Soulless Smile

If I had known you would become my enemy, I would've left with you.

It has been a week since she left, her name, Zalia Omahana. The only other orphan in the village of Roswen. After consulting with the elders, Zalia was granted leave to become a draconian reaper for the kingdom. Truly fearsome warriors, but if anyone could do it I'd bet every last coin on her.

*Pant* *Pant*

Now the only errand boy remaining, The elders saw it fit to throw all of her tasks on me. They were relatively easy, immensely time-consuming and tedious, but necessary for the village to survive. We're perched on the rugged coast, waves constantly crashing in the background.

During quieter moments, I wander into the lush forest nearby, hands busy picking berries, herbs, and wild fruits, their rich colors a stark contrast to the gray pebbles of our shores

"Khatar, a moment?"

"Yes, My lady"

The beautiful Alduine, the youngest to earn the status of elder in Roswen. She has the most captivating eyes, as blue as the ocean, fair, and as pure as the air itself. However, today she aproached with a furrowed brow.

"Have you heard from the forest guards today?"

"No, my lady. Should I be worried?"

She paused, her gaze distant. "No" her face still etched with a guarded expression before changing her demeanor.

"Today is a big day, your inking. Feeling nervous or excited?"

"Of course my lady, through your continued teaching, I hope to be as strong-willed as you one day"

A little flattery couldn't hurt. Despite our difference in rank, Alduine is my mentor and only friend now that Zalia has left. She and I are close in age but she is much stronger and light years ahead of me in both maturity and wisdom. Miss Alduine was raised among the elite, so her success is hardly surprising. Additionally, she is much kinder than you would expect, regardless of her status, she treats everyone she encounters with respect as an equal.

"You have grown into such a respectable young man, I couldn't be any more proud of you and what you will become."

"My lady."

"You have my complete support Kha."

When she speaks it's as if I can never hide my wild smile, to her I must look like a warrior in a weapons hut.

"I must take my leave, I look forward to seeing you at the inking"

"Likewise" she replies

Flashing me the most flirtatious wink, I can't help but turn completely red in embarrassment.

*Sigh* She is so out of my league.

It was customary to receive the outline of your ink from your father and wait in Darcam Forest until your fetched.

"Come here son, I'm proud of you"

"Don't look now but I'm coming for ya old man"

"Bahaha! We'll see about that! Now, come on, let's get ready."

We both proceed to laugh but I noticed he cut his short.

"What's wrong?

"Come here"

He leans in close and wraps his arms around me tightly

"Your roots are like that of a tree, without it, you are weak and easy to push over. I may not be your father by blood, but you are my blood, you are my son"

He continued his outline dropping to a knee and placing my hand on his forehead.

"Kha...No Khatar Joqen, the next elder"

"Dad..."

"Now go, let us prepare"

*Pant* *Pant*

"I need to calm down" excitement has made me antsy, so much so I couldn't sit still. I resulted to running in circles hoping to kill some of my energy, but to no avail. Pushups didn't help either.

All of a sudden, my carelessness caught up with me. A rush of alarm that overwhelms every sense in me, overwhelms me with worry.

"It shouldnt take this long?"

*Sniff* *Sniff*

"Gunpowder? Why does it..?"

"No..."

An acrid smell of burning snapped my attention back towards the village. Rising above the treetops, thick black smoke billowed into the sky, an ominous signal that shattered the usual peace. My excitement only serves to hasten my emotions. Without thinking I ran in a flurry back to the village. I should have prepared myself, although it wouldn't have done much. Nothing would have prepared me for what I saw.

The coast littered with blood, bodies, and leather armour. Red, gray and brown are the new colours of what was once a serene beach, which has now become the stage of a cruel raid. The air which would normally be soft and carry a gentle breeze is now merely a canvas for the stench of death and the cries of the dying, something no survivor will ever forget.

I scan the village only to see battles concluding near and far. Men, pouncing like dogs, Cornering and killing women only to have their way with them in the meantime. One caught my eye but my muscles refused to listen, devastated at the sight of their disgusting obsession with pleasure.

"H.. How could this happen?"

A burning sensation radiated from my chest. A fist clamped, nails digging into flesh in search of some relief to this agony. Eyes leaking like a faucet, Even still I cannot look away, nor hide this heart splitting pain.

"A.."

The eyes gave her away.

I took a sharp breath, And then another.

Unable to collect myself, I have lost all sense of direction. Weak in the knees and incapable of thinking In this hellish symphony of screams, explosions, and gunfire.

They are scum. They are pirates.

They fit the criteria. From underhanded tactics to mischievous conduct, their joy in pillaging and thirst for lust. They had it all.

Still, In the chaos surrounding me, the sounds of battle and screams of rape come to an abrupt halt. Met only with the sound of footsteps vigorously approaching, slow, precise, and calm.

Even the wind was still.

Not to far off in the distance I scarcely make out a figure, towering all those around him. He had a powerful commanding aura about him. As he approaches I feel as if a heavy weight has been placed on my chest fixing me in place, barring all desired movement.

I will never forget his face.

He had the coldest eyes I have ever seen, virtually able to stare a hole right through your body. His gaze as sharp as any arrow, threatening your attention. A rigidity hat and chalky skin, a coarse bushy beard curling at the ends. His most memorable feature, however, was his soulless smile.

Now, face to face our eyes meet, his mere presence alone makes me unexpectedly bow.

"For this crime, I have committed, I can never be forgiven." The resonance alone scared away even my tears.

"The day water rises to the sky, employ the boxes, and a new king shall bring forth a rise to immortality"

He knelt down to my level. Despite his menacing looks and intense deminer, I had a hunch my life wasn't in danger. Pausing for a moment he seemed to be eerily taking his time eyeing me down, my heartbeat accelerates to the pace of a fast gallop. He slowly crept to my ear, whispering words I can never forget, to pair with a crime I will never forgive.

"Find me, save me from this fate"

He stood tall, and after a short hesitation, stepping just out of arms reach, he and his crew vanished. In the blink of an eye.

I'm left ..alone.

To witness the complete destruction of my home. To witness the molestation of our women. To witness the funeral of my entire village.

Alone.

"One day... One day I am going to kill you, I promise"

...

"What's this?"