Post by thadeous on Jan 12, 2011 9:11:34 GMT -5
“Son.” He said. “There are many things that you need to know about life. Some things that I can teach you. Other things you will have to learn for yourself.”
“Yes, father.” I heard myself say, attentively.
“Honour!” He said, firmly, his word full of power and purpose. “I have told you many times how important a thing honour is. But today, there is another thing I need you to understand. There is one thing in this world as important as honour, perhaps even more important even.”
“What is it, father?” I asked, confused at such a notion after the years of having honour driven into me since birth. Honour seemed to be the most important thing in this world based on how my father had brought me up thus far, and now something was suggested to be equal if not more important. This, I couldn’t begin to understand.
“Love, Thadeous.” He said, knowingly. “Love is something that will always drive us. For most of us, love of people will make us do anything, make us go through any lengths to please them or keep them safe. Other people love darker things like wealth or power, the same people who we discussed earlier as having no care for honour or respect.”
“Father, I don’t understand.” I said, looking up at my father’s understanding expression as he simply smiled back at me. He then reached out, placing his right hand on my left shoulder, and knelt down to my level.
“Thadeous. I do not expect you to grasp the meanings of all of my teachings at your tender age. This especially is something you will understand with time.” He said softly, though retaining all of the strength that his voice carried. “You have a strong heart. It is clear to me that when you become a man you will be both honourable and loving.”
“Father, I’m scared.” I said, feeling a lump form in my throat. “What if that isn’t me? What if I’m not the brave Burmecian that you say I am? What if I am merely your son in name only? How will I ever step out of your shadow and keep honour to the family name?”
“Son, you will never ever disappoint me.” He replied.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After the shock of my fallen countrymen had passed, a thought came quickly to mind of my father. Though now he was elderly and in no fit state to fight for his people, I knew this would not stop him. My heart raced, for fear that he too would be among the perished soldiers laid to waste on home soil. I rushed past some women who were nursing a few men still alive, only partially aware of how my body trembled. Why did I not make it on time? Father, forgive me. I didn’t know.
“Father!” I shouted, my breath burning in my lungs. “Father, where are you!?”
“Thadeous?” His voice was broken, barely above a whisper and despite the fact that it carried none of his familiar strength, I could not mistake it. I stopped in my tracks, turning to see where his voice came from. There, in the bushes, at the side of his home. My old home. He was on the floor, injured. The leaves covered too much of him, I couldn’t see how bad, but part of me knew…
“Father, I am here.” I said, feeling the tears begin to stream down my face.
“Son. Where were you?” He managed to say. Before I could say anything to respond, with my father held tightly in my arms, I felt him take his last breath. I had failed him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I awoke, with the black mages all around me, mending to my wounds with their magic. Defeat then? Sir Beardalot was the better man today, which did not surprise me in the least. Still, something was nagging at my attention; a thought that had not yet materialised into anything resembling sense. What could it be? A memory? Possibly. More than that, it seemed to be a fear. Worry of something. It couldn’t be the outcome of the battle, for I already guessed that I may not win…
Then realisation dawned on me and I immediately leapt to my feet, brushing the black mages to the side as I sprinted forward, out of the arena and quickly towards the City exit. She was in trouble. I had failed her now too. I was desperate. If only I had have gone on with Dojebon’s plans, she would not be in any danger. But, I had lost. Despite my best efforts, Beardalot had defeated me and Dojebon would take it out on her. Time was against me, but everything in me said that I still had hope, if only I could get to him.
“Cassidia.” I breathed, as my legs powered underneath me, taking me as fast as they possibly could go towards her. “I’m coming for you.”
“Yes, father.” I heard myself say, attentively.
“Honour!” He said, firmly, his word full of power and purpose. “I have told you many times how important a thing honour is. But today, there is another thing I need you to understand. There is one thing in this world as important as honour, perhaps even more important even.”
“What is it, father?” I asked, confused at such a notion after the years of having honour driven into me since birth. Honour seemed to be the most important thing in this world based on how my father had brought me up thus far, and now something was suggested to be equal if not more important. This, I couldn’t begin to understand.
“Love, Thadeous.” He said, knowingly. “Love is something that will always drive us. For most of us, love of people will make us do anything, make us go through any lengths to please them or keep them safe. Other people love darker things like wealth or power, the same people who we discussed earlier as having no care for honour or respect.”
“Father, I don’t understand.” I said, looking up at my father’s understanding expression as he simply smiled back at me. He then reached out, placing his right hand on my left shoulder, and knelt down to my level.
“Thadeous. I do not expect you to grasp the meanings of all of my teachings at your tender age. This especially is something you will understand with time.” He said softly, though retaining all of the strength that his voice carried. “You have a strong heart. It is clear to me that when you become a man you will be both honourable and loving.”
“Father, I’m scared.” I said, feeling a lump form in my throat. “What if that isn’t me? What if I’m not the brave Burmecian that you say I am? What if I am merely your son in name only? How will I ever step out of your shadow and keep honour to the family name?”
“Son, you will never ever disappoint me.” He replied.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
After the shock of my fallen countrymen had passed, a thought came quickly to mind of my father. Though now he was elderly and in no fit state to fight for his people, I knew this would not stop him. My heart raced, for fear that he too would be among the perished soldiers laid to waste on home soil. I rushed past some women who were nursing a few men still alive, only partially aware of how my body trembled. Why did I not make it on time? Father, forgive me. I didn’t know.
“Father!” I shouted, my breath burning in my lungs. “Father, where are you!?”
“Thadeous?” His voice was broken, barely above a whisper and despite the fact that it carried none of his familiar strength, I could not mistake it. I stopped in my tracks, turning to see where his voice came from. There, in the bushes, at the side of his home. My old home. He was on the floor, injured. The leaves covered too much of him, I couldn’t see how bad, but part of me knew…
“Father, I am here.” I said, feeling the tears begin to stream down my face.
“Son. Where were you?” He managed to say. Before I could say anything to respond, with my father held tightly in my arms, I felt him take his last breath. I had failed him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I awoke, with the black mages all around me, mending to my wounds with their magic. Defeat then? Sir Beardalot was the better man today, which did not surprise me in the least. Still, something was nagging at my attention; a thought that had not yet materialised into anything resembling sense. What could it be? A memory? Possibly. More than that, it seemed to be a fear. Worry of something. It couldn’t be the outcome of the battle, for I already guessed that I may not win…
Then realisation dawned on me and I immediately leapt to my feet, brushing the black mages to the side as I sprinted forward, out of the arena and quickly towards the City exit. She was in trouble. I had failed her now too. I was desperate. If only I had have gone on with Dojebon’s plans, she would not be in any danger. But, I had lost. Despite my best efforts, Beardalot had defeated me and Dojebon would take it out on her. Time was against me, but everything in me said that I still had hope, if only I could get to him.
“Cassidia.” I breathed, as my legs powered underneath me, taking me as fast as they possibly could go towards her. “I’m coming for you.”
