Marks of the New Era

Chapter 1.3

Like it happened 5 years ago, the day came and his father introduced his new wife again, although unlike last time, he was a lot more open to her arrival, and it was the right choice, because not only was she a great mother for him and his siblings, she was also an excellent queen and by her command Genzo became the most pacific it had been in years.

Those years were very enjoyable, during that time he was able to form a great relationship with the new queen, the bond with his siblings got a lot stronger and he started helping his father with his royal duties, especially since in a few years he would become of age to take the throne.

He felt that he could finally live happily like his mother had wanted, he had a maternal figure, siblings and his kingdom was safe.

How fool of him.

Fate seemed to hate him because when he was able to relax and let his guard down, death returned to his life to put salt in his scar which hadn't healed despite his efforts, this time taking the life of his father.

When the king received a letter from Garon in which the king of Yami stated that he wanted peace between the kingdoms he immediately had a bad feeling about the situation and had a lot of doubts but despite that his father decided not only to attend but also invited him to go.

He was very hesitant about it, the man who took his mother and twin sister away from him was now offering to meet and sign peace, he almost chose to not go but he thought that maybe it was time to let the past behind him, and meeting with Garon could be the first step for closing his scar right?

That was the biggest mistake in his life.

The meeting was arranged in Cheve, a small town without habitants that was known for being the point where both territories had their barriers, to Tai though, it was the place where he would lose his father.

The meeting ended up being an ambush, as soon as they arrived they were attacked by the guards of Yami, the one's that had kidnapped his sister 10 years ago, being unprepared and with a low number of soldiers they were easily overpowered.

When the ambush started his father turned to him and told him "Run", and he did.

He started running through the battlefield, dodging as many soldiers as he could however, it came to a point where he had no other choice than to fight to save his life while his soldiers bodies kept falling to the ground.

Eventually only his father and him were left, he heard King Garon call his army back and when he looked forward he saw his father kneeling on the ground while Garon got close to him and suddenly... *SLASH*.

That scene would stay in his mind forever, in one moment he saw his father fall to the ground and on the next he was desperately running towards him while tears feel down his cheeks.

"Dad, DAD!!" He stopped in front of his body in shock, this couldn't be happening, he couldn't lose him too.

"Dad?" He shook him lightly "D-Dad please get up!! *sob*" He shook him harder "N-No, d-dad please don't leave me!!" he said in hopes that the king would rise again but he knew that was nothing but a fantasy, his father was dead.

He started sobbing hysterically on top of his father's body, what would he do now?, could things ever go back to what it once was?

Despite his loud sobs he was able to hear steps coming closer to him and when he looked up he saw King Garon in front of him and swinging his axe, ready to go for the kill, being unprepared, Tai did the only thing he could, throw himself backwards in an effort of avoiding damage.

The impact on the ground was painful, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his face, more specifically the pain surrounding his left eye, while on the ground and defenseless, he thought that it was the end, that Garon would kill him and that at least he could see his family again.

Imagine his surprise when he heard Garon say "We're retiring" and when he was able to bare the pain long enough to open his eyes, (fortunately he hadn't lost his sight) he saw Garon and his army getting farther and farther until they were nothing but small dots in the distance.

Rain started pouring but he barely noticed it, he could feel liquid falling down his face, was it rain?, blood?, tears?, all at once?, he couldn't know and in the end it didn't matter.

Garon had destroyed his life once again but, why didn't he end it?, why did he let him live?, those thoughts were interrupted by loud thunder and stronger rain, he looked around him but all he could see was death and disaster, he was the only survivor of the Cheve Slaughter, but, being honest, he wished he wasn't.

The whole way back home he had so many questions... why?, why couldn't he be happy?, why couldn't he live in peace?, was he destined to suffer one tragedy after another?, those thoughts were the last thing he remembered before collapsing against the cold floor of the palace he called home.