I am the bone of my sword.
I once believed I was a Hero.
A "Hero of Justice", who protected the world.
But was I really one?
For every one hundred I saved, there were a million I didn't.
What use is saving a cup of water if you lose a sea?
—-
Steel is my body and fire is my blood.
My power sowed fear and hatred amongst the people.
Even among those who I saved.
I did not care.
Maybe my effort was for naught.
Maybe I would be hated by the world.
But my promise to her outweighs any pain.
For her, I will fight.
For her, I will suffer.
And for her, I will die.
I am Shirou Emiya.
The one who aspired to be a Hero of Justice.
But did I become one, in the end?
Did I fulfil my promise?
—-
I have created over a thousand blades.
I do not fear death.
But I fear a death without meaning.
On the day I died, I prayed.
Prayed not to God, who had never helped me before.
But to the World herself.
I offered myself for the lives of others.
When the World took me, I did not grieve, nor did I hesitate.
To me, giving up my life for others was the greatest act I could do.
Even if I would never be able to rest.
—-
Unknown to Death, Nor known to Life.
Fate is cruel.
Horribly cruel.
I no longer fought to save.
I fought to avenge.
Instead of saving those from death, I'd kill those who already sinned.
A horrible life, full of guilt and regret.
Why could I not save them?
Why must I avenge them instead?
Many times, I wished I could die.
And yet, I could not.
The years of training had payed off.
I was unstoppable, a monster capable of slaying even the strongest beast.
Many times, I placed my sword to my throat, intending to end it all.
And yet, I couldn't.
While many died at my hand, even more were saved.
Could I truly kill myself and condemn those who I may save to death?
No. I can't.
No matter how bloody my hands got, no matter how much I cursed the World and my very existence
I would continue to fight.
For those who could not save themselves.
For that is the duty of a hero.
—
Have withstood pain to create many weapons.
The Grail Wars.
As a representative of the World, I knew of it.
A battle royale for the right to wish for anything.
The ultimate war for the ultimate prize.
My summoner was a young girl.
A girl with a very sharp tongue.
A girl I knew from long ago.
When I saw her, I was shocked.
She was exactly how I remembered her to be.
Long brown hair tied into twin tails.
A red outfit and skirt.
And the same serious expression, no doubt thinking up some devious plan.
Rin Tohsaka.
My master.
—
Yet, those hands will never hold anything.
The battle is hard.
My swords break again and again.
Caster.
Lancer.
Assassin.
Berserker.
And Saber.
Through it all, I stood beside her.
Fought beside her.
And finally, died beside her.
Yet, this time I was content.
I had met myself, my idealistic self from long ago.
I had tested his resolve, his merit, against my own.
Blade against blade.
Sword against sword.
Metal against metal.
I, who had lived longer, trained longer and was superior in every way, gave my all against him.
And I lost.
The me from before was a man unlike any other.
Even as I broke his swords, destroyed his body, his spirit refused to yield.
Despite broken bones, torn muscles and the Reaper's own scythe at his throat, he still stood up with a sword in his hand.
He was a hero.
The type I aspired to be.
A hero far greater then what I had been.
A true "Hero of Justice".
—
So as I pray, unlimited blade works.
I'm fading.
I know that when I awaken, I will once again fight for the World.
And yet, I am not unhappy.
The time I spent with them…was time well spent.
For it helped me realise.
That even if I failed.
Others will succeed.
That boy's eyes…were filled with resolve.
A resolve that would neither bend or break.
They were the eyes of a hero.
And with that, I will rest.
Until the World needs me once more.
—
The Dark Hero of Justice, who wanders a path parallel to that of Shirou Emiya.
Perhaps he was never meant to walk in the Light.
He may have once cursed his role.
But now sees the truth.
The World is not Cruel.
It is fair.
The Dark Hero wished to save the world.
And the World gave him the ability to.
Someone must always take the role of the Avenger.
The Hero who takes the sins of others upon his shoulders.
And does so willingly.
Never forget the heroes.
Those who walk in the light.
And those who run in the dark.
Sorry for the late update! Been busy with school stuff.
Review and fave if you enjoyed it!
Daemon