The Search For A New Life In A New Land
Eeden... I... By the Gods what had I done? The feeling was indescribable. I had given up my own son, and I hated myself for it. My feelings overwhelmed me. All I could do was sit in the tavern, staring at a small toy that I had given him. I thought of nothing else. Venus was devastated and nearly killed herself on more than one occasion. She had abandoned her husband and family to raise Eeden in hopes that I might fall for her. When she realized that my heart was only for Xaka, she asked me for the same thing that I had asked of Nelmarious so long ago. Knowing her grief, I agreed, and took up Runeblade against her, ending her life. It was the first and only innocent life ever ended by the Sword of Hope. But hope was the last thing I had in my heart. It was then that I realized that there truly was no hope for me in this world. Broken and defeated by this, I chose to break my vow to protect the land. I gathered my things from the house and without a word to anyone, I took to the skies, and fled Hollow.
It didn't matter to me where I ended up. I sought the one thing that eluded me... peace. My thoughts plagued the day, and the most horrible of nightmares gripped the night. I cared not what happened to me. I prayed for an end to it all... but Fate it seems, had other plans in mind. I eventually found myself in a land called Karchan. Not unlike Hollow in some ways, I had heard of this land from some in Hollow who had traveled there. Deciding that this was good a place as any to find what I sought, I decided to remain there. It didn't take too long before I was noticed however. It seems my reputation for defending the innocent had traveled with those who moved from Hollow to this place. I eventually ended up doing the same in Karchan, making an enemy of Obsidian, the resident evil God of the land as well as many others. I fought each battle without a care for myself. I hoped for death, yet each time I battled against the evils of the land, it ended in either a victory for myself, or a standstill.
One day, I was sitting at a place called the Snake River when a young woman passed by and introduced herself as Yokyana. We had never met before, yet we knew of each other for Yokyana was Xakas sister. We spoke for a little while when footsteps behind me ended our conversation. Yokyana took her leave silently as I stood up to face yet another challenge. There stood Xaka. She had heard that I came to Karchan and had followed me. We spoke for a little while... but I already knew where this would end before a single word was spoken. I don't blame her for feeling the way she did. Hurt, lost, betrayed... Even though it was not anyone's will that caused this, the pain I had caused was too great for me to bear. She asked me to reconsider, but my depression had overwhelmed me as I told her how I felt, and that it had to end for I could no longer go on hurting her. We said our good-byes and she left to return to Hollow. I was alone again...
I had lost everything I held dear to me. Eeden, Xaka, my home... everything. As my depression grew, I eventually fell into the arms of one of the women that lived in Karchan. Even the illusion of happiness was better than the reality of my grief. We were married, adopted two children. One of which was my daughter Akamie. I felt a strong connection to her as she had lost her family before she came to Karchan as well. It took some time, but the two of us finally managed to begin healing. If it were not for her, I do not know what would have happened to me. Things began to settle down for me after that. I focused more on living my life than fighting against Obsidian. My marriage felt wrong however. I still could not shake my feelings for Xaka, and I felt ashamed for it. I heard she had fallen in love with one of the Seekers, a dragon and one of the most powerful beings in all of Hollow. I felt a minor part of jealousy... Perhaps more, but I wished them well from afar. Eventually Obsidian began to take a larger foothold upon the land, and Akamie convinced me to once again take up arms for the benefit of others.
The battles were many. For both the light and darkness, victory shared its equal with defeat. The Blood Knights of the Inner Circle took and lost their footholds in the land as those who followed the light finally were able to beat back the darkness, enjoying their small victories. Although it felt good to do battle for what I believed in once again, I felt ashamed that I had broken my promise to those in the land of Hollow. But I couldn't go back... To see Xaka again would bring too many old feelings back, to even think about it sent me into a depression. This eventually led to the divorce of my wife and me. Although split between the two of us though, Akamie stayed at my side. I don't think I could ever thank her enough for that as I relied heavily on her. I still felt lost however... In the battles I fought, still I could not find the things I sought. I spoke with Akamie, and decided that I needed to go on a quest alone to find what I needed. I traveled for quite some time. Not really making contact with anyone or keeping track of where I was going when I found myself at the edge of a place I never expected to visit again. Reia... My home...
Continued in the Chronicle of Adventure...
