Hall of Heroes - Chapter 3
I fought many great beasts and foul villains during my life. I was a knight, loyal and true to my cause. I brought the enemies of my lord low before him, and purged many demons from the land. None of that allowed me to escape my own mortality.
I worshiped no god. Yes, I believed in them, but I did not worship them. My eyes were not turned upward, to the heavens. No, my eyes were always locked on the world before me. For that, no god claimed my soul.
Not all hope was lost. Natanial, Lord Death, god of the underworld, had judged my soul. He found that I was courageous and virtuous. So, he sent me to live out my afterlife in the Hall of Valor. Any who gave their life to battle, justice, and their fellow man, were guaranteed a place here, even if the other gods did not wish for our souls. Well, on one condition. Should the lord of death need of us, he may call on us.
Normally, I was fine with that. We acted as his enforcers often. We guarded his worlds. His reapers were often recruited from our ranks. Even his judges are often from us. However, my latest mission feels... wrong. We are to act as a vanguard force. We are to bring about the end of the world. According to our leaders, the ending is inevitable, and having us there to facilitate it will minimize the loss of life. Furthermore, it is entirely necessary. I’m not sure why it is necessary, but it is.
Still, I am plagued with doubts. Why should I have to raise my sword against the innocent? Why must I slay the glorious warriors that merely wanted to save their world? Sighing, I readied my equipment. The gods have their reasons, and hopefully, I wont be a simply be another beast bringing ruin to the world above.
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Grandmaster Marius slaps me on the back, laughing. "Finally, boy, we get to see some action!" I turn a withering gaze to him. He is the oldest of us. A warrior from a time before time, when great heros stalked the world of the living. He lived for battle, and died for it as well. Bearing shimmering armor granted to him by the goddess of magic herself, he comes across as an etherial being.
I know better though. He is a pompous jackass who cares not for chivalry nor empathy. "Grandmaster. Does it not bother you that we will be bringing death to the innocent? That we will bring about the end of days?" I speak with spite, but a bit of curiosity. He has seemed more lively lately, since we got the news. "Bah! The world was bound to end sometime anyway. What better way than with a blaze of glory and honor?" He laughs. "And, with the upcomming battles, we have a chance to earn our place amongst the gods! Not just here in our meadhalls, but actually become gods! Is that not exciting? Does that not make your blood boil?!" He practically shouts the last bit.
All this was true, and we had also been informed that this is the absolute best way for the world to end... however that did nothing to stop my unease. "I just... It goes against my code to slaughter the innocent, even in the name of the greater good. I may not be able to do this..."
The grandmasers jovial expression dissapears. "Son... I understand. If you feel so strongly I may be able to get your assignment changed. You need not neccisarily be in the vanguard host raised against the living. There are other ways of earning your glory. However, they will be frought with danger, and personal sacrifice." He puts his hand on my shoulder, and I feel the power in his grasp. "If you are sure, I can call in a favor with some of the reapers. Is that what you want?" His face is a mask. I can feel the fullness of his words in not just his voice, but my core.
I freeze. That sounds very omonous. More danger than the battlefield, and greater sacrifice? Can I truely handle such a task? Can I truely bare that burden? My mind races, as the old man stands before me. No longer like a grandfather, looking like a mask of doom.
I close my eyes, and make a decision. The greatest decision I will likely ever make. I nod, and quietly speak "Yes."
I hope I will not regret this decision. I hope that I will be worthy of the responsibility. I hope that I will be enough.