There in the field there lays a sorrow, there in the fields lay a joy, there in the fields lay death. The fields of Burnda, under the shadow of an ancient castle were once a grassy bush of free hunting and groving animals now laid asunder shredded by battle and the wears of the we weather.
On this field, corpses lay by the thousands, brothers and friends embraced alike in the piles left of their last battles, there amongst them was a man still alive if barely.
A single man old in age and strong of limb resting upon a boulder of ancient carved stone, a sword the colour of the deepest dawn solidly within his grasp, spears and arrows and blades of all forms lodged within the wistful man's soon to be corpse, more wood and bronze than he is flesh.
Yet there was still life In his old veins, a voice that aught be feeble and dim called loud and calm.
"Malisia, are you there?" He called to the empty field of the dead.
"Always" was the response as he turned his head slightly as far as could be allowed by this damn axe in his shoulder.
There was a young woman, juxtaposed to the destruction, wearing a fine dress that seemed to float around her legs as she moved, not touching the ground but seeming to hover, each movement like a dance under the sea, never still and almost hypnotically moving to an unheard rhythm, a hardy reflective mast in the shape of some bird on her head, he never deigned to ask what kind.
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"I'm sorry Malisia, seems these old bones can't swing like they used to" he chuckled out lightly blood baring on his teeth, as he said this however, the young girl rested a hand over his mouth, not a single hair displaced by her touch.
"Oh shush, you've done enough, need a bit of rest don't you, take some time to just think, probably the first time in years we've been given the chance." She said floating in a mockery of sitting in front of him.
"What will happen to you after im-" the old man started but was curtly cut off by the girl.
"I will disappear, wait until I'm found by some scoundrel like last time" Malisia said with a shallow chuckle, mock insult on the face of the old man.
"Scoundrel! I'll have you know I was a respected soldier once" he said starting into a story of his youth, she knew every detail of them all after all she was there for most of them.
"Yes a soldier for all of eight months, you always tell these stories dear, they are always short and full of embellishments, though I always loved them" she said smiling as she saw a smile form on the man's lips. The last one she'd see.
" i've got one more tale in me don't you worry, a good one too longer than any I've told before, whether bar crowds or kings, just for you" he said sweetly, his voice slowing down in tone, dropping slightly, the sanguine river flowing away with ever intensity.
"Well" melisia said with some glee, wanting this moment to stretch forever, that he'd be gone is a heart ache she couldn't bare to think of right now "enlighten me on who this story is about" she asked in feigned cheer "
I'm sure you'll love the side kick" he said attempting a wink but failing.
"Sidekick?" she said slapping his foot yet moving it none.
"It's a tale about a boy, his foolish dreams and wants leading his to find a strapping young lass with quite the mouth, and one hell of a sharp temper" he told, smirking at his joke.
"Tell me then what was this daring youths name" the young woman asked knowing already.
" quite simple his name was-"