It was with great sadness he realized that he could not remember who he used to be.
He remembered fighting a tragedy, a great evil, failing, dying, and his neverending curse.
And then he was changed.
How? He couldn't quite remember.
He was once a hero who fought for the justice of all.
He was once a father who failed in his duties and led his children to their doom.
He was once an archeologist who searched for hidden artifacts.
He was once a man whose intentions of a simple life were destroyed by darkness.
He was once a hunter of beasts who slew the creations of evil with such prowess that he gave name to an entirely new brand of warrior.
He was once an instructor in the newly discovered technique of the hunter who created a generation of humanity's defenders.
He was once a soldier who rose through the ranks to become a general to defend against the darkness.
He was once a lord who amassed enough power to create a kingdom.
He was once a commander who failed to bring the fight against evil.
He was once a faunus who witnessed their discrimination with horror.
He was once a hermit who had a chance encounter with four beautiful young maidens.
He was once a king who led his nation through a great war and established peace and a very special school.
He was once a nobody who became a headmaster and accepted many talented individuals, including a wonderful girl with silver eyes and a golden smile who he sent to her death.
He was once a farmhand who traveled with a heavy burden, a simple soul, and a constant reminder of a past mistake.
He had been all of these people as well as many others and would surely be many more.
But who was the man who had started the cycle?
What was his name?
What had he looked like?
He couldn't remember, and he had surely forgotten many others and would surely forget many more.