General Alik

These walls are bare, but they hold the memories that one would kill to never relive. I sit here, seeming lifeless every day, thinking about how we got here? 

How did we allow ourselves to stoop to this level? Hiding and keeping our whereabouts a secret. 

For 18 long hard years, I've had to watch as the rest of the kingdom fall to shards at the hands of our enemies.

Each to its element, our four great cities collapsed, and the people were taken as slaves. Some manage to escape, and some don't. 

The hands of evil prevail upon us, upon our great people.

As I sit and think of the things I've done and I have no other choice but to feel ashamed. How selfish and crude of me. 

Idiotic rather think that someone like Ragdore speaks anything but lies and filth. 

I have mingled with the real scum of the earth, and for that, the gods should punish me.

For 18 years, I have held this up inside. The feeling of regret, anger, and one of revenge. But I can no longer go on feeling like this. 

It must end. 

I have done enough and more damage than good.

I bring out the knife stored at my side and set it on the table in front of me. 

I gulp down my last cup of the finest ale I could find at the outpost. 

And with my knife placed at my heart, I begin to push. 

Before any real damage is done, there's a knock at my door.

"General," a small voice says, calling out for me. I place the knife back to my side. Maybe it's not my time yet, but punishment will come sooner or later.

I leave my seat to go open the door. It's a boy. Skin and bone with full armor on. Must be one of the recruits. 

"I do not mean to disturb you, General..I," his stutter slightly annoys me.

"Speak, boy," my voice filled with anger. He seems scared, harmless rather. 

Sigh, I must have shocked the boy into not speaking because he hasn't said a word yet.

I walk out into the hall where he stands, and I signal him to follow me. We walk down the halls and onto the terrace.

He's a quiet one, shy, might I add. He comes forward, and I lift my hand, directing him to the sights ahead. 

"This is our kingdom, but it's in danger."

 "It requires people who can protect it and allow it to bloom." He stands still, listening to everything I had to say, and with that, I continue.

"We are at war with a power greater than ourselves, and we need warriors who are willing to die for it. Are you that warrior?" 

He lifts his head slightly and says, "I am." 

I find myself smiling. I admire him. He reminds me a lot like me before I became such a selfish bastard. He has great courage and extremely bold. Yet, he is soft and meek. 

I hope it does grow out of him, for his sake.

I dismiss him, and I stand there thinking. Am I that warrior? Am I the person that will help our kingdom bloom even better than before? Even after being the cause of its downfall?

I regret my decisions more and more every day, and with each passing hour, hate burns inside of me for no other than myself. 

For what? A mere lick of power. A mere lick of wealth. None of it worth the disloyalty of my home.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. The demon army outside our walls with no way to get in. They surround the castle throwing arrows of fire and burst of magic. We would have won that battle if it wasn't for me.

Ragdore, already inside my mind using his dark magic, had promised me a life so grand the mind couldn't possibly imagine. All I had to do was bring them in through the dock passage.

As I think of it, my heart tremors, and even after doing as he asked, instead of giving me the power and wealth he promised. 

I was made a target.

Very selfish of me, I know that now and whatever happens when the heir returns, I will be by her side, fighting for justice, fighting on the right side of history. 

Taking down Ragdore and his demon army once and for all.