He had many names. To his king and his people he was their Champion, to the brothers who followed him he was their Hope Bringer, Hope Killer to his middle-eastern foes and, as he stated for a scribe just before, Murol Lar Mir to the enigmatic tribes of the Northern Plains - he was the People's Plague.
But to my people, and to me, only one name sang in our heads as we saw him trialled and sentenced. Death.
Taller than the hanging nooses he stood at least a metre taller than me. His features were brusque and brazen, if it weren't for all the blood, unearthly scars and shit riddled all around his body one would call him handsome. His giant frame was surrounded by thick, sinewy muscles that were slabbed on tight. You could mistake it for another coat of armour. His mane of hair was slicked back giving all the chance to see Death's face in full-view, unencumbered by a helm. His eyes were jet black and as I stared at them, he had glanced back. It felt as if he was stripping bare my soul, as if he knew of all my sins and virtues in a moment. They had said that his eyes beared the judgement of both gods and demons. I had never believed it until I could see why others would.
As he walked to the executioner's stockade the crowd was silent. No rotten fruit, rocks or insults were hurled towards him. Each and every man and woman knew this man, they knew him for the death and carnage he had individually wrought upon them. He was their Death and now he was going to die for them.
The rest of which happened like white noise. The masked executioner raised his sharpened axe and beheaded the prisoner. His head rolled off the stage onto the dirt below, face down. The gods had decided to damn him to hell. There would be salvation nor forgiveness for sin itself.
This man had left a legend for songstresses and scribes to tell for years to come. Some would call him a hero, a man who wielded a god's wrath. Others would scorn him, disparaging his name with every swear word they knew. But at least now everyone could live their lives knowing that Death was dead. Gone from this world and into wherever godforsaken place a demon goes to die.
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The last thing I remember was facing the ground from above, praying for a safe journey. However now I'm not too sure what to do, in front of me is a desk left bare save for a nameplate - "Lucy" it read. I scrutinized my surroundings. My body was clean of all the blood, shit and dirt that had been driven deep under my skin. I had no clothing on except for a loincloth, no weapon either. I walked towards the desk, curious.
"I am Lucy. Welcome to My realm"
Suddenly a girl, no older than twelve and dressed like a pompous rich royal appeared from thin air.
"I assumed as much, so what are you? Where am I? What am I here for?" I bowed, keeping my eyes on this strange creature.
"Well, as I said before, I am Lucy. But that's beside the point. Me and the others were betting when you, Death, would die. Frankly, we were hoping for a better show, you know, like more wars, death etc. But you died prematurely. Originally, if you had lived to fulfil our prophecy you were going to die in battle, fighting against giants, treeants and all manner of god's beings. Then, you'd become one of us, as a Greater Demon of War. Anyway, you're not even in your thirtieth year yet so we decided to give you another chance. If you can entertain us like you did before, upon death you have a choice. Go up to that shitty place you people call Heaven or become one of us and lived a damned good life. So the question is, do you want to reincarnate or not?"
"Why… why should I live through more pain and suffering."
"OH! Should mention, remember your loved one in the previous world? Yeah, well she's living with us right now as a Demon God of Vengeance. I think that's enough info for now, choose mortal. Reincarnate and make me happy or become a wandering lost soul."
"Reincarnate m--"
"Have fun travelling through a black hole! Oh yeah, I'll give you something nice in your next life. You better make good use of it or I'm going to have to bring some demonic intervention."