Chapter of Crow: Episode 2-1
Dec 16, 2022
C.E. 995 Winter
Snow flutters and falls on a worn cabin in the middle of a dense forest. The powder covers everything from the dead grass to the creaking roof of the cabin, dressing the forest for a wedding with the sun months away from meeting it at the altar. The clanging steel and the sharpening of blade echoes from the cabin, filling the otherwise silent air with an industrial CLANG. BOOM. HISS.
Nearby, animals from squirrels to deer keep their distance. They call the forest home, but know better to tread anywhere close to the cabin.
They stay far away.
Inside...
YOU
「Can you just let me melt and die today? I'm tired...so tired!」
The headache is tearing your brains apart. Not only the nightmare, also a strange thought:
“I am my Queen’s Knight.”
…
What queen?
…
…
…
You count the CLANGS, BOOMS, and HISSING of steel and metal sharpened and refined.
KENJI
「Not before you lose the capability to kill targets for me.」
Hunched over a steaming pit, Kenji strikes a longsword with a metal file. He grunts to himself with each strike, disdainful of your laziness. But it's not a joke; born as citizens of Naer, you have to intake some form of bloodstone to keep yourself alive. Otherwise, your body and soul melt to nothing but flesh. Dead meat.
YOU
「They say the ancient goddess cursed us. Isn't that a hint that we Naer citizens don't deserve to live?」
The sounds of the sword sharpening abruptly stop.
KENJI
「Maybe. From another life's perspective, no one deserves to live. One's life only matters to oneself. It doesn't matter to family, lover, nor friend. Keep that in mind.」
YOU
「Then why don't we kill each other right now? What's the point?」
KENJI
「Keep testing me and find out.」
Kenji returns to striking the longsword with the metal file. He raises his voice as he asks you—
KENJI
「How many times have you failed trying to kill me?」
You can't help but giggle.
YOU
「Dozens? See? Why don't you just kill me?」
You dig your fingers into your arms as you hold yourself tighter.
YOU
「Because I'm useful? Because you can control me?」
CLANG. BOOM. HISS.
KENJI
「You belong to me as a weapon. Not a life.」
YOU
「Heh...then your weapon is ready to melt today. Is your pit hot enough—
…!
Kenji's cold hand seizes your throat with the strength to break your neck easily. His grim, pale face stares into your eyes; stalactites of ice. Colder than the snow in the forest. He's so close his hair falls onto your face. You can't make a sound.
KENJI
「I raised you only to be my weapon, Crow.」
He speaks slowly and lets you go, leaving a red and purple bruise on your neck.
KENJI
「You have no choice.」
You violently cough, your breath stolen and frigid. Your white hair twists back and forth as you fight for breath, and your black dress shrivels on your skin as you shiver from the cold and the fear injected by Kenji. After several painful seconds, you fight to speak.
YOU
“You almost killed me...exactly what I want.”
You can feel Kenji's rage explode, blue flame appearing in his eyes. It reminds you of the pain and suffering beyond words. The fear buried deep in your soul.
He won’t kill me. He will torture my body and brain until I bend, strike, and fight to his will.
KENJI
「Your soul belongs to me. Ever since I saved you in that burning forest ten years ago. Now sit there, shut up, and be a good weapon.」
He returns to the pit, huddling over its heat.
CLANG. BOOM. HISS.
He’s right. You can barely picture it, but you can feel the red flame,
the burning bark of the trees, the hot air, your bleeding flank, the throbbing pain in your chest and head. Out of desperation and survival instinct, you asked the passing shadow to save you and agreed to whatever he asked.
Why was I afraid of death that much in that burning forest, when so much worse was to come?
Was my life worth anything back then?
What do I want for my life?
[ Freedom…that’s all I want… ]
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