"He who knows that this body is the foam of a wave, the shadow of mirage, he breaks the sharp arrows of the devil, concealed in the flowers of sensuous passions and, unseen by the King of death, he goes on and follows his path."
--The Dhammapada 4:46
"Please Kyleon, you will come back?" Lilianna said as she looked at me, her fair skin of velvet flushed from running after me. Her pronounced brows arched in concern as her emerald-green eyes pleaded for me to stay.
I looked at Lilianna, behind her was Blackthorn Château, where her father, Ac Hague ruled as Lord. As I looked at the chateau glimmering like ivory or platinum in the sun, I remembered that I had to leave this fair castle to accomplish my quest.
"I must leave milady, but I shall return," I looked away as I said that, and started walking away.
"Wait, Kyleon!" Lilianna called out. She ran past me and stood in front of me, her curly red-brown hair slightly disheveled from the sudden run. I stopped walking and looked at her. As I looked at her, her gaze shifted and she looked down, her cheek blushing.
She held her right arms forward and held out an A silver amulet in the shape of a rose. She started talking, her eyes tightly shut, "I held this for a fortnight, praying every night to God for your safety. Please take this and think of it as I."
"Thank you milady, but I am not of noble blood. Surely there are others who are worthy of such honor." I said. Lilianna fell down powerlessly--she sat down looking down at the earth. I walked around her and kept going.
"Kyleon, after you return, will you..." Lilianna spoke in a near whisper.
Stopping amid my steps, I said, "As I said, milady, I am not of noble blood."
I walked away, and she no longer called for me.
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Many years have passed since I left Blackthorne Château. I have finally completed my quest after endless acts of combat and valour. I have retrieved what my lord has asked for, and I am finally on my way home to my liege, Lord Ac Hague.
On my way back, I heard stories of wars raging to the south--the direction of my Lord's domain. I hastened the pace of my steed as my heart pumped in angst for the safety of my liege and the fair lady Lilianna. How unforgivable that I may not have been present at tumultuous times to protect my liege? I must return fast, as the first wind of Autumn...
As I raced back, my premonitions were verified--I heard rumors that Blackthorne Chateau has been raided by a band of mercenaries years ago. Further rumors confirmed that these ruffians have killed Lord Ac Hague, but I was unable to find anything on lady Lilianna.
Twoscore days have passed and I finally arrived at my Lord's domain, the sentry who should have been present at the border gate was not present and the ramparts were abandoned. My fears were confirmed when I saw sun-dried bones scattered on the ground. Various pieces of armor lay strewn. I rode on.
I came upon a village where I watered my steed and replenished my supplies. There I was told by locals that the current lord of the domain is called, "The Whore of Argenta Rossa." This "lord" was apparently the leader of the mercenaries that raided the domain of my Lord Ac Hague, and is also called the "Mercenary Queen."
I was also told that she was a formidable warrior who held tournaments every month, in which she herself participated. She has been undefeated so far, and all her opponents met a gruesome death. Locals also told me that, "After she draws out her enemy's entrails, she covers herself in their blood, and other mercenaries join her in a mad orgy." I asked the locals whether they have heard anything about Lady Lilianna, but all I was able to gather was that she was imprisoned shortly after Lord Ac Hague was killed. I left the village and continued to the heart of the domain--to Blackthorne Chateau.
After a few days of travel, I finally arrived at Blackthorne Chateau, or what it used to be. The towers and walls of the castle were same as I recall, but the town itself seems to have transformed. A huge arena was in the middle, and as I entered, the streets were filled with the stench of decay and cheap perfume, creating a nauseating effect. Brothels were everywhere, and men half-clad in armor roamed the streets with harlots on both arms. I have seen such places in my travels, but I realized that even the harlots were armed with various weapons. A few persons, men, women, children, laid dead on some corners of the streets, in some cases the carcass has become a breeding ground for various vermin, which only worsened the already pandemonic visage.
I entered what seemed like an Inn, as I entered, I saw naked persons sprawled across the red carpeted floors, lounging on huge pillows and smoking various sorts of roots, drinking the fermented brew of soma, and engaging in various animalistic vices. In the center there was a fountain, seemingly filled with soma, and red curtains hung from the ceiling. I ignored all this and walked passed them. A few of them eyed me suspiciously as a fully clothed man as myself probably stood out, but they were generally docile. I managed to navigate through the feast of flesh and arrived at what seemed like a bar. I asked the only clothed man behind the bar, probably the bartender, whether he knew about Lady Lilianna.
The bartender jumped back as I asked the question, and slowly looked at my body from top to bottom, as if sizing me up. "Too bad you're wearing clo-othes!" He yelled in a high voice. He then waved towards the multitudes of naked persons on the floor, "This gentleman wants to know about Lilianna!"
Laughter erupted immediately from all of those in the room, half mixed with groans of ecstasy. The bartender looked at me, "You must be an outsider, didn't you know? Lilianna is the prize for the tournament!"
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"Kyleon is the victor!" a judge proclaimed as the crowd roared. I drew my sword out of the neck of my foe and raised it above my head.
It was easy to get into the arena battle, and my opponents were no match for my sword of earnest skill. Their attacks were all disturbed by the soma in their blood. Without much of any challenge, I defeated my last opponent before the final battle.
The crowds cheered again as my last opponent entered--as she entered, I was shocked. The Whore of Argenta Rossa wore a straw hat garnished with red flowers and peacock feathers, her hair was a fiery red, curled as her wretched soul. Her face was beautiful beyond words, but I was able to see from this distance that practiced the "arts of the fallen angels" which allowed women to make themselves appear more comely by applying various secret ointments and balms. She was unclad other than a gruesome scythe in her right hand, and a small target shield on her left. Her body was unmarred, which betrayed her various titles. Her skin was fair as the winter snow, pale as death. She smiled as she advanced towards me in a seductive gait, but I took no note of that. Only the thought of saving Lady Lilianna kept me sane.
Both of us stood in the middle, a space of about 30 lexes separated us. The crowds grew silent... then a gong was heard.
I was dumbstruck as the Whore of Argenta Rossa threw the giant scythe at me. She ran towards me as the huge sickle hurtled towards me. I sidestepped the scythe, but she suddenly moved her left arm back, and the sickle changed its course--I then realized that a think cord connected her arm and the sickle. I quickly leapt back a few steps as the scythe zipped past me and returned to the Mercenary Queen.
I lashed out with my sword as she caught the scythe. Surely catching such a heavy weapon would have forced her to catch it with both hands, creating an opportunity of attack on her torso. However, she did not catch the scythe. Instead she flipped back with incredible dexterity and then caught it, making me miss wildly. I lost balance, and the whore did not let the chance go by, she ran towards me and tried to punch me. I dodged her attack by bending my body, but I felt pain as her fists passed beside the side of my torso. I leapt back and saw that I was bleeding, a mere scratch, but I was quite sure I dodged it. I then looked at her and saw her licking blood off of her long nails--made of steel.
I glared at her in disgust... and then I suddenly saw something on her neck... a necklace with an ornament in the shape of a silver rose. A silver rose... the face of Lady Lilianna flashed in my face as words from years ago were remembered, "I held this for a fortnight, praying every night to God for your safety. Please take this and think of it as I." I ought not have refused her gift, but...
"Where did you get that, where is Lady Lilianna!?" I roared at the whore as I pointed at her necklace with my sword.
"Kill me, and you can meet her," she said in a deep, husky voice. She waved her scythe at me, beckoning me to attack. I was filled with fury as I realized how this wretch must have taken away milady's precious token. I charged at her with indignation.
A unleashed a blur of steel. My sword-skills honed through the years and tested by myriads of beasts were displayed. The Mercenary Queen was extremely adept with her scythe as well, and mixed her flurry of attacks with feints involving her nails of steel. The crowds roared as they reveled in the display of our extreme skill.
The Whore of Argenta Rossa suddenly laughed as she stepped to the side, her scythe extended towards me, "do you wish to know what I have done to your precious Lilianna, Sir Kyleon?" The whore grimaced, her blood-red lips seemed arch all the way to her ears, seemingly unable to wait to continue with her grotesque story-telling.
The whore sneered, "I had her fucked. All my men, they all took turns and fucked her to death. How about that Sir Knight, a fine story to bring to your Lord Ac Hague in heaven?"
She let out a shrill laugh that echoed through the arena.
All was lost. What is left to do if she was befouled and killed? What else is there... what purpose is there for a knight without a lord? Of course, revenge... I will take Lady Lilianna's silver rose from that whore and hold it with me till the time of my death. I held my sword and rushed towards her, screaming with rage, I unleashed my entire being at her. As I landed my blow from above her, she held her scythe up, but my blade of vengeance cut through the shaft, and I felt the feeling of steel rending flesh. The crowd roared in disbelief as the Whore of Argenta Rossa fell to the ground, a deep gash extending from her shoulders to her chest.
The Queen fell to the dirt, and I planted my sword into the earth and walked towards her to take the silver rose. I looked at her face as I tried to remove her necklace.
Tears? I saw tears at the edge of her eyes, she looked at me with her emerald-green eyes. I went ahead with removing her necklace, I saw the judge wandering around in confusion as he wondered what to announce. I finally removed the necklace, and I looked at her face again to hurl my last word of indignation.
That moment I was cast into the bowls of hell for eternity.
The tears washed away her "art of the fallen angels," revealing the face of she who I sought for all this time, her emerald-blue eyes and pronounced brows...
"Lady Lilianna?" I said, knowing the answer--I hoped that she will tell me I was wrong.
She spoke to me in the very same voice that I have forgotten for all these years, "you finally realized, stupid man... stupid, stupid man."
"What have I done!?" I felt tears flowing from my eyes, I frantically tried to see if Lilianna's wound was not a mortal wound. As I was confounded, Lilianna spoke, "fuck you Kyleon, what did you think of me... how long I have waited for you, and you don't even recognize me... stupid me!" Lilianna laughed briefly, but coughed out blood.
I quickly caressed her, calling her name.
Lilianna pushed me away with whatever strength she still had, "Don't touch me, you're just like the rest of them. You never loved me Kyleon, you only loved what you thought I was, a pure, innocent young girl. A damsel in distress right? You never knew I would have been strong enough to hold my own, even after years of being used as a vessel of pleasure... strong enough to hold out even against you? Fuck you Kyleon, stupid me to have waited for you all this time... stupid me."
She then turned her head towards me, her eyes looked into mine. Her lips moved, "And I am stupid, really stupid to still love you."
I held her again, she did not push me away... and then I realized that her heart was no longer moving. I lowered her body onto the ground, her face was smiling. Nothing else mattered anymore. Everything was absurd, nothing remained. I walked towards the scythe that lay on the ground, I stuck the opposite end of its head into the ground--spreading my arms, I fell onto the blade. Nothing mattered anymore.
The End
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Leon laid his quill to rest, he immediately stood up and walked towards a pile of rubbish at a corner of his cabin. Piles of dirty clothes lay strewn, and Leon dug through it in search of something. After rummaging through the rubbish, he finally found what he was looking for, a cork-screw with a head in the shape of a silver rose.
"Here you are my friend!" Leon said. He then walked towards his table, where his bottle of wine waited for him to be opened.
--The Dhammapada 4:46
"Please Kyleon, you will come back?" Lilianna said as she looked at me, her fair skin of velvet flushed from running after me. Her pronounced brows arched in concern as her emerald-green eyes pleaded for me to stay.
I looked at Lilianna, behind her was Blackthorn Château, where her father, Ac Hague ruled as Lord. As I looked at the chateau glimmering like ivory or platinum in the sun, I remembered that I had to leave this fair castle to accomplish my quest.
"I must leave milady, but I shall return," I looked away as I said that, and started walking away.
"Wait, Kyleon!" Lilianna called out. She ran past me and stood in front of me, her curly red-brown hair slightly disheveled from the sudden run. I stopped walking and looked at her. As I looked at her, her gaze shifted and she looked down, her cheek blushing.
She held her right arms forward and held out an A silver amulet in the shape of a rose. She started talking, her eyes tightly shut, "I held this for a fortnight, praying every night to God for your safety. Please take this and think of it as I."
"Thank you milady, but I am not of noble blood. Surely there are others who are worthy of such honor." I said. Lilianna fell down powerlessly--she sat down looking down at the earth. I walked around her and kept going.
"Kyleon, after you return, will you..." Lilianna spoke in a near whisper.
Stopping amid my steps, I said, "As I said, milady, I am not of noble blood."
I walked away, and she no longer called for me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many years have passed since I left Blackthorne Château. I have finally completed my quest after endless acts of combat and valour. I have retrieved what my lord has asked for, and I am finally on my way home to my liege, Lord Ac Hague.
On my way back, I heard stories of wars raging to the south--the direction of my Lord's domain. I hastened the pace of my steed as my heart pumped in angst for the safety of my liege and the fair lady Lilianna. How unforgivable that I may not have been present at tumultuous times to protect my liege? I must return fast, as the first wind of Autumn...
As I raced back, my premonitions were verified--I heard rumors that Blackthorne Chateau has been raided by a band of mercenaries years ago. Further rumors confirmed that these ruffians have killed Lord Ac Hague, but I was unable to find anything on lady Lilianna.
Twoscore days have passed and I finally arrived at my Lord's domain, the sentry who should have been present at the border gate was not present and the ramparts were abandoned. My fears were confirmed when I saw sun-dried bones scattered on the ground. Various pieces of armor lay strewn. I rode on.
I came upon a village where I watered my steed and replenished my supplies. There I was told by locals that the current lord of the domain is called, "The Whore of Argenta Rossa." This "lord" was apparently the leader of the mercenaries that raided the domain of my Lord Ac Hague, and is also called the "Mercenary Queen."
I was also told that she was a formidable warrior who held tournaments every month, in which she herself participated. She has been undefeated so far, and all her opponents met a gruesome death. Locals also told me that, "After she draws out her enemy's entrails, she covers herself in their blood, and other mercenaries join her in a mad orgy." I asked the locals whether they have heard anything about Lady Lilianna, but all I was able to gather was that she was imprisoned shortly after Lord Ac Hague was killed. I left the village and continued to the heart of the domain--to Blackthorne Chateau.
After a few days of travel, I finally arrived at Blackthorne Chateau, or what it used to be. The towers and walls of the castle were same as I recall, but the town itself seems to have transformed. A huge arena was in the middle, and as I entered, the streets were filled with the stench of decay and cheap perfume, creating a nauseating effect. Brothels were everywhere, and men half-clad in armor roamed the streets with harlots on both arms. I have seen such places in my travels, but I realized that even the harlots were armed with various weapons. A few persons, men, women, children, laid dead on some corners of the streets, in some cases the carcass has become a breeding ground for various vermin, which only worsened the already pandemonic visage.
I entered what seemed like an Inn, as I entered, I saw naked persons sprawled across the red carpeted floors, lounging on huge pillows and smoking various sorts of roots, drinking the fermented brew of soma, and engaging in various animalistic vices. In the center there was a fountain, seemingly filled with soma, and red curtains hung from the ceiling. I ignored all this and walked passed them. A few of them eyed me suspiciously as a fully clothed man as myself probably stood out, but they were generally docile. I managed to navigate through the feast of flesh and arrived at what seemed like a bar. I asked the only clothed man behind the bar, probably the bartender, whether he knew about Lady Lilianna.
The bartender jumped back as I asked the question, and slowly looked at my body from top to bottom, as if sizing me up. "Too bad you're wearing clo-othes!" He yelled in a high voice. He then waved towards the multitudes of naked persons on the floor, "This gentleman wants to know about Lilianna!"
Laughter erupted immediately from all of those in the room, half mixed with groans of ecstasy. The bartender looked at me, "You must be an outsider, didn't you know? Lilianna is the prize for the tournament!"
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"Kyleon is the victor!" a judge proclaimed as the crowd roared. I drew my sword out of the neck of my foe and raised it above my head.
It was easy to get into the arena battle, and my opponents were no match for my sword of earnest skill. Their attacks were all disturbed by the soma in their blood. Without much of any challenge, I defeated my last opponent before the final battle.
The crowds cheered again as my last opponent entered--as she entered, I was shocked. The Whore of Argenta Rossa wore a straw hat garnished with red flowers and peacock feathers, her hair was a fiery red, curled as her wretched soul. Her face was beautiful beyond words, but I was able to see from this distance that practiced the "arts of the fallen angels" which allowed women to make themselves appear more comely by applying various secret ointments and balms. She was unclad other than a gruesome scythe in her right hand, and a small target shield on her left. Her body was unmarred, which betrayed her various titles. Her skin was fair as the winter snow, pale as death. She smiled as she advanced towards me in a seductive gait, but I took no note of that. Only the thought of saving Lady Lilianna kept me sane.
Both of us stood in the middle, a space of about 30 lexes separated us. The crowds grew silent... then a gong was heard.
I was dumbstruck as the Whore of Argenta Rossa threw the giant scythe at me. She ran towards me as the huge sickle hurtled towards me. I sidestepped the scythe, but she suddenly moved her left arm back, and the sickle changed its course--I then realized that a think cord connected her arm and the sickle. I quickly leapt back a few steps as the scythe zipped past me and returned to the Mercenary Queen.
I lashed out with my sword as she caught the scythe. Surely catching such a heavy weapon would have forced her to catch it with both hands, creating an opportunity of attack on her torso. However, she did not catch the scythe. Instead she flipped back with incredible dexterity and then caught it, making me miss wildly. I lost balance, and the whore did not let the chance go by, she ran towards me and tried to punch me. I dodged her attack by bending my body, but I felt pain as her fists passed beside the side of my torso. I leapt back and saw that I was bleeding, a mere scratch, but I was quite sure I dodged it. I then looked at her and saw her licking blood off of her long nails--made of steel.
I glared at her in disgust... and then I suddenly saw something on her neck... a necklace with an ornament in the shape of a silver rose. A silver rose... the face of Lady Lilianna flashed in my face as words from years ago were remembered, "I held this for a fortnight, praying every night to God for your safety. Please take this and think of it as I." I ought not have refused her gift, but...
"Where did you get that, where is Lady Lilianna!?" I roared at the whore as I pointed at her necklace with my sword.
"Kill me, and you can meet her," she said in a deep, husky voice. She waved her scythe at me, beckoning me to attack. I was filled with fury as I realized how this wretch must have taken away milady's precious token. I charged at her with indignation.
A unleashed a blur of steel. My sword-skills honed through the years and tested by myriads of beasts were displayed. The Mercenary Queen was extremely adept with her scythe as well, and mixed her flurry of attacks with feints involving her nails of steel. The crowds roared as they reveled in the display of our extreme skill.
The Whore of Argenta Rossa suddenly laughed as she stepped to the side, her scythe extended towards me, "do you wish to know what I have done to your precious Lilianna, Sir Kyleon?" The whore grimaced, her blood-red lips seemed arch all the way to her ears, seemingly unable to wait to continue with her grotesque story-telling.
The whore sneered, "I had her fucked. All my men, they all took turns and fucked her to death. How about that Sir Knight, a fine story to bring to your Lord Ac Hague in heaven?"
She let out a shrill laugh that echoed through the arena.
All was lost. What is left to do if she was befouled and killed? What else is there... what purpose is there for a knight without a lord? Of course, revenge... I will take Lady Lilianna's silver rose from that whore and hold it with me till the time of my death. I held my sword and rushed towards her, screaming with rage, I unleashed my entire being at her. As I landed my blow from above her, she held her scythe up, but my blade of vengeance cut through the shaft, and I felt the feeling of steel rending flesh. The crowd roared in disbelief as the Whore of Argenta Rossa fell to the ground, a deep gash extending from her shoulders to her chest.
The Queen fell to the dirt, and I planted my sword into the earth and walked towards her to take the silver rose. I looked at her face as I tried to remove her necklace.
Tears? I saw tears at the edge of her eyes, she looked at me with her emerald-green eyes. I went ahead with removing her necklace, I saw the judge wandering around in confusion as he wondered what to announce. I finally removed the necklace, and I looked at her face again to hurl my last word of indignation.
That moment I was cast into the bowls of hell for eternity.
The tears washed away her "art of the fallen angels," revealing the face of she who I sought for all this time, her emerald-blue eyes and pronounced brows...
"Lady Lilianna?" I said, knowing the answer--I hoped that she will tell me I was wrong.
She spoke to me in the very same voice that I have forgotten for all these years, "you finally realized, stupid man... stupid, stupid man."
"What have I done!?" I felt tears flowing from my eyes, I frantically tried to see if Lilianna's wound was not a mortal wound. As I was confounded, Lilianna spoke, "fuck you Kyleon, what did you think of me... how long I have waited for you, and you don't even recognize me... stupid me!" Lilianna laughed briefly, but coughed out blood.
I quickly caressed her, calling her name.
Lilianna pushed me away with whatever strength she still had, "Don't touch me, you're just like the rest of them. You never loved me Kyleon, you only loved what you thought I was, a pure, innocent young girl. A damsel in distress right? You never knew I would have been strong enough to hold my own, even after years of being used as a vessel of pleasure... strong enough to hold out even against you? Fuck you Kyleon, stupid me to have waited for you all this time... stupid me."
She then turned her head towards me, her eyes looked into mine. Her lips moved, "And I am stupid, really stupid to still love you."
I held her again, she did not push me away... and then I realized that her heart was no longer moving. I lowered her body onto the ground, her face was smiling. Nothing else mattered anymore. Everything was absurd, nothing remained. I walked towards the scythe that lay on the ground, I stuck the opposite end of its head into the ground--spreading my arms, I fell onto the blade. Nothing mattered anymore.
The End
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Leon laid his quill to rest, he immediately stood up and walked towards a pile of rubbish at a corner of his cabin. Piles of dirty clothes lay strewn, and Leon dug through it in search of something. After rummaging through the rubbish, he finally found what he was looking for, a cork-screw with a head in the shape of a silver rose.
"Here you are my friend!" Leon said. He then walked towards his table, where his bottle of wine waited for him to be opened.