RyuShura

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

"Yes, I still view her as a human, after all, if I did not..."

His sentence trailed off when Ezekiel stated his lack of awareness to the blooming fog. Mikhael tilted his head slightly, blinking quickly to make sure the swirling wispy body was in fact there and he was not simply a trick of his stressed mind, "You... you do not see any of this?" reaching out and batting at one of the thick masses, tracing his eyes towards the forest where the form was leaking out from. A shiver rolled down his spine as he stared into the obscurity and seeing nothing but vague spindled shapes. He could only hope they were just the wilted trees from a moment ago.

"It seems like it's coming from deeper in the woods..."

He turned his eyes to Ezekiel seriously, "No, I don't need rest. I'm perfectly awake. If this is what I think it might be... I must investigate this matter. What I see and what you don't, this must be the work of a foul spell."

...

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

He looked carefully back when he heard pattering footsteps from behind, tensing his body to jerk any which way he needed, but upon seeing Ezekiel, his gaze softened and he spoke with a quietness. He had a stoicism that reminded him of himself, though he was much less flamboyant than the royal knight.

"You shouldn't have come..." he started, but eventually shrugged, "But I suppose it's dangerous out here alone. And I should be thankful it is you out of them all. If I'm to spend hours out here with someone, I'd have to pick you at this point. Ezekiel, you seem to be the only one who respects our Queen as I also do and doesn't hate me for bearing that admiration." turning his dark eyes around at the comment of restlessness, "I see I'm not the only one who felt disturbed. I've been thinking that our journey so far doesn't make sense to me... where are all the beasts? All of the times we've been forced to repel attacks, hordes of the wretched creatures throwing themselves at our walls, should they not be jumping at a chance at a few stragglers like us?" blinking suddenly, "And where did all of this dastardly mist come from? How am I supposed to keep a look-out if I can't see anything?" waving his hand around trying to disperse the heavy gray veil, stopping once he quickly understood it was a useless effort.

He squatted beside a nearby hill with a lone tree atop, leaning against the rough bark, "Well... I can't go too far, even if I want to get a better vantage point. Lilith already wants to strangle me as it is..."

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

Mikhael glanced back at Lilith when she left to enter the cart, shaking his head with a long sigh. He really tried his best this time to get her to understand his point, but it looks like they'll always clash heads, even in a place and time like this. Something about her stubbornness bothered him greatly. Will this company really have what it takes to stay together for such a treacherous journey if they couldn't even see eye-to-eye about such simple things? Maybe if he was any better at talking to people, he'd be able to get why she was so mad at him? Well, no use in mulling over what could have been now. They were in strange and dangerous lands and he didn't have any intention of sitting around all night.

He gave everyone a half-look, standing up from his spot with a yawn.
"She's probably tired from steering all this way... and having to deal with me. Let her rest."

He gazed at the bundle of hay before turning his head to the side towards the woods, "I'll be taking first watch. I've slept and waited long enough as it stands."

The young knight didn't exactly wait for any reply, immediately climbing over the bench and moving towards one of the trees. A bad feeling settling in his gut as he looked over the pale-lit horizon. The dying forest seemed like a nest of thorns in the silhouette projected by the moon. He moved to climb the massive wooden sprout, but remembered he couldn't do it the normal way anymore. And he was too prideful to take his sword, so he couldn't even climb through cutting foot holds into the side either. He made a snarl as he was forced to walk even further towards a small hill a few dozen meters away from everyone. His eyes scanned relentlessly. It was too quiet since they've left the borders of Kale. They were carrying so much food, not to forget the fact that they were no powerful army. The beasts would've surely made an attempt to attack by now.

So why haven't they?

...

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

Mikhael anticipated for the ride to remain silent for quite some time, as it usually happened when the two argued before, both parties breaking off in a huff and requiring time to settle their prideful egos. There was never a proper apology or anything to smooth bumps over, things just went back to 'normal' after a time, Mikhael acting as if it never happened. But it was Lilith who surprised him again, speaking first in a softer voice, confronting their social hurdle directly. She changed a lot during this time. But he can't say he didn't act out differently either. Too much has happened in just this single day for anyone to cope with, let alone those who were barely past the age of adolescence. They weren't even knights until a few hours ago.

The young knight grunted upon being prodded, the soles of his boots clattering against the wood as he dropped them without warning, turning to Lilith and glancing down at the sword from underneath the hood. The crimson orbs stared at the weapon for a while, as though he was figuring out something in his head, the color wavering like pools disturbed by heavy droplets.

"Thought you said you didn't have a clue where we're going? Although, I guess we're both at fault for hiding things from each other." pulling out a thin dagger from a hidden slot in the leather of his boots, "You'd really think I'd disarm and be helpless if we got attacked?" wiggling the metal with a sly smile, "I'm not the type to sit back and let someone do my work. Nor can I allow you lot take all of the glory either." frowning suddenly, "I'm grateful you can trust me enough to bear arms, but I cannot tolerate you speaking like that to our Queen." returning the sword to his side, "Or about my character for that matter. I'm a free man, not a 'tool'. I follow her because I want to. Not because I am forced to."

As Mikhael said this, he stepped down the perch and moved a few paces towards the edge of the rocky path, appearing to want to drop the topic judging by his abrupt shift in focus. He had a hand placed on his chin, his gaze filled with inquiry as though he noticed the changed environment for the first time.

"Maple, you said? What a strange name..." He narrowed his eyes and picked at one, reaching out to one on the tip of a nearby branch with a light hop.

...

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

"I think this is a good chance of pace... I wonder what we will learn out here. New magic? I wonder of all those tales of witches living in lost coves and haunted never-ending forests." looking at both Lucas and Lilith, "All I'm concerned is what'll happen once our supply of food runs out. I don't know any purifying rituals in case we need to hunt."

Mikhael snorted at her new name for him, shaking his head with a grin of disbelief. Did she not understand that he only allowed the magic to consume him because he thought the Queen was more valuable than his own ideals? But he never did have a knack for conveying his feelings transparently.

"My, so that's all I am to you, huh? Just a weapon. A tool for the Queen? After all these years of we've spent together, even after I declared my intention to save our people..." looking off to the side, his smile suddenly replaced by a blank look, "And here I thought you were one of the very few who believed in my humanity." he then turned and gave her a stern glare, "To lose myself... if I have to make that sacrifice in order to protect the whole, is that really such a bad thing? Am I just the same as the beasts in the wild to you? I don't think any of them would place the lives of anyone else before themselves. But if the question whether I can control these dark compulsions really concerns you so much..." with a loud click, Mikhael dropped his silvered blade at her side, "Here."

He kicked his feet up on the rest, "There are many more of you than me. Not to mention the two in the royal guard. If I do lose control of myself at any point, I'm sure it'll be easy..." pulling hood of his cloak over his head, "To kill me."

...

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

Mikhael was a little surprised she didn't yell back at him, making a face as he laid back. She was serious this time, wasn't she? Well, more serious than she normally was. The question of his missing limb caused something to stir inside of him, the young man flinching visibly somewhat, as if the mere mention of it hurt him physically. Having a hard object poking the vulnerable spot didn't help exactly either. "It's still quite... fresh." he said, pushing the hand away to show his disapproval.

The black haired knight took a deep breath, trying to control the emotions that were both his own and something foreign. His eyes focused on the moment, glaring first at Lilith then at the dull sky, the darkness looming inside trying to pull him back to that which he feared seeing again.

"Ah... Where to begin..." he said with a grim laugh, though his expression was anything but a smile, "I suppose I always feared this day would come... my arcana is unnatural and powerful. The first time I awoke my gift of magic, I was under immense stress and it took utter control of me... As though another entity had been born from my emotions... I was consumed by such intense feelings and was turned into this... monster..." his words trailing off on the thought, "I figured it was the onset of demonization settling root within me, so I avoided using it ever since. But in my battle against Rajaka, I was pushed to the limit and that same magic arose in response to my desperation once again. I defied the power and it threatened to destroy me from within. But I didn't care. As long as I kept my humanity. All that changed when I watched Queen Maya at the mercy of Rajaka, because I wasn't strong enough, because I was too weak..." he glanced down with a deep scowl, "I couldn't bear the thought of losing her, so I... gave in." as he spoke, Mikhael was grasping his palm with his fingers, unconsciously scratching something, "In exchange, however, my arcana ate away my arm, as if a price for lending me so much power... Or was it because I tried to resist? Without the Queen's healing, I probably wouldn't have even survived the repercussion of the magic. So I owe my life to her even more than I did already. But..."

He blinked suddenly, seeming intent on changing the subject, tilting his head and speaking back to Lucas, "By the way, I'm rather impressed. For once, I thought that silly title of yours wasn't just for show when you stood against that raging maniac. And look on the bright side. Maybe now without my primary arm, you'll finally be able to beat me in a sword fight." giving the big man a sly grin, "Maybe."

It had always been hard victories, but he liked messing with Lucas.

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

Normally he'd take an offense to her tone and shoot back a snarky retort, but Mikhael barely moved. He only glanced at her after a long delay afterwards, as though it took a moment for her words to reach him, the red eyes clouded in receding thoughts.

"It seems everyone here has an idea except me..." he muttered absently, "What lies at the end of this path..." his sentence more of a metaphorical statement than any sort of reply. He quickly turned his head back at Kale as the familiar outline sank deeper and deeper into the horizon. His mood seemed oddly melancholy at this sight, emotive in a way that no one has ever seen of him prior. An odd vulnerability occupied the young man, his body hunched against the back of the bench as though he had no real strength left. Mikhael remained in this pitiful state until a sudden bump in the road caused the cart to jerk forward, nearly falling off because he was still in the habit of reactively using an arm that didn't exist.

Catching the wooden frame just in time, he pulled himself back onto his seat with a grunt, scowling at himself.

"Jeez. Drive more carefully, would you? What would we do if you drove the cart into a ditch in no-man's land? We'd be a fresh buffet for the hordes of dark beasts." he grumbled in the usual grouchy tone. It was as though the fall snapped him back to his old self, turning an irritated gaze at her, "And what will it take for you to tell me, huh? Will I have to beg on my hands and knees?" raising the nub of his once-arm, sneering jokingly, "Would you really make a cripple do that?"

...

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

Mikhael went silent when Maya suddenly embraced him. It was a bittersweet feeling. He felt a happiness at her soft touch, but something inside him stung upon realizing that he would not be seeing her smile for a long time. In the end, he remained completely still in her arms, eyes closing shut as though he was honing on the sensations. In honesty, he was trying simply hiding his disappointment. Perhaps his ideals did not match with reality? He had always been like this, to raise expectations too high that he can only ever be underwhelmed by actuality. Maybe the Queen was not truly what he was trying to protect. Then what? Or was it because he was disappointed at the truth. That's right. He knew deep inside he was incapable of making those he cared about smile. This only proved him right. Even the problems happening now, he felt were partly his own fault. Whatever the case, this bolstered his resolve for the journey. He needed to make up for his mistakes. He wanted to see her sweet smile again, the faint image of their first encounter lying within his distant memory. So he needed to become stronger, to battle against the danger looming over the town. For even if all of this had been a lie, he didn't care at all. Kale will always be his home. A blissful lie is better than the cruel truth, is it not?

He never had anything in life. He cannot lose this too.

Mikhael stepped onto the steps at her last words, eyes pointed to the dark sky, to the tear, "Only time will truly tell..." he muttered, "What I am on the inside, a human or monster."

Glancing back one last time before disappearing into the hay enclosure, "But no matter what. I will win."

...

Mikhael glanced at his companions with a blank stare, quickly moving to the perch where the horses were being led at the front. He sat in the passenger seat, not even looking at who was driving. He leaned back against the wooden frame with a long sigh, eyes pointed to the jagged black horizon. All he said was a short, 'I'll keep watch of our flank', before going silent, scooting himself to edge and hanging his legs off the side. An excuse to not be disturbed would work best if he could be driving the cart, but without a second arm, steering the horses would be nearly impossible. So he settled for the next best thing. He hoped whoever it was beside him would leave him alone. He wanted some time to think.

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

The young knight tried to hold back a wry smile upon seeing the familiar faces. Never has he been so grateful to hear Lilith's grating tone, or the stony look from Lucas and the lanky and unreliable stature of Henry. He felt a calmness sink in at the sight. His steps then quickened down the stairs, but he quickly regretted this when Ezekiel held him to prevent him from falling, his ankle suddenly giving out with a lax in strength.

He sighed. Truly pathetic. He had taken quite the blow to his pride today, having lost so glaring to the yellow giant, but was this bout of arcane fatigue really prohibiting him so much? He supposed he didn't possess much of a tolerance since it had been years since he did anything of such nature, but he thought he had more willpower than this. Forcing through sleepless nights was nothing new, right? And didn't he relinquish his arm as fuel for the large torrent of magic. Was that not enough? Answering that question for him, a dark feeling surged from the back of his thoughts. He had paid a much larger price for the small victory. Mikhael tried purging the dark thoughts weighing in his mind, shaking himself, an attempt to strip away the weakness hanging like chains wrapped around his body. He held his head high as they walked across town towards the caravan, a stoic expression moving passed the alleyways. The people of Kale were counting on them, noticing the gaze of a few wide-eyed ragged children out of the corner of his eyes. He could tell an orphan when he saw one. Kale have very few to spare as it was, so he wouldn't dare let them think this expedition was for naught.

I can't fail... not again.

Mikhael looked at the Queen, his hand coming out for a split second, but recoiling upon feeling the public gaze.

He turned to one side, a foot placed upon the steps, trying to hide his missing arm with the silhouette with his body. "Please smile, dearest Queen..." he started, "You are precious and beautiful, so a smile suits you more." he looked directly at her now, cheeks turned a shade red at the embarrassing and trite words, "I have always admired that smile of yours. I will do whatever it takes to protect it..." his brow furrowed as he tried to form one, his cheeks twitching as though having great difficulty at doing the simple gesture, the corners of his lips pushed up to an awkward and seemingly painful expression.

It looked more like he had been punched in the groin more than making a smile.
"See? It doesn't suit me at all..." he chuckled, releasing his face from the vice.

"You have a very special gift. So promise me, no matter what happens. Keep smiling. For everyone... For me."

...

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

Mikhael frowned in confusion at the command, "Not being in Kale when he returns...? But didn't Rajaka say he was going to come back to finish what he started? You'll be here like a bunch of sitting geese." looking at Maya incredulously, as though he was working out something in his mind about the situation, "I can't just abandon you all to such a fate, not when I have the only power to stop him." eyes pointing down, remembering their helpless defense prior, "I apologize, but I cannot follow such a plan. I will make way back to Kale by the eve of the year, learning all I possibly can in that time. If I have failed in become strong enough, I will die fighting alongside all of my people. I will have it no other way."

Mikhael didn't wait for a response to his defiance, having set his mind already. He glanced to Joshua and Ezekiel as he leaned on the bed, scooping his legs from underneath the covers.

"That would mean we have no time to waste, brothers. We have a lot of--" wobbling slightly, catching himself on the from of the wooden bed-frame, "Work to do." he sighed embarrassed, but continued regardless, nodding his head to the door, "Sitting here in this room all day won't do anything. Inform me the rest of the details of this journey as we walk."

...