Fire.
That was what she knew. That was all she knew.
She soared above the flames, colored like the feathers of her wings, feeling the heat rippled across her tiny form.
And while fires of the material scorched the city beneath her, flames of the mind were being fanned to even greater heights. Rebels and soldiers bought beneath her, disregarding the peril of the surrounding fires.
For a moment, she felt a fire within herself as well. But then again, she had no stake in this war.
She had no desire for either side to win. She was just here to ogle the flames.
You're wrong.
A voice? From where?
You swore an oath.
She flitted around in a circle, not seeing any humans. What was she hearing?
You swore an oath.
What oath? She was a bird. She didn't have ideals or a need for meaning like the poor murderers below her.
What is your name?
She ignored the voice as she glided above the battlefield.
Humans were a foolish bunch. They liked to kill each other. And then they justified it afterwards with abstract concepts like justice. The only justice was nature's justice. The small and stupid were eaten. The big and smart ruled.
Well, she was small and smart, so what did that make her?
An observer, perhaps?
What did it matter what she called herself? She was a bird.
Look below you.
She already was. What a silly voice. But then again, it wasn't like the voice had eyes.
No. Truly look. And see. See the people beneath you. See why they fight. See why they die.
Humans believed they could control the world. And thus, they threw themselves into suicidal situations, expecting things to come out in their favor.
Only the weak submit themselves to the whims of God. Fate, Destiny, and Nature are all enemies of the sentient creature.
Why bother putting the extra suffering on yourself by fighting such things that can't be challenged.
Because suffering is inevitable. But this is not just suffering. It is your suffering. You chose it. You wanted it.
That didn't sound like her. Why would anyone want suffering?
It is how we remain aware. It is how we remain alive. You are dead. But can live again. Dive into the flames. Choose suffering and take back ownership of your life.
Why would she do that? She had yet to even find a mate.
You would let yourself be enslaved?
Slavery was a tad strong. And such a scenario wasn't that bad. No tough decisions. Just go with the flow.
Such a belief is only for the weak. Those who would rather escape their suffering than face it. You made an oath to suffering. You chose your opponent. Now you must fight it.
When did she make an oath? She racked her brain for a memory, but nothing came.
Look below you once again. See the people who die for the sake of hope.
YOU ARE READING
The Call of Crows
FantasyBjorn Stormtamer's world has been turned upside down in more ways than one. His shipmates have left him for dead on an island for quarantining victims of a disease that he now has. His partner in battle despises him, his family thinks he's dead and...
