Blood and Steel

Argent Malum awoke to pain. Pain and rage. The pain was in his left hand,

and the rage filled him completely. He was in the burnt ruins of a roadside inn.

Mostly marble, but there were remnants of scorched wood.

He took inventory of what he still had. Most of his possessions were still

intact. His travel gear, his sword Frenzy, and his coin purse. He was surprised that

Lance didn’t take his money.

Lance. The memories returned to him instantly. He had fought his brother

and lost. The loss still stung, but he should have expected it. Lance was

unbeatable. But he had to fight. He had to avenge Sain.

Sain. Argent felt his breathing become heavy. Sain was dead. Sain was why

he was here. He was going to travel with his best friend, to see the world and

experience it through fresh eyes. But Sain had something. A masterwork sword

that Lance wanted. So Lance took it for himself, killing Sain. When Argent tried to

fight his brother, he lost. And now here he was. Alone. Without a brother, a friend,

or a direction. As he got his bearings, he realized he wasn’t quite alone.

“What do you want?” Argent said.

A man in a simple red tunic stepped out of the bushes. “I just saw the smoke

and had to investigate. Are you alright?”

“No I am not,”

The man stretched. “I’ll say. Why don’t you let me bandage that hand and

you can grab a bite to eat?”

Argent accepted the offer. He walked over and found a plate of scrambled

eggs awaiting him. He tried to pick up his fork but found his left hand unusable.
He clumsily ate with his right, embarrassed to look weak. As he did, the man

bandaged his hand.

“Looks pretty bad. I don’t think you’ll be able to use it for a few months.

How’d you get such an injury?”

Argent was silent. He had eaten his fill, and this man was no longer an aid to

him. He stood up, and began walking in a random direction.

“Hey, the town's in the opposite direction,” the man said.

Argent continued walking.

“Eh, probably for the best,” the man said. “It’s a bit somber with the

preparations for the funeral and all.”

Argent stopped. He turned around, and began walking in the opposite

direction. He ignored some more comments said by the man and began his

journey. As he passed by oak trees, his memory began to drift to another time. A

happier time…

“See?” Sain said. “I told you this place was the best.”

Hot Spring Glade was accurately named, even if it was a little uncreative. It

was comfortable, and they were in some of Sain’s old clothes he didn’t care for

anymore. It was going to be cold and miserable when they got out, but for now it

was nice.

“Yeah, I suppose so,” Argent replied.

Sain laughed. “You always have to add something to your ‘yes’. It’s never

just a yes.”

“I can’t imagine a life where I agree to everything completely,” Argent said.

“Neither can I, but I can imagine a life where we can agree on some things

completely,” Sain said.

 “Like what?” Argent asked.

Sain smiled. “Being best friends. I know you said you’re not good at this

whole friendship thing, but I’m a good teacher. I’d like to call you my best friend.

And if you’re ready, you can do the same.”

“I don’t mind at all,”

“Ah, I knew you wouldn't mind. But I was more hoping to make you happy,”

Sain said. He looked down and shrugged. “I guess my offer of friendship doesn’t

mean much.”

“Sorry, I just don’t know what to say,” Argent said.

“You’re always apologizing for everything. Is your life alright?” Sain asked.

“I just… no. I can’t break free from my brother’s influence. This was all

supposed to be a ruse. I was supposed to steal your sword. Imperium. But I can’t…

the very thought of betrayal makes me ill. But Lance is growing impatient. I…”

Argent’s voice trailed off.

“I’m sorry. I knew you had some struggle with your brother, but I didn’t

know it was that complex,” Sain smiled warmly, which only made Argent feel

worse.

Argent punched the water, “Stop! You should hate me. I just told you

everything about us was a lie!”

“Maybe it was,” Sain said. “But can you look me in the eyes and tell me you

don’t care about me?”

Argent looked at him. “I can’t. I’ve lost the will to lie. But you should hate

me,”

“I will never hate you,” Sain said.

 “I can’t go back to my brother, but I feel I can’t go anywhere. I am a tool of

destruction. And I can’t escape my brother’s shadow.”

“Let me help you. We can travel the world together. You know I could use

someone with an eye for swords,” Sain said.

“I would love that,” Argent smiled.

Argent reached the town. It was a small sleepy town, with dark wooden

rooftops and colorful flags filling the streets. Each flag designated a merchant’s

shop, and he knew exactly what to look for. Green with a white star. When he

finally found it, he stopped.

The place was ransacked. Shattered windows, flipped tables, and all

merchandise gone. He entered and looked around. All there was was a single silver

coin. Argent took it and sighed. Lance was thorough. He knew anyone who

angered him ended up like this. Ruined. With nothing left. He left, and found a

person travelling.

“You there. When’s the funeral for Sain happening?” Argent said.

The man looked around nervously. “Lance doesn’t want it happening. His

father tried protesting, but… well. That didn’t end up well for him.”

Argent clenched his fists. “Tell me where his grave is.”

“You see, I don’t know. Never really knew the guy.”

“Find it.”

“Why?” the man asked.

“Because I know exactly how to kill you and make it hurt. I’m a Champion of

the Blade. Lance knows my name.”

The man scurried off.

 “If you try running I’ll find your family as a lesson.” Argent sighed. He

waited, tapping his foot in annoyance. His anger made it hard for him to think. His

only friend, gone. Eventually the man returned. He escorted Argent to the

graveyard, where a simple stone slab read ‘Sain’

“Please… forgive me,” Argent stared at the words. The gravestone was

silent. Suddenly Argent felt sick to his stomach. He had nothing. He was nothing.

He had thrown it all away for a shot at freedom. He wanted to fall asleep and never

wake up…

Argent ran into the burning building, smoke stinging his eyes. He needed to

find Sain. He looked around, and saw Sain standing before Lance. In Lance’s hand

was the apex of swords. Imperium.

“I gave you what you want,” Sain said, “Let me leave in peace.”

Lance chuckled. “Heh, I did want the sword, but there’s something else you

stole from me. Something important. Someone useful.”

“I didn’t steal him, you pushed him away with callous words and actions.”

“You should be begging for your life right now,” Lance stepped closer, he

swung Imperium at Sain’s neck stopping just short of skin. Sain’s breathing

changed, but he stayed remarkably calm. “Not lecturing me on pointless morals.”

“What will you gain from killing me? I don’t understand your wanton

violence Lance. You could retire with all the wealth you have unjustly amassed.

Nobody would challenge you. Do you really care what people think of you that

badly?” Sain asked.

“I don’t follow.” Lance said.

Sain studied him. “You want to be the greatest, you think having a perfect

sword, an undefeated record, a loyal apprentice, that it will make you whole. But it
won’t. You’re climbing a mountain that has no end. I see. You aren’t thinking about

how others see you, it’s about how you see yourself. That’s why you keep him

around. To feed your ego. And even-”

“Stop! Stop stop stop stop! You know nothing about me. I am the pinnacle.

The greatest ever! You should be terrified of me!”

“I’m not. I see a little boy throwing a tantrum for a childish reason. Take the

sword. It changes nothing. You won’t be happy, and I won’t be intimidated by a

coward.”

Lance laughed. “I’m happy, I’m plenty happy. And you’re about to be plenty

dead. And nobody will avenge you.”

Sain smiled. “Argent will overtake you. He has talent, and given time he will

learn that you aren’t as invincible as you appear. You rule by reputation, and that

can only last so long. He’ll-”

He was interrupted by Imperium impaling him. The blood trickled down, and

Lance pulled the sword out and wiped it clean. “That’s for your insolence.” he

noticed Argent. “Ah hello. How long have you been here?”

“Long enough.” Argent said. “Long enough to see you kill him.”

“He wanted to drive a wedge between you and greatness. I had to intervene.

Now why don’t we forget we had this little misunderstanding and go back home?”

“No.”

This was the first time Argent had defied Lance, and Lance did not like it.

“I’ve taught you everything you know. Not everything I know. You are no match for

me. So come with me or it will be painful for you.”

 “Are you threatening your brother?” Argent tapped the pommel of his

sword, and Lance did the same. Argent drew his sword, but Lance was faster. He

easily parried and laughed.

The battle had begun, Argent attacking out of anger, and Lance responding

in kind. Both were beyond rationality, and they fought like wild beasts. Argent

dodged a furious swipe, and performed a devastating counterattack that drew

blood. Lance stopped, and put a finger to his arm. He looked in disbelief. “That’s

the first time that’s happened. And it will be the last.” he performed a powerful

uppercut, disarming Argent and then pushed him to the ground. He stabbed into

his sword arm. “I’ll leave you here dying, unable to do what you live for, as a

reminder to any fool who would ever cross me!” Then Lance brought his pommel

down, and Argent remembered no more.

Argent got up. Something was wrong. He surveyed his surroundings and

saw bandits affiliated with his brother.

“What?” he asked.

“Boss wants us to break down this guy’s gravestone. Teach the town a

lesson.” the lead bandit said.

“That isn’t happening.” Argent drew his blade. These fools were clumsy and

slow, but Argent was robbed of his good arm. He rushed the first one, killing him

in two slashes. Three of them jumped him, but he evaded their weapons easily. He

took them down one at a time, and he was about to kill another when he got hit

from behind. He was losing blood quickly and he needed to defeat three more. He

started fighting the lead bandit. Dead in a few blows. The other two fell even

faster. He staggered towards the town. “Sain… save a place for me.” He fell, never

to get up.