We Can Be Heroes ...?

1

The warrior on the great, black steed dismounted as he neared the farm, long, silver hair billowing behind him. He strode, with purpose, toward Shion and her Papa, and looked around the poor farm that they had managed to keep for far longer than they could have ever hoped to after the death of her mother so long ago.

"Greetings, Adventurer!" Papa moved to meet the bold warrior as he greeted all who came to their little farm. "How may a humble farmer and his daughter aid you this day?"

"Healing." The warrior did not even look at Papa, or Shion, as though they did not exist to him.

"Ah, yes, I see. My daughter is most accomplished in the healing arts. Allow me to assess your injuries." Papa looked at the warrior from head to foot. "Minor injuries, I'm happy to say. For four hundred gold, my daughter will ..."

"Yeah. Whatever, you old goat. Four hundred." The warrior raised his hand and the tinkle of coins falling reached Shion's ears.

The power flowed through her as Shion laid her hand upon the brave warrior. The light of restoration enveloped him and the soothing sound of harp strings drifted upon the air. The warrior, though looking no different than he had before, appeared satisfied by the service and returned to his mount without another word.

"Take care, great warrior, for there are many beasts abroad these days." Papa waved as the warrior rode away. "Return to us should you ever require healing again."

-+-

The sorcerer on the stout, white unicorn dismounted as she neared the farm, vibrant, short red hair glowing with the sun at her back. She strode, with purpose, toward Shion and her Papa, and looked around the poor farm that they had managed to keep for far longer than they could have ever hoped to after the death of her mother so long ago.

"Greetings, Adventurer!" Papa moved to meet the mysterious sorcerer as he greeted all who came to their little farm. "How may a humble farmer and his daughter aid you this day?"

"Healing." The sorcerer rested her staff upon the ground, glaring at Papa as though she could kill him where he stood.

"Ah, yes, I see. My daughter is most accomplished in the healing arts. Allow me to assess your injuries." Papa looked at the warrior from head to foot. "You are near death, mighty sorcerer! For nine hundred gold, my daughter will attend to your grave injuries."

"Nine hundred gold? Fine. You thieving bastard." The tinkle of coins rattled in the air as the sorcerer waved her hand at Papa.

Shion laid her hand upon the fearsome sorcerer, and the power of healing flowed through her. The light of restoration enveloped the sorcerer and the soothing sound of harp strings drifted upon the air. The sorcerer, though looking no different than she had before, appeared satisfied by the service and bowed before returning to her magnificent unicorn and rode away.

"Take care, great warrior, for there are many beasts abroad these days." Papa waved as the warrior rode away. "Return to us should you ever require healing again."

-+-

The group of adventurers upon their powerful horses dismounted as they neared the farm, each a wonder to behold, resplendent in armour, or mages robes, or thieves leathers. They strode, with purpose, toward Shion and her Papa, and looked around the poor farm that they had managed to keep for far longer than they could have ever hoped to after the death of her mother so long ago.

"Greetings, Adventurer!" Papa moved to meet the adventurers and everything became black.

Not only black, but the blackest of blacks. A black so black that merely calling it black did the black that the world had turned into no justice at all. It was blacker than black. A black that, in another world, in another time, musicians would give their right drumstick to have that black colouring their clothing, and maybe their hair. None more black, some parody of those musicians had once said. It was that kind of black.