Kalen's pov
it was an odd sight, someone I had idolized for a decade sitting in front of me tearing into a roasted fowl like his life depended on it, Arcanum users can go for long periods of time with food or water but that doesn't mean we don't need it a combination of mental strength and using mana to supply the body with energy in order to keep ourselves in optimum condition, most often forget the taste of food Damien had recalled that he loved fowl but couldn't remember the taste as such he got experience the taste as if it was his first time, this lead to some messy eating.
The table had already become the scene of a mauling and the other patrons of the bar we were in were looking at our table with revulsion, specifically him, he was dressed in battle clothes that had long since suppased its warranty and were stained with mud, sweat and what I hoped wasn't poo, even the transcendent body he had gained through intense training and becoming a blade master a body that could bend steel and repel blades on its own looked stringy and haggard lacking any of the vitality it was known for, he looked like a gust of wind would push him down but even with all that and more surrounding him, the stench of wine lint and wax at every corner of his face and other unsightly features I can recognize nor describe he still looked half god his Silver hair fell down his back looking immaculate even while matted with dirt and the dust and grime on his face did little to diminish his good looks, with a bath he'd look just as awe inspiring as he did theist time I saw him all those years ago, I was but a boy who had just made it to C rank when he came to Trident on quest hunting some kidnappers his presence was so stiring that the first Don at the time invited him to his manor to refresh himself but he politely refused choosing to stay in one of the single rooms in the guild, even though he requested to be treated like any other patron the Kings still went out of their way to make him feel welcome so much so that the other members of the guild ended up feeling jealous that was until and S rank blade master challenged him to a duel, try as he might he couldn't refuse so he tried to forfeit that was when he revealed what they were dueling over, the blade master said their lives, if the blade master were to win Damien would give up his foolish crusade but if Damien were to win the blade masters life was his to do with as he pleased, rage was evident in Damien's face bit he still accepted.
They took their positions opposite each other, the blade master unleashed the full power of his ki while enhancing his body to its limit his aura flaring about like a storm in the training grounds, several people present collapsed from his pressure alone but Damien didn't bat an eye instead unleashing his own ki and enhancing his body in turn but unlike his opponent his aura seemed nonexistent, most believed it was smaller so it was drowned out but I could tell that wasn't the case, it was there just concentrated to his immediate surrounding so tightly most couldn't sense it, it was obvious what he was going to do but even though I expected it even though I knew what he was going to do I was still surprised to see it done so perfectly, Damien had chosen control to deal with opponent as opposed to raw power, as umpire gave the go ahead Damien disappeared from our sights and our senses reappearing directly in front of his opponent and with a single slash so perfect I often thought o dreamed it massive buster sword clad heavily in sword ki was sliced in half the blade sent flying and its grip still in its owners hand, if this was a real fight both the blade and the top half of its owner would be flying, the blade master fell flat in his butt, it seemed he had just realized the duel had ended with him not being able to do anything and broke into a cold sweat, he looked up to see a 19 year old boy staring at him with golden eyes that made permafrost seem warm his blade poised at his throat, his face drenched in sweat and the person he insulted staring at him with murder running in his eyes and like a lie it was gone, replaced by a gentle calm as he said
"since your life is mine now,I order you to do better"
The fight was over before most could register what happened, most of the people present expected a tense match where equals exchanged over a dozen moves learning about the each others arsenal's and the flaws in their movement as Damien had sworn not to use magic so most thought his greatest advantage was gone while some even expected the blade master to show the true strenght of someone who dedicated everything to the blade by beating Damien, instead they were met with a shocking and anticlimactic end, when I saw what happened I was impressed by his movements and skills but I thought for sure he was going to kill the arrogant cunt but he instead spared him with a few words and walked away like it didn't matter, but it did or at least I felt it did, someone who didn't know his own place had challenged everything he stood for with neither the information or strenght to back it up, he had tried to make him give up everything he stood for evrthing he had just because he was jealous, like how they were jealous of me.
It took awhile but I managed to corner him in a secluded part of the guild and ask him about it he spoke to me carefully but the words he used hit harder than any I had ever heard
"you look angry, full of rage and sorrow is it revenge that drives you"
"..."
i didn't answer but he could tell all the same
"well to answer your question it was because it wouldn't have mattered my fight is against those who bring pain not overconfident louts"
"but he made a mockery of it, I could see them when you came in here, the injuries you tried to hide and so could many others but instead he tried to call you out on your sacrifice, for doing something no one else had the gal to do doesn't that make you angry"
he sighed
"it does, he'll it make my blood boil but its also a refreshing feeling, it let's me remember that I'm not doing this for praise I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do and I'm content with that"
I looked at him, so strong and gifted capable of a million other things bit chose to help people just like my
"parents"
his words shocked me out of my thoughts
"were your parents like me"
my head dropped as I answered
"yeah, and they ended up in the ground because of it, them and everything they owned"
tears welled up at the corner of eyes, I tried to suppress them but failed, I had to run, I couldn't let him see me like this, let anyone see but before I could take a single step he was in front of me, hugging me
"it's ok kid, it's ok"
he said and that was all itbtook for me to break down crying in the arms of someone I just met, I faintly sensed him casting barriers to repel pedestrians and block the sound of my muffled cries, I don't know how long I stood there before I sorted myself out, after that he led me to a balcony and said
"let's talk"
"about what"
"about hero's"
"what about them"
he smiled
"you see most people think everyone loves hero's but that can't be further from the truth, the truth is they have their enemies, their rivals and most importantly those who scorn them simply out of jealously but that's okay they don't need everyone's love they just need that feeling of doing good when ever they can, now tell me do you resent your parents, do you hate them for leaving you like this"
"a little"
I said
" yeah i understand, if you had just left everyone to their own problems then none of this would have happened, and you would have been here for me"
i couldn't say anything as he confirmed the feelings I had been too ashamed to admit
"but they couldn't because it was part of them, if you only hated your parents you wouldn't be sad at their passing, you loved them very much their smiles, their attitudes, and most importantly their actions"
I looked at him not having much of a clue where he was going with this
"whether you knew it or not the good they did was part of the reason you loved them"
I thought back to all those times they would run themselves ragged trying to save this continent and the people within it and yes they were happy as was I, I loved that part of them and was proud of it, then why was I so angry at them I just wished they loved me more
"what's your name kid"
"Kalen"
"Kalen they did love you more than what they were doing in fact, that's why they fought for a world where you could live happily and even though their gone there's still a place for you here, in this guild, in this city, a place where you can smile and laugh and live happily, sometimes it was hard actually most times its really hard but it's worth it because at the end of the day they'll have you to fall back on, so you can catch them"
he said placing his index finger on my forehead, I looked at him so much older and wiser than me and asked
"when you fall who will catch you"
hus eyes faltered before regaining their light as he said
"I have faith in my friends just as your parents had faith in you"
that was where my memory of that night ended and so did the story o was telling my hero who had seen better days before he replied
"what can I saw other than they didn't catch me"