Many centuries ago, in the kingdom of Chuvaria lived a young poor maiden named 'Rose Van Sparrow'.
Rose and her family were the dwellers of a small village in the kingdom and struggled to survive through the obstacles of life. A hopeless romantic, b...
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I could see the hidden rays of the sunrise beginning to peak over the wintery mountain tops. The wispy cirrus clouds shone under the golden hue, creating a picturesque scene.
The black jagged mountains looked less frightening under the light. The rich air of coldness nuzzled my nose and I enjoyed the calmness before the storm.
My men had already risen from their posts, fixed on their armor, and dosed out the fireplaces. The lingering scent of blood that had all but vanished as if there had been no battle just hours ago. The only remaining scent was the smoke from the burning wood.
I had received a message from one of the knights that the woman had made it down the mountains and were on the route home.
Alister stood beside me, readying his own horse. He had made sure the other knights knew what to do. He was falling back into his War General shoes that had long since been worn.
"Why'd you stop?" my curiosity finally peaked.
"Your Majesty?"
"War General. Commander of the Elite Knights. Battalion Lord of Chuvaria. Why'd you stop?"
Alister smiled, fixing up the reins on his horse before shaking his head.
"I couldn't follow the old King's agenda," Alister said. "He spoke about war and bloodshed, as if taking a life were the easiest thing. He didn't understand the heaviness it had on the soul. He saw wars as a means for more power and control, a selfish reason that I couldn't follow. So I left."
I nodded my head in understanding. While I didn't regret ending the life of those Ceasian barbarians, the feelings after that settled in my soul seemed to enjoy gnawing at my chest.
In the end, they were people that had memories and feelings. But they decided to take the nastier routes of life, and for that, they should be punished.
They should have known better.
I didn't kill them for power or for control, I took their lives as retribution for the sufferings they caused my kingdom. They destroyed our safe havens, killed our men, and kidnapped our women. I understood first hand how easy it is to fall into cruelty, how effortless it is to be selfish and evil.
The strongest are the ones who are able to turn away from evil, no matter how tempting it is.
"I pray that I never become my father," I said, without even thinking.
Alister paused for a second before bowing his head in respect.
"You can but you won't," Alister spoke, turning to look at me. He held his metal helmet in his arms, before placing it over his head. "What one man does differs from another even if they share the same blood. But do remember that, one who follows another leaves no footprints behind."
