I remember I first met him, the man that would become shaman king, I knew I saw something the world didn't. he wore a smile of pure deception boasting power of limits I could never even fathom. But I say this boy, determined, strong…and alone. He wasn't even there for me but the very air around him called me to him. He never even glanced my way as he spoke to my friend. He was there for him, and not without good reason. My friend, who prefers I call him Malice, was a very strong Shaman even back then who would have followed Hao almost as quickly as I would. But Hao's cost of service was to leave everything he knew…to leave me. something flashed across the face of Malice that I didn't understand at first but as he turned to walk away from me without a word Hao turned to me finally. My back straightened up as his attention.
"say your good byes young one" he smiled at me but that comforting smile struck fear in my heart. He planned to kill me, the chill in my spine told me so and Malice would let it happen. That itself pained me and must have awoken something in me.
"Wait" I cried but he did not. Before I could utter another word I was engulfed in flames. As I suffocated regret washed over me, this boy wouldn't kill me…not like this. Somewhere deep inside me the power awoke to stop it and called upon my spirit. I don't remember what exactly happened after that. And no one ever told me but when I woke up I was alive, a little burnt but alive. Waking up to Hao's face though, I remember that very bitter barely sweet feeling but he just looked at me.
"you are stronger than I thought" he admitted while scrutinizing me fiercely.
"I am?" I questioned, unaware of what had happened after I went up in flames.
"will you join me?" he asked with all seriousness like he hadn't recently tried to destroy my existence.
My first instinct was to refuse, to curse him out to Hell and back three times over. But I just looked at him and my some force of Fate I was drawn to him and possibly him to me. I nodded once and only once never looking away from his eyes.
When he smiled it wasn't like the last time, there was no deception anywhere it was a genuine smile. To this day I wonder if it was really me or my power that made him smile. "what is your name?" he asked me.
"Nicias" I replied and he nodded offering his hand to help me stand. Finally I took notice of the people around me, most noticeably Malice. I don't remember exactly what he was trying to say but with strength I didn't even know I had my fist connected with his jaw so hard he went flying. Hatred, hurt, feelings of being betrayed welled up inside me and if other hadn't stepped between him and I that would not have been the only punch.
-Ten years later- present day
But all that is History, and Today we still Serve Hao. I have accepted that I will follow this man, not out of fear, not out of gratitude, but out of pure infatuation. I love and respect him and even though both are more than likely unrequited I will follow him until I Die.