10 Bear and the Fools

#The following wasn't part of the manuscript but written on a loose sheet stuck between pages. It may or may not belong here. #

****(POV)

Somewhere in a bar, we mercenaries are boisterously drinking away our weariness. After all the fighting and the killing, such a ritual is needed. This time is special. Very special.

All are even more energized for a legend stands in our midst. One that people say has been fighting as soon as he exited the womb. An old mercenary deity that no man on the battlefield could kill.

He got that title for accomplishing an exploit. He somehow managed to survive the war of the foolish. A fight that was so ruthless that all participants ended up dying. Causing the demise of each other, leaving a scene of atrocity behind and a land dyed red. One that was bound to remain one of death for the times to come.

There were three whole armies participating in that fight. All died. All but him. Thus started his legend. The legend of the unkillable warrior. Today he is next to us, sitting, drinking, even humming.

One of our guys can't help but beg the veteran, asking for stories, asking how he managed to survive that event. Of course, we all know that he won't answer. He never does. There is no need to even consider it.

"I could."

That simple sentence he utters leaves us in disbelief. Then people around erupt in cheers. He starts chugging his alcohol. Whatever story he is about to tell probably brings back horrifying memories. Ones of slaughter and death.

"There is a reason I never told that story before."

We are at the edge of our seats, all ears.

"It is one that could bring chaos to the world."

That exaggerated!

"It is one not of courage as many of you believe but one of cowardice."

We can't help but look at each other. If that man is a coward, we are all for sure. None of us come close to his experiences.

"The reason why I survived is simple. I hid, then I begged."

What?!

"All armies were about to confront each other. The air was heavy. The men knew they would die shortly. Thousands and thousands of us. I knew too that I would likely perish, but I was ready. I was prepared to die under another man's steel. I was prepared to put my life on the line for my duty. I was prepared for death, but I wasn't prepared for what would come.

No one was. No one could have been. We started charging. Then the clash started. We fought valiantly but it would all be for naught. Not long afterward it appeared. Came this creature, a colossal one. A humongous, enormous imposing Ursa. Rushing toward us."

One of us interrupts his tale.

"Wait, are you talking about a giant bear? Aren't these creatures easy to kill with a few men?"

We all tell him to shut up but in fact, we are all wondering the same. The old-timer resumes.

"Eh, calling this one a bear…would be like calling a dragon a lizard."

*GASPS*

We urge him to continue his tale.

"It charged at us, or so we thought. At first, no one took it that seriously. That was a grave mistake. Everyone got trampled one after the others. All of his footsteps leaving aftershocks sending every one of us flying. Their bones were broken and their blood overflowing. In but a few steps he got rid of the three armies. Even I that witnessed it firsthand have trouble believing how it happened. That is one of the reasons I kept the tale for myself."

"How did you even survive!"

"*Heavy Sigh* I was quick enough to jump and dodge the shockwaves. I happened to land on the creature's back. In such a way we kept going, at an insane speed. Me trying my best to hold on. I knew should I fall, I would get trampled instantly. Just the air pressure enough to cause me pain.

Everything in our way got reduced to rubble, the trees, the hills, the mountains. Everything! I could only stare at the destruction we left in our wake. Well in its wake. I was but a spectator to it.

That is when it stopped. Then it looked straight at me. At that point, I was sure I was going to die. I could see my end in its huge eyes bigger than even my whole body. For him, I was definitely nothing but a flea.

That is when he started morphing. From his massive size to the size of a regular giant bear. He looked at me and instead of devouring me, he started speaking.

Told me about having noticed me, told me about how hiding near one's enemy was one of his teacher's technique.

Asked me what I was doing on his back, asked me how long had I been there. I was so terrified even talking was extremely hard. I forced myself to. I admitted everything. Not even daring to hide a single thing.

Started telling him about the armies. Started telling him about our mercenary group. Started telling him about my life. Hell, I told him everything I knew. Even begging for my life. His only answer was a slight tilt of the head.

Then he told me nonchalantly that he hadn't realized, that he was simply rushing to accomplish a task for his teacher, that he was excited about being trusted, that…

I couldn't hear the rest. All I could do was repeat to myself one thing over and over. He killed all of my comrades and all of my enemies… By mistake. Simply by running through. Killing all without noticing.

He didn't show any remorse either. Not the slightest. In his eyes, he had only killed some flies. That was how much our legion mattered to him. We mortals were struggling for power. We were truly foolish.

He told me that I should probably be careful. That I should leave the area since I had a weak body. That it would be a shame to kill me after all my efforts in hiding.

Me one of the strongest warriors was dubbed a weakling. It was true too. There was no scorn in it. He was simply stating the obvious.

I moved to safety and watched him leave, running again. Then I finally realized something. Such a creature had a teacher!"

"WTF! x30!"