: 'the setting' you will read below is a complete rip-off from a project i am currently involved in. this i am sure you would be immediately aware of from the get go if you have been paying attention - but the bit after 'the setting' is my own spin-off from the rip-off.
*warning
imagine if you will the story of this character i shall name Jin.
the setting:
this story happens in a fictional kingdom i shall call Gawdsland. Gawdsland is but a small portion of this huge Continent and is country ruled by one King - whom i shall refer to very simply as - King.
on this continent, there are many other kingdoms run by several monarch families. the continent is plagued by great wars among kingdoms for such a long time that people have lost track of how long the wars have been going for. King himself remembers his Great Grandfather telling him stories of wars that were told to him as his own Great Grandfather himself was a child. the continent has been at war for so long that its people have forgotten what it was they were fighting for.
it is King's dream to unite all of them in order to create ONE great kingdom. King then joined the army at a young age. he proved himself to be a great soldier and was promoted up the ranks very quickly and became one of the youngest and greatest generals Gawdsland has ever had.
King was a celebrated hero in Gawdsland and was eventually appointed to ascend the throne when the previous ruler King himself served passed on. he made it his personal goal to conquer the whole continent as King before he dies. his dream was swallowed whole by all the people of Gawdsland, which was now a very strong kingdom because of all the wars that King himself has won.
but King was not alone in this endeavour. he had with him 2 men whom he held close to his heart.
one of them, named Ny'tad - who is King's childhood friend. Ny'tad was a good man, a humble man who was loyal to King and believed in King's dream of uniting the whole continent. Ny'tad was a fierce warrior and was well respected as a general as well. however, Ny'tad was nevertheless a simple man who would have led a happy life even if he was just a mere farmer. after all the years of fighting, Ny'tad was glad that the whole of the continent is now finally won - and he can now finally live a peaceful life in the dream of a united continent - made into one true Gawdsland.
the 2nd, named Rafael. he is much like King. a younger version. bold, courageous and headstrong - he too believed in King's dream and fought like a lion to make the dream a reality. he would follow King to his own death. his loyalty is boundless.
Jin is a young man. he has been a servant to Ny'tad for the past 10 years. he is actually an orphan - for in one of the battles that took place near a village, Jin's entire family was killed. he was merely a child of 10 years of age at the time. it was a battle in which Ny'tad won. as Ny'tad's army passed through the devastated village - he saw Jin - a 10 year old boy on his knees crying in front of the remains of his family and his ruined home. Ny'tad took Jin in. and although Jin was taken initially as a servant - Jin formed a bond with Ny'tad and Ny'tad's beloved wife, Karena (who could not bear children). Jin is loyal to his masters whom he regarded as his own parents. Jin grew up to be a serious young man. and although he regards both Ny'tad and Karena as his parents, being a part of a society that held 'status' to be an important norm - Jin drew a line in which he never crossed. his love for them was clear but he could not demonstrate shows of love as a normal child would to his or her parents for after all was said and done, Jin knew his place - as a servant.
upon conquering the final kingdom that stood against the mighty Gawdsland - King returned to the Capital with both Ny'tad and Rafael. the dream was now real. the deed has been done. however, new threats from neighbouring continents were beginning to rise. and King wanted to quash these threats as well before they became a bigger problem.
this led to his downfall for the other leaders of Gawdsland had grew weary of war. a faction was formed and they conspired to assasinate King. the faction managed to convince Ny'tad (whom they knew was war weary as well - and did not want to see Gawdsland go through more wars). the faction preyed on the fact that King would always go to war for there would always be threats. upon getting Ny'tad to join them, the faction could carry out the assasination plans for next to King, there was only one other man most of the people of Gawdsland would die for - and he was Ny'tad.
however, the faction underestimated the influence of Rafael - and how the people loved him too for he was a great warrior and leader - much like King himself. Rafael turned the people against Ny'tad and the faction.
and this is where the story of Jin begins...
"Jin! Come to me!" Karena sounded distraught. She had just received word that the angry mobs were now combing the streets looking for members of the Faction and were working their way up to Ny'tad himself. They were leaving him for the last.
Just moments before that Ny'tad told Karena that he needed to go see someone, 'a member of the Faction' I thought to myself.
"Yes my Lady?" I can see the fear Karena felt. But I realised the fear was not for her own life but it was for Ny'tad.
"I want you to seek Ny'tad! I know not who he went to see ... but I have just received word that the mobs are nearly upon us..." She paused and looked to me, her eyes welling up with tears, her face and skin pale - sick with worry, "...You must find Ny'tad and bring him back here. We must escape while we still have a chance..."
There was something about the way she spoke that made me think that she did not really believe that we could escape. But she was clinging on to the notion by a very, very thin piece of string and she was not about to let it go.
"I will be back shortly my Lady." Before I could turn to leave, Karena reached out for me and hugged me. This was the first time in a long time since she had done this. I could feel her body tremble. As she held me, not wanting to let me go - I had to pull myself away by uttering these words, "...My Lady, you are the mother I never had and Lord Ny'tad is my father. I will be back..." At that, she let me go and I ran out into the streets of Gawdsland looking for Ny'tad.
The mobs were working their way up the Faction killing by rank - from the lowest to the highest. I know not how long I was out on the streets but by the time I found Ny'tad - it was already midnight dark. He was at the docks with one of the remaining members of the Faction who had a ship. Clearly, he was trying to arrange for us to escape. However, it was difficult simply because they could not find a crew that would still serve any member of the Faction.
I walked into a room to find Ny'tad in mid-conversation with Lord Sretin, the owner of the ship Ny'tad intended to escape with. I saw Lord Sretin on his knee in front of Ny'tad.
"Yes it's true Sir. My servant has just returned from your home. He saw her himself", said Lord Sretin.
"...I...I cannot believe it...God...no..." and it was at that Ny'tad turned to me. And he rushed at me with his sword drawn, grabbed my shoulder and pushed me against the wall with the sword's edge dangerously close to my neck, "WHERE WERE YOU BOY?! WHY WERE YOU NOT BY KARENA'S SIDE?!!!" his voice quivering with anger. No...not just anger - but a sadness and unparalled pain.
"Si...Sir...I was sent to seek you out by Lady Karena. She arranged with her Uncle for horses and a carriage to take us away into hiding. She believed that it was the only way for us to escape." As I finished, Ny'tad lowered his sword and he released his grip on me. He closed his eyes and looked to me again ...
"Come boy. You have found me. Let us go home..."
"But my Lord, ..." I tried to stop myself but couldn't - knowing full well what the answer was to the question in my mind, I asked anyway, "...Is she dead?" Ny'tad did not answer me as he walked out of the room and I immediately followed suit.
We took an alternative route to avoid the angry mobs that were making their way to our home. From what I could gather, Karena was so sick with worry - and heard rumours that Ny'tad was already murdered by the angry mobs. Overcome with anguish, she swallowed poison in the absence of all attendants who had fled - in fear of the impending mobs.
Ny'tad assured me that it was not my fault - knowing that I would never have left her side had he himself been there. Ny'tad blamed himself.
And I listened to him but blamed myself as well. I should have known that Ny'tad would be at the docks. I should have found him earlier. I should have checked on Karena to let her know not to believe the rumours.
I blamed myself for her death. I should have been there. I lost the only mother I've known - for the second time.
Upon arriving at our doorstep. We walked into the master bedroom where we found Lady Karena sprawled, motionless on the bed. The bottle of poison which was now empty, there by her side. Ny'tad moved to hold her close and cried silent tears. I wanted to hold her too but I stopped myself - knowing my place. However, inside was a pain so sharp I could barely bring myself to breathe. There in the room we remained for a very long time. Me, standing by the door and Lord Ny'tad holding his beloved Karena on the bed - stuck in a moment.
The moment was broken when we could hear the chants of the angry mob getting closer. If there was a time to escape. This was it.
Lord Ny'tad looked to me, "It is time. Jin - escape. Go. You have served myself and Lady Karena well. We have lived out our lives and it is time for our fires to burn out. You are young and your fire is still strong. You are no longer my servant. You are a free man. Go."
I knew for a fact that there was no way he was going to allow himself to be taken by the angry mobs. He was far too proud for that. He knew that if the mobs caught hold of him and Karena, they would hack their bodies up and leave them for the vultures to devour. I knew he was not going to let that happen. I knew what he was about to do.
I was going to lose both my Mother in Lady Karena and my Father in Lord Ny'tad - in a single night.
And all I could say was, "Yes my Lord." And I ran out. As I made my way into the forest behind my home for the last 10 years of my life, I turned to find a fierce fire consuming it. The source of the fire was from the master bedroom where it burnt strongest as the fire made its way to the rest of the house. I saw the angry mobs just standing outside the burning gates chanting Rafael's name - to be their new ruler.
I uttered my final prayer for Lord Ny'tad and Lady Karena. And then I turned away and walked on - alone with absolutely nobody left to call family nor any place I can call my home.
X
and that's it. hope you liked it. i enjoyed writing it.
take care.
signing off, the commonjack.
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