Chapter
4 – Just Another Ordinary Blade
“Assistant Commander Howard,” Finn
says from behind me.
“Yes? What is it?” I ask.
“Are you well? You seem to have
been zoning out.”
“No, I’m fine. Just enjoying the
view, if anything.”
“What’s there to enjoy about the
sight of ruins?”
“Those aren’t just any ruins. Those
are the ruins of our futuristic past when we had ships that could sail the
stars and we could live on other planets besides this one.”
“Yes, I’ve been taught about it in
history class.”
“But it’s another thing to look at
the ruins in person. What we’re looking at was once a great city, you know?
Over there you can see parts of the large space fairing ships that are as big as
a skyscraper and there you can see the remains of a machine with canons on
it, a church on its back, and the armored plating in the style of a knight.”
“Yeah. They are an impressive sight
to behold.”
Within the ruins of this once great
city whose name is hardly remembered is a group of traitors and defectors who
are using it as a base of operation to undermine the Church. The unit I am
helping to command is being sent in to clear it out and bring the traitors
their overdue execution. After the commanders remind the troops of the
situation, what group is doing what, and saying the before-battle prayer, we
head in. I’m allowed to move around in the battle freely and go where I want as
an assistant commander. During the battle, I command troops to come with me,
hold positions, and clear out certain ruins while sitting on my armored
horse.
The battle goes well so far even as
the traitors start to employ ambushes against us and catch us off guard at
certain times, but we’ve anticipated this since we know that they know our
tactics and act accordingly. Eventually, I command a small group of troops to
raid one of their command centers, a tall clock tower that’s mostly a skeletal
ruin of what it once was. I get off my horse and lead my knights through the
clock tower, telling them to spread out and clear the place in pairs. By the
time I reach the top where the head commander should be, I’m by myself as the
knight who was with me died along the way. Busting through the door ahead of
me, I am almost decapitated by an incoming blade that I thankfully am quick
enough to dodge. After exchanging and blocking blows with my enemy, we get some
distance from and look at one another.
The traitor’s outfit is that of a knight of Leo and is heavily worn from years of experience. Speaking of which, the
man I’m facing shows his many years of experience on his face as well and
is one that I wouldn’t easily forget.
“Alfie?” I say.
Who I once called a friend suddenly
goes back on the attack until I fight back and cut at his decaying armor.
“You had to know it would come to
this after I betrayed the army, so you have to be on your guard at all times,”
Alfie says before continuing his attack. “I see that they gave you a shiny new
set of armor and a new horse. It’s about time. What rank are you now?”
After beating him back and knocking
his broken shield out of his hands, I say, “Assistant Commander. Look, we don’t
have to fight, Alfie. You can turn yourself in.”
“I’ve been through the penitentiary
system too many times to know that it doesn’t work. None of it does! Not the Church,
the kingdom, or the army.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I know you’re a blind fellow but
come on! You’ve seen why I say it firsthand. All we did as knights was
endlessly kill and die and for what? So the world could stay the same as it was
when we first joined up?”
Again, Alfie goes at me with his
sword and I have to knock it out of his hand to get him to stop. With the blade
of my sword to his neck and his back against the wall, I feel confident that he’ll
finally stop and calm down.
“We fight to fulfill our God-given
purpose, defend the innocent, and fight the Church’s enemies. Nothing more.
Nothing less. Why did you join?” I ask.
“I wanted to do more than that. I
wanted to change the world! That’s why I ran away from the army and joined
these other runaway knights. We’re going to change the world and be remembered
for it!”
“Haha! You’re joking, right? That’s
such a vain reason to live and fight.”
“What are you talking about?! It’s
not a joke!”
“Look around you! This city is an
example of a lost legacy. Think of the millions of years of history that have been
lost and the many people who have been forgotten. Even now, do you remember the
bandits, traitors, and many villains that we face? No one remembers their name
in our lifetime, so what makes you think people will remember yours for any
amount of time? Who's to say that someone won’t come by and make your legacy
look like a rock compared to a boulder? To think you can leave a lasting legacy
is like trusting people to hold onto dust.”
“People will remember my name and deeds!
I will be a hero!”
Alfie slips out of my grasp and
dives for his sword. We continue to clash swords more intensely this time
forcing me to cut at him and end his life.
“People will remember me like the
great saints and heroes of old! I will be more than another face in the crowd!”
Alfie proclaims.
“Those people are only remembered
because God allows it! Think of the many brave knights we fought alongside and
how none of them will be called saints or remembered when their families and
loved ones pass away!” I counter.
“That’s what I’m afraid of. You
know, one of the first times we fought together, I made a bet with Bonnie that you
would be dead before the end of the battle and I was wrong because you seemed
no different than the other knights with us. You’re just another blade in the
army and haven’t changed in the years since then!”
“That’s a compliment because it’s
an honor to be a blade of God! I don’t care about being remembered, standing
out, or even being honored in life. As long as I act as who God made me to be,
then that’s all that matters.”
“Arrogant bastard. I’ll show you who’s
in the right! I hope you-”
I cut Alfie’s words short but
stabbing him in the stomach. He drops his sword to the ground and stumbles
towards me with one hand outstretched towards me and another holding his
bleeding stomach. I catch him as he falls and hold him in my arms as he dies.
As he dies, he says, “Ah. I was
always a loudmouth who had more to say than anything.”
“Ha, you’re right about that,” I
say.
“Tell me before I go. Did you ever
ask that girl, Kiara, out?”
“I did and while you were gone, we
got engaged.”
“That’s my boy…”
“Please, Alfie. Repent, so I can
see you in Heaven.”
I can’t hear what Alfie is
whispering, but by the end, he smiles and is at peace. I don’t think I’ve ever
seen him with a happier expression than I do now. Holding him closer, I pray to
God that he is granted forgiveness and a chance to rest forever in Heaven. Finn
and a few other knights run into the room and look around to check for dangers
before looking at me.
“Sir, are you alright?” Finn asks.
“Yes, Finn. I’m fine. I was just
saying goodbye to an old friend,” I say as I respectfully lay Alfie down and
leave his sword in his hands.
“A friend? This man was a traitor
who died an undignified death.”
“Watch your words, knight. I
remember him saying the same words about our commander who sacrificed himself
to save others. You better hope you turn out to be better and be at peace at the
end of your life as he did.”
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“Now, what is it?”
“The battle rages on since the enemy’s
reinforcements have arrived. We could use your assistance.”
“And you shall have it. Knights of
Leo, let us go down to the enemy and put them to the sword as is our divine
calling.”
“Yes, sir!” my knights say as they
join me in battle.
The End
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