My steps followed hers, faithful and silent, through the twists and turns of her destiny. She bore no resemblance to common souls. Her presence was such, her words imbued with an authority only the most eminent sovereigns exuded a similar aura. She embodied the lofty vision of the great leaders of yore.
As the commander of a mighty army of her era, she led an unrivaled force. Battlefields had become the stage where she etched her history. The movements of this fateful dance they called war were familiar to her. Each soldier who shared in her struggle risked being forever lost in the shadow of death. Violet carried this heavy knowledge deeper than anyone else.
Many distant years had passed since grief had gripped her heart. In a dark past, she had been torn apart by the loss of her lover and son, taken by the torments of the battlefield. An unbearable, nameless tragedy that still left her questioning the avoidable twists of fate. The burden of this dreadful ordeal haunted her.
She then embarked on a journey of learning, tirelessly delving into the intricacies of military tactics. Simulations or imaginary role-playing games, anything was fair game to educate and prepare her soldiers for the uncertain future. It wasn't until years later that I learned the words "everything will be alright." If only I had the opportunity to confide in her. At this juncture, my understanding of their language surpassed my hesitant words.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
At the break of day, the sun cast its first rays upon the bloodied expanse of the plain. Happy memories had vanished, swallowed by the shadows of this battle. Kneeling in the mud, amidst the scars of conflict – abandoned weapons and the bodies of those whom Violet referred to as "Family" – I scanned the horizon, searching for her. Under the blinding glow of this new golden dawn, the aura of death exhibited itself in all its warm splendor. A familiar tableau, already painted in my memories, but this time, the frustration of my mute thoughts overwhelmed me. The words that would have allowed me to express my strategy had cruelly deserted me. And here we were…
Over there, atop a mound of corpses, rested Violet, her silhouette emaciated by exhaustion. Her armor gleamed in the warm sunlight, as if the brightest of stars had momentarily descended to Earth to salute the courage and tenacity of all those fallen warriors. From behind, one might have thought her unscathed, but as she turned towards me, a weary smile graced her face. It was at this moment that a sharp pain pierced, one might say, my heart. The trappings of her noble attire lay in tatters, revealing her torn flesh. Only her face had been spared from this carnage. She extended her bloodied hand to me. In a fragile, trembling voice, she uttered her final words...
"Become Violet. Take my name and go. I know you understand my words. Carry on the tale of my legend. Witness how far anger and fear have taken me. Surpass us all in virtue and do not venture down the path of vengeance. Take my name... and go... now, you are set free..."
One might have thought I wanted to refuse this offer, but I couldn't speak at that time... The threads of fate had forcibly bound me to this path.