XVII. Sympathy For The Monster

The creature is covered in blood, most of it no doubt not their own. The monster struggles to pull itself to its feet. Pushing its crimson sword to the ground, the blade falters and it falls once again. The monster lets out a nightmarish how.

"Not yet, not like this." It manages to spit out through its fangs.

It would be so easy. To slay the monster and its weakened, beaten and pitiful state. The monster is no doubt perplexed by the hesitation. Cypress had not hesitated when she had killed Rivett, but that situation had been different. She could not afford to hesitate, back then, if she did she would be here contemplating the value of a monster's life.

"Go on get on with, you done it before, I know a killer then I see one." The monster choked.

Cypress looked down a the monster. It would have been better if the monster had managed to swing at with its claws, then she would have had no choice. Just like with Rivett.

"Why the hesitation?"

There it was again Pity.

"It seems cruel. To do it when you are in such a beaten state."

The monster laughed and interrupted the spitting of blood. "A true fighter is never beaten."

"Then why are you asking me to put you out of misery? To end your wretched life." Cypress questioned.

"It's all a ploy, to get you close…" The desperation in the monster's voice is clear. A desperation not to admit that was beaten.

The words pained the monster somehow as if even saying them was a crime.

"And that's why you're writhing around in the dirt."

"It's not over for me yet, you see, not whilst I still draw breath. I can still fulfil to duty to Two, to what I was made to do. NOW FIGHT ME!

"All you have has been taken from you," Cedara mumbled. "A monster without a means to bite or slash with its claws."

"My honour cannot be taken." He spat.

Honour? Such grand ideals cannot be found in a place like this. Though yet he still tried to cling to them. There was a certain admirability to it, to cling on to something so tightly that even a place that robs you of everything cannot pry it from your hands.

"I did not think that such a thing could exist here, certainly not in the one such as yourself," she said.

"Right now honour's just about the only thing that I have left," he croaked. "I know how you see us, this moment has been very enlightening."

"And you think 'we' see you?" Cedara questioned. It should have been clear that they were seen as kin to monsters. Choosing the Games, choosing to kill. She had not had a choice, she had no preparation. Death had just called for one day and she was forced to heed it. The best that she could hope for was that her death would be swift and then she could finally rest in the Everspring Forest.

"A monster to live to kill. It's perhaps not an entirely accurate assessment. Maybe we are monsters, but ones who live to serve."

"Who chose this? I did not. Those you kill did." Cypress spat.

"To spare, others. That is what I chose. It is better that I die than some… someone innocent."

She could almost understand him. But she could pity him. Pity him for what he was made into, a weapon. A monster.

"What is your name?" Cypress asked.

"What does it matter to you?" he asked back.

"Just answer the question."

"Caius."

"Cypress."

"Let me have my peace, Cypress."

"You shall I have it, Caius. I will not forget you."

Cedara raised her axe and brought it down against Cauis' neck. Tearing through sinew and digging into bone, Caius' blood spilt on the flour and mixed with that which he was covered with, both with the same red hue.

BOOM!.

Rest now, Caius. If you believe in an afterlife may it allow you to be human again.