[ mordaxiium ]
—————— [ ❖ ] ——————verse: lone warrior
Strength was not merely a talent, a simple gift by the gods – it grew during a lifespan and it was also fading away again if one was not capable to embrace this given chance.
This hidden secret, perhaps, was not known by many – but the brave warriors of Ferox usually tried to resolve this ancient mystery, knowing that dedication was needed to let the seed of it hatch.
Lon’qu had not known anything about strength back at Chron’sin – and this was still his biggest sin. A grave mistake and disgrace to his sense of honor and pride.
Yet he could not erase these painful memories which were still haunting him, mocking him in the shadows for so many years already; nor did he wish to ever forget his pathetic weakness, his taunting fear.
The memories never faded away – and he grabbed the moving pictures tightly, like a small light midst absolute darkness. He did not want to forget.
His soul had received scars so many years ago; but without them he wouldn’t have realized how pathetic he had been. Even as a young boy.
No, this was only an excuse to his incapability. He already had been a young man back then – too weak, not strong enough to protect anyone. Not even himself.
His eyes had never been innocent –however, maybe his will had been. Naïve. Childish.
Filled with pathetic dreams of a certain weakness.
Tʜɪs ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴀᴛᴇ ɪᴛsᴇʟғ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ.
﹣ Yᴇᴛ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ɪᴛ.
By now the brown-haired was no longer imprisoned in this naïve cage. At the brink of his own existence he had learned that giving up was no longer an option; that he had no right to stay as weak as the young boy who stared at him at the water’s reflection.
And gods know - he had learned this painful lesson.
Lon’qu never cared what people said about him, even less now – but he did not wish to ever be called weak again. Even if his body broke during the process, he would continue to become stronger, to shape his abilities till he finally succeeded the only man he considered truthfully honorable and strong. Basilio.
These thoughts never crossed his lips during the years, however – because saying so would only hinder him to become a true warrior.
Dedication was needed for this certain task; and he might not achieve this as long as he lived.
Yet living and dying in a fight during war seemed to be appropriate enough for someone like him – someone who could no longer run away from his past.
It was honorable to die when it saved a comrade in arms – but dying that easily was not an option.
This was solely the reason why he never gave up; why he never stopped his training, even in dark times.
There was still much to learn, yet not enough time.
And only the brave wind, during cold nights, was still carrying away a faint whisper…
A single regret spoken out by the usual stoic man.
During the raging war Lon’qu was almost relentless.
Whenever he had the chance to sneak out of the camp, he did – only to find a deserted place nearby, wanting to challenge himself over and over again till he completely analyzed his mistakes in his fluent movements.
Usually he stayed alone; only a few times Frederick crossed his path – a man Lon’qu also considered likewise honorable for his undying dedication for his duty.
Their ways of strength might vary since Lon’qu was not the man of big words or actions – yet he could swing his sword splendidly, being more deadly than the other man ever could be.
As usual he had spent the whole afternoon outside the camp, ignoring the sweat which was dripping down his temples.
The fatigue was nothing to fear, it was rather appreciated; and for his duties later he wouldn’t need his swordarm anyway.
A ᴛʀᴜᴇ ᴡᴀʀʀɪᴏʀ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴄʜᴀʟʟᴇɴɢᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ. Tɪʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴇɴᴅ.
Passing the first tents of his comrades Lon’qu headed to the armory right away like he should be – although their small storage of weapons might not deserve this name.
Yet even with almost broken lances and swords they still believed in a better future –knowing that they still had the chance to change their fates.
Times were harsh; but their hearts were as honest and brave as they could be.
Sometimes the browned-haired man pondered whether he would ever be as courageous as someone of the Shepherds or the children coming from the future. All of them had seen blood spilling on the fields, a sight of destruction on the lands which were still green in this place.
They were only becoming truly strong when the circumstances needed them to be. But this didn’t make them less worth. No, it was the opposite.
Lɪғᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇ.
Aɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴄʜᴀʟʟᴇɴɢɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʙʀᴀᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ʀᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴅɪғғɪᴄᴜʟᴛɪᴇs.
…. And this was something Lon’qu had done. At least for a while.
His sharp eyes laid upon a massive pile of broken weapons and armors as soon as he entered the tent.
Yet he could instantly feel the presence of another person – which was not unusual, either.
The man was rather careful whenever he entered a place, not only because he did not want to insult women with his negative attitude towards them again. And that happened a lot.
So it was probably no surprise that he stayed where he was, only silently observing the scene in front of his eyes.
There was indeed a woman in this place, even if it was only a young one – but she did not seem to care that he was around. Or particularly anyone.
He only knew that she was also a friend of Lucina, someone who came from the future – but nothing more than that.
While he inwardly cared for anyone of the Shepherds, he had no interest or desire to personally know every single one among them.
He wouldn’t be able to protect anyone, after all. And this very fact was enough to silently sting inside his still throbbing wound of the past.
Since she seemed to have no interest in coming closer either, Lon’qu could still behave neutral in this appropriate distance.
It was then when he noticed that she apparently tried to polish the weapons, for whatever reason she might have instead of simply taking care of their condition – and he had no interest in disturbing her even though he had to guard the armory for the rest of the evening.
So he remained silent, crossing his arms in front of his chest inside a corner and continued to silently observe her struggle.
She was plainfully bad in this simple task, yet she seemed to be unwilling to give up.
It would be certainly impolite and also disrespectful to tell her that; so he lips stayed close.
While it might be true that these times were difficult and the money also very tight; Lon’qu was still no man who simply interrupted someone’s else efforts to shape their abilities. Even if it only was polishing.
H e w a s e x a c t l y t h e s a m e .
The silence consumed him for a while, at least till he finally found some words to say.
—-»…Why are you desperately trying to polish these lances, woman?
By now you broke more than you polished.«
His voice sounded neutral, not cold – even if it was low like always.
He did not wish to instruct her; he was merely interested in her reasoning.
—————— [ ❖ ] ——————