Two men sat lazily on the tower walls chatting and laughing happily, exchanging many obscure and odd jokes. They should be vigilante at their post but the neigh impregnable wall that they sat upon hadn't been attacked in centuries. These men wore bright and shiny armor that twinkled brilliantly in the sun. The armor only bolstered their arrogance.
Suddenly one of the guards perked up seeing that his superior and also close friend was heading their way. As he jumped up preparing to welcome his friend, he stopped midway noticing that he was guiding two lavishly dressed people with noble and upright auras radiating lightly from them.
The guard quickly smack his friend and signaled to him with his eyes. Not missing a beat the other guard quickly stood to his feet and stood at rapt attention.
As the group neared the two guards they stood as straight as they could manage, even to the extent of their spines making slight popping sounds.
"Ah! Your majesty! These here are my finest warriors! They have achieved maximum scoring in all respective tests!" The man leading the two said. A amiable smile resting across his handsome face. His eyes resting ever so slightly on the woman that followed a half beat behind the man. However, it was only for a brief moment as he would never dare to look to heavily at her figure as she was many times stronger than him. In fact if she so wished it she could wave her hand and he would explode into mist never knowing how he died. But truly the guard couldn't be blamed. The woman was gorgeous. Her hair flowed behind her like waves of silky fabric and reflected the bright sun making it look like she was glowing. Her eyes blue like the most pure water and a perfect face that only the gods could have crafted.
"I see." a gruff voice responded. The man standing in front of the woman wore a brilliant purple robe embroidered with countless jewels and gold. A majestic crown stood upon his head shining brilliantly. The mans face was also immaculate. His face the picture perfect of symmetry. He had stern brown eyes that shown with radiance. It truly was no exaggeration to say that these two people embodied beauty.
The king looked over the two guards silently as the guards stood even straighter not daring to look him in the eyes. "They are passable. I will allow them to become guards to the palace and if they do well enough they may move further." the king said lightly. Although his voice was soft the authority carried in his voice was natural, bringing awe to the three guards.
The king then turned to leave but he suddenly stopped looking over the wall seeing a figure walk ever so slowly towards the grand wall they stood upon. The figure looked poor and the clothes were all in tatters making for a truly miserable sight.
The two guards followed their kings eyesight and also spotted the lone figure. One guard seizing the initiative plucked a bow from the ground and knocked an arrow. Sneering he pulled back the string with all his strength and aimed at the figure. The guard released the arrow and as if it was a bullet fired from a gun and the arrow shot forward nearly invisible to the naked eye.
But to their astonishment the bullet like arrow missed and the figure was no where to be seen. The guards look at each other in confusion before gasping in utter shock.
Behind the guard that had fired the arrow was the same rough looking figure that they had seen below. They now noticed that the man had a blindfold covering his eyes and an aura of solemnity surrounded him. Before the guards and the king could react further they all felt an invisible pressure weigh down on them making them completely incapable of movement. Even opening an eyelid was a strenuous task to them.
The kings eyes widened ever so slightly under the pressure realizing the power was something very similar to him and without hesitation he dropped to the ground and knelt before the figure. Seeing their majestic and mighty king kneel, the guards and woman without hesitation followed suit and knelt.
"I wish to have an abode and food." The rough looking man said staring directly at the king.
"Of course lord! My daughter, the princess, will guide you!" The king said without even raising his head. The man looked over at the woman slightly and grunted in affirmation the invisible pressure disappearing from their shoulders. The king, woman, and guards all let out a sigh of relief inside but didn't dare do so on the outside and kept their poise.
The Princess not missing a beat stood up and bowed with a flattering smile "I will guide you my liege." The woman's voice was soft and gave a calm comforting feeling.
The rough man only grunted in response. Although she was given a rude response the woman didn't bat an eye and her smile stayed firm on her face not even twitching slightly.
As the two walked away under the guide of the princess, the guards felt a surge of jealousy and disdain appeared in their hearts. In all regards other than strength they were better than the man! In looks and status they are obviously better but the princess is guiding him purely out of the mans strength! He was also blind!
Noticing the three guards distorted faces the king said nothing only sneering at them in his minds. That mans strength was at the realm of gods! Who would dare go against or think disdainful thoughts about such a being. Most likely if that man wished it he could change his form at will. He will have to dispose of these idiots later as they might cause trouble for his kingdom.
The two walked through the cobble stone streets in silence. The people of the streets made way for the pair for one simple reason. The princess was walking through! The princess was the jewel of their kingdom. She was a talented demon-slayer as well as a pious follower of the church. Not to mention her stunning looks! All the men of the kingdom worshiped her but didn't dare dream of her in any capacity. Seeing the man following her with such ragged clothes and a blind fold indicating that he was blind contempt shone on their faces. Such a terrible person! He dares walk with the jewel of the kingdom! His mere presence is destroying her highness's beautiful image. Indignance and disgust was written clearly on the peoples faces but none dared to act as it was her highness choice with which who she walks with.
The man continued to follow the princess and had clearly noticed the peoples gazes but thought nothing of it. He was used to such gazes.
After arriving at the castle and entering smoothly the princess guided the man into a luxurious room. The room was adorned with paintings, smooth comfortable rugs, and padded furniture. Moving a chair out from the table he sat down quietly.
"Your lordship would you like some food?" The princess said giving a slight bow.
The blindfolded man simply nodded at her question.
The princess acknowledged the meaning behind the gesture and left the room signaling a maid to bring food to the room. The princess then re-entered the room and stood behind the man respectfully.
After a long period of silence the food finally arrived. The maid said nothing as she kept her head down while setting the table. After setting the table and placing down the food the maid left hurriedly as she wasn't qualified to stay in the room without her highness's permission.
The princess watched the man as he simply looked at the food. Fearing something was wrong the princess hurriedly examined the food "Your lordship is the food not to your liking?"
Saying nothing, the man continued to look at the food. Finally he picked up one of the many fruits on the plate and took a bite. After taking a bite he followed it with another and another until he cleared the plate near instantly.
Sighing in relief the princess didn't move and continued to stay to his side waiting for any instructions.
The man picked up the napkin and dabbed his mouth slowly. "Tell me what you want." He said slowly.
The princess's eyes widened in surprise but recovered hastily "I wish to be your lordships student and learn under you!" the princess said kneeling down.
The man said nothing and simply looked off in the distance. After a long agonizing silence for the princess he finally answered "You are not qualified."
At his answer the princess's eye couldn't help but twitch. Not qualified?! She was indignant. She is the most talented person in Haven and none of the other kingdoms shelter city geniuses could hold a candle to her! If she isn't qualified then who?! She also had never heard of this man. He was treated so well simply because of his power display! Given a few years she would definitely be stronger. Finally unable to keep her anger restrained she blurted out "Why not?! Why am i not qualified?!"
"... do you truly wish to know why?" He said unhurriedly.
"Yes!" she said nodding fiercely.
"Very well. I'll tell you." He stood up slowly. As he stood the pressure that he exuded before on the walls came back once more.
The princess shriveled back in fear as the pressure got heavier and heavier.
"You are not qualified because you are stained. Your arrogance and disdain towards those lesser than you is well hidden but is clear as day to me. Your despise of the people that live in the hell like landscape that is the outer reaches is disgusting. You think that they are worms tainted with blighted blood and heretics that are to stupid to be aware of gods. You disdain people that do all they can to survive in hell while you yourself live in heaven. You're disgusted by the prostitutes that sell themselves to get food but your ignorant towards the lack of choice that they have and the fear of being powerless. You never want for food so you never feel the pains of hunger, the gnawing sensation that eats at your core and makes your mind befuddled and weak. You've never needed to worry about money but you're disgusted by people that do anything for it. You use water copiously and wash at least two times every day but you hate the smell of someone who has never bathed in their life because the water is strictly for drinking. You hate them for their lack of faith or knowledge about the gods even though they have never once been introduced even the knowledge of such a being existing. You think you have power but it is nothing in front of me. The so called 'gods' that you follow and the 'power' they gave you is nothing but a sheet of glass to me. Worst of all however is that you don't realize your weakness. You don't realize that without your 'divine' power granted by the 'gods' you are nothing. You are a weak an vulnerable human without them but you still persist in arrogance that you are superior." He walked towards her the pressure turning so strong that everyone in the castle felt suffocated "Not just you either. Your people and all people from all the different 'god chosen zones' are arrogant and conceited. Do you know where my power comes from? I can assure you it doesn't come from the 'gods'. No. It comes from myself. I have weathered all the terrible things this world could throw at me and became stronger because of it. Your heart that has experienced no struggles is like glass. While my heart is iron. When i was 10 i was weak and a poor scavenger. One day a beast horde came and killed the fellow scavengers that lived near me. Fearing death i dove into a cave to survive. In the cave even more terrifying beings existed and for two more years i survived. Then one day i was caught by a demon." He removed the blindfold covering his eyes to reveal the are where his eyes should be but instead only skin was seen. "The demon sew my eyes shut and tortured me for four more years. By that time my skin had grown and attached sealing off my sight forever. In the process however i learned to control my senses to the maximum gaining a sixth sense in the process. The demon was off guard because after all how could such a weak boy that was blind do anything to such an exalted being. But in the end i killed it and consumed its blood gaining strength in the process. I then looked for more demons, intoxicated by the strength gained hoping that once i gained enough strength perhaps my eyes maybe restored. So i hunted. At first it was difficult with a lot of close calls but eventually it became child's play. Demons were nothing more than bugs beneath my feet. Then one of your 'gods' took notice and offered me in all of his grace for me to become a loyal follower. So i dragged him down from the sky and killed him consuming his blood." Unnervingly he stared straight at the princess as though his eyes still existed "You are not worthy 'princess' the only one worthy of learning is one of the so called 'wretches' in the outer reaches struggling for survival. Only those with a pure soul that persevere in times of pain and suffering and don't turn black deserve my teachings. But you princess, your soul is black and dirty." Leaning back he put back on his blindfold before turning to look at the princess cowering in the corner defecating on herself. With a sneer he looked out the window towards the city and bellowed "SO TELL YOUR PEOPLE! TELL YOUR SO CALLED GODS! I AM A TRUE GOD! ALL OTHER GODS ARE LIES! THE GODS FIGHT BUT CAN NEVER KILL EACH OTHER BUT I CAN! I AM A GOD SLAYER AND I SCORN THOSE SO CALLED GODS THAT SIT LOFTILY IN THE CLOUDS DISDAINING THOSE BELOW! I CARE FOR ALL HUMANITY, FOR ALL THOSE THAT CRY OUT IN DESPAIR OR FEAR I CARE FOR THEM!" The voice was heard throughout the whole city. He then turned back to the princess and gave a bright smile "You are not worthy."
Edit: I did this for fun! SO if you like it let me know and if you dont tell me what i could fix! I know my grammar is bad so try to bear with it! Thanks!
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from Short Stories
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