The Blinded Soldier

[Orlanth 4667]

[!] The following is a personal character post. Please do not meta-game.

 

The Blinded Soldier

Spoiler

 

 

An Eye for an Arm

 

It was often that the young soldier took walks in the woods. He had done it since his youth, often finding it a quiet place of serene beauty. Adriel, a mentor of his, had often said that the trees could speak and he felt this to be true. He was no druid to commune with them but the concept felt right with him. Upon this day, he spoke to many, asking their forgiveness for the battlefield that their home would become. Thus, it was quite the cut through his ponderance when a voice spoke from behind him.

"Are you a predator, or prey?"

 

The voice spoke in a shrill crow-like tone, and upon turning the man saw its source: A plated figure shrouded in a darkened cloak. He gave no answer to the question, for he was startled enough to place a hand upon his blade instead. Movement came from the plated figure as well. It had sensed weakness, and launched a barrage of attacks. Sharp talons stood in place of its hands, and purple flames enveloped its arms. It was clear to be no human but rather a demon. The young man evaded to the best of his ability, managing to draw his blade but incurring a burn upon himself. He stepped back, stumbling for distance and guarding himself. The demon lunged again, and this time he was ready. He swung towards its arm, cutting it open. It persisted, enduring the strike to grab at the young man’s eye with its talons and pulling it from its socket. From this, the young man swung up and severed its arm fully. Each took the time to fall back, the fear of further injury enough to incur anxiety within them both. An eye for an arm had been their exchange.

No eyes for a life to flash before

 

There had hardly been time for anything more than an eyepatch to be applied before the young man was in battle again. It was warfare, this time. He had taken a different steed than his usual one, one more fit for war but unfamiliar to him. The stallion charged forward alongside every other in the rally, yet it seemed to be in more control than the rider. The clash of cavalry forces came about with the sound of a hundred lances striking, and the young rider was rider no more as he was struck from the horse. Pain was overcome by adrenaline as he got to his feet and drew his blade, beginning to cut through enemy soldiers that had met a similar fate.

 

One fell before him, then another, and another…

 

Then from across the battlefield came a flying arrow, or perhaps a bolt from a crossbow. It struck into the soldier’s helmet, breaking past the visor and sinking into his one remaining eye. Blood came flowing from under his helmet, the red tint the last thing he could comprehend for a fraction of a second. There came no memories of life, only the assured presence of death moments away. Directionless strikes came upon his body, and soon he fell unconscious upon the floor.

And so he fell blind

 

The young man awoke lying within a bed. He could not tell whether it was night or day. All that he knew is that he was exhausted and an impulse that Emmelina had been the one tending to him. He had not even the slightest moment of rest within the past few nights, between his own research and preparations of war. Yet now, in a moment of respite he could not bring himself to sleep. The darkness was certainly there, it enveloped him… and for this he loathed it. His temper could not get the best of him, yet his desperation would. He prayed, as all good canonists are taught to do. At first, he asked for the benefits. So that he could protect. So that he could guide. So that he could learn better from the scrolls. Yet as he delved deeper into his own thoughts the deprivation of these things drove him to bargaining. Calias Mareno would give anything to gain his sight again, perhaps even too much.

 

[Rainalyn 130]

Emmelina's voice rang through out the Adria keep, barking orders at her fellow soldiers and even medics as they attended to her beloved.
"My dear, you will rise to shine once more, even if you are left in the eternal dark."

[marikandaperc 1818]

A wretched Seermancer felt the blessings spread further, and she rejoiced. Sister Angelica was happy enough as it was, but perhaps, one day, she may meet the blinded soldier.