A Warrior's Wish

Honroable Death - D Rank

Oshibana was a back-water place much like any other-- from Indra's point of view. He had to travel so far for this job, but the job itself interested him. Still, he questioned it alot. Even with the job taken, he felt compelled to hold on to the flyer. He looked at it over and over, curious about this unusual request and why it was so appealing for a D rank quest.

Indra flew overhead-- riding on Tailong, transformed into his full form. The large serpent dragon clad in red scales and glowing parts of his body flew in the direction of Oshibana. The thought of taking the train for this kind of quest made Indra sick, and he wanted to be in the best condition possible for this.

He clung to the flyer tightly as he rode Tailong in the sunlight, looking at the words on the paper.

"Dear wizard, I am a long retired member of the Fiorian Rune Knights seeing the service of a strong capable warrior who will give me my final fight. I desire one last fight, to ignite my spirit and send me to Valhalla. My final moments shall be on my feet, fighting than to die in a bed. This request has been approved by the magic council and I have made arrangements to give consent to this, even prior to my death.

Please, grant my wish and let me fight for my place in the afterlife.

Valiir."

Indra felt his heart quicken a little bit-- not in excitement but in question. After a lifetime of training, fighting, even after he tore his monastery apart and left them for better things... he felt an odd sense of guilt that even he couldn't really identify with.

After a few long hours, Tailong found the town of Oshibama and descended from the clouds. He landed among the rolling hills that overlooked the train station of the town. It was a small town, with more fields, fences and farms. It seemed very plain and ordinary, but the weather was calm. A good place for people long in the tooth to spend their golden years in.

The moment Indra hopped off Tailong's back, he began to shrink in size and the glowing parts of his body vanished. In a matter of seconds, he went back to his comically, tiny size. "Whew... " The Dragon panted and flopped onto Indra's shoulder, spent. "I really should start charging you by the mile with how much I fly you places."

"Alright, then you can pay for your own meals when you feel like stuffing your face," Indra replied curtly to his dragon friend, and readjusted the cloak he wore.

The little dragon went slack-jawed as once again, Indra turned the tables on him. "Aw-- come on, you know I'm joking, right," Tailong said, giving a nervous smile and waving his claw. "We're buddies. You scratch my back, i scratch yours. You know, and all that..."

Indra resisted the urge to shock Tailong and just turned. His stern expression remained as he sought out the location of where this ex-knight lived. "So where did this guy live?" he asked Tailong.

"Um, i think in the northern hills according to the map I saw. " the little dragon said, his head pointed to the general direction. Indra followed, seeking out the nearby road that led there.

An hour had passed into the afternoon as the two walked along the road and stopped at the small houses they met. They asked around the families or workers they found there-- and learned that man they sought lived on the tallest hill that overlooked the cliffs that faced the ocean. Seemed like a nice place to spend your golden years.

A light chill swept under Indra's cloak as he marched up the hill that led to a single one-story house on the top. The clear blue sky showed not a single cloud, being a perfect sunny day as the sun began to set to the west.

As Indra approached the house, he found someone nearby. He could smell him easily with the wind in his direction. On the padio was an older man with long white hair and sharp beard-- much like Kohryu. For a moment, Indra thought he was identical if not for the difference in scent. His gaze was focused on the edge of the cliff, seeing the ocean overhead.

Even as they were near the entrance, the man soon turned their direction. His hand held on to what appeared to be a cane, from their distance.

"Oh, guests... how can I help you?" the man said.

INdra paused as he looked at the item he held-- and soon realized it was not a cane. But a sword. "Valiir, I presume?" Indra asked directly, his tone calm but neutral. The man soon gave a gentle smile as he used the sword and rose from his chair. He appeared slow at first glance, but his step had more energy than he appeared to be. "I'm a warrior from Sabertooth. I... believe you have been expecting me."

The man, his eyes closed, nodded to him. "Yes, I have, young man. It is nice to meet you," he said proudly.

Indra felt a bit perplexed as the ex-warrior had greeted them friendly like. He even was kind enough to bring them a drink. Though Indra declined-- Tailong didn't hesitate having a drink of green tea as the little serpent sat on the deck table and raised his little cup.

THough the man wanted to be hospitable, Indra appeared a bit impatient. He came right out and got down to business. "Would you please explain this," he asked, trying to show some form of manner before the elder warrior. He showed him the job flyer, and the old man's expression frowned slightly as he sat there-- while Tailong stuffed his face with tea biscuits. "This request is yours. You actually are asking me to kill you. Mind explaining before I assume this is a case of forgetful moment of old age?"

The man still appeared calm with a breath, but lowered his tea. "Yes... I did make that job request out, and I say it with of sound mind and body, despite my decrept old age..." he said and gave his tea a final sip.

A tension hung in the air as the breeze blew. Till...

"Um, more tea? Only me? I'll go get some..." the little dragon said to try and break it-- but fled before Indra could smack him for it.

Such a thing was easy-- even Indra had no qualms about killing someone, but this was different. "You will have to do a bit more than just say that. Why would you want me to kill you. I take no satisfaction to kill an elder warrior without reason. I could kill you as easily as twisting a baby's arm-- but the thought to do so even kills my appetite for a fight."

The older man smiled as he sat back. "You have a sense of honor. That much is clear about you," the man said. "Indra, was it? I understand this might be an unusual undertaking-- but my life is nearing its natural end. I am not seeking a fast death, but one that I can be proud of to leave this world in."

The words he spoke made Indra feel unusually uncomfortable. He was literally a willing sight to what this man wanted to be his final moments in life.

The man looked to Indra as he held his sword out on his lap. "From where I am from, we have a steep belief that a warrior should fight gloriously in life and in death. The land of Valhalla, a warrior heaven, welcomes such souls who have fought and died in the line of their duties. But i have not," he said, "Rather I emerged victorious in all my battles, till the one enemy I could not beat have come."

"Time..." Indra said with a sad nod, seeing how it came to this conclusion.

The man just let out a soft laugh. "Indeed," he agreed. "In the span of this year, I may very well die and perish-- but I cannot stand the idea of dying in a bed, than to not die in the final moments of excitement on the battlefield. This is why I made this request. Won't you honor my final wish?"

Indra paused as he crossed his arms in thought, his eyes focused on the man. It was then Tailong, who had never stopped listening, fluttered up between them. "Now hold on a minute! This seems like a big leap in logic in so many ways! I get you to want your death to mean something, but this just seems silly. There is no shame in dying . I mean, come on, wouldn't you rather die in a peaceful way than some bastard's sword in your chest--- no offense," Tailong-- turned to Indra with the last part, making the man frown at the dragon.

"You wish for an honorable death," Indra corrected, "But just striking you down just because I can is not honorable." The cold tone though Indra had, was filled with blunt truth.

The man's eyes focused on Indra. "You know, young man, looking back I was a lot like you. You have battle experience and pride in your power. Had we met long ago, we probably could of been friends. Comrades," he went on and slowly rose up to his feet. "You are right. I am not asking you to just kill me. Will you fight me? I am not asking you to murder me, but give me a warrior's death."

Tailong looked back and forth as the time for tea and biscuits ended as the old man held on to his sword. Indra gave it a moment of thought, then slowly rose up. "Very well, I will do it. But I hope you won't be soft on me, old man. Last for a bit longer so I can get a good fight."

The two had moved to the cliff side out of the house overlooking the sea. The sound of the crashing waves could be heard in Indra as he stood before his enemy... the man who hired him. The old man, despite having seemed frail and weak before, stood with a renewed energy. He had his sword in one hand, now unsheathed and a wooden arm shield attached to his left. At first, Indra wondered if the old man could hold it-- but he seemed stronger than he looked.

The wind brushed past them both-- looking down at each other. "If there is any doubt in your mind, now is the time to back out. I won't hesitate to kill you if that is what you truly want." Indra said aloud.

"I have none," the aged warrior said, and drew up his sword. "Honestly the chance to fight a strong warrior as yourself makes me feel more alive than I have in ages. Don't disappoint me."

From the far end, Tailong hovered in the distance. He had no desire to get mixed up in this and choose to stay out of it.

Another long pause ended as they stared at eachother... till finally the main entered a charge. "Now, fight!" the man roared. Surprisingly, he moved as fast as any other man as a warrior-- which did encourage a sense of respect from Indra. The man charged with his sword-- and Indra quickly hopped back with his cloak still on. He kept his distance, taking this fight seriously.

If there was any doubt in Indra, it was gone now as he drew out his arm from his cloak-- lightning magic now dancing along the limb. He gripped his hand, and produced the "Lightning Dragon's Fang". HIs grip caused the lightning to take physical form, becoming a katana. He would need no more than that to finish this fight.

The man charged in with a wide sweep of his sword-- but using his shield to guard. Indra tried to look past the weathered look of the man, wishing to honor his request for one final fight. With the electric sword sparking in his hand, he moved in. He met his sword with his katana in one hand-- the electricity sparking as the two met. He could have had him then-- using the sword's own electricity to electrocute and paralyze the man...

... but he didn't. Indra, instead, swept the sword with his own strength to push the man back. The man hopped back-- almost losing his balance more to old age than the force itself.

Indra hated to hold back. He found the act of showing such things an insult or even a waste-- but here he felt the need to. Not cause his foe was an aged man, but out of respect. The very notion conflicted him as he could of ended it all in a split second.

"Well done, boy..." The man said, his breath already labored , "YOu clearly are a warrior of great skill. But do not drag this out... Let me face my destiny with my head high."

Indra paused for a second as he held his sword, feeling the electricity against his palm. He had a moment of doubt, but he knew he had to honor this warrior's wish. It was the first time he ever felt truly merciful against an enemy. It went against his nature to fight, kill, and strike without hesitation. The old him before, would have just killed him without hesitation, but this was more.

"Very well, Let's end this..." he said and charged forward. The older warrior soon charged ahead, determine to strike as well, both blades are now drawn to strike the other.

There was a clash of metal and lightning that rang through the air-- and finally, the two men stopped. Indra let out a hard exhale as his grip trembled slightly, the blade he held now steep into the man's chest, the lightning punctured out the other side.

The Valiir's knees buckled, and he soon fell to the ground, still alive for the moment. He dropped his blade, his limbs grown numb in the clash.

Indra tried everything to keep himself from trembling. His act of mercy to the man was a final fight, and a warrior's death. THe desire of battle clashed with his inability of mercy, which was the hardest thing he ever had to do. As the man fell, Indra let go of his sword-- reduced back to mere lightning and vanished. He held the man in his arms, lowering him to the grass below.

"Th... thank you, warrior... It was as if... I fought with a younger version of my self..." he said, his voice growing softer as blood began to pool below in the grass.

Indra had tried to make it quick and painless, but now it seemed he fought to hold on. "I hope... this is what you truly wanted." Indra replied, a pained look on his face.

"Do not worry..." Valiir spoke, "I feel I can pass.. without any regrets now." The man slowly reached into the inside of his shirt and pulled out a small envelope in his trembling hands. Indra took it quickly, to spare the man strength. "Inside you will find your payment, as well as a note of what transpired here. Leave it on the table in my house. I thank you... kind warrior..."

His hand went limp and his final exhale left.

A small bit of liquid formed behind Indra's eyes, but he quickly willed it away. He glanced in Tailong's direction, who had watched from a far distance. Indra took a moment, and bowed his head to the man, showing the Midi culture's form of respect. "Rest in peace, warrior..."

****

Evening had settled in and now Indra had got what he came for-- but he felt compelled to do one last thing. He and Tailong now stood at the edge of the cliffs, a large bonfire now ablaze before him. He had Tailong gather the wood from the nearby trees, and formed a pile Indra lit with his lightning. Before they was now the corpse of Valiir, peacefully positioned on the pyre. Indra watched as the flame slowly burned the man, a ceremony to honor his memory. Even though that was not part of the job, he felt compelled to honor him properly.

Tailong watched quietly as well as the night came, the fire's glow illuminating the cliff side and sea beyond.

"Let's go back, Tailong," Indra said, his cloak flapping behind him as he turned to leave.

Tailong fluttered beside him and finally felt able to talk. "That was unusually nice for you. I'm sure Lord Kohryu would approve. " he chirped, pleased.

"Tell anyone this," Indra said curtly, "And I will fry you to a crisp."

The dragon paused in mid air for a moment and frowned. ...And now we are back to hard-ass jack-ass" he grumbled, but flew off to join his partner.

End

WC: 2855