Eternity

My Light

The horses hooves crashed across the blood soaked field as we charged our way to freedom. Metal rang clear as my sword collided with an enemy's, a battle was less of a collision of hundreds or thousands of men fighting for their own cause, but rather a collection of individual duels. The only thing that mattered was the enemy who crossed his sword with yours.

"Cut flank and push!" Yelled our general, this man was no ordinary man, he was charismatic and knew no fear, a man who fought for his people and his country. General Cha HakYeon was in the soldiers eyes a god of his own creation, man fought for him and with him without questions or regrets.

We obeyed his orders for his word was our future, me along with the other soldiers pushed the enemy and charged. The charge was received by the opposition and they began to cut us down like dogs.

"This... this is hopeless" whispered my dying comrade as he fell to his knees, and arrow piercing his neck. The smell of blood filled the air as we fought desperately for our lives, for our comrades and families back at home.

"Wonsik! Watch out!" General HakYeon shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like butter. Before I could react pain began to blossom from my chest as the arrow pierced my body.

"N..no th.. this can't happen" I mumbled as I fell to the blood-soaked ground. My mind became numb as the pain pulled me into unconsciousness.

"Darling must you leave me?" Questioned the raven haired woman who I had given my heart to, her eyes were clear and her lips soft as she kissed me gently.

"I'm sorry Soyoung but this is war, and to stay would be an embarrassment for my family", I mumbled in response, my heart aching as he heart shaped face became more saddened, "I love you"

"If you love me, please promise me something," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around her frail body, her words were uncharacteristically serious as she looked seemingly into my soul. "If you love me please promise me that you won't die, that you'll come home to me."

Tears fell down her perfect cheeks breaking my heart, I hated causing her pain. "Darling I promise, I'll come home." My shook as I watched her strength fade before my eyes.

"promise that we'll grow old together, that we'll live together till we are both old and grey, our children growing around us, our hearts as one till we die," she spoke this time with more strength and her eyes seemed to fill with joy at the idea of our life together.

"I promise, I promise that we'll go grey together, and die together my love" I whispered as tears began to fill my eyes, she was my sun, my light in this cruel world. I pulled her close and held her for what seemed like forever, a moment I'll never forget. Her soft sobs breaking the frosty silence, her whispers in my ears, her sweet scent as I embraced her one last time.

"I... I can't die yet, I can't break this promise!" My voice was like a broken growl as I attempted to pull myself out of death and back to the real world, I had to survive, for my light, for my sunshine.

"Why do you fight what is inevitable?" The generals words cut through my broken mind causing me to fall back into the mud, it was hopeless. "Just let go and join your friends in the afterlife, In peace"

"I can't... I can't give up" I mumbled as I looked up at the proud figure of my leader, his face was blood-streaked but flawless in the shimmering moonlight. Sympathy painted his features as he knelt beside me helping me to my feet.

"I ask you again, why do you fight death? Is it because you fear the afterlife, or are you humiliated to fall like this? Why do humans always fight the last great moment of life?" His questions were curious but hardly impacted my fading mind, he was right death was the last great action we as mortals do.

"I fight for the promise... the promise I made almost a year ago, the promise I made to my love, my sunshine in the darkest of nights, I promised that I'd return to her and we'd grow old together..." sobs broke through my damaged chest causing a series of pained coughs to ravage my body.

"Love.. hmm something.... I had never had the opportunity to experience" the general spoke barely above a whisper as he studied my pained body, "how important is this promise? Is it worth the many years of pain that you will have to live through?"

Without hesitation I answered his questions "Yes... I'd go to hell and back for her... it's worth everything... everything and anything I'd do for my light."

"His expression hardly changed as he looked down at me with pity, he shook his head slightly as my vision began to fade once again.