Eternal
“Lena, you’ve been getting more reckless lately, and I’m starting to get concerned.”
“What? These wounds? I’ll heal. And I don’t even need to wait that long anyway, I could be up and around before then.”
“If you didn’t pick a fight every chance you get, and actually took time to step back for a moment, you’d probably suffer less cuts and bruises. And while I know the group we hang around with are a bunch of low life scum for the most part, we still can’t afford to lose them like we’ve been doing. Especially when the risk is starting to severely outweigh the potential rewards.”
“Well, maybe its time we get some new people to help. Try to find some disgruntled peasant or something again.”
You shake your head.
“Lena, you’re not hearing me. I’m saying maybe its time to quit while you’re ahead. I mean what are we even doing anymore?”
“We’re fighting against injustice and tyranny! I thought that’s what you used to do!”
“Yeah, that’s what I USED to do. What I’m doing now I’m not so sure. Lena, you’re letting your desire for vengeance overwhelm you. You’re not thinking straight. You shoot down all my ideas when it comes to sound strategies. I mean lately you’ve just been throwing cautious right out the window.”
“And you always played it cautious, when fighting the Empire?”
“Y’know what? YES. Yes I did whenever it was possible, y’know why? Because they fucking outnumbered us in everyway that’s why! And despite the fact that I taught you how to fight, you are NOT me. You will NEVER be me. You passion for vengeance brought on by your unfortunate experiences, will never replace the rush I get when I get into a battle which always gives me an edge. And let me tell you something else. As good as I am, I can’t always be everywhere so that I can save you just in time.”
“Well who the hell is asking you to save me?!” Lena says with a displeased look on her face.
“Someone needs to save you, because you sure as hell haven’t been of clear mind to maintain your self-preservation anymore! Lena look, I know you’d like nothing more than to personally kill every eternal you could get your hands on, but it’s not going to happen. Even if you could, it won’t change what has already happened.”
You hold on to Lena’s hand.
“Lena, I’m asking you for me, stop this now, before it completely consumes you. Are your feelings for vengeance stronger than your feelings for me?”
You look into Lena’s eyes and her previous expression of displeasure turns to one of avoidance. She tries to speak, but stops. Sensing that she needs to respond, she gives you an answer.
“You, you know I love you.”
“Yes, I’m sure you do, but you will not avoid my question so easily.”
“I’m not…I…I…just…”
At this point, you close your eyes and sigh deeply.
“It’s okay Lena. It’s okay. This was probably my own damn fault anyway. Good luck.” You say and kiss her on the head before attempting to leave.
“Wait! Where are you going?!”
“I can’t stay with you Lena. You’re on a path to self-destruction that I can’t follow. I did that already with Talia and her dedication to Dendrin. Now that I think about it, this whole thing has been me trying to relive my own past by being with you. Trying to rekindle the same spark I had with Talia. I can’t even lie to myself about it anymore. Anyway I’m rambling now, so I bid you goodbye and I hope you eventually see that you don’t need to follow the path you’re on.”
You exit the tent with the Lena still calling for you, but you just keep walking. You notice you aren’t the only one leaving. You see some of the thugs packing up their stuff and heading off to greener pastures no doubt. Maybe with less people to help, Lena will be less likely to mount foolish attacks. At least you hope she has that much sense.
As for you, you realize that if you’re going to live in the past, you’re going to do it the right way.
You travel back to Delerg. Back to the temple. Back home. The place is the same, its like you never left. You enter the garden…
“I’m home Talia. I’m home and I shouldn’t have left. I see that now. I can only hope you can forgive me. Can you forgive me?”
You approach Talia’s grave.
“Yes. Yes of course you forgive me. Just like I forgave you. We…we were always meant to be together.” You say closing your eyes and unsheathing your blade.
“I should’ve done this a long time ago.” You say and thrust your blade into yourself.
You fall beside Talia’s grave as your life force drains out. Your last thoughts are peaceful ones.
“What? These wounds? I’ll heal. And I don’t even need to wait that long anyway, I could be up and around before then.”
“If you didn’t pick a fight every chance you get, and actually took time to step back for a moment, you’d probably suffer less cuts and bruises. And while I know the group we hang around with are a bunch of low life scum for the most part, we still can’t afford to lose them like we’ve been doing. Especially when the risk is starting to severely outweigh the potential rewards.”
“Well, maybe its time we get some new people to help. Try to find some disgruntled peasant or something again.”
You shake your head.
“Lena, you’re not hearing me. I’m saying maybe its time to quit while you’re ahead. I mean what are we even doing anymore?”
“We’re fighting against injustice and tyranny! I thought that’s what you used to do!”
“Yeah, that’s what I USED to do. What I’m doing now I’m not so sure. Lena, you’re letting your desire for vengeance overwhelm you. You’re not thinking straight. You shoot down all my ideas when it comes to sound strategies. I mean lately you’ve just been throwing cautious right out the window.”
“And you always played it cautious, when fighting the Empire?”
“Y’know what? YES. Yes I did whenever it was possible, y’know why? Because they fucking outnumbered us in everyway that’s why! And despite the fact that I taught you how to fight, you are NOT me. You will NEVER be me. You passion for vengeance brought on by your unfortunate experiences, will never replace the rush I get when I get into a battle which always gives me an edge. And let me tell you something else. As good as I am, I can’t always be everywhere so that I can save you just in time.”
“Well who the hell is asking you to save me?!” Lena says with a displeased look on her face.
“Someone needs to save you, because you sure as hell haven’t been of clear mind to maintain your self-preservation anymore! Lena look, I know you’d like nothing more than to personally kill every eternal you could get your hands on, but it’s not going to happen. Even if you could, it won’t change what has already happened.”
You hold on to Lena’s hand.
“Lena, I’m asking you for me, stop this now, before it completely consumes you. Are your feelings for vengeance stronger than your feelings for me?”
You look into Lena’s eyes and her previous expression of displeasure turns to one of avoidance. She tries to speak, but stops. Sensing that she needs to respond, she gives you an answer.
“You, you know I love you.”
“Yes, I’m sure you do, but you will not avoid my question so easily.”
“I’m not…I…I…just…”
At this point, you close your eyes and sigh deeply.
“It’s okay Lena. It’s okay. This was probably my own damn fault anyway. Good luck.” You say and kiss her on the head before attempting to leave.
“Wait! Where are you going?!”
“I can’t stay with you Lena. You’re on a path to self-destruction that I can’t follow. I did that already with Talia and her dedication to Dendrin. Now that I think about it, this whole thing has been me trying to relive my own past by being with you. Trying to rekindle the same spark I had with Talia. I can’t even lie to myself about it anymore. Anyway I’m rambling now, so I bid you goodbye and I hope you eventually see that you don’t need to follow the path you’re on.”
You exit the tent with the Lena still calling for you, but you just keep walking. You notice you aren’t the only one leaving. You see some of the thugs packing up their stuff and heading off to greener pastures no doubt. Maybe with less people to help, Lena will be less likely to mount foolish attacks. At least you hope she has that much sense.
As for you, you realize that if you’re going to live in the past, you’re going to do it the right way.
You travel back to Delerg. Back to the temple. Back home. The place is the same, its like you never left. You enter the garden…
“I’m home Talia. I’m home and I shouldn’t have left. I see that now. I can only hope you can forgive me. Can you forgive me?”
You approach Talia’s grave.
“Yes. Yes of course you forgive me. Just like I forgave you. We…we were always meant to be together.” You say closing your eyes and unsheathing your blade.
“I should’ve done this a long time ago.” You say and thrust your blade into yourself.
You fall beside Talia’s grave as your life force drains out. Your last thoughts are peaceful ones.
