The Epic

And so the day passed by without much incident. Echo wandered the town, visiting the shops and chatting with the owners. He stopped by Bryan’s smithy; though war was uncommon this far from the Empire, Echo was from Liltye, a country where battle was just life. That much, he thought sheepishly, I do know of my past. He was pretty used to hearing such tales and having war in his life. Besides, Echo liked Bryan; he was a strong man who loved metal working. He had been a soldier that fought for the king and then the Emperor. He’d since then given up the sword for a quiet life, becoming a blacksmith so that he could give to others, enjoy his job, and still be close to a faithful companion of his…steel.

“So what has the deal been with the girls lately,” Bryan asked as he pounded away on an anvil. Echo shrugged from his seat as he tinkered with a small hammer. “Girls? I guess I’m still working on finding the right one, that‘s all.” Bryan stopped a moment and gave Echo and incredulous look. “You’ve got some strange ideas in your head, Echo. You’ve got to find a girl soon and catch up with the rest of the world!” He laughed, ducking as the Ruvian chucked the hammer at him. “Whoa! Ease up! I was just playing!” Echo joined in laughing for a moment, and then heaved a long sigh. Bryan caught his young friend’s look and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Echo shrugged. “I just was wondering…with these dreams I’ve been having and all…what’s it like to be a warrior?” Bryan looked taken aback by Echo’s query, so he elaborated. “I mean, what was it like for you?” Bryan set down his mallet and sat beside Echo. He was silent a moment, then spoke. “Besides the whole lot about fighting and being the strongest in the land, being a warrior had one basic principle that was the greatest concept imaginable if you lived correctly. Know what it is?” Echo shook his head. Bryan stared up at the ceiling and said, “Freedom.” Echo slowly nodded as he understood. “I see…you get to travel wherever, do what you want, and do right all at the same time.” He stood and walked over to a tapestry of a map of Forlethon.

Running a hand over the region of Meridia, Echo spoke in a low voice. “I remember my mentor Berus and I traveled the hills of East Amine to Arod. It was a city full of warriors, and I became one of them.” Echo’s hand balled into a fist as he continued. “Then the Si came. I can still hear the screaming…see the man’s blood on my hands…I remember watching Berus fight even as he was surrounded.” The Ruvian turned stonily to Bryan, adding through gritted teeth, “Arod was destroyed, as was the man I considered a father for as long as I can remember.”

The blacksmith was silent as he stood and walked over to Echo. Putting a strong hand on his shoulder comfortingly, he spoke softly. “I remember too, Echo.” The Ruvian looked up in surprise as Bryan continued. “I remember when Trina found you collapsed half-dead three miles from here a year ago. I remember, after learning of Arod’s destruction, thinking that you must have been a perilous warrior to survive the attack. And most important,” Bryan ruffled Echo’s hair gently. “I felt like a father again.” Echo smiled at his words as the blacksmith sat back at the bench.

“Though I served the king, and for a short while the emperor, I’ve always had seemingly infinite freedom. I did what I was told, and I delivered, because I persevered to be the best soldier I could be. And though I wore their colors, it was still my spirit…my choices that got me to the top. I was my own man, Echo.” The Ruvian listened intently, drinking in Bryan’s every word; the blacksmith winked slyly at him. “And as long as you fight for what’s most important, and what you really believe in, and you do your best, you’re invincible.” Echo nodded resolutely, dwelling on Bryan’s words. As long as I try my best and fight for what’s most important, I’m invincible

“That reminds me, I’ve got something to show you,” the blacksmith exclaimed, suddenly rising up. Echo snapped free of his reverie and rose from his seat, watching with interest as his friend vanished behind the counter.

Bryan turned around with a long bundle wrapped in white cloth in his arms. “Been working on this for a long time,” he said, handing the bundle to Echo. He then walked around the counter and stood watching him with baited breath. Echo slowly unwrapped the bundle it until a hilt appeared. He gave Bryan a look; Bryan shrugged, and then he continued. The cloth fell from his fingers and the whole room grew brighter. The Ruvian gasped; it was a steel long sword. The handle was long and wrapped with alternating layers of red and black leather. Etched into the long blade were characters in an ancient and runic language. Bryan looked expectantly into Echo’s face. “Well? What do you think?”

Echo turned to him with a grin on his face. “It’s the most incredible sword I’ve ever seen, Bryan.” Marveling at the blade, Echo asked, “Is this its name?” The blacksmith patted his friend on the back. “Yeah,” he replied. “In the forgotten language is reads ‘Vertigo’.” Echo repeated the name, his voice soft in reverence to the almighty weapon, “Vertigo.”

Echo left Bryan a little later and walked outside of town to the river. There he sat at the bank, taking in the serenity of this land he now lived in. The magic was everywhere…except in Jerniah. I’m the only Ruvian in this place…an outsider by all respects. My only real friends are a thirteen year old girl, Kyanah, and a blacksmith. I don’t think it’d hurt to have a girl, either. The dark elf sighed heavily. “You know,” he said to no one in particular, “peace is one thing, but this is just dull!”