Post by beardalot on Oct 26, 2010 16:05:14 GMT -5
As I stared into the foul creatures eyes I knew that death was potentially seconds away, understanding that even a momentary lapse in concentration would mean the difference between victory and defeat… and then I felt it… felt the rush of adrenaline that comes with such a knowledge. I felt my mind focus and my senses sharpen, felt body slip into it's familiar battle stance, gained through years of training and experience in dealing with such monstrosities…
I was stood before a Mistodon, one of the vile monsters that had attacked the only home I'd ever known, Alexandria, little over a year earlier, killing countless men, women and children, regardless of whether they were civilians or soldiers. Any ordinary man would have fled at the sight of it, but I am no ordinary man, I am Sir Alexis Beardalot, Officer of the elite Royal Guard, and, having tracked this particular Mistodon through the Evil Forest for almost a week now, I was not about to allow it to leave with it's life. I had managed to track it to it's den and, having decided I posed enough of a threat, the abomination had decided to stand it's ground and fight with as much ferocity as any man or beast I had ever faced before.
I studied the creature , watching for any sign of attack, noting the Mist that slowly flowed from it's bloodied maw, and how it's numerous legs had tensed ever so slightly, in preparation for it's fight for survival. All of a sudden the Mistodon sprang forward, with lightning fast speed, in an attempt to knock me to the floor and end my life, fortunately I was well trained and had been preparing for this moment ever since news of the attack on the travelling merchants caravan. I allowed myself to tumble backwards with the creatures momentum, tricking it into believing it could win this fight, lulling it into attacking again, an attack that would mean it's demise. As the Mistodon prepared to attack again so did I, throwing my shield aside, it's weight only serving to slow me down, I placed my hand upon the familiar grip of my sword and found solid footing on the soft forest floor. The monster sprang again and, in a movement that came to me as naturally as breathing, I leapt to the side, parrying the attack, drew my sword and countered with an onslaught as swift and brutal as the one I'd just evaded. I heard the swoosh of my blade through air, followed by the pained cries of the beast as my assault found it's mark, tempered steel plunging between armoured scales into the soft flesh beneath them. It was dead before it had even realised it's attack had failed; yet another creature brought to justice by my hand.
Over the next few days I hurried back to my base camp, on the plains of Alexandria, as fast as my tired legs could carry me, not out of concern for my safety but because I had matters to discuss with Sir Valiant, Captain of the Alexandrian army, personal guard to Queen Garnet and the only person I had ever trusted in my life. Matters I had been led to believe were of utmost importance.
As I approached the camp I shouted to Balathon, the young Chocobo trainer who had been assigned as my assistant on this task, "Ready the mounts! We leave for the castle within the hour!"
"Yes Sir" he replied, and started about his job with an efficiency I'd come to respect in the 15 year old.
In just 45 minutes we were on our way back to the castle, "Permission to speak freely?" Balathon asked
"As you wish" I granted him
"I don't mean to intrude but why the rush to return? I thought you would have at least like one days of rest before coming back" he asked, a naive mistake, but a still a mistake
"You are still young, so I'll forgive your questioning of a command this one time" I scolded him "You will not go far in this life with such an attitude"
"Forgive me, I meant no offence, I was merely showing an interest in the responsibilities of a higher ranking member of the army, such as yourself"
I considered the boy for a moment and decided I could grant him this one small insight as thanks for his services for the past few days, not that it would provide the insight that he was hoping for, "Honestly Balathon, I wish I knew" then to myself, realising I too had the same unanswered question, "I wish I knew…."
I was stood before a Mistodon, one of the vile monsters that had attacked the only home I'd ever known, Alexandria, little over a year earlier, killing countless men, women and children, regardless of whether they were civilians or soldiers. Any ordinary man would have fled at the sight of it, but I am no ordinary man, I am Sir Alexis Beardalot, Officer of the elite Royal Guard, and, having tracked this particular Mistodon through the Evil Forest for almost a week now, I was not about to allow it to leave with it's life. I had managed to track it to it's den and, having decided I posed enough of a threat, the abomination had decided to stand it's ground and fight with as much ferocity as any man or beast I had ever faced before.
I studied the creature , watching for any sign of attack, noting the Mist that slowly flowed from it's bloodied maw, and how it's numerous legs had tensed ever so slightly, in preparation for it's fight for survival. All of a sudden the Mistodon sprang forward, with lightning fast speed, in an attempt to knock me to the floor and end my life, fortunately I was well trained and had been preparing for this moment ever since news of the attack on the travelling merchants caravan. I allowed myself to tumble backwards with the creatures momentum, tricking it into believing it could win this fight, lulling it into attacking again, an attack that would mean it's demise. As the Mistodon prepared to attack again so did I, throwing my shield aside, it's weight only serving to slow me down, I placed my hand upon the familiar grip of my sword and found solid footing on the soft forest floor. The monster sprang again and, in a movement that came to me as naturally as breathing, I leapt to the side, parrying the attack, drew my sword and countered with an onslaught as swift and brutal as the one I'd just evaded. I heard the swoosh of my blade through air, followed by the pained cries of the beast as my assault found it's mark, tempered steel plunging between armoured scales into the soft flesh beneath them. It was dead before it had even realised it's attack had failed; yet another creature brought to justice by my hand.
Over the next few days I hurried back to my base camp, on the plains of Alexandria, as fast as my tired legs could carry me, not out of concern for my safety but because I had matters to discuss with Sir Valiant, Captain of the Alexandrian army, personal guard to Queen Garnet and the only person I had ever trusted in my life. Matters I had been led to believe were of utmost importance.
As I approached the camp I shouted to Balathon, the young Chocobo trainer who had been assigned as my assistant on this task, "Ready the mounts! We leave for the castle within the hour!"
"Yes Sir" he replied, and started about his job with an efficiency I'd come to respect in the 15 year old.
In just 45 minutes we were on our way back to the castle, "Permission to speak freely?" Balathon asked
"As you wish" I granted him
"I don't mean to intrude but why the rush to return? I thought you would have at least like one days of rest before coming back" he asked, a naive mistake, but a still a mistake
"You are still young, so I'll forgive your questioning of a command this one time" I scolded him "You will not go far in this life with such an attitude"
"Forgive me, I meant no offence, I was merely showing an interest in the responsibilities of a higher ranking member of the army, such as yourself"
I considered the boy for a moment and decided I could grant him this one small insight as thanks for his services for the past few days, not that it would provide the insight that he was hoping for, "Honestly Balathon, I wish I knew" then to myself, realising I too had the same unanswered question, "I wish I knew…."