Requiem Of A Failed Hero



"I'm sorry, I didn't know he was that important to you." 

She didn't understand what was going on here, but throwing shades on the catastrophe-ranked hunter had caused the dark-skinned man to change his mood. 

With the stern face he wore right now, it was hard to believe he was that same guy who was complimenting her minutes ago. 

A smile formed on his face. 

"I apologize if that scared you. I am quite sensitive when it comes to matters about Lord Raven. I serve him and I won't allow anyone to talk down on him."

"No, it's my fault." She replied with a sheepish chuckle. 

But this just got weird! Serve? Lord Raven? And that too from a man she was already considering to be a prospect. Surely, she was not about to fall for a man who served someone when he should compete with him, aiming to be better.

The ice queen's boyfriend had to be great in all properties. 

Her mind trailed down to the few moments she had met Raith. He fit into the description so perfectly. 

She bit her lower lips as she turned and escorted them away. 

'I thought I would meet him today.' 

—

Antarctica 

Curtis ran with full speed, across the expanse of snow land that separated Jim from the hulking creature like a gorilla. It was white and had scales instead of furs. Its eyes were like blue rubies sewn into the eye socket. Sabered teeth tucked out of its mouth. 

The monster roared, dashing at him. Smashing all four limbs on the ground. 

As Curtis approached it, the monster launched both forelimbs at him. 

He easily rolled into the air and landed behind the monster. Before the monster could make a sharp turn, his sword slowed its back. 

He counted five steps back. The monster dashed at him, ignoring the blue blood that dripped from its back. Curtis went low, he ducked and thrust his sword from the monster's abdomen. 

The monster stopped moving and fell to the ground. He pulled out the sword and swung it away, slashing off the blue blood stains. 

"Wow..." 

Even without his dust, Curtis was doing far better than anyone could have. 

"I have only heard stories of the Dellagado swordsmanship. I heard it was amazing, the movements were a spectacle on their own. Then when mixed with the power of dust. It produces an overwhelming cour of power."

"You praise it too highly. If anything, I have found a lot of flaws to be with it. But I can teach you if you want."

"Ah, no way. Isn't it supposed to be a family heirloom?" 

"Really? Given the situation we are in now. In a new world, with all our lives on therut a lie?"

He was right, everything they had built, histories, teachings, and lives that were supposed to be a stronghold for them in Therut. Everything was a lie. But still... 

Andre shrugged. 

"Still, won't you start a new family here? What has happened in Therut has happened. We are about to start a new country, is that not why we are here with Lord Raven? And when we do, you will have a wife and have kids one day. The swordsmanship will be the only memory left of your father that you'd have to pass to your children." 

He spoke in a line of thought that Curtis had never considered. His words were wise and did not match his age. 

'I heard the princes are put to a rigorous learning session with sages from all around the world. I guess it wasn't just a rumor' 

Curtis smiled. 

"I guess you are right. I should cherish it. Perhaps also teach it to my brother." 

He looked into the distance as he spoke. 

"I think I would love to hunt a monster or two."

Hearing that made Curtis glad. Bringing Andre to Antarctica was a great idea after all. 

He moved closer to him and gave him his black sword, one of the few memoirs of Theruts he still had with him. 

As Andre collected the sword, the first thing he did was check the weight. He bounced it a little, with little to no force so it wouldn't jump out of his grip. 

He then grabbed the pommel of the sword which was long enough for two hands to fit. By the definition of 'earthly standards' the best type of sword that it looked like was an Odachi.

But compared to an actual Odachi, this one had a long straight double-edged blade. 

The duo began to walk forward in search of more monsters. 

"By the way sir Curtis." 

"Yes?" 

Curtis responded respectfully.

"I heard some guys are beginning to awaken strange powers that are nothing unlike the power of dust."

"Yes... It started with the kids and teenagers but even we adults have been experiencing it. Amber Rose awakened super strength and I awakened blue flames. Which I do not know how to control." 

The last statement, he said looking into his hands. 

"I am actually forced to question something. If in Therut, our source of power were the archons. What then would be the source in this world." 

Curtis stopped for a moment and touched his chin. He had not even thought about this! What the hell is this guy?! 

"I don't know, but whatever it is. It is far bigger than the archons. I for one witnessed how the archons were beaten onesidedly by strange creatures with white wings. Their presence was nothing short of deistic... There are things bigger than us. Things we do not know."

He clenched his fist. 

"That is why I want to get stronger, stronger than I have ever been. I want to be able to have his back." Again, he looked into the distance ahead of them. 

On his face was a hint of longing and determination. 

"I see... I guess we have company." 

Andre shifted his whole body to a stance. Tilting the sword forward with both his hands firmly gripping the handle of the sword, he tilted it forward and fixed his eyes and the gorilla-like monster with white scales. 

This one was a bit bigger than the one Curtis had just defeated. But Curtis had also defeated this kind a while back... two or three monsters before this last one. 

Curtis ignited his hand with sparks of blue flames, getting ready to run in whatever the case might be. He wasn't placing any expectations on the prince. 

After months of living in the sorrow of losing a loved one. It is expected that he would have gotten Rusty. 

But then...