User blog:Ore-samma/My Wright (Hero) (anti-hero)

Hello Fans, Ore-samma here!

A special request from a new fan. Thank you for the story prompt! I really think it was a good one!

''The Human Protagonist of the Story should be a loyal follower of the Chief God in the beginning. Not a Hero but someone capable of holding a Sword like a decent soldier at least. Even if he is nothing special he takes pride in fighting for humanity and the order with the ambition to do his part in the conflict no matter how small it may be. He is a eager reader of a old book, a story of a lone Hero of old times who once sacrificed herself, to distract parts of a monster army, which enabled another party of heros to sneak behind the lines deeper into Monster territory, to get to a former Monster Lords castle. Idealizing this Hero he tends to value self sacrifice and tries to mimic her deeds.''

''The Mamono Protagonist of the Story should be a Wight, a powerful Heroine of old times revived through demonic Energy. Definitly far superior compared to a decent soldier in combat. Regreting to have died without feeling the pleasures she became a debauched personality. Drinking, eating, being lazy in bed, everything that she considered selfish in livetime she now intents to catch up with twice the passion. Generally she enjoys her new life to the fullest now as she feels that she wasted her last one.''

''Realizing that his idolized Hero became a Monster that he should despise and destroy, the protagonist may have stumbled into his very own tale. Will this end in his own heroic death that he dreamed about while reading the book?''

Quite a long premise and it turned out very well all the same!

Hope you like it!

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Ever your Servant-

Ore-samma!

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I stood, almost shaking. I had already raised my knuckles several times to knock, but stopped each time.

''Why am I so nervous? This is what I wanted all my life! To be a hero! To make a difference! To BE the difference others looked to!''

I exhaled and knocked. Three distinct raps upon the heavy oak door and waited.

Come in! A muffled voice sounded from behind the door.

I strode in, surrendering my weapons to the elite bodyguards and stood in the presence of the Supreme High Commander of the Armies of the Emperor, General Ulysses Grant.

“Sergeant John Fullson.” Grant said, striding over to me, his sharp grey eyes pierced deep into my soul- so much so I felt rooted to the spot and was left struck dumb.

Being here, in his office where the war council just recently vacated….

My eyes drifted over the polished black marble columns and surfaces inlaid with silver runes. The stained glass windows depicting the chief deity and other historical moments. There were quite a few attendants who drafted plans, letters, and studied the map that showed the current progress of the campaign.

The entire room held a strange silence, punctuated with the slight rustle of paper or scratches of quill upon what may very well be the pages of history.

“The General has addressed you, Sergeant!” One of the bodyguards snapped.

“Sir!” I blurted and saluted.

“Easy- everyone!” Grant said in a soothing tone. “Soldiers even like myself must give a hero, even a soon-to-be hero their proper due.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled, the lines on his face accentuating the image of a grizzled and noble commander- no, Leader of men.

“Sir! Th-thank you, sir!” I said with a nod and dropped my salute.

Grant chuckled, “Come now, it won’t do to stand on ceremony. In a few days, I will be giving your praises before the entire nation! Your name will be heralded in history far longer than mine, and the day will come when your name will be taught in schools, while I will just be a footnote in the history books.”

I felt a sudden release of the pent up stresses in my body and exhaled. “You make it sound so….”

Grant shook his head. “John, let me tell you something. I wish I had the courage, and the ability to do what you are doing now.” He strode to a tiny chest upon his desk and rested his hand on it.

The chest, almost the size of a large shoe, was made from a black ebon wood, inlaid with silver runes of all types. Even from beyond the door I could feel its raw magical energy and destructive force.

“But-” Grant continued, moving his hand away from the small chest, “-the Emperor and I both know that the armies of The Order need experienced command.” He clenched his fist and jaw. “Older men than I, see the younger men as ‘expendable resources’ in the machine of war. But that is the most foolish, and stupid thing I have ever heard from those fools!” He turned to me and his face lost its fatherly lines and were now the lines of a soldier, a warrior.

“When the wars are over- who will replace the Emperor? Me? And those older than me?” He placed his hand on my shoulder again.

“Men like you! Men who are brave, eager and willing to ensure that we survive to give the generations that come after us a chance to live in peace.”

I nodded as his words pulled at the very nature I held to my core. The very words that my most idolized Heroine spoke before she sacrificed herself to ensure a victory eons ago.

“The words of Cortana Gainsborough.” I said in a wistful smile. “The last great hero.”

Grant nodded with a smile. “I do hope you forgive this old man for reminiscing on the past, but if we have not heroes to look up to, what example can the rest of us- even me,  follow? Who leads us in these dark times.” He smiled as he removed his vivid dark purple mantle and secured it to my shoulder plates. “And to those who actually do, we can only give them the acknowledgement that they do- not for selfish reasons, but for the love of others, their people, and all those who depend on them.”

I felt my chest swell with a certain, strange love as I saw the visions of the faces of all those I have served alongside. Former comrades, some dead, some alive, the men,women and children who were caught up in the fires of war….and this was my moment….my chance to be a hero.

“I will not fail you, General!” I said, taking the small box in my hands and looking upon it….the magic somehow seemed….different, like it was comforting melody, rather than a chaotic force of utter destruction. “I will not fail!” I muttered and tucked it in my side pouch.

General Grant smiled and nodded. “I believe in you, John.” He turned to his armoire and pulled out a scabbard. “This is the scabbard of Cortana’s sword; Vital Gigas.” He pointed to my scabbard. “I would gladly trade it for yours.”

I nodded and loosed my empty scabbard from my belt and gingerly accepted the priceless relic. “But sir- it will be destroyed!” I said, looking at the masterwork.

“Well, then its a good thing that I have yours.” Grant tucked it away. “Do you think you’re any less of a hero, John?”

“I- well….I-” I sputtered, to think that this was actually happening, that this was real!

“John, soon…..you will take your place besides the heroes of old. You will stand among them, as their equal.” He saluted. “Thank you for all that you have done for us, and all that you have yet to do.” The General full on broke military protocol and saluted.

I felt my eyes well with tears, but kept my composure and returned the salute. “Thank you sir, The Emperor protects!”

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(POV CHANGE)

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I yawned and stretched, feeling the glorious interwoven silks from all types of mamono. Arachne, Mothgirl, Wonderworm, and the Greenworm; all laced together and dyed a rich purple color.

“Aaah, soft bed.” I sighed as I sat up and smiled at the plate that was ready and waiting for me by my zombie attendants.

“Ah! Breakfast in bed! Apple pie, chocolate cake, sweet holstaur milk- mixed in with Hakutaku curds and-” I plucked a delectable strawberry and plopped it in my mouth, crunching its sweet tart flesh around the mellow flavorus of the apple pie. “-Lillarune grown strawberries!” I sighed and rested back in bed for a moment as I chewed, looking at my form that never grew fat in the ceiling mirror above my heart shaped bed.

“Hmmm,”  I yawned and stretched again and rolled over, leaving my bed behind as my attendants already started to see to its cleaning and its turnover.

Next was the shower and bath! I do so loved my baths!

I strode into the magical water room and activated the rune that sprayed water from nine different spots- scalding hot.

Another portion of my room activated and spilled a waterfall of lukewarm water.

I raised my hands and flowed my various fragrant soaps and cleansers to scrub my body clean.

I sighed, looking at the tiles through half-lidded eyes and saw my own distorted face looking back at me at the polished and gemstoned Lapis Luluzi.

An internal trigger went off in my being letting me know it was getting to be noon….was it still that early? Oh well-

I strode over to my cold immersion tub and sighed as the cold water bit into my flesh and lulled my senses into a deep calm.

I meditated in the dim room illuminated only by the magical stones I enchanted and waited….for lunch….

Right on cue- my attendants strode into the room bearing three plates of succulent morsels.

I sampled on honeyed ham, twice-brined roast beef, holstaur cheeses and succulent deserts made by Satyr chefs who imbued it with their delectable wines that I sipped from a golden goblet.

“This is so good!” I sighed as I saw my breath mist from the combination of the cold room and cold air.

“Don’t you think its about time you stopped living like a hedonistic despot?” A strong voice called out, making me cough as I sipped more wine.

“Var’Vess!” I cried out and jumped out of my cold immersion pool and strode up to her, naked and unashamed, crossing my arms and clicking my fingers for another bearer to come forth with her silver bowl of chocolates.

“You’ve a lot of nerve to come here when I am bathing!” I said with a sneer as I stuffed handfuls of the caramel filled delectables in my mouth.

Var’Vess glanced over the sweets I was stuffing in my face with a bored expression and gave a small sigh.

“Cortana, you’ve been stuffing your face with the finest food, sleeping days upon days away on the finest silks, thrill seeking, pleasure seeking, and yet- not only are you unsatisfied, but you also refuse to take on a husband.” She shook her head. “This won’t do for much longer you know. It won't take long before you can no longer fool yourself that your entire being craves love, not gratification!”

“It’s your fault!” I screeched at her. “You were the one who brought me back! Why did you bring me back? This wasn’t supposed to happen!”

Var’Vess shook her head again. “You were the one who begged me, remember? Honestly, I don’t understand why you-”

“And if I may remind YOU!” I said, crying, feeling my tears ruin the taste of the caviar I was trying to eat around my frenzied words. “I was deprived all my life! All my life I was either an orphan eating gruel or worse! Then I was a slave- oh wait, a cloistered sister eating gruel, nuts, or unsweetened berries!” I cried, like I always had before Var’Vess’ powerful eyes. She reminded me of my nearly-always-present longing….and damn, I hated to be reminded of it.

“I never had anything!” I cried out, wiping my chin and lips. “Good food, a warm bed, a safe home, or arms to hold me! But I could fight- and that’s all the Order wanted from me. A scrap of meat there, a dollop of gravy there when Cortana was being a good girl mutt for their bloodlust!”

I started to hyperventilate, and I lost the strength to stand, still crying. “And then- then- then- you- you- you- you RUINED my chance to be a hero to the people!” I wiped my eyes and nose, snot and tears mixing in with a salty bitter taste that was slimy and repulsive.

“By welcoming you into my home? By feeding you, clothing you? By giving you the life you always wanted?”

“After I was already dead!” I shrieked, already knowing and dreading, but so unable to walk back and away from the same lines of argument my Patron and I had done many times before.

“Yes, after you were dead…..and who killed you, hmmmm?”

I choked on my sobs and wailed with my face in my hands. “The Order sent me to die.”

“Mmmm-hmmm, they sent you on a suicide mission that didn’t pan out so well, and just like all the other times we have come to this argument and result- I grow tired of it. You have been wallowing in your self-destructive denial for far too long, and I care too much about you to see you in this shallow hedonistic agony.... Wrapped in gratification, but so longing for something real, like the love only a husband can give!" She cupped my chin and wiped my eyes with the gentleness of a mother.

“So, I wish to give you the chance to be married, in a day or so.”

“Wh-what?” I gasped, feeling a strange pull at the idea of having a husband.

Var’Vess nodded. “Yes. The man you are to marry is actually set upon the same path as you were.” She straightened and tapped her chin in deep thought. She looked down upon me again.

“He has a Rift Device, but his is a thousand times more powerful than yours. His name is John, and he has been led to believe he will be a hero to The Order, following your example.”

I stood. “What? The fool! He mustn’t!”

Var’Vess nodded. “Yes, you are correct. Because the Archmages have already opened a portal that will transport him to our forward stronghold. We are slowing him down as we evacuate, but we cannot stop them from entering, and the Rift Device is set to detonate on his willed command.”

Var’Vess helped me to my feet and manifested a cloth and wiped my face, nose and eyes and smiled at me with a warm, reassuring flair.

“Cortana, I love you. I want the best for you. I want you to get over the grief you have of the life you had, and spent in such mindlessness. Look forward to a life here, with those who care for you….and find love. It is the most important thing of all!” She hugged me with her arms and wings. “I am sure we can handle John, so I won’t force this upon you...but I beg you; will you be a hero for me, as you were for The Order?”

I sniffed and ate one more chocolate….it didn’t taste the same anymore….it tasted hollow. I spat it out in the handkerchief and nodded. “I will try.”

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(later)

(POV CHANGE)

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I strode through the light and blinked, looking at my surroundings.

This was it! The forwards fortress! If the mamono lost this stronghold they would forever be-

“Hello John.”

I spun around and pulled my sword free and-

“My name is Cortana Gainsborough.”

“'' ...you…. ''” I whispered, feeling my sword fall between my fingers and clattered to the ground.

And as if in a dream, there she was….Cortana.

Her pale blonde hair almost seemed to glow in the dim light of the fortress, framing her pale skin that had the barest of blue tinge. Her blood red eyes almost seemed to glow making her blinking wildly exotic. Her body flowed and heaved within her simple red velvet dress, hugging her curves and revealing glimpses of her more vulnerable features.

Cortana looked at my face and her eyes traced down towards the scabbard at my hip.

“Ah! You have the other half of Vital Gigas!” She breathed and held out her hand. “May I see?”

“How- How can you be alive!” I blurted, my mind sent reeling from the shock of what I was seeing. “You died! You died a hero! You died fighting for the Order! How is it you are here! Alive!”

“Goodness, John.” Cortana said in a low voice. “You are asking a lot. Would you actually be willing to hear me out? Maybe you are hungry? Would you like something to eat?”

She gestured in the air and gave a few sniffs making me realize the smell of good food was everywhere.

“....I...”

I knew I should have activated the command the instant I emerged from the portal I knew I should not trust anything here as it was told to me time and time again….but….

“By the way- here, allow me to show you proof that it is indeed I.” She held up a blade and turned it to me, hilt first. “I surrender to you, John, here is my weapon, Vital Gigas.”

I took the blade and inspected the hilt and placed it in the scabbard….it fit like a glove, even completing grooves that were etched in the heat of battle….it fit….perfectly.

“No tricks! No deceptions!” I growled.

Cortana nodded. “Of course, this way?”

I sat down at a long table, expecting Cortana to sit across, but she sauntered closer and placed her chair right next to mine and even leaned into my shoulder.

I exhaled, trying to stop my sweaty palms, trying to stop my pounding heart, trying to not look at her well-sculpted cleavage that rose and heaved with every wine-fragrant breath.

A serving of succulent pig and roasted chicken was served on our plate, followed by sea corn with mountain potatoes, mashed and mixed with sour cream and holstaur butter.

“In all truthhood, I am not exactly alive anymore, John.” Cortana murmured, leaving her utensils untouched and still as she continued to lean into my shoulder as I sampled the glorious food. So, you are correct when you say that I died and died a hero. She turned to me and smiled, giving me a slow, demure blink. “I am alive because my current Patron Var’Vess revived me as an undead mamono.”

“You….you don’t have a problem with all that?” I almost choked.

Cortana sighed and traced her fingers upon my arms. “I did. Very much so at first.” She sighed and her face grew sad and distant. “John, what do they say about me within the spheres of The Order?”

I sighed and recounted the tales of her heroism, her wondrous speeches to the masses, and her final act to see a victory won.

“Is it true? Or was it all falsehood?” I said, feeling a certain anger seeing Cortana’s sad face the more I spoke.

Cortana nodded. “I suppose you could say that….perhaps one day, if you still decide to be the hero you see in your hearts of hearts….someone will summarize the tragedies of your life like you just did with mine.”

“Tragedies?”

Cortana nodded, “Tales so very often leave out that which is inconvenient. It was inconvenient for me to have been born an orphan from the slums of Burvash, it was inconvenient for me to be a cloistered sister-warrior, you remember them in your history books as the slaved battalion….and it would be inconvenient for me to have been fed an illusion of glory….just as you have.”

“How do I know you’re not lying to me?” I said. It had to be lies, it had to be! This was not the Cortana I knew from all the stories and tales!

“Would you prefer a Truthwynd potion? A dreamfast?”

Her gaze kept steady in mind, and somehow….I just knew she spoke the truth.

I exhaled and looked at the Rift Device, “What do I do now?”

Cortana shrugged. “That is up to you, John.” She stood. “This fortress has been abandoned long ago.” She stood and gestured around herself. “You can destroy this fortress and the many miles around it. You will die, you will be known as a hero amidst The Order for many many years to come….or...”

“Or?” I stood with her.

“You can be my husband.” She strode up to me and dusted my shirt and traced her fingers over my chest and shoulders. “You may see yourself as mediocre, as a simple soldier in the Order.” Her eyes flicked up to mine. “But to me, I see myself in you. I want to be there for you like no one was there for me.” Her eyes took on a begging light. “I want to know love, and I want it to be you. What about your life? Was it spent in desperation like mine? Is dying a hero the one thing you hoped for to give you peace? To be loved….but what if I was to love you? Would it be enough?”

I panted, wondering what I should do….who should I believe….what did I want?

I looked from the box and to her, my hands and body trembling.

“Or maybe, if you like….we can die together?” She said, pressing her hands to my face. “At the very least my longing would be over….and so would yours, it would seem….but….if you do want to end it this way….I would like to ask just one thing from you...”

“ Wh...what ?” I said, feeling her pull my face closer.

'' “Please, give me my first kiss….. ''”

I felt the box tumble from my hands as my lips met hers, as our tongues embraced as did our bodies. I felt my heart thunder in my chest, felt the vibrations of the trembling her own heart made as our chests pressed closer and closer.

How was this possible? I wondered how could I let go of everything I ever wanted so easily in a single moment?

And in the next moment I knew as both of our first kiss broke and I stared into her glowing pink eyes, a small trail of saliva from her lip to mine.

Because what I truly wanted, was love….and it was right here in front of me.

I exhaled as I pressed close again, not even noticing another mamono take the box away, as we were guided to a bedroom and the curtain and door was shut upon a new fate for me and for her.

A fate filled with love and life.