Tales of a Legacy

Not much to say. I had this story written out in my notebook for a while, but didn't get around to revising and posting it until now.

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Title: Protector

Characters/Pairings: WalterxShirley onesided

Warnings: Spoilers for the end of the main quest

When Walter first laid eyes on the Merines, he was ten. He'd heard stories of her imposing looks and power. The rumors were greatly exaggerated. She was just a scrawny little girl about his age, following hopelessly after her older sister. Walter didn't step out of his vantage point to greet her.

Even by that age he knew his only goal in life should be to grow up and become strong to protect her. Anything else was a waste of time, and therefore a hindrance to his goal and that of his people. A few years passed, and Walter became older, stronger, and a little wiser. He also became more aloof and was blunt during conversation. He had never had a girlfriend. Girlfriends wouldn't help him save the Merines.

Maybe that was why he felt an odd connection to the Merines. His life had been spent in preparation to serve her and only her. When she had vanished after the attack on her village, he practically dropped what little life he had and left to find her.

He cringed at every mention of Senel, and wanted nothing more than to wipe the pathetic Orerines boy off the face of the planet. And when he knelt in front of the Merines and promised to devote his life to her cause, his words seemed like a proposal. But his feelings seemed to be unreciprocated. The Merines continued to hesitate when faced with the Orerines she had once called brother. So Walter decided to take it into his own hands.

He faced Senel and his friends one last time, despite his injuries. The Teriques consumed by the automata was too much. He had lost. He couldn't get up, he didn't have time or strength to find the Merines one last time and tell her what he had wanted to. But as he lay there, his breath coming in shallow gasps, there was only one thing he could think.

Why did she choose you?

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Walter received the title of Eternal Protector!

Yay, angst? Can dead NPCs get titles? Probably not. Anyway, I thought Walter had some awesome potential, but they never really delved into his (or any of the other villain's) stories. I think Walter was an angry kid with an obsession.