Challenge Assignment: Epic

Trust

Courage, it’s the strongest of Swords. Friendship, it’s the greatest of shields. Trust, may it be broken as it eternally stands tall. Heroes, that is who they are, and who they were supposed to be.... Who said a “Hero” has to be good? Fear, it’s the armor that weighs us down. Betrayal, it’s the one that connects us all. Trust, it’s the one sin that all will commit.

“We protect the people. We shall be the sword that smites evil. We shall be the armor that shields the faithful,” They say. The oath that knights swear on, the oath that gives the title of “heroes”. The Knights that would set out for war tomorrow to show their honor by the sword and to their country. Their words echo in my head, “We protect the people”.

What do they mean by protection? Do they save us from harm? Do they prevent our injuries? All that we know is that we can put our trust in them, because they have the Sword that would slay evil. They are our protectors; they carry the items to defend the people. Radiant silver armor, our symbol of salvation; an iron chainmail to prevent all projectile attacks, bracers and grieves of mithril to protect our men from fatal strikes. Azure sapphire shields, our barrier of trust; a golden outline surrounding an elegant indigo design, a fierce dragon ready to strike, our kingdom’s emblem. Scarlet swords forged out of the ashes of sacred flame, stained by sins and blood; a dark hilt of onyx, surrounded by diamond barriers. Blades of crimson, ready to bring down justice to those who oppose it. I stare at their march, almost in envy.

Fair-hearted Salina enters through the passage, ever so beautiful. “Sir Aeon, why is it that you sit here? Shouldn’t you join your comrades of the blade? It is unwise to stay, for your country needs your assistance. You are the strongest knight of Tandemsero, so why is your shield down? Answer me this, Sir Aeon, why do you deny being one of our heroes?”

I sighed. Argument was worthless, but I couldn’t leave questions unanswered. “What is so great about ‘heroes’? Are they so great? All of the true heroes are either shunned or deceased. Whatever happened to just being a knight? Whatever happened to them patrolling the town, actually helping the people!? Their oath, ‘We protect the people’… from what exactly? Why are we here unprotected in this town when they are out there ‘protecting’ us? I lay down my sword because I cannot stand this way. I lay down my shield because I am not protecting the citizens of my own home. If my city needs my help, then I’ll be here protecting my home.”

Salina stared at me. She simply replied, “If that is your wish, then so be it. I cannot change your mind, for it isn’t my place to change fate. If you desire to stay, then I’ll allow you to stay. As long as you are here, please offer your help to the people. The lower quarter has a problem, I request that you head over there and fix it. I’ll be waiting there for you Sir Aeon.”

She started out the door. “It isn’t my place to change fate”, huh? Why do those words sound so grim? At least I have the approval of one of my only friends. “Salina!” I called after her. “Stop calling me ‘Sir’. We’ve been friends since we were but children.”

Salina looked back at me, a look of confusion on her face. Her expression changed from confusion to sincerity. A smile emerged on her lips, and Salina’s soft voice spoke again, “Alright, Aeon. I’ll meet you at the lower quarter.” She left my home. The lower quarter, it was where we first met. It was that time when I promised her… “I will protect the people. I will protect you,” I recited out loud. Equipping my shield to my hand, and arming my sword in its sheath residing beside me, I headed to the lower quarter.

Screams filled the air, blood stained the ground. Armored men slaughtering innocent people, swords used for needless slaughter, no one there to stop this madness. A figure stood above, watching maliciously. A grin crawled onto his face, and laughter boomed from his voice.

“Let Loki rain vengeance upon you! You have killed my people, and in return I shall do the same! For years, your reign of prosperity brought my kin to their knees. Should you continue your rule? Your heroes, what a joke they are! ‘We protect the people’, hah! You can’t even save your own city! How much do I loathe you people!? What you call heroes, we call our death! And now, we return the favor!” The man rose and drew his sword. His eyes burning with rage, he jumped down. His figure approached mine, surrounded by an aura of sorrow and death. “Son of Chronos, I know it is you that stands there. Draw your blade, and let us fight!”

His lust for battle filled the air. I hesitated to take out my sword, my war wasn’t with him. Not yet. “I know who you are, villain. You fought alongside me once before, why have you turned against your own people? Were you not a solider yourself once? You should know that what you are doing is wrong!”

“Oh? What I do is evil now, is it? Is it really evil, or something that fate decided to be right? There are two sides to this story, don’t you forget. I have decided what I’m doing is justice, and what you believe is right is what I consider evil. Haven’t you realized that yet? ‘My sword is to bring death to the unjust and prosperity to my people.’”

“I do not wish to fight. My sword is dull from the deaths of my enemy. My shield is broken from the attacks I blocked to save my people. My armor is gone, for it represents my past. My past is stained dark as the earth we stand on. There is no point in fighting anymore. If it is justice you desire, then go fight your enemy, not us. We’ve done nothing to your people, so fight the warriors who did.”

“You do not understand, son of Chronos. You cannot even hear your own words. Your warriors killed my people, and we’ve done nothing to provoke them. My warriors are killing your people, and you’ve ‘done nothing’ to provoke us. Sound familiar? This is what Fate has written out for me, I am to take vengeance against your people. What has Fate written out for you? Your salvation, or your death?”

My people were dying because I couldn’t fight. My sword was heavy on my side, a useless tool that weighed me down as death approaches. I couldn’t answer, because regret was silencing my voice. Why couldn’t I save them when time was desperate? Why couldn’t I be a hero when my people needed me?

“I see… so that is your answer,” He said. “Then it is goodbye from here.” His blade pierced through my organs. Pain spread throughout my entire body. I ached for another breath of sweet air. Vomiting blood, I felt death’s cold hand touch my face. Crimson darkness filled the lined of sight. My immobile body lost the last of its energy, and life escaped from my eyes. My soul felt empty, no meaning to reside in this world. Regret, despair, fury… all these emotions, these thoughts, flowed through my mind. Why did it all end up like that? Why didn’t they come to rescue us? Why did I fail to save my people? Why…? In a cold land, my soul stayed. In the world I loved, my heart disappeared. I couldn’t do anything… I couldn’t be the hero my people needed…

What is a hero? One who saves his people when they are needed most? What is the point of a sword? To kill whenever one feels like it? What is the point of a hero when they aren’t there to help you? We put our faith in them, we trusted them. We called for their help, but they never replied. They were supposed to be heroes, but no one was saved that day.