In the depths of his comatose soul, Jin wandered through the timeless expanse, lost in the echoes of his thoughts. The words of the spectral warrior resonated within him, persistently tugging at his consciousness, however, he dismissively put it at the back of his mind wishing to forget their encounter.
He pressed on, one step after another, until the familiarity of the forest he had awoken in greeted him once more, beckoning him with open arms.
"I'm back."
Jin had finally returned to the forest where he had initially woken up after leaving the grand arena. The serenity of the surroundings offered a momentary respite from the thoughts within his ever-restless mind. The sound of a cascading waterfall filled the air, mingling with the gentle rustling of leaves.
'...Did I make the right choice?'
For the first time in a while, Jin doubted himself...
No, who was he kidding?
He had been plagued by self-doubt all along, yet stubbornly refused to acknowledge the self-ridicule that consumed him from within.
This doubt had forever concealed itself behind a shroud of indifference, veiling its presence beneath occasional self-deprecating jests and humor-laden remarks.
But occasional moments like this one revealed the vulnerability within himself.
He was but a man who had adorned an armor that had already worn out ages ago, leaving various small but deep cracks.
The impenetrable defense he encased himself in would eventually wear out.
'It's just a matter of time...'
But was he ready to face it?
Jin looked down at his hands, which had been noticeably shaking a bit whilst deep in his thoughts.
The spectral warrior who had spoken to him in the grand arena...-
'Was she right...?'
Jin somehow knew the answer but didn't want to face it.
And as always, he buried the tempting whispers deep within his mind.
'I feel exhausted....'
He looked down at the patch of grass he had woken up from.
"Guess, I'll lay down... for now."
*Rustle* Rustle*
However, as he prepared to find a moment of rest on the patch of grass where he once lay, his body suddenly jerked up in wariness. His senses heightened, and his gaze swept through the surroundings with a cold, piercing intensity, his earlier mental exhaustion temporarily forgotten.
"..."
Jin remained immersed in his surroundings, his senses sharpened to such an extent that the once audible rustling of leaves and the rhythmic splashes of water hitting rocks faded into insignificance, giving way to an engulfing silence that enveloped his being.
Someone was observing him, he was certain of it.
Though he didn't make any immediate remark, his increasingly indifferent and impassive facade seemed to freeze the very air around him, urging the intruder to finally make their appearance.
"Should I not have intruded in your search of respite on this fine patch of grass, boy?"
Amidst the tranquil forest, a figure emerged from the depths of the foliage. It was Kieran, the Silent Blade, his presence commanding and his gaze sharp as he surveyed the surroundings. His eyes, hardened by years of battle, scanned the area with familiarity.
His gaze, haunted by the scars of battle and betrayal settled upon Jin.
"..."
Upon seeing Kieran's abrupt appearance which he sensed as no ill intent, Jin went back to search for a new patch of glass he could laze on.
'...Have I not already shown my presence before him?'
For a moment, Kieran, the Silent Blade, doubted himself.
But after a moment of contemplation, he soon shook his head.
'Perchance, the vigor of my prowess remains unyielding, even amid the relentless passage of time. As I reflect upon my arduous journey, I find myself contemplating whether the very essence of my abilities endures, akin to a gentle breeze that whispers through the corridors of my thoughts, alluding to their unwavering potency.'
As if on cue, a hushed breeze brushed through the surrounding foliage, its gentle whispers adding a touch of mystique to the air.
"..."
As he came to that conclusion, Kieran then put his hand under his chin.
'Mayhap... I, unscathed by the annals of time, shall bestow this remarkable rediscovery upon that spiteful wench.'
"..."
Jin stood there, a peculiar expression adorning his countenance as he observed Kieran. Veiled beneath his dark and discreet attire, his face remained an enigma, but his eyes betrayed a peculiar sentiment, akin to elation or perhaps a fleeting spark of intrigue.
'What the hell is he thinking about...'
Disregarding Kieran's momentary revelation, Jin found a secluded spot beneath a towering oak tree, where a patch of grass beckoned him to seek the comforts of its soft embrace. With slow, deliberate movements, he lowered himself onto the soft carpet of emerald blades, feeling the coolness seep through his clothes and into his weary bones.
He let out a long, tired sigh as he allowed his body to sink into the comfort of the grass. Adjusting his posture, he propped his head on one hand, his fingers brushing against the earthy ground. The grass cradled him gently, supporting his weight as he sought a moment of rest from the burdens that plagued him.
His eyes wandered lazily, tracing the intricate patterns woven by the interplay of sunlight and shadow on the carpet of green. Blades of grass swayed gently in the breeze, whispering ancient secrets that only the forest could decipher.
Kieran came out of his temporary revelation and cast his eyes toward Jin.
"Boy."
His deep and gruff voice reverberated through the surrounding expanse, dispelling the lingering traces of silliness that had clung to him moments ago. The whimsical veil that once shrouded him dissipated like an illusory mirage, revealing the formidable presence of a being well-acquainted with the depths of darkness. It was as if his very essence had absorbed the somber hues of the forsaken corners of the world.
Yet, all he received as an answer was a glance, accompanied by...-
*YAWN*
"..."
-a yawn. A yawn escaped Jin's lips.
"...I want to sleep."
With that, he closed his eyes again.
Kieran, the Silent Blade, blankly stared at the scene with utter bewilderment.
"It appears that you have not yet fully comprehended the essence of your inner strife."
*Rustle*Rustle*
Kieran strolled across the carpet of fallen leaves, his footsteps whispering secrets to the earth beneath.
Then, his gaze settled upon a polished rock, glistening with the touch of time. He approached it with purpose and made himself comfortable by sitting on its smooth surface.
Jin, of course, had heard the commotion, but couldn't bother with it. However, a question still lingered, a question he wish could be answered.
"Why are you here?" he asked, weariness and tiredness etched into his tone.
"Why am I here... you ask."
Kieran responded quickly before he chuckled a bit.
From the depths of his discreet and dark attire, Kieran retrieved a dagger, its blade a testament to the countless lives it had encountered.
"This dagger... has withstood the test of time. A relic of battles fought and destinies severed, it bore witness to both the fall of the wicked...-"
As he cradled it in his weathered hand, his touch was both tender and tormented, for within its cold steel lay the weight of a thousand regrets etched into his weary gaze.
Kieran's gaze ascended, lifting from the dagger's pained embrace, and with a voice tinged with the echoes of countless sufferings, he spoke.
"- and the tragic end of the innocent. "
With a deliberate and measured motion, Kieran returned the dagger to its rightful resting place within the recesses of his pocket.
"This dagger, a somber symbol of a path I had once trod upon, bears the weight of myriad regrets, which had burdened my weary soul...-"
He closed his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.
"-for it became the harbinger of treachery, casting shadows of betrayal upon my very existence..." The words trailed off, carried by a gentle breeze.
Kieran fixed his gaze upon Jin once more, a gravity in his eyes never before seen.
"Boy, you may be akin to an icy monolith, unyielding and resolute,"
His gaze bore into Jin's expression with an unprecedented pressure, his countenance etched with utmost seriousness.
", yet I implore you, reflect upon the burdens I had once carried. The burden you carry, like an unrelenting tempest, threatens to engulf your very essence, that I know well of."
Kieran spoke, his voice carrying the weight of forgotten eras.
"You cannot persist in an eternal dance of avoidance, hoping it will fade like morning mist. Alas, the tapestry of the world is woven with threads of diverse nature."
"..."
Undeterred by Kieran's discourse, Jin averted his gaze and sought refuge in the embrace of sleep. His facade of indifference acted as armor, shielding him from the torrent of emotions that surged within.
Though the keenness of Kieran's eyes had perceived the fissures etching themselves upon the armor that adorned Jin's being.
Thus, without hesitation, he continued to press on.
"Do you truly believe that by surrendering to slumber, you may evade the inescapable?"
Kieran's tone grew sharper, yet beneath it, a genuine concern emerged.
"Truly, you resemble naught but a child clinging to illusory comfort. However, your inner demons cannot be vanquished by mere avoidance. In due time, they shall overtake you, as inexorable as the turning of the celestial wheel."
Jin remained unmoved, his silence a testament to his weariness and inner struggle. Kieran heaved a deep sigh, his gruff voice now carrying a blend of frustration and comfort.
"Stubborn you may be, boy, yet heed my counsel— this battle cannot be faced alone. Pride, like a cunning adversary, may prove your undoing. I have witnessed warriors aplenty succumb to the snares of their hubris. Do not, I implore you, become another lamentable casualty."
With those parting words lingering in the air, Kieran vanished as a mist, dispersing into the ether, his presence melding with the mist-laden surroundings. Jin, still enveloped in his contemplations, mused upon the lingering echoes of wisdom. However, with a sigh of indifference and weariness, he surrendered to the embrace of slumber, finding temporary solace in its ephemeral respite.
...
...
...
And so, the hands of time continued their relentless march, unfurling years, centuries, and millennia like the pages of an ancient tome.
In the vast expanse of solitude, Jin stood in the middle of an arena.
With each passing moment, the memories that once thrived within the recesses of his consciousness faded, their vivid hues muted by the passage of time. Fragments of knowledge and snippets of battles lost their clarity, gradually dissolving into whispers of distant echoes.
"...Great...? What was it... again...?"
"My name... Jin...-"
"-lamentable causality...?"
What remained now was a man who had forgotten the very essence of his being. Memories eluded his grasp, slipping through the cracks of his fragmented recollections.
In the depths of his soul, the shadows of forgotten experiences danced tauntingly, just out of reach. Names faces, and moments once cherished now flickered in the recesses of his mind, fading echoes of a life he could no longer grasp. The pain of this loss gnawed at him, but he maintained his indifferent facade, refusing to acknowledge the ache within.
In the solitude of his existence, Jin fought in a grand arena, a place he once knew but had forgotten.
*FWOOSH*
Battle after battle, he conjured mirages of formidable opponents, honing his skills to a razor's edge. Each clash, each triumph, drove him further down the path of relentless mastery. Yet, with each victory, the price grew steeper.
*CRACK*
With a series of thunderous punches and bone-crushing impacts, Jin effortlessly defeated each opponent that he had conjured to face him.
*THUD*
The symphony of violence was punctuated by the occasional THUD as Jin's opponents hit the ground, only to disperse into an ethereal mist.
Yet...
"..."
The toll... exacted by Jin's unwavering pursuit of a foolish path had become an exorbitant price, one that now loomed ominously, casting a shadow too vast to retract. It had etched its mark deep within his soul, leaving scars that whispered tales of irreversible consequence.
The weight of this burden, once embraced, had grown insidious and formidable. Its tendrils reach into the very fabric of his being...
"This... is the weighty toll you have willingly shouldered, a price paid in the currency of your very being,"
After thousands of years, trapped in this forsaken place that is his soul, the spectral warrior's voice boomed again within the grand arena, and it shook Jin's very core and soul.
"Tell me, Jin... was it truly worth it?"
...
..
.