章 7: Shards of Memory. The knight of his kingdom
-= Unknown where =-
I was swimming in darkness.
I was the darkness.
I stared out into the abyss... Gazing into the shimmering black colours.
I felt good and comfortable. I felt like a long-lost child who finds herself back in her mother's arms.
But all good things come to an end sooner or later.
I was blinded by a bright flash of light and found myself in... The throne room?
I was sitting on a rotten throne, and in front of me, bowing my head in a bow, stood thousands of creatures of all kinds and varieties, from humans and angels (?) to demons and goblins. The variety of clothing, armor, and implements made one's eyes glaze over.
- What? Where am I?" I blurted out.
One of the creatures reacted to my voice. It was tall, clad in armor from head to toe. The armor was covered in dirt and blood. A sword rested in its scabbard, and a shield peeked out from behind me.
It raised its head at me, hidden beneath its helmet, and began to approach swiftly, circling the other creatures. The other creatures did not react in any way to this knight.
I tried to get up from the throne, but nothing worked. It felt like I was chained to it, I could only move my head from side to side.
The knight began to climb the stairs to the throne. He came up to me and... And got down on one knee, then pulled off his helmet and looked into my eyes.
It was a human man, about thirty years old, his light golden hair tied in a ponytail, his piercing blue eyes seemed to stare straight into my soul.
I felt that I could rise again, and I did so at once.
The knight drew his sword from its sheath, which I looked apprehensively at, then lowered his head and held the sword out to me with both hands.
The sword was old, completely stained with blood, and its hilt was shabby. A very old sword that had been in many battles.
I touched the sword gingerly, trying to clean the blood from it, but nothing worked. The blood seemed to have soaked into the blade.
I looked at the knight. The knight looked at me and smiled, then he closed his eyes and lowered his head.
I pointed my sword at him on a hunch, then touched the tip of the sword to his left shoulder and then did the same to his right shoulder. The knight stood up and ruffled my hair. Only now did I notice I was smaller than him. Tack, what's the last thing I remember? I... I turned five, then my sister congratulated me. And then? I don't remember...
There was another flash of light, and I was in... In a field. Giant open spaces. A gentle breeze was ruffling my hair. The knight stood beside me. He covered his eyes and was also enjoying the place. Then he spoke:
- Well hello, Artorias.
My confusion must have been on his face, because he laughed bassily.
- My name is ... ... ... and you know who I am, don't you?" he smiled slyly at me.
- Maybe... Are you me?" I asked with a squint. - This isn't exactly how I imagined the memory retrieval to go..." "Art, I'm a separate person.
- Art, I am a separate person. I could show you my memory in first person, but... I won't do that. I don't want you to live in the past. It's better to live in the present. - With a sad smile he finished. - All the more so, I don't want you to become me...
- Yes... I think you're right. Then tell me, what is this place? - I asked.
- It is one of my three happiest memories. - He looked into the distance and smiled. - I will show you the rest later... I will also tell you about my mistakes, so that you won't repeat them in the future.
- Why is this place one of your happiest memories? - I decided to ask myself.
- Because no one is here... I can be what I want. And it's quiet here..." he answered smiling sadly. - You have no idea how much you appreciate the silence...
- How old are you? - I decided to develop the topic of conversation.
- Ha-ha, and how much you give? - He asked me slyly.
- Well, thirty? - he shook his head. - Thirty-five?
- You'll never guess, I am three hundred and twenty-seven years old. Why are you looking at me like that? It's our memories, I can't lie to you.
Yeah, I was good. A handsome man in the prime of his life! Heh heh...
- What, you're not even gonna ask me how that's possible? - he wondered.
- You are me. Why would I do something so silly? You'll tell me if I need to know. Not trusting yourself is stupid. - I summed it up.
- Ah-ha-ha, yes. Good for you, you're catching it all on the fly! - He ruffled my hair. - That's lesson one. Always trust yourself.
I just smiled sadly. He reminded me of my father. It was as if he and I were the same person... But how different we were, on the other hand.
- It's time. Come on, I'll show you my second happiest memory. - he said, and a bright flash of light blinded me.
We were in a spacious stone building, with a long wooden table in the centre. The table was completely strewn with a variety of food. Around the table sat about thirty children, all of them stuffing their mouths with food. Some were laughing and some were crying. It seemed as if happiness could be touched with one's hands. At the door stood an old man in a grey robe with thick black eyebrows and a small black beard. His grey eyes sparkled with joy. He was looking at the boy being hugged by the old woman. Like all the children around, she and the boy were in rag rags. The woman sobbed and held the fifteen-year-old boy tightly to her. The boy hugged her back and cried, smiling very broadly.
- Why are there tears coming out of my eyes? - I asked in surprise, wiping away the salty droplets.
- Because your soul has remembered one of the happiest moments in your life. The emotions of the soul are much purer than the emotions of the physical body. - The knight replied. - Don't be silly anyway. Aren't you happy?
- Yes... Yes I am. - I answered and smiled. - What is the history of this place?
- It is my home. I lived in an orphanage until I was fifteen, see that old man in the doorway? - The knight pointed at the old man. - His name is Myrddin and he helped me to keep my promise to the woman. I, like all the children at the orphanage, thought that woman was my mother. I still do. In the future I found out who my real parents were, but by then they were dead.
Knight looked at the woman and smiled, clearly remembering something from his past.
- She had cared for me since the age I was dropped off here. She took care of thirty more children. She worked tirelessly to feed us all. She showered us with love, and we reciprocated. - The knight ruffled my hair again and continued. - When I was seven years old, I made a promise to her and to myself. I promised that one day I would feed everyone.
The knight moved closer to the table and began to look at the children's faces.
- As you can see, I have kept my promise. - The man turned to me and smiled. - And this is the second lesson. Always keep the promises you make to the people closest to you. Keep it, no matter what.
The knight put his gauntlet-clad palm on my shoulder and squeezed it painfully.
- Remember that even if the whole world turns against you, only those closest to you can help you. Cherish them as your greatest treasure. - Looking into my eyes the knight said.
I nodded gravely, not taking my eyes off his. He is right. What is money and power? Why do you need it when you are alone...
- And in a difficult time no one has a shoulder to lean on..." - the knight finished my thought. - Well done, you've got it right. And accepted...
There was another flash of light, and I was on the shore of an azure lake. The lake was perfectly round and a soft white light was emanating from its depths. The water was so clear that you could safely see the bottom of the lake and the small animals that swam in it.
At first I didn't understand why it was so bright, but then, when I looked up, I saw millions of stars shining and illuminating... A cave?
- Ah-ha-ha, yes, they're not stars, they're elemental crystals. There are plenty of them here in Ljesalvheim. - The knight said as if it was a matter of course. - Let's go inside, why are we stomping around outside?
I could see the wooden three story building now, and it was saying, "Cosy! Everything but the path from the lake to the building was lined with white flowers, and from a distance it might have looked like snow.
The door was open and we went inside. There was a knight sitting in a chair, but without his armour, and with him a beautiful young girl with pointed ears.
To my mute question the knight answered:
- She is Alv.
The girl had azure hair and the same colour eyes, she was wearing a white robe.
As I got closer, I noticed that she was ruffling a bundle - a baby.
- It was my second wife. And in her arms is my only child.
- I feel like I'm remembering something... I... I've seen her before, but..." I couldn't quite grasp the thought.
- Art, you don't have to. - The knight interrupted me, putting his hand on my shoulder. - She'd been dead for a long time, so I didn't have to. You'll be sorry later. What did I tell you before?
- You have to live in the present..." I answered.
I quickly dismissed the thought of the woman, and the knight and I looked at each other and smiled.
- I lived with her for three years. They were the three happiest years of my life. And that is my dearest memory. - the knight told me. - Promise me you'll keep it.
- I promise. - The knight looked at me and nodded his thoughts.
There was another flash of light, only this time it was... Dark?
We were in the middle of an enormous hall. A throne room. In the middle of the hall stood a large... Altar? There was a knight kneeling before a man in a cassock. The man in the cassock was announcing something solemnly and held a crown over the knight's head. Thousands and thousands of different creatures gathered around the altar, all bowed their heads and listened to the words of the clergyman.
- This is my coronation. - Said the knight. - Why do you think it is a disgusting moment? I'll answer - I never wanted to be king. I happened to be the only heir to the last king.
The knight sighed heavily and continued:
- I wanted to be a traveler. An adventurer! But... I had a whole kingdom pinned on me. Of course there were adventures. - The knight added angrily.
*There was a flash of light.
I was in the middle of the battlefield. The whole field was strewn with the corpses of various creatures and beasts. In the middle of the pile of corpses stood a knight, leaning heavily on his half sword. Three arrows protruded from his back and his leg was pierced by a spear. He stood up, removed his helmet and tossed it to the ground. Two paths of tears began to make their way down his garbage-covered face.
- I had lost all my friends in that battle. Only two survived. Me and one old man who had gone to war with his son. He wanted to die as a warrior, feeling that he was about to die. And instead..." the knight spoke fiercely. - I returned a hero. How, the king returned! Alive, the last one!
The knight spat on the corpse and continued:
- There were seventy-eight more such battles. Seventy-eight battles in which I emerged victorious. But was I glad I had survived? Was I glad when my comrades in combat died standing beside me? - He sighed heavily. - No... That is why I never wanted to be king. That's why I regretted... Regretted every time I survived another battle again.
The knight reached over and picked up the bloodstained flag that lay on the ground. On it could be made out the once three golden and now three scarlet crowns.
- I could not leave the kingdom until I had an heir. So decided the gods of this world. If I killed myself or simply walked away, my kingdom would... Simply collapse - the land would cease to bear fruit and the fresh water would turn to poison. It is a pity that all the Gods of this world died before my reign..." the knight continued forcefully. - Years went by, and I waited... I waited for a firstborn, or an enemy. An enemy who could defeat me. Who would be worthy of defeating me.
*A flash of light.
We were in the ashes. Once a city, now a black wasteland. The knight sat on his knees, holding a dragon, a stuffed toy sewn from scraps, a bit ragged from the fire.
- What is this place? - I asked softly.
- You have been here before. It is a shelter. - Just as quietly the knight answered. - Immediately after my coronation I went to war, but I ordered my subjects to move my mother and children from the orphanage to the palace. But they did not make it in time. The enemy struck from a second front. And... You see what's left of him.
A red aura puffed up from the knight at the memory, and his eyes poured with blood.
*Flash of light*.
We were in another ashes, at the knight's feet lay a man with a crown on his head. He was clinging to the knight's leg in a pitiful grip, begging for mercy.
The knight looked at him emotionlessly. Then he took a bottle from his belt, opened it and made the man drink from it. Then he cut off all the man's limbs (really all of them), turned around and walked away.
- What did you do? - I asked cautiously.
- I poured water from the source of immortality into him. - The knight grinned. - And that is the third lesson. Always. Destroy. Enemy!
The knight looked me in the eye and continued:
- I personally destroyed his kingdom. Killed everyone he loved, and destroyed everything he valued. - The knight continued to look me in the eye. - Oh... I can see that you don't understand me. Listen to me. I never attacked anyone, my kingdom was a neutral trading centre of the world... But he decided to attack. Attack out of greed. Attack without warning. If he'd acted like a normal ruler, sent a declaration of war and offered a neutral place for his armies to meet, things would have ended differently. But... As you can see, his greed ruined him.
The knight turned away from me and continued:
- If your sister were in danger, what would you do?
- If my sister were in danger... What could she possibly be in danger of...
A terrible migraine came over my head.
Flashes of memory began to rush through my head:
Beowulf.
Preparedness to die.
Combat and defeat...
My sister's scream.
Willingness to fight no matter what.
Rage and madness.
Victory and the loss of an arm.
My sister's tears...
My death.
- Oh! You remembered. - The knight grinned. - What would you do if your sister was in danger?
- I would... I would destroy her and her source. - I answered calmly.
The knight grinned even wider and said:
- I am you.
- And you are me. - I took the oath.
- And together we are one. / And together we are one / - We finished at the same time.
* A flash of light *
We found ourselves in the very field where the knight had shown me his first happy memory. Not far away from us stood a knight, his golden armour gleaming in the sun and his sword shining with golden light.
Opposite stood another knight. Wearing armor as black as night and carrying a long, light-absorbing black spear. Two red lights shone in the slit of his black helmet.
The black knight attacked furiously, but the light one easily repulsed all blows without even thinking to counterattack.
- Why don't you attack? - I wondered.
- If I attacked I would win the fight in two seconds. - A calm reply followed. - I'm testing her.
- Her? - Surprised me.
- Yes, her. My daughter, Mordred. - With a smile, he answered.
Wait... Mordred... Mordred?
- So you...! - I shouted, but he shushed me.
- Keep watching.
The knight slammed his sword against his shield, causing Mordred to attack with a furious shout. He then got into a welcoming stance, but the knight lowered his shield and sword at the last moment before the spear collided with his shield.
The spear pierced through the knight in the heart area, to which the knight only smiled and continued to thrust himself further, thus slowly getting closer to Mordred, who, not understanding anything, turned her helmet now on the Knight, now on her spear.
The Knight came close and grabbed Mordred's arm. Then pulled her helmet off. He leaned into her ear and began to whisper something.
After five minutes she burst into tears. The knight just ruffled her golden hair. Whispered something else to her. Then he closed his eyes and smiled. His hands slowly slumped down and he himself began to fall backwards, but the spear kept him from falling and he remained standing.
Mordred dropped to her knees in front of him and cried uncontrollably.
I stood and my heart ached. I turned to the knight and asked him:
- What... What did you tell her?
- I told her the truth. I went back to my wife, but the place was ruined... I searched for years for any clue... But I never found my wife or daughter. - The knight began to answer, smiling sadly and clenching his fist tightly. - And then I said... I said that I was happy that I had such a beautiful and strong daughter, I asked her forgiveness for not being able to find her and be near her... And I said that I loved her.
- BUT WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL HER YOU WERE HER FATHER?! - I started yelling at him in a fit of rage. - WHY DID YOU HAVE TO FIGHT AND DIE?! DIDN'T YOU WANT TO BE THERE FOR HER?!
- I did! I wanted more than anything in the world!" the knight shouted wearily. - Think, Artorias. Would you have believed me? Would you believe me if we were enemies and everyone said I was your mother's murderer? Would you believe me if I told you I was your father?
- No..." I answered quietly.
I wouldn't have believed it. I would have taken it all as a ploy to anger my opponent, or a blatant taunt. I wouldn't have believed...
I sank to the ground tiredly.
- You're right... There was no other way..." I said and rested my back on the ground. The knight sat down beside me. - But you were drinking from the well of immortality, why did you die?
- Artorias, every dragon has its weapon. My daughter's spear was forged using dead ore. I managed to stretch out my death by five minutes..." the knight explained to me. - And I am happy that I was able to say goodbye.
After a few minutes the knight added:
- Ehhh... And then the divine spell tortured my soul for another six hundred years, showing me the most horrible moments of my life...
- Why, you still have a daughter! - Incomprehensibly I exclaimed.
- Because I refused to defeat her...
We sat and admired the endless sunset.
- Artorias, I want to thank you. - Suddenly the knight said.
- For what? I have done nothing..." I tried to remember and figure out what he could possibly be grateful to me for.
- You have lifted the curse. - said the knight.
- WHA...WHAT? What curses, I didn't do any of that..." I started to pry.
- Don't argue, you'll know when you wake up. We're all grateful to you for that. You're the only one in control of your own destiny now. We didn't have that luxury. - The knight finished cryptically and laughed as he looked at my uncomprehending face.
- But I am dead! What a life!" the knight interrupted me again.
- Who said you were so stupid? - And he smiled slyly.
- So I have survived! - I exclaimed happily.
The smile faded from the knight's face and he glanced up at the sky.
- Artorias, time is running out. I will give you two things. Let the first be a surprise to you and the second my knowledge of the shield. Your sword skills are useless to you. The sword is not your weapon, don't argue, I can see that. Especially since you'll have to look up all the kills I've done with swords, and that will definitely change you. So, no. - the knight assured me.
- All right, get ready, this is going to hurt.
- What do you mean, "It's about to..."? - Before I could finish the question.
* A flash of light*
Hundreds of memories flashed through my head. There I was, parrying my sword with my shield, pushing it slightly aside so I could attack. Here I catch an arrow on my shield that's meant for the warrior behind me, to which he nods thankfully. Here I take the mace on a hard block. Here I pierce the sharp part of my shield through the neck of some Viking. Here I shield myself from the dragon's fiery breath...
I knelt down tiredly on all fours and moaned in pain. The knight helped me up, and shouted:
- There you go! See, it doesn't hurt that bad! - he shouted in my ear, which made it worse.
- Ah-ha-ha, all right, Artorias. Time's up. You'll wake up soon. - The knight smiled and ruffled my hair again. - Goodbye, Artorias Blood.
- Farewell, Arthur Pendragon. - I smiled back.
*Flash of light*
Attention! The Fragments of the Past quest has been updated!
1. Shards of the Past.
You're on the road to recovering your memory, but who knew your life would be so complicated...
Progress:
1 out of ????
Performance Condition:
Collect the shards of your memory and remember your past self!
Success Reward:
Experience.
Memory.
The skills and titles of your past incarnations.
Consequences of failure:
Title: "Why am I crying?".
Title: "Life from scratch."
Deleting "corrupted" saves.
Attention!
The title: "The King is dead, long live the King!"
You have remembered that you were once a king. And it reflects on your soul...
You are surrounded by the aura of an intelligent man of the highest order.
Attention!
You have gained the King's Vault ability (passive).
Extra-Level.
King Gilgamesh had all the treasures in the world! And he hid them in the darkest
darkest place... In his soul.
Opens access to a 1m x 1m pocket of space. Careful! You can't put living beings in it!
Attention!
You have gained the Shield Mastery (unusual) ability (passive).
Level: 1
You were born with a shield. You were married with a shield. And you were carried home with it.
+15% to the learning speed of shield-related skills.
Blocking Physical Damage with the Shield is 60%. (Can go up to 100% if properly blocked.)
Blocking magical damage with the shield is 20%.
+20% to parry attack probability.
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