Auram

When I was young, every night before I slept, my grandfather would tell me stories of the Star Hero and his epic adventures as my father entered my room to scold us because it was past my bedtime. I always recalled each detail precisely, word per word, and pictured the action and heroism inside my head. I grew up idolizing the Star Hero and became awed by his heroic deeds, his compassion for others, and his fight for justice. He was the ultimate hero. I aspired to become like him. A hero of justice, a fierce yet kind warrior, a bringer of hope to all. After my grandfather told me a story, I'd repeat it to my friends, Ningirsu and Ib. Ib shared my enthusiasm, claiming anyone who performed such feats were incredibly brave. I'd grinned and say I was equally as brave and she would throw herself into a fit of laughter. My face became flushed as I furrowed my eyebrows and stuck my tongue out at her, calling her a big meanie. Ningirsu silently observed us as we fought, afterwards, when his sister retreated to his side for comfort, he would turn to me and briefly smile and shrug his shoulders as he patted her head. There was always something for Ib and I to bicker about. Whether it was small or big, pointless or important. Ningirsu never intervened, perhaps because he was amused with our nonsense. We were only children then.

My childhood was the blanket that kept me warm from the coldness that my later years brought me.

Danger lurked during the night, occasionally at daytime. Everyone was on their guard and strived for survival. While we had managed to fend them off, they continued to come back for more, even stronger and harder to defeat than previously.

Krawlers, but we called them Mekkstrositie instead. Insect-like creatures that towered humans and were mechanical by nature. Creations of evil. One day, they had emerged suddenly from the treetops of Celestial Forest, barraging the barrier which protected our village and assaulted us as the massacre began. Men, women, and children had been brutally slaughtered. Their bodies were buried beneath the rubble of chipped wood and crumbled stone. Their innocent blood tainted the earth they had walked upon once.

My father had a sword, which he had stored away in a chest in his closet after he retired from a warrior's life and settled down. He thought he wouldn't wield it again until he drew it out to protect me from the sneak attack of a lurking Mekkstrosity. He had succeeded in defeating the malicious creature, but collapsed in victory and I hurried to him, gently raising his head with my hand as his fading eyes stared at me gratefully. His battle injuries rendered him incapable of speech, yet he was able to gesture me to his sword. His eyeballs then rolled back into his head and his jaw dropped. I carefully set his body down and closed his eyes. My inheritance was his sword. My father was among the casualties now. I rose to my feet and clutched it tightly as I raged to the battlefield.

Those that remained of us assembled and formed a small resistance. Ib, with her optimism, served as the morale captain while also tending to the wounded and ill. Ningirsu fought fiercely in battle as his bravery encouraged others to follow suit in the frontlines.

For every Krawler I destroyed, I removed a part from its body and equipped myself with it. At some point, I had gathered enough pieces to form an armor, including a shield. My appearance mirrored Star Hero's. I had purposely styled it as such for the sake of the villagers, to assure them that the ancient hero would come and vanquish the darkness tormenting us.

Everyday was the same routine. The fighting did not seize from either side. Slowly, one by one, we began to fall and falter.

There was despair.

"What hero? There is none! We're all doomed! Doomed, I tell ya!" Exclaimed someone.

"The legends say the arrival of a powerful warrior when the forest is in danger. There's a forest, but no warrior." Agreed one.

"How can you believe in someone that evidently does not exist?" Claimed another.

I refused to believe any of it.

"How dare you say such cruelties." a girl interrupted. I looked to my side. It was Ib.

"Blood is shed everyday. What positivity can we uphold?"

"Any that you can." She simply stated. "Even a sliver is enough to last yourself another day."

"What if-"

Ib tapped her staff onto the ground, which silenced she raised her staff and waved it at them accusingly.

"I do not wish to further hear any gibberish! Such negative impulses are not needed here." She set a fist on her hip, icy blue eyes rested upon them warily. "Your beliefs are of no concern to me, only your well-being. Hero or not, I will lead you to salvation."

No one spoke. After a minute, the villagers departed from the area, grumbling among themselves as they returned to their posts. Ib then shifted her gaze toward me, smiling apologetically. "Sorry you had to hear that."

"It's fine," I replied casually. "It can't be helped."

"Not you, too!" She panicked.

"That's not what I meant, Ib. We're all suffering here, even you. That's why I understand their situation, but I agree with keeping my attitude positive." I assured her with a smile. She placed her palm on her chest and exhaled her kept breath.

"You could've fooled me, Auram, being positive has been your thing since forever." She paused for a moment, thoughtfully looking at the cloudless slowly darkening sky. "The children admire you, they truly do. When you tell them your grandfather's stories, their precious faces brighten up and warms my heart. Thank you."

"It's nothing, really." I said, placing my gloved hand on my head as I swept my messy blond hair back. The children knew war was happening, but lacked the knowledge to comprehend the situation. They were vulnerable to the violence and were our main priority when a Mekkstrosity appeared, Ib led them through a hidden passageway directed to a refuge built underneath the debris of our village. The truth was that the stories were meant to distract their minds from the chaos with the intent to have them experience a normal childhood while maintaining their innocence, despite everything else.

"Talking about children, I remembered you as a rowdy kid. Early every morning, you'd march in the village and wake everyone up by declaring yourself to be the great Star Hero." Ib happily recalled. I scowled as I felt my cheeks burn and turned away. She giggled innocently.

Ib was a caring and kind person with the tendency to tease me every chance she got. She had long lovely silky hair the color of a polished deep blue sapphire and her eyes reflected a clear sky on a sunny day. In contrast to her older brother Ningirsu's darker hair and dull slate eyes. Her face was round and her smile sweet like honey, and her peach skin felt smooth when she gently stroke my face the day I received battle injuries. She had the grace of a flower in spring breeze. Her wisdom did not come with age, but from experience. I admired her youthfulness and beauty, and above all, her compassionate heart.

I motioned my mouth to speak when the horn was blown, signaling everyone to take their stance. Ib quickly rushed to gather the children and lead them to safety. I pulled my goggles over my eyes and unsheathed my sword as I immediately headed to the edge of the village Along the way, I was met with a familiar face.

"This is becoming a hobby to me." I joked.

"Do not take this lightly, Auram." Ningirsu silently scoffed, readying his lance and shield. "You're becoming more reckless everyday."

"I'm not!" I protested.

"Ib scolded you between tears the other day."

"I know."

"If you did know then you wouldn't have done it. You hurt my poor sister, Auram. Scaring her like that, she thought you'd die for sure." His tone was cold.

I lowered my head when I felt a strange warmth. I caught sight of a smile. "Just know if you hurt her like that again, I will punish you severely."

I gulped and awkwardly nodded. He rubbed my head roughly and I smacked his hand away. He lightly chuckled, swinging his lance over his shoulder. "Are you ready, Auram?"

I smirked confidently as I lifted my sword to my face. "Did you really need to ask, Ningirsu? You know I always am."

As if our words were magical, a Krawler surfaced from the bushes and roared upon spotting us. The battle had commenced.

It had the appearance of a large spider with a black sphere-like body sheltered by golden armor with strange shaped tentacles dangling from the top. It had red orbs, presumably its eyes. Red markings stretched from its body to its long legs as sharp as the finest sword. To specify, our foe was a Krawler Spine.

Krawlers, or Mekkstrosities, were classified into two categories: Krawler and X-Krawler. Krawlers had their own divisions based on their model and abilities. For example, Krawler Spines were agile and used their legs to slash at their prey. However, while easy to defeat, they spawned, which became troublesome. X-Krawlers, on the other hand, were the elite members. Like their minions, were also divided. Fortunately for us, they rarely popped, but when one did, it was a difficult challenge.

Our plan was simple: I fought from the front and Ningirsu from the back. Ningirsu had already snuck behind it and struck his lance into one of the Mekkstrosity's legs, causing it to cry. I took my chance to strike another of its legs with my sword when it swooped one in retaliation.

I was able to block the first attack, but by the second my sword was out of my grip. I dodged to retrieve my sword as the Mekkstrosity slashed at me mercilessly.

While in my peril, Ningirsu had somehow manage to climb the creature's back. He had crawled over its body, stopped and steadied himself. Lifting his lance, Ningirsu pierced it through the Mekkstrosity's hard shell, repeatedly doing it on different spots. As a result, the Mekkstrosity sensed its approaching destruction and became furious.

"Auram, hurry!" Ningirsu shouted, digging his weapon further into the Mekkstrosity's body. Screeching in pain, it rammed itself against a tree and then another in an attempt to shake Ningirsu off it, but he was firmly set. "I want to end this quickly."

"Sure, sure!" I rolled my eyes as I recuperated my sword. I quickly stood up and clanged my sword on my shield to divert its attention from Ningirsu to me, which worked. With its focus on me, I darted toward it, so did it.

I swung my sword above my head down to stab its front leg, placing it horizontally as I pressed my sword in until it reached the other side, slicing its leg off. I pulled my sword out as the Mekkstrosity lost its balance and failed to recuperate it, tipping over as dust ascended into the moist air. Ningirsu then dug his spear on its eye this time, shattering the thick surface and impairing its core. It was finished.

However, I felt something tug at my own leg. I glanced curiously and I winced as I tightly gritted my teeth. I fell on my knees as something gushed smoothly on my skin. Once the dust had cleared, Ningirsu was revealed with an alarmed look.

Apparently, before its defeat, the Mekkstrosity left its mark on me.

"A leg for a leg, huh?" I grinned indignantly as I removed my goggles..

"Quiet, boy." Ningirsu frowned as he carefully lugged the disabled claw of the Mekkstrosity's leg out, diminishing the pain. Afterwards, he grabbed his cloak and forcefully tore a piece as he wrapped it around my injury, compressing it against my skin to stop the flow of my blood. He then helped me get up and placed my arm on his shoulder as he placed his on mine and dragged me back to our village.

"A-Auram! Y-you, ugh! What am I going to do with you?!" Ib said between snobs and snot, clutching her staff as her body shuddered.

"I said I'm sorry!" I threw my hands defensively. I slowly backed, but realized Ningirsu was present and caved in instead.

Whack!

Without warning, Ib's staff knocked me over. I groaned as I rubbed my forehead. "Ow! Was that ne-"

My sentence was cut off by Ib's next action. She suddenly pulled me into an embrace. She sniffed, blowing her nose on my scarf as I slightly tilted my head to the left to avoid flying snot. She began crying again. I lifted my hand to gently pat her back.

"There, there." I said, in an attempt to comfort her. Despite my efforts, she continued to bawl as Ningirsu stared at us. I signaled him for help, but he shot me a glare which said 'let her be'.

"I worry about you all the time!" She said finally, gripping my scarf harder than before. Her watering eyes glittered in the moonlight.

I blinked.

"I can tell." I answered impulsively.

It was my mistake to have said such casual words because Ib then let go of me, pushing me to the floor as she got on her feet and headed toward the exit.

Before doing so, she stopped, turned, and shook her head at me as she left.

Ningirsu followed shortly after. And I heard the faintest of laughter.