Brevis tabulatorum

"O Evil You"

If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrongdoing, but more than ever that he is thy brother. – Epictetus

    Beneath the huge branches of a Narra tree, a young woman no older than twenty winters sat with her back leaning against the trunk. Her eyes are closed and her arm is resting on her knee as she breathes rather heavily. As she inhaled, she felt stabs that made her flinch.

Her mind is slowly drifting to ages past, to when she is still standing, her hair still a bright shade of red. Her hand free of blood and scars. She sighs heavily as she faces the bright big moon. With a soft yet clear voice she whispered,

"Must be real lonely up there without the sun, you have the stars to accompany you but do they really understand who you are my dear moon? You and I are alike, we both long for our significant other. You have the bright red sun and I have my brother. Oh, my adorable brother. I am sure you can see him, so please tell him that I love him so much, and everything I do. I do for him

The young woman smiled faintly as she clutches an object wrapped in a clear Silver blanket resting on her lap. A flashback did she see, a distant memory filled with smiles and laughter as shadows emerged from it.

+Vision+

     On a rather misty mountain lie a small village. A street of cottages in different shades of brown and black with thick, gray smoke coming of chimneys can you see from a distance. A most sombre mood fill the village as gusts of wind inhabit the sky. Suddenly, under the light of the moon, a house atop the peak of the mountain light up brightly, and a cold blue aura did it seem to radiate. Out of nowhere, screams of a woman can be heard. Screams that were loud enough to wake up the residents of the village from their slumber. The disturbed went outside to check out the commotion, as the screams grew louder before it came to a stop, followed by a silence that was far more deafening than the screams. A silence that last for a few moments.... until a soft cry of a babe wrapped in a black blanket broke the silence and for the next few minutes the house on the peak of the mountain seems to radiate a new kind of color, warm yellow. The house shined like the sun. It was midnight but the village was lit from every corner, to every street and to every home. Inside the house the family gathered, beside the hearth do the mother sit, clutching her newly born son covered in silver blankets displaying the sigil of their house, An old and proud black Narra Tree standing tall, bleeding red sap as the moon is carved on it's trunk.  The mother tho tired gave a warm and genuine smile and her husband is beside her smiling as well. From a distance do a girl stare, the only one showing no emotions whatsoever. She is just there as the moon shines brightly upon the misty village.

+++

     Seventeen winters have passed. A lot of important events happened. The boy wrapped in a silver blanket before grew very fast and only after four winters he shows signs of greatness, an absolute prodigy. He excelled at all areas tho young, even surpassing adults. But he never showed pride, he valued humility above all. An absolute gentleman did he grow into. That's the reason why nobody could hate him. He is loved by all, admired by many, and adored by the ladies.

     The boy grew into a young man, earning his name "Argento" and sooner would he earn the title "Monster Bane", but that would be a long while from now and maybe even never. As Argento would fall into a sickness never before seen by any in the village. His black eyes are now blood red, and his once bright red hair slowly turning white as snow. He is constantly feverish, shivering by the slightest gust of wind. The best healers of the village couldn't do a single thing. The whole village was sadded, but they didn't just give up. They sent out adventures of all classes to go out into the world to seek a cure for their beloved Argento but to no avail. All hope seems lost until a young woman, the same who stared at him seventeen winters before raised an idea. A old prophecy,

"A sickness borne of death and snow
Or a decease from heavens that fall
Never sparing anyone, or so the say
Anyone but the bearer of the
Stone of Pestilence"

     The young woman, eighteen winters of age showed much enthusiasm in matters of the unknown. She invested blood, sweat, and tears researching about things she didn't understand.  An academic scholar she is. An arrogant prick to many for they do not understand her and her behavior towards scholarly matters. She aspired to be a doctor, an excellent one at that. This illness of Argento caught her attention as she among many has yet to see this decease, these symptoms that even the revered and humble Argento would succumb to it. She tried everything, everything single blooody thing! But to no avail. Out of desperation she sought out a research of her in the past, a most forbidden so they say for it's risks and danger, "The Stone of Pestilence"

An artifact of ages past which contrary to it's name does not actually spread pestilence upon the land, just to one person. The ultimate sacrifice, one would hold upon it and would think of someone who they will bind into. That someone will be cured of any sickness he or she may have and will never be ill until the day nature takes him or her away, a natural death he or she is guaranteed to have. But to the actual bearer of the stone... He or she will suffer beyond imagine, pain, blood, and tears would the bearer endure until the person they choose to bear it does and bearer along with him or her. A sacrifice of one for the benefit of another

The stone is not easily found, it took her a maddening year to finally locate it. Argento is at it's worst when finally the stone is just an arm's length away from her and with no hesitation she grasped it and thought of Argento. Her vision turned murky gray then black as she fainted, the stone did she hold with all her might. She dreamt of horrible nightmares as bruises cover her body, she coughed blood numerous times and pain did she feel every second. After waking up she wandered around and saw a Narra Tree, she sat down and pulled a blanket out of her pocket and we a sighed she spoke to the moon like a old pal.

"You know, I never liked Argento, not even a little bit. From the moment he is born everything is about him. Everyone loved and adored him and I get why, I just, couldn't stand how perfect he seems. How free of impurities the guy was. He was my brother but as soon as he entered the scene I was cast away, no one remembered me, I lived in his shadow ever since. I envied him, but even so, he loved me. He respected and treat me well not only as his older sister but as a person. I feel genuine feelings from him that's why this sacrifice did I make and regret it will I not, not ever. He's gonna figure it out sooner or later, he's probably going to be mad at haha. But I'm sure he will understand. None shall remember me in the future but frankly, care do I not. The only thing that matters to me is him and the things, the great things he will do in the future. Hey moon, please tell him to live his life to the fullest and let not my sacrifice be in vain. That's all I ask"