Calamity: A Ballad of Ash

Chapter 1: Statis

As the evening sun soared high above the lush forest, its light penetrated through the slim openings of the woodland below it. Within the forest stood an unlikely duo, plain sailing through the greenery whilst making conversation.

"It's a long way east, isn't it?" Statis said in a dull tone.

"We've got two days of walking ahead of us, maybe three." Braelor replied.

The two associates had met one day prior in the tundra, with Braelor being a renowned jungle warrior, and the former a proficient ninja. Their first encounter began with a clash of weapons, their eyes locked and faces flat. Words had not even been spoken, but their world was at war, so no words were needed. Eventually they reached a standstill, their breaths shortened and knees touching the snow covered ground. Before another move could be made, the ronin offered the first word, proposing an unexpected truce. With their dulled weapons sheathed, they spoke with one another, realizing that their goals were one and the same, even if they served under differing gods.

"I hope you speak the truth, and that Silva's intentions are not fictitious," Statis said with a dubious voice. "Gods in this accursed land seem to all think the same."

Braelor turned towards Statis with an irritated expression running across his face. "If you hold doubts, then you needn't come with me. I simply offered you a conference with her. Silva did not ask for you, did she?"

"My clan is weak when compared to the tyrant's army. Do you blame me for seeking allies?" A pause between the two occurred, silence filling the air as they glared into each other's hazy eyes.

"No, I don't blame you."

The ninja closed his eyes, deeply exhaling as Braelor turned away from him. He had long black hair and dark skin, while wearing a blue and purple gi. Statis was part of a clan who worshiped the slime god. To him, their servitude was conventional, and a habitual part of life. But to most others it was enigmatic and looked down upon, like a stain on one's shoe.

Braelor turned back towards him, sitting on a nearby log. He had short brown hair and wore lush wood armor, fitting for one of Silva's followers. He began speaking with genuine curiosity in his voice. "Why is it that you worship the slimes? They are such meager creatures in this accursed land... Why devote your life to them?"

Statis finally opened his eyes, unhurriedly sitting down on a log adjacent to Braelor before swiftly responding with another question. "Why is it that you worship Silva?"

Braelor paused for a moment, answering calmly as he became lured to the ninja's attitude. "I am her champion, she is the one who has given me both insight and a purpose."

Statis tilted his head with a slight smirk, gratified by his peer's response. "It would seem you already have your answer then."

Braelor raised his brow, becoming muddled from Statis' words. "But the one whom you worship is considered one of the weakest gods, if it even deserves a title of that magnitude..." As Braelor finished speaking, Statis shifted his gaze to the vibrant leaves of the forest, letting out a drained sigh as he pulled out a whetstone to sharpen his blades. Braelor's thoughts were not unique, they had been expressed to Statis before by others, all too many times.

"Why are those who hold immense power the only ones to be considered worthy of praise? Are the weak not just as capable of giving others a motivation to continue forth?"

"But slimes are below us..."

"And we are below gods," Statis interjected with an assertive voice. "Should our voices be nullified purely because we are inconsequential compared to them?"

The ninja's words halted Braelor's train of thought for a moment. It was as though a revelation had struck the warrior, concepts that he had yet to consider. "No, I suppose not..."

Statis stopped sharpening his weapons, stowing away his whetstone while he wore a seemingly pleased expression. "Precisely, as it would be foolish to think that way."

Braelor remained quiet, but slowly nodded his head. More often than not, he would take only Silva's words at face value, believing anyone else's notions to be absurd. However, Statis was not like the others.

"Forgive my negligence... If there comes a day where I am bid a greeting from your sovereign, I will show respect where it is due." As Braelor finished, Statis let out an irresolute snort as he nodded his head.

"Thank you for your sympathies, but it's doubtful that you'll ever stand in his presence." Braelor lifted his brow as he looked at his ally confusingly.

"And why would that be?"

"He often cares not for others, even the devout," Statis said bluntly. "I would like to believe my servitude hasn't gone unnoticed, but he has done little to repay my gratitude."

Suddenly, Braelor's face had changed. He was no longer confused, but rather baffled at the words the ninja spoke. "Have you not just lectured me of our voices holding value, even to gods?"

"I did. Unfortunately, my lord doesn't have a good ear for such things."

Braelor remained in a perplexed state, inundated by his peers' conflicting statements. "Why is it that you worship this god then? It sounds as though your god is nothing more than a self-absorbed glutton, who provides you with no acclaim."

"Maybe so," Statis started. "But standing in his wake has given me purpose in this world." Braelor became frustrated at Statis for his lack of self worth. He opened his mouth, preparing to argue against the ninja's sentiments.

But, he held his tongue.

He instead turned away from Statis and let out a confounded sigh. As the silence between the two settled, Braelor spoke in a reassuring tone. "I can promise you that your words will at least be heard by Silva, hopefully in good faith."

A small grin formed on Statis' face, before replying in a fruity tone. "I'll take your word for it then." After a moment of silence passed, he quickly reached for his bag that was attached to the side of his sash. He untied its opening, digging his callused hands through it. After a few seconds, he pulled out two bottles of green tea, and tied the bag shut.

Statis stretched his arm out to Braelor, offering him a bottle. Braelor hesitated for a moment, his shoulders tensing as he stared at the ronin. He'd known ninjas in the past to poison the drinks of others, some even killing kings like flies, and thought that this may be no different.

As he slowly reached forward to grab the bottle from Statis, the ninja promptly raised his drink, speaking in a jubilant voice before downing it. "Cheers!"

As he watched his newfound compatriot finish his tea, Braelor was relieved of any worry he once held, with the tension in his shoulders instantly leaving. Before long, Braelor too would raise his drink, wearing a faint smile as he spoke in a rosy tone. "Cheers."

As they finished their tea, Statis wiped his mouth off with the brace of his arm, stowing his empty bottle away as the clean vegetal notes still danced lightly on his taste buds. "Good stuff, eh?"

"Yeah, I've certainly had worse."

"I take it you're not one for tea then?" Statis said with the hint of a smile.

"Normally no, but you seem to know your way around a kettle."

Statis and Braelor both let out a chuckle, before the renowned warrior finally gave back his empty glass to Statis. As the ninja stored it away and tied up his bag, he slowly turned his head back up to the ceiling of the forest, the light beginning to retreat as the dark slowly became more apparent. Exhaling for a moment, the ronin began to speak enthusiastically. "Dusk is nigh upon us."

"Yes, let's settle here for the night," Braelor replied. "We've got a ways ahead of us still."