Post by strider on Jul 13, 2007 8:51:54 GMT -6
His deep eyes gazed off into the distance, overlooking the scorched and ravaged land that had been a battlefield for the past few days. Perched atop a large rock by the hillside near their encampment, Kaaru took a moment to remove himself from the devastation before him. He closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh morning air.
With a concentrated thought, he opened his right hand and a beam of light extended from his palm. He clenched at the light, and the tip extended into wing-like appendages. He opened his eyes to marvel at the beauty he held in his hand. It was an object of light shaped in the form of a double-bladed axe. It felt as solid as any other weapon he had ever held, but it was as light as a feather. The axe emanated a soft red hue, and its undulating glow pulsed as if one with his heartbeat. It was called a Chaos Axe, and it was a weapon sought after by many warriors and found only in the desolate and godforsaken fields of the Fissure of Woe. However, Kaaru treasured it not for its value, but for the memories it held.
His thoughts turned from the war he currently found himself in to his past, the past that brought him to where he was now.
Since his youth, he was trained as a Strider, warriors renowned for their skills and fighting prowess. He was trained in battle and in other arts as well, helping to shape him as a balanced individual. Despite his impulsiveness and general disdain for organization and authority, his determination and raw skill allowed him to pass his training and join the ranks as one of the youngest to achieve the status of Class-S Strider. Internal corruption had since destroyed the organization, and the remaining Striders who were still loyal to the original values each went their separate ways.
He then became an agent of the Black Hand, an underground organization that was involved in almost all aspects of society and was secretly responsible for many influential events. He had fond memories of his tenure at the Black Hand, and he thought of his adventures and the people he had met. Familiar faces flashed in his mind of friends past and present: Tunny, Sloth, Mumorpigah, Nak, his own brother Kay, Wan, Circe, Juhanah, Tides, Lia, and many more.
“Kaaru…”
His thoughts then wandered off to his brief involvement with the esteemed Lady Blue Steel and her companions. He had heard less of her since she started her academy, but he stayed in touch with Nakora, one of Blue’s earliest students.
“Kaaru…”
He let his mind wander, and he soon found himself thinking of his Hime. Hers was a face he longed to see agai…
“STRIDER!”
The sharp voice jerked him back to reality. He turned his head towards the encampment and beheld the stern figure of Racthoh Demini approaching him.
“Cease your day-dreaming, boy, and make yourself useful!”
Kaaru opened his palm and the glowing axe he held vanished into thin air. He grabbed the armored helm that lay beside him and alighted gracefully onto the ground. He turned to face his leader and saluted.
“Fine morning for a walk, isn’t it?” Kaaru let out with a cheerful smile.
“It’s a fine morning to slay our enemies,” he retorted. “Word has come in from the Western front. There has been significant movement in the enemy ranks. I need you to take your squad and fortify our position by the river crossing immediately!”
“Aye, my lord.”
Racthoh eyed Kaaru with a chilling gaze.
“Nothing passes,” he commanded.
Kaaru let out a proud smirk. “You have my word.”
Despite the bulky armor he was wearing, Kaaru sped nimbly down the hill towards the encampment.
“Finally…,” he thought to himself.
Kaaru wasn’t one to normally take orders like that, but he had finally met a man worthy of following.
He had finally found allies to call family.
He had finally found a guild to call home.
With a concentrated thought, he opened his right hand and a beam of light extended from his palm. He clenched at the light, and the tip extended into wing-like appendages. He opened his eyes to marvel at the beauty he held in his hand. It was an object of light shaped in the form of a double-bladed axe. It felt as solid as any other weapon he had ever held, but it was as light as a feather. The axe emanated a soft red hue, and its undulating glow pulsed as if one with his heartbeat. It was called a Chaos Axe, and it was a weapon sought after by many warriors and found only in the desolate and godforsaken fields of the Fissure of Woe. However, Kaaru treasured it not for its value, but for the memories it held.
His thoughts turned from the war he currently found himself in to his past, the past that brought him to where he was now.
Since his youth, he was trained as a Strider, warriors renowned for their skills and fighting prowess. He was trained in battle and in other arts as well, helping to shape him as a balanced individual. Despite his impulsiveness and general disdain for organization and authority, his determination and raw skill allowed him to pass his training and join the ranks as one of the youngest to achieve the status of Class-S Strider. Internal corruption had since destroyed the organization, and the remaining Striders who were still loyal to the original values each went their separate ways.
He then became an agent of the Black Hand, an underground organization that was involved in almost all aspects of society and was secretly responsible for many influential events. He had fond memories of his tenure at the Black Hand, and he thought of his adventures and the people he had met. Familiar faces flashed in his mind of friends past and present: Tunny, Sloth, Mumorpigah, Nak, his own brother Kay, Wan, Circe, Juhanah, Tides, Lia, and many more.
“Kaaru…”
His thoughts then wandered off to his brief involvement with the esteemed Lady Blue Steel and her companions. He had heard less of her since she started her academy, but he stayed in touch with Nakora, one of Blue’s earliest students.
“Kaaru…”
He let his mind wander, and he soon found himself thinking of his Hime. Hers was a face he longed to see agai…
“STRIDER!”
The sharp voice jerked him back to reality. He turned his head towards the encampment and beheld the stern figure of Racthoh Demini approaching him.
“Cease your day-dreaming, boy, and make yourself useful!”
Kaaru opened his palm and the glowing axe he held vanished into thin air. He grabbed the armored helm that lay beside him and alighted gracefully onto the ground. He turned to face his leader and saluted.
“Fine morning for a walk, isn’t it?” Kaaru let out with a cheerful smile.
“It’s a fine morning to slay our enemies,” he retorted. “Word has come in from the Western front. There has been significant movement in the enemy ranks. I need you to take your squad and fortify our position by the river crossing immediately!”
“Aye, my lord.”
Racthoh eyed Kaaru with a chilling gaze.
“Nothing passes,” he commanded.
Kaaru let out a proud smirk. “You have my word.”
Despite the bulky armor he was wearing, Kaaru sped nimbly down the hill towards the encampment.
“Finally…,” he thought to himself.
Kaaru wasn’t one to normally take orders like that, but he had finally met a man worthy of following.
He had finally found allies to call family.
He had finally found a guild to call home.