chapter 5

''  yes I was in battle'' he said as he let out a heavy sigh and then continued. '' but not the kind of battle between enemies, I was in battle with my mates who had received orders from the king to assassinate me''. water filled his eyes like that of a volcano that was ready to burst open.

''But I hold no resentment against my mates, the only person I blame is myself for not taking the king's head when I had the chance to''. his voice louder than it was moments ago, the anger in him could be felt through his voice for it was like that of a bloodlust warrior on the quest for vengeance.

''My name is Kanji the best swordsman in the whole Shikoku kingdom. my forefathers were swordsmen who swore an oath to serve and protect the royal house. because of this oath, every male child of my family has to become a swordsman and serve the king till the king's death''

''I am the only child of my parents so automatically I became a property of the royal house, at age twelve my father began my swords lesson. he taught me the use and essence of a sword,'' he said as he glanced at his sword laid on the floor beside him. '' This sword belonged to my father and was passed to me after his death on the battlefield protecting the king and it is the only memory I still have of him '' he said as he picked up the sword, placing it on his lap while running his fingers through the sharp edge of the sword.

''After my father's death, my mother took me to the king's palace to hand me over to the king to show that my dead father had kept his oath that he swore. After that day, I never saw my mother again. I became the king's swordsman at the age of 15 and by the time I was 17 I was sent on missions to kill different rulers who threatened the peace of the king and the kingdom''.

kanji's mind traveled back to the events that led him to this point, each painful memory like a wipe to his soul. '' I was loyal to the king for the years'' he continued '' My blade was ever ready to defend him, my body and always never for once comprised dying in his place, but things changed the day he knew about the one woman I loved the most.''

'' Eliana'', his voice softened to a tender whisper, as if were afraid of breaking the spell she had cast over him. His eyes shone with the eyes of her beauty. '' Eliana'', he began, his eyes glinting with emotions. '' she was like a ray of sunlight in the world of darkness. Her laughter was like music to my soul, and her smile lit up the world around her. She was gentle and kind, with a heart as big as the sky. And when she looked at me, I felt as if I were standing in the canter of the universe.''

Kanji closed his eyes, his mind drifting back to the moments he had shared with Eliana, each memory a golden thread in the hidden depths. of his heart. '' Her touch.....''  he continued, his voice filled with longing and pain. '' her touch was like a balm to my soul. Gentle and soft, yet strong and sure. when she placed her hand in mine, it was like a homecoming, as if her touch had always belonged to me.'' His voice trembled. his voice cracking with emotion as he spoke.

'' she also worked in the palace as the queen's servant. We both fell in love and both planned to have kids together but the only stopping us was my duty to the king. nevertheless, she still stood by me even when she knew the consequences of  what would happen if the king found out about the both of us.''

''We both kept our secret from anyone for a year and it seemed as if everything was going to be alright forever not until one faithful night. The entire palace had all gone to sleep, the guards were at their campfire where they discussed and had their usual night talks, everything was set in favor of I and Eliana and it was sure no one was going to see us at where we always met.''

''I waited for her under the under the Oak tree,'' Kanji whispered, his eyes haunted by the memory.'' But she never came. And when I returned to my room, I saw the king....''

His voice trailed off, the pain in his words tangible and sharp. '' He had her in his clutches, his hands bruising her delicate skin. And when she cried out for help he...… he silenced her with a savage blow.''

Kanji's eyes snapped open, fists clenched with rage at the memory.'' I could not stand by and watch as the king violated her. '' kanji growled, his voice a dangerous rumble. '' I charged at him like a madman, my sword drawn. I had sworn an oath to defend the kingdom and its king, but how could I defend the king he was the one committing such a heinous crime?''

Kanji's face was like a mask of fury as he relived the desperate fight. His voice deepening with rage. '' I struck the king with all my might, bloodying his face as he had bloodied Eliana. But before I could finish him off, his guards descended upon me like a pack of rabid wolves,''

He paused, his gaze shifted to a bottle of alcohol sitting on a nearby table. His hands closed around it, and he uncorked the bottle with a sharp twist chucking it down like a man who was about to die of thirst. ''I had no choice but to flee with Eliana in my arms like a wounded bird.

'' We ran, faster than the wind itself, our feet pounding the earth in a desperate flight for survival, '' Kanji continued, his voice low and intense. '' But the king's guards were relentless, their arrows raining down on us like a hail of death.

One arrow found its mark, piercing Eliana's heart as she screamed in agony I saw her as she grasped for her last breath in my hands''. He grits his teeth, his jaw clenching with grief and fury. '' I turned, my eyes blazing with rage, and slaughtered every last one of them. But still, more came. so I ran into the  forest, fleeing from the king's guards.''

'' ever since then, I have been haunted down in each town or village I went to. I was on a run away from Kabiya kingdom after I noticed they had trailed me to where I was when I came across the child about to be devoured by a beast''. He said as he looked at the woman who was already shedding tears as a result of Kanji's heartbreaking story.