Chapter Text
Blood trickling down your fingertips. Pain resonating through your body. Yet, as you hold on tight to your weapon, you know the war has only just begun for you.
Push yourself up, dear soldier. For your commander stares down upon you, disappointment tainting his wrecked soul once again. Look away. Defer. Submit. Stand straight. Stare ahead. Take your punishment without fight, your battlefield is not this, not here.
Brothers-in-arms, forever loyal on the unfeigned battlefield. Relations tear. Crumble. Fades away at the moment of serenity. United, you fight. Divided, they live on. Watch on, fellow sufferer, your bond is only worth what they decide.
Bring forth by creation a friend. Bring forth enemies from unknown origins. Tell me, soldier. Do your comrades still stand on your side? For they tell of stories of the traitor who had been compromised, who changed colors they have never dared to imagine of before.
They talk of you, beloved soldier.
Sacrifice those unlikely to have held strong onto your hand. Pull your arm away. Bring it back armed with a sharp edge. Force yourself to gaze upon your creation, your destruction. Burden your arms with the weight of your deeds, oh grieving orphan, and bring to your comrades your regrets. Your apologies. Your subservience. Your misery receives the burial your mistake had not. Yet another wronged one, and for what did you approach the light when Hellfire’s darkness has already staked its claim upon you?
The comrade falls, wishes to pass on. Even he must leave you, oh pitiful ruins that refuse to fall. As you continue to crumble away, so why do you choose to support a flourishing kingdom with nothing to offer in return? Wise as they are, they shun you. No longer do they wish to accompany your misfortune.
Bear new scars, for dust has nothing more to lose. Smile one more time, oh mourning shadow. And once more. You have brought your fate and destiny together upon yourself, do you wish to test them away? They lack the patience you hold in search for this elusive peace you talk of.
Oh, war-weary traveler, peace does not fall in your path. Your footsteps warn all away, heroes and foes alike. Which category upon your comrades stands, for before you he overcomes this road yet untravelled. Allowing you only the sight of his back, do you, oh wretched curse, dare to lay a rotting finger upon this cleansed flesh? To his knees he had fallen. Praying. Worshipping. He utters your name, to cause the world to shake. Does a cleansed soul so quickly wish to be sullied by the disease you have become?
Stare in silence, oh dear soldier, as he arises.
Emanating the light of God, Angels, and alike to both does your comrade spread the wings of Morning Star. Observe with wonder, for as the flesh of your eyes melt under glory, your comrade accepts your falling corpse with opened arms.
Breathe deep, oh bloodied human, for the peace you have pledged your life for has arrived. Let slip the weapon from your grasp, no longer do you have use for it. The lightness descends upon you, oh pained child, for your hellfire trials has only just begun.