The past… it is a critical part in any person's life. It shapes us… molds us… defines who we are in our future. Some say that the past is the most integral portion of our lives, and should never be forgotten. Others say that the past is a prison, shackling us to things that cannot be undone, and must be cast aside to move on with our lives. Me? Well, you can say that I am firmly in the former category. Some moments in our past cannot be so easily forgotten. It was so many years ago… the fateful day that would change my life forever. The day my life was irrevocably changed forever.
It was over 15 years ago, when I was still fairly young. Me and my beloved, Moira, alongside my trusted felyne companion Erin, were still fledgling hunters, barely considered able to hold onto our swords. We had been tasked with traveling to the most dreaded of all places, the volcano, in order to prove our skills as a hunter. We were tasked to hunt an Iodrome that had made root in the region and was terrorizing the villages that were close by to the volcano. It was a dreadful quest to be sure; the volcano was a cruel and unforgiving place, where one mishap could spell a hunter's doom. Despite my precaution, Moira convinced me that doing this hunt would be ultimately great for both of us.
I regret ever going by her word.
The journey to the volcano was not a pleasant one; we should have taken this as an omen of things to come. On the way there, we were ambushed by many beasts, forcing the guild knights who were escorting us to fend them off. We were marred by weather, illness, and even a few deaths along the way. After several days, we eventually reached our destination: the volcano.
The foreboding mountain loomed before us as we delved into the ashen wasteland, blades in hand. We quickly located our quarry, and pursued it deeper into the volcanic wasteland. We battled it fiercely, but the beast was nimble and cowardly. It evaded us many times, and kept fleeing deeper into the volcano. The two of us, in our naiveté, pursued it without a second thought. Eventually, the four of us reached the point of no return: the summit of the great mountain itself.
Fire and brimstone rained down around us, as smoke billowed out from the heart of the volcano in great clouds. We were apprehensive now, for one poor step could lead to us tumbling to our deaths. But that was not our greatest worry… no, not at all. Legends told of a time when dragons of unfathomable power once roamed Minegarde… but many of these great beasts were believed to be deceased, relics from a bygone age when man was stronger. But one such beast remained… at the heart of the mountain.
From within the great pool of lava below us emerged a great red and black shape. The beast unfurled its pinions, sending magma flying in every direction, before it swatted the Iodrome aside like a fly, sending it plummeting into the magma to its death. The foul wyrm then eyed us, blood red eyes filled with hate. Fearful for our lives, the three of us rushed the beast recklessly, weapons in tow. I was the first to fall; the beast struck me down with a blow from its razor-sharp claws, tearing my helmet off my head and shredding the right side of my face, crippling my eye and ear irrevocably. As I lay on the smoldering ground, bleeding and broken, my felyne companion was the next to fall. In an attempt to protect me from harm, he blocked another of the beast's claw swings, but was crippled by the power of the blow, its razor sharp claws puncturing his hide and organs.
As I struggled to get to my feet, my eyes saw the massive beast lurch towards me, jaws agape and ready to bite me in two, when I saw Moira emerge through the billowing smoke clouds and thrust her blade into its eye. The great red and black dragon roared in pain, a sound so horrible I can't even describe it, before it tossed her aside and blasted her with its infernal breath, roasting her alive. Engulfed with rage, I rose to my feet and rushed the titan, only to be swatted aside by its tail, causing me to pass out from the pain…
After what seemed like hours, I found myself in a guild cart wagon. I could only assume Moira and Erin were in the cart away from me. I asked one of the knights, who was tending to my mangled face, where Erin was and if he was alright. The knight confirmed to me that he was found and was alive but in critical condition. I then asked if my beloved was found, and if she was okay. To this, the knight could only shake his head solemnly. I understood. My beloved was dead…
Fifteen years ago… fifteen years ago was when I lost my beloved to that monster. I've dedicated my whole life to hunting, the art of slaying wild beasts. I have only one wish: to have my revenge. I wish to slay the Crimson Shadow.
