The Mute Swordsman

Prologue

It's been almost two years since the daemon attack at my home town called Morning Bloom. It was called that because the flowers there, the flowers were known for, always bloomed during the morning. However, it was attacked more recently by the daemons that were migrating from the Forest of Daemons to another forest south. Almost no one was spared their wrath as they destroyed everything... even killing my parents who were protecting my sisters.

I fell into a deep depression and developed insomnia because of the nightmares from that event. It wasn't my parents death that caused me to be traumatized. No. It was how I handled it after seeing their crushed corpses underneath my childhood home. I... I was completely enraged to the point I killed all the daemons. Well... all but one. She agreed to join me if I didn't kill her. It made me feel a little better, but I still get nightmares and flashes of what I went on that rampage. Despite my hatred of those monsters, I felt extremely guilty for my actions.

I'm... I'm losing sleep. I'm trying to not breakdown. I'm trying to stay strong for my sisters, but I can't. Each time I see them, I'm reminded of why I killed them. The rage of my family in pain.

I eventually came to the conclusion that I wasn't needed in this team and I just felt like deadweight and a loose cannon that can't control his own emotions. I'm not needed. I'm not important to the team. Chocola and Vanilla would understand because I brutally murdered all of those daemons in front of them.

I reached into my traveling bag and pulled out the rope we would use to scale massively cliffs if needed. My hands shook as I tied the rope into a knot that many would stay away from because of its history. It was the only way to get rid of the guilt and pain of that attack. I paused for a second as I hesitated to go through with it. My depression has always stuck with me, but it never got this bad... until now. I continued without stopping this time.

Many thoughts ran through my head as I hung up the noose while flashes of brutal murder flashed through my vision. 'I did this.' I thought as tears came to my eyes as another flash decided to rear its ugly head. 'Go away!' My mental shoutouts were nothing to my tormented mind. Another flash, another death. 'Stop!' It didn't stop as flash after flash appeared in rapid succession causing me to drop to the floor and clutch my head. They just kept coming to continue to torment me. Nor and more appeared as I gave a loud yell of fear which set my resolve. 'I can make you stop!!!' I stepped onto a stool before putting my head through the loop and kicking the stool.

It crushed my esophagus easily as my body went limp from my life leaving me. The last thing I saw was Faust enter my room and scream at my hanging body. That was it. I just traumatized my best and childhood friend, but...

Death was the only escape.

My eyes opened to an endless expansion of pitch black nothingness. 'Here again... what does Faust want?' I thought as Faust in her goddess form appeared in front of me with tears in her eyes.

"... Why?" She began but I was confused, but I tried to speak. I couldn't. I rubbed my neck and tried again with the same result. "Y-you killed yourself... why!" I felt something in me that grew as I continued to look at her.

'I couldn't take the flashes and nightmares anymore... I'm sorry.' I thought hoping that she would hear it some how.

"We could've helped you!" I was somewhat relieved that she could hear my thoughts that I wanted to share.

'With what!' I shouted mentally. After a short while I continued my explanation. 'There are no physiologist that can help with PTSD and guilt. I just couldn't take it anymore.' I paused once again as I felt the familiar feeling of the ground opening from beneath me. 'Take care of Chocola and Vanilla for me, an I promise that I will be back!'

And just like that, I found myself in a similar predicament I was in after I died the first time. Except, I didn't have Faust with me.

"I didn't expect you to be here so soon Nocturnal or should I call you Hunter." My eyes widened at the voice for knowing my real name. I tried to speak, but nothing worked.

'How do you know me?' I asked in confusion while looking at the woman. She was a few inches shorter than me with rainbow like hair and a long flowing dress.

"The god of your universe contacted me to sent the goddess of that world to you in the void between universes." I was confused for a moment by her words. I didn't ask because I figured it out easily.

'So... what's gonna happen?' I sat down and reached into my pocket to find the Ring of the Damned inside of the aforementioned pocket.

"You will be 'resurrected', but in a different body so that one can stay there and be healed by the medical professionals. Despite your esophagus collapsing, it's an easy fix on Equus so I'll have to freeze time there to make sure you can do what you need to in this new world." I thought about it for a moment before a question popped up into my head.

'What will happen to the new body when I've finished my job in the new world and head back to Equestria?' It was a valid question that would immediately bring concern to those I get inevitably attached to.

"It will merge with your body and allow you to be stronger in your previous body. They will be contacted by me saying that they will see you once again at a different time." She paused and closed her eyes to concentrate as I felt her magic spreading around the black void before she opened her eyes once again. "The moment of opportunity is closing so I'll have to send you now... or never." I felt my body de-age and get thrown back into a bright white light as I heard her say one last thing. "Oh, and due to your suicide attempt, you won't be able to speak. You'll wake up in an orphanage with your name and your mother's last name like the previous world. See you when you complete your task."

I felt my body jerk forward as I huff in fear to calm my pounding heart. '... That was an experience.' A woman said in an uncertain as my heart finally came under control and I flopped back to rear a little more.

'You and me both, Yuri. You and me both.' I let my body finally go to rest and for the first time in two years... I don't have a nightmare. 'At least Luna might still be looking out for us... hopefully.'