-Break-
Φ Sitting by a table right next to his almost finished sculpture the man called Bricriu looks with joy at his pyre right across from himself, and smiles.
Then from the sky the beastkin who looks like a bat; Liam drops down, and in that moment Bricriu says, “Liam how is it looking over there?”
“It is going just like normal; all of the pyres have been set and the rest of our people are performing their prayers to ward off the dead.”
“What about the humans.”
“They have each individually started to walk back, and just as you have requested they are not being guarded.”
“That’s wonderful.”
Sensing that Liam is a bit stiff, Bricriu says, “Liam is something wrong.”
With sweat running down, his face Liam asks Bricriu, “Isn’t this dangerous, we are simply letting the slaves run free without direction what if they try to escape?”
Confused Bricriu responds, “It’s Samhain isn’t it?”
“This is my first full year here, so I don’t know if I missed something but isn’t Samhain just a myth.”
Giggling a bit, Bricriu says, “Liam if my memory serves me right, you’re from a family of peasants that live on the border of Victoria and Terrafide, if I am correct.”
Bowing his head low, Liam says, “Yes.”
“Then it would make sense you wouldn’t know since Samhain is really only observed in the upper parts of Victoria.”
“Let me tell you a story. Little boy Brandon son of Darragh the plenty, during one Samhain snuck out to play and disobeyed his parents.
He was a horse beastkin, one of the swiftest among us so he had no fear of ever getting into any trouble because he could just simply outrun it. But the very next morning, his parents awoke to find his body a mere 5 meters away from the land.
So Darragh used his fortune to find out what happened to his son, but after further inspection, we found out Brandon’s body was completely untouched. No wounds had been inflicted or poison-giving, not even a sign of a curse was anywhere near his body, and there was no form of struggle, It was as if his soul had been removed and his body just remained.
You see Darragh the plenty was a man whose house had made a great fortune with the blood of countless slaves, but also his own people. So countless people would want revenge on his family even beyond the grave. Do you get what I am saying?”
With more sweat falling down his face, Liam says, “But how is that possible?”
Laughing Bricriu says, “Who knows, it is really only a phenomenon observed in Victoria. But isn’t it amazing, the idea that death physical death can fall on someone without any physical interference is just a wonder isn’t it? I am sure some bodies which have experienced that to help me finish my sculptures.”
With his heartbeat increasing, Liam asks, “But wouldn’t that mean for us-.”
“Be assured we are targets as well, there are countless spirits who I am sure hate us both and would come for us in a heartbeat. So defend yourself by clutching the fire from the pyres tight, and remain the spirits that your flesh and blood are stronger than anything else.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Standing up, Bricriu says, “Make sure to bring me some bodies who have experienced a one-of-a-kind death for my sculptures.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Getting up in Liam's face, Bricriu says, “That’s two times now, what did I say about referring to me as lord!?”
“Sorry.”
Laughing, Bricriu slaps Liam on the back and says, “Greater beastkin like yourself should be less self-conscious, you are the future we all aim for.”
“Yes.”
With his bat wings, Liam flies off to the sky.
Bricriu grabs a stick of flames from his pyre and waves it as he sits down in his chair. Then looking forward he says, “It’s strange how you ghastly fellows are completely rebelled by the burning off a bit of wood. You can deliver death to the living but can’t beat a bit of flames, truly comical.”
Taking a sip of his drink, Bricriu looks towards the spirits in front of him and says, “Could you guys please dance around a bit, if you're going to be my company for the evening it would be nice if you could at least be a little entertaining.”
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-Break-
Φ As I walk through the plains, I see it the bodies of all my loved ones scatted about. Claudia's eyes, sitting atop my mother’s torso, Vul's large arms trying to protect Lillan's small legs, Aurelius fingers stuffed in my father's mouth.
The blood from all of them smeared into the grass, the trees, and the sky, and even poured down on me like rain.
But in front of me, I see something more disgusting than anything else, the images of me hitting Charles. Not just the last time, but also the first time I did it.
Suddenly I see the image of Charles telling me his beating hurt less in front of me.
Seeing this causes me to laugh a little. “Did I actually think just because I did that little thing I could help him, did I actually think I could save him? All I have done was hurt him, I have barely made him do less work than he did before, and in certain cases, I have made him do more.”
“Trash, that is all I am. Whether in the past or present, I fail time and time again. I have lived for thirteen years, yet I haven’t grown at all, why was I even born.”
Looking up, I see them, all of them in front of me. Every single one I have betrayed, all of those I have failed. I don’t deserve to be on this side while the rest of you lie on the other side, I will come over to join you.
Seeing them wave at me I walk forward, one foot after another, but then I hear a somewhat familiar voice. “Is that truly how you want your life to end?”
“A spear that can’t pierce its target is worthless.”
“What a pathetic thought.”
“That’s simply who I am pathetic in every single way one could imagine. I fail my family, I fail my friends, I even fail myself, and if I continue to live my failures will bring ruin to those around me.”
“Is that truly what you believe?”
“Yes.”
“You’re a fool then.”
“OF COURSE, I AM DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING!”
“WHAT KIND OF FOOL TRUST’S THE JUDGEMENT OF A FOOL THEN!”
“JUST FUCK OFF. I simply can’t do this anymore.”
“You are right, you’re a fool. Not because you have failed once, or twice or even a hundred times, but for the fact that you ran. You have decided that your life is now over because of a few failures, that is what makes you a fool.”
“WHAT DO YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT FAILURE!”
“The first time I fought a beast, I was 17 years old. It was a wolf, I failed to hit it with my again and again, then eventually it bit me so much until I passed out.”
Hearing his words, I whisper, “Have I heard this voice before?”
“The embarrassment I felt was unending, especially given my position in my clan. I felt hopeless, I felt as if life had ended, I wanted to give up, but I knew one thing; that I was just an insignificant fool, and that to put the fate of my life in the feelings of a fool such as myself. So, I tried again.
I challenged that wolf 968 times, over three years, and on the 968 time I killed it. It I had 967 losses and one win, but that’s all I needed, I took that singular win and used it to become the best version of myself, one who can no longer be called a fool.
The reason you’re a fool is because you trust the words of one, the reason you’re a coward is because you choose the comforting lie of death, rather than the reality of yourself, and the reason that you’re pathetic is the fact that you protect that lie even moments right before your life is about to end.”
Feeling rage well up inside me, I shout, “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT ME? So what if it worked for you, I am not the same this feeling within me is something you could never know, nor experience, don’t think you could ever feel this despair that currently clouds my soul.”
“Of course it makes sense, the son of a fool is destined to be one as well. The son of a man who lost his head is as brainless as him. But maybe this is simply justice, that the people who knew such an idiot will all vanish from the earth.”
In a blind rage, I shout, “WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MY FATHER? HE WAS THE MOST COURAGEOUS WONDERFUL HAPPY PERSON TO EVER EXIST, IT IS ONLY THANKS TO HIM THAT I CONTINUE TO LIVE. HE WOULD KNOW THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING I WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING WITHOUT EFFORT, SO DON’T YOU EVER SPEAK OF HIM AGAIN.”
I turn around and shout, “DO YOU UNDERSTA-.” But I stop in shock as I see my father behind me.
Walking up to me, my father says, “Then trust in my words son, because the blood of this great man runs in your veins as well.”
With tears falling from my weak body, I say, “Father.”
“You’re one and only. Now look what you were about to do your mother would have cried for the rest of her days if she found out.”
“I am so, so sorry.”
“What do you have to apologize for, I was the one who failed you.”
“But all the dreams.”
“I don’t know what you're talking about, this is the first time I have seen you since my head when flying. Were you trusting a fool's judgement again?”
“Father, I don’t know what to do, I keep making mistakes and letting everyone down.”
“YOU FOOL! Didn’t you listen to a single word I said, you really struggle to listen, I guess you inherited everything from me and not your mother. You said a spear that can’t pierce its target is worthless, but if you were to sharpen that spear I am sure it can, and my son you are one of the most blunt spears in the world, so you are the one who can sharpen the most.”
“But what if I fail, what if I can’t do what you asked of me?”
“Then try again, and even through despair remember there is a reason that all those you care about love you too. My son you were born to win in all your battles.”
Feeling a warm feeling welling up in my chest, I say, “Dad, I missed you.”
Walking past me my father says, “I missed you too, now go my son.”
Suddenly in front of me, all of the images I was seeing were clear, and all that remained was the green plain. Turning around to see where I was going to walk, I see a river.
If I fell into it in my current state, I would have no doubt drowned. In the distance past the lake, I see people a horde of people whom I remember beckoning me closer, but there are a few exceptions which include my father and Vul.
So, I look at them and say, “There is no place I feel like I should be right now than over there, but sorry I am an idiot so I probably shouldn’t do that.”
Turning around I walk forward with my weak body, and in the distance, I see Charles approaching me, and as he comes close he freezes with a sad expression, and says, “I am sor-.”
Stopping him with a hug, I say, “Charles I am sorry. I promise from this moment on I will never allow you to know sadness. So please if you want to trust in me again let’s go home.”
Without hesitation, he says, “OK.”
I would have missed that tasteless expression. With a smile, I say, “I really am an idiot!”