the kill cannot go to me alone, I somehow managed. Mircales happen for a reason, whether they are harder paths or lighter, never could I just walk an easier route. To me, struggling was how I knew I was alive. So long as I could fight, I could continue to belong and place myself with the hope my crusade involved with me. My people renamed me Valor. It became my tag as I became a symbol. years and years of discipline and endless nights of fighting made increasing differences. Results came in regularly for a time, and people began to fight back again. A spark was rekindled inside them, I'd given them hope.
The nights were still endless, rarely seeing the sun anymore our lands grew in size, and security was at an all-time high for success rate. I could list the names of the hundreds of friends made in the process. They had died giving their all for our city, this would always be their home, and I would protect it forever. Numerous scars littered my body, no fight was one where we went unscathed. Be it physically or mentally, it took its tole on our bodies or minds or both...
My katana was my symbol, my reminder that to put it down without being dead meant disgrace to those who passed fighting at my command. For every comrade that died I engraved a star, for every life I took, fiend or man, a small gouge in my silver and steel sheath. None shall be forgotten as they are opponents I faced to get here, they are whom granted me continued growth.
It was a year ago, a close friend of mine whom was a wizard and a skilled one at that, was traveling with me, he often took notice in things I didn't care much about, and sometimes given some grief he'd retreat back into our reach. The darkness wanted him, it tried desperately to swallow him from existance, as if he held priority of a steak over a potato. we all fought bravely, yet in the end he was left a tattered mess. my platoon was more than halved that night. None could sleep for weeks after. The wizard was a nice man, his name, 'Zarek' was well known, he was the brightest of our age, and his life was far too short lived. I remember staring at him, half a face left, one of his arms torn at the elbow all but strands of skin held it. his left leg was gone.... eaten by the beast. There he lay, in my arms as though playfully giving his last smile. Insisting I take his belongings to better help our cause. Our healer was dead, only a few martial fighters left including myself.
His dying words, One last time? Release Ikite iru kaze one more time. put me out of my misery... It was as if time itself had stopped for everything but him and me. the beast was mid jump and wasn't moving. my men stared in fear at it frozen as well. "i will remember you always friend..." Notching a star in my sheath i held his hand, tears rolling down my face, a brief moment of silence as I stood there, glaring the beast locked in midair, readying myself ... "go friend, I will send you to the heavens, may peace bring you well deserved comfort" releasing a blow to the beast in the same moment time continued the beast now was nothing more than scraps.
To Be Continued...
