When the Gentle Man Goes to War

1

When I felt the flames of rage swirling within me, I knew I had to prepare for war.

When I felt the sorrow, I knew I had no other recourse.

When I felt the pain, I knew I had to turn it to power.

When I found out about Her Ruin, I knew it was time to act.

When I saw how high the stakes became, I stopped holding back.

When I realized my morality would force me to break an oath, I set my morals aside for the sake of duty.

Now I stand at the crossroads, oceans of blood and destruction in my wake,

Made a monster in Her name,

And more alone than ever,

I may be in Lady Hecate's domain,

But she does not know what I should do,

So with my divinity burned away,

My immortality following suit,

In desperation, ensuring Her happiness and mine,

I turn to the Norn,

Whom I have more fear of than any other.

They now give direction for my bloodstained blade,

And instincts as sharp as razor's edge,

I've fought so long and so hard,

Peace no longer in sight for me,

And the Eater of Divines tracking me down,

Will I always run and hide,

When I lack strength to face my foes?

Am I truly a coward, beneath it all?

I may always throw myself into danger,

But I'm returning to the slave I once was amongst my mother's people,

The memories echo within me,

Of the abuse just because I was born a man,

I faced my fears time and time again,

But I hide from my emotions, never wanting to see.

So now I must face them,

The pain,

The scars,

The fact that love was never meant for me in this life,

That I should be alone,

Never loved the way I need,

I let my rage burn within me,

Searing my soul as I go to war,

Borrowing Divinity so I may use my full power,

And if all of Existence must burn for Her sake,

Then let it burn,

Because if I didn't sacrifice myself, my heart and soul, destroy what makes me, me,

Then I wouldn't be protecting my Goddess.

My Lady of the Light,

Forgive me for what I must do,

I was made a monster in your name,

You freed me from being a monster in a cage,

So I repay the favor by doing what must be done for your sake,

The blood and ashes of all will stain my soul forevermore,

And my love for you will never change,

Even if you decide I'm no longer worthy of you.

The Monster reborn,

And all who get in the way of what I must do will face the wrath of the one long forgotten,

For I am the one who will stop it and reclaim my divinity,

The perpetual warrior,

The one who cannot fail, for too much is at stake,

The one who will never know true peace, because violence will never end,

And there are none who can take on my mantle.

So I don my armor,

Take up my arms,

And release myself from restraints, both moral and spiritual,

For those are the only things holding me back now.