Thirty-Fifth Order

[sacred_thunder]

[Memorial Day. This wasn't a holiday back home, but "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Furthermore, Ky liked the idea of a holiday observed in honor of the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their homeland -- he had a hard time thinking of any other nonreligious reason to observe a holiday that was better

Comments

[hop_toit_udonge]

... There is a great shortage of good men in this world... but it's somehow comforting knowing that you are here, none the less.

-She has some tea ready for you, Ky.-

[sacred_thunder]

[Ky stands up and manages a weary smile.]

You're too kind.

Come, let's sit at the table out here.

[hop_toit_udonge]

As you wish, then. -She sets the tray on said table, sitting herself down.-

[sacred_thunder]

[Ky sits in another seat, takes a cup of tea, and sips it.]

It occurs to me... We've discussed your past, but we haven't discussed mine much, have we? I've only explained a little about the world from which I come. At least, to the best of my recollection.

[hop_toit_udonge]

I've never felt the need to ask. You would tell me if you felt comfortable discussing it with me.

[sacred_thunder]

Well, this is as good a time as any. That is, if you're willing to listen.

[hop_toit_udonge]

Of course, dear... -She leans back with her tea, granting Ky full attention.-

[sacred_thunder]

The war I had taken part in...was a war for humanity's survival. Our enemies were a group of creatures known as Gears, and they would stop at nothing short of the complete annihilation of the human race. The Gears had already destroyed the entire nation of Japan, and it was the collective might of the United Nations that kept them from doing the same to any other country.

The war was fought for nearly a century. Major cities had been demolished, hundreds of millions of people had been killed, and everyone lived in fear of the day that Gears arrived on their doorsteps. Very few children made it to adulthood with even one surviving parent, let alone both.

And I was no exception. By the time I was born, the war had been raging for over 70 years, and had claimed the life of my father. Then I lost my mother when I was ten.

[hop_toit_udonge]

-Eirin nodded, but otherwise made no comment.-

[sacred_thunder]

After my mother died, I searched out a group known as the Sacred Order of Holy Knights. They were the most elite force fighting the Gears, and their leader, Commander Kliff Undersn, had been my hero growing up.

I found them and asked Commander Kliff to admit me into the Order. Of course, I was only ten years old at the time, so he refused. But he made me an offer: Become strong and return in five years, and there may be a place available for me.

And that's exactly what I did. I sought sanctuary in a church and trained my body every day. And when I was fifteen, I sought out Commander Kliff again, and he admitted me into the Order.

In my time in the Order, I rose in rank quickly. In fact, not even a year later, Commander Kliff felt it was time for him to retire, and turned command of the Order over to me. When he did that, he gave me one of the Order's two treasures -- the Thunderseal, the sword you see on my belt right now.

[hop_toit_udonge]

A large responsibility for a man your age... far more than any ordinary person could handle, I think.

[sacred_thunder]

Compared to Commander Kliff, my time as commander was nothing. Commander Kliff had led the Order for decades. I, on the other hand, was not put into command until a few months before the war ended.

[hop_toit_udonge]

Even then...

[sacred_thunder]

...Not only that, but I was not the one who ended the war.

[hop_toit_udonge]

-Eirin nods, taking another sip of her tea.-

[sacred_thunder]

That privilege went to a man named Sol. He had briefly been a member of the Order, and never in my life had I met such an aggravating man. He was incredibly lazy and apathetic, never followed orders unless they came directly from the commander, and was rude to nearly everyone who talked to him. He eventually deserted, but when he did...he took the other of the Order's treasures, the brother to my sword, the Fireseal.

That's how I knew he had done it. I had responded to a Gear attack only to find Justice unconscious on the ground, and evidence of powerful fire magic all around. He's also the only man who would stop short of killing her once he defeated her.

So I took over. I used a powerful sealing magic to imprison her in a pocket dimension. Without Justice, the Commander Gear, all of the other Gears lost their purpose and shut down.