User blog:AloofComputer/The man who walked alone: Prologue

"Gather round, children, it's time for the bedtime story."

"Grandpa, grandpa, will you tell us about the Fall of Lescatie?"

"Hush, you! It's not *grandpa*, it's Father! Show some respect!"

"Come now, children, no fighting..." the old man smiled tiredly.

"No, that story, I told you many times over... now I'll tell you of a story that few know, a story of a man consumed by grief and despair. A man who carried the sins and faults of us on his shoulders, and managed to forge this truce that we now enjoy. It's not a happy story, mind you... so Lana, don't be too sad and disappointed." The old man smiled again.

The girl named Lana smiled awkwardly.

"But I can say this: it's a story you must all remember. It is important to know, when the burden you choose to bear is too much, and when you have to rely on others. And most importantly, when not to try to shoulder it all by yourselves. If the Fall of Lescatie has taught some lessons, one of these is this."

"Will it have monsters?"

"Yes, William, it will have monsters."

"Cool!"

"Hush, now, we want to hear the story!"

"No fighting, children... now where was I? Oh yes... So our story begins with a young mage, fresh out of the Magical Academy of Lescatie. He had left the city a few weeks before its fall, and so he was spared the horrors. So one day, this young mage, decided to do something about it. He realized he wasn't strong enough to take on the monsters infesting the city, so he joined the Knights of the Order. There he trained in both sword and spell, yet he went through many pains to hide the latter. At day, he swung his sword and trained in his heavy armor, and at night he studied under the light of lone candle."

"That must have been tough!" said William.

"Oh yes, it was tough, but that man had decided to go unaided and unknown. In his mind, his skill would be something to hinder him, if it were known. So he practiced magic in secret, at night, trained at day, thinking of the day he would retake Lescatie back from the monsters.”

“But he was just one man, Father! How could he go against so many?” Lana asked.

“Oh, but that was something the man was wondering himself, after the fall of the city. His plan was to challenge the rulers of the city, the strongest monsters, and defeat them in single combat. So, after he was knighted, he donned his armor, took his horse, and took off to Lescatie on his own.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The children held their breath.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“The people in the nearby villages said they saw flashes in the sky, thunder striking down, and the city in flames. But, alas, none dared approach the city itself. So, after a week, the knight’s horse returned, alone, and on top of it lay the knight’s armor in a bundle. None heard or saw the knight since, but a few days after, an emissary from the Demon King came, offering a truce between the Order and her forces.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“That’s just dumb. They took Lescatie, when it wasn’t theirs! And they didn’t give it back. Why did we agreed?” William said with a scowl.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Oh, William, the world of adults doesn’t work that way.” the old man said with a smile.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“A grand council was held, and it was decided that we should take that offer, and try to rebuild our forces and loss after the fall of the city. And here we are today, where we remain ever vigilant, yet still peaceful.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The old man sighed and rose slowly.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“And that is today’s lesson, children. Don’t follow in the footsteps of that man. His grief and anger made him go through hell, never to be seen again. That means that you must know when you can’t do something, and ask for help. It’s something that can destroy you, trying to do everything alone. But for that you’ll need friends. And to make friends, it means you must not fight among you.” The last lesson, the old man delivered with a wink at the boy.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Come now, it’s time for bed. Don’t forget to pray, and to keep quiet after the bell rings.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yes, Father!” the choir of the children’s voices echoed in the small room.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The old man watched, still smiling, as the children walked to their beds, after offering their prayers to the Chief Deity. After extinguishing the candles, he made his way to his own room. The darkness hid his own dark expression and the cloud over his eyes.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Opening the door from the children’s bedroom and out to the courtyard, ha was greeted by the moonlight of the full midsummer moon, and a knight who was leaning casually on the wall.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">The old man acknowledged the knight with a nod, and the knight stood upright.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You know that I could arrest you for telling the story of the Forgotten one” the knight said with a frown. “It is forbidden to even speak his name-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Spare me your threats, Commander” the old man answered, but his voice was loaded with fatigue and sorrow. “He was once your most promising knight. He even saved me from myself. And we repayed him with burdens, and an impossible duty-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“It was his choice, old man. He knew what he was in for. Hell, it was him that actually came up with it!” the knight’s voice betrayed his irritation, and a tinge of frustration.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Maybe so” replied the old man, as they both walked across the courtyard. “But still, it was something we participated, something we agreed. We have his blood on our hands too, and that burden will be on my shoulders till my grave.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You dwell too much on it, Father” the knight replied. ''Who would have thought, that one of the top priests of the order would step down and choose to be a caretaker at a no-name orphanage. '' But the knight didn’t voice this thought. “In the end”, he continued, “he accomplished something that we failed to do for years; he actually gave the monsters pause. I don’t think he would be angry or disappointed at you, or me.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The old man looked upwards, and the moon reflected in his eyes. “I wonder, did he survive? Is he looking us from above? You don’t know how much I’ve prayed, begging to be given a sign to settle my thoughts and calm me. Something to tell me what he has found peace at last.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">The knight remained silent. Only their footsteps broke the night’s silence.

Greetings everyone. This is my first fic here, and English isn't my first language, so there may be a few errors here and there (and over there too). Criticism is much appreciated. I can't pinpoint the fic to a certain genre; it has some intense moments, some angst, some bloodshed and violence, some funny and/or ridiculous moments, some R18+ moments, and maybe some more as I go along. And it is getting long. Like, really long. Also, irregular posting is my modus operandi, I may post two or three chapters within a day, and leave it for a month. Enjoy.