User blog:Isaac Kifer/Echoes of a raison d'être

"In the shadow of fate, what's left before a person are the choices that will echo all throughout their life." -Unknown.

In an area of secluded woods, a lone Holstuar walks. Her scared body hidden beneath torn rags that would occasionally snag on some of the passing brush. Her horns are chipped, cracked and broken, only a small ribbon tied to her left horn is in clean condition. A burlap sack held the supplies for her trip. If she'd need to, she trade small trinkets or do hard labor to pay for supplies. It was long since she had a ranch to be a part of, a farm to call home, a family to love and hold dear. She couldn't go back to her old life, not after what happened. It was years ago, but the memories left scars on every aspect of her. Her body had been broken and scared by the blades and beatings of her assailants. Her mind was fractured and it was hard to keep her dark thoughts out. Her heart had been torn from her chest when her partners were killed in their sleep, when the boy she doted on and helped raise was slaughtered before her eyes. She failed to save any of them and there was rarely a night when her sleep wasn't plagued with nightmares.

She sighed and looked up at the grey sky above, her heart wretched and she reached under the rags hiding her patchwork clothes and held a tiny locket in her hand with a tight grip. She had wondered if there was any way if she could've stopped what happened. She was alone in this world and there was little reason for her to keep going, yet she still did. Something kept her going. She didn't know what, but something did. It was revenge. She wanted revenge against those who had taken everything away from her. Her home. Her family. Her love. Even if it left her empty inside afterwards, she wanted nothing else but to see them burn. Only then did she think she'd be free.

But fate has strings in everything and weaves its pattern as it will. The Holstuar sits down against a tree, letting her thoughts wander. Her eyes glazed over as she daydreamed of a different life. Maybe one where she had been successful, at least partially. Maybe instead of being the only survivor, the boy made instead of her. Maybe he had taken up his parents mantle and started a ranch, settled down with a nice woman or mamono. That he was living a happy life. She had gotten so lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the strange fog that settled into the forest. As tears rolled down her eyes, only then had she realized that something had changed. The forest was thinner, and there was more activity than there had been before. But there was something else, something that caught her attention when she heard it. "Get great deals on Kifer brand products right here! Farm fresh products and great deals on plenty of products right here!" A voice calls out.

She couldn't believe it. She hadn't heard that name in ages. She had to know, she needed to know and started making her way out towards the voice. It was a mobile kart run by a Gyoubu-Danuki. There were people and mamonos buying food and drinks along with other items from her. The Holstuar stood there in confusion. It wasn't possible, she was the only survivor. As the crowd disperse, she rushes up to the kart before the Gyoubu-Danuki closes the shutters. "Hey, hold on a minute!" She calls out. "Hmm? What can I do ya for? A bite to eat, something to wet your whistle, maybe even a little spice for the bedroom eh?" She says pitching a sale. "No, you mentioned a name, Kifer. How do you know that name?" The Holstuar asks her. The Gyoubu-Danuki raises an eyebrow. "What are you on about? I'm a merchant working with the guy, he's my husband. I should be asking that question now shouldn't I?" She asks leaning over the counter. The Holstuar stammers to try and make up an explanation while the Gyoubu-Danuki inspects the Holstuar. She sighs and leans back into her kart. "Look, I don't have all day to spend discussing the frequency of certain names with you, so I'll just assume you've heard about Isaac through other sources looking for reliable mercenaries and just leave it at that. But if you do need a mercenary or perhaps want to buy something, just rip this card and I'll work some magic on my end, got it?" She says handing over a small paper card to the Holstuar.

The Holstuar just stares on in disbelief as the kart makes it way off down the road. How had this happened? Isaac was supposed to be dead along with his parents. She was supposed to be the only one who escaped that tragedy. How then, did she end up in a world that he was still alive? For the time being, it didn't seem to matter much as she went down the road after the kart. With hope in her heart, she set off, her revenge could wait. For now, she had to find out how things turned out. What became of the boy she couldn't save in one life.