Jean Parolette

[Flashback]

The World is a harsh place, I learned that early in my childhood, and I live with that fact every day of my life.

Evil runs rampant, you just don't see it, hear it, or even notice it until it slaps you in the face.

I wish everything was how it used to be, ages ago.

During the Amicable Age, which was the very start of creation, the Alvamon made the Elohim, and us mortals into peaceful creatures that couldn't comprehend evil, or even commit it.

But that changed...

Somehow the Elohim became wicked, and cruel, acquiring egos that would alter the course of history forever. Evil was brought into this world by divinities that were supposed to be good, and loving.

And now we have to live with that...

All of us.

Humans, fairies, giants, elves, and countless more.

The Five Legendary Heroes may have sealed away the Elohim during the Legendary Age, but the influence of the corrupted divine still remains, and that will not change.

No matter what you do.

At least, that's what I thought at first...

But I've found something that could change all of that.

It's the only weapon that not even the Omnipotent Alvamon of Yggdrasil can wield.

"You seek Avalon, the Mythical Blade of Unity? Pffft, Bwa ha ha!"

The old merchant laughed at me when I told him my goal.

He took me as some sort of joke.

To be honest, I couldn't blame him, I understood why he would laugh.

"At least show some admiration, old man..."

"Apologies." The bearded old man cleared his throat, looking at me with sincerity. "My boy, Jean, you seek an impossible goal, you have to be realistic; I understand your reasoning for wanting to obtain such a powerful artifact, but not even the heroes of our age can do such a thing... including your father."

"...Yeah, I heard that way too many times from before." Crossing my arms, I was visibly displeased. "But my father was better than those heroes, the world just doesn't know it yet. His legend will remain superior in our village over the five champions of Yggdrasil. If my father did something that not even the Elohim could do, then why can't I? I'm his son."

The merchant nodded his head, reaching for the bag atop his steed, and pulling out a vial.

"Take this with you."

He offered me the vial that harbored some sort of pink liquid.

"What is this?" I took it, staring at the contents inside.

"It's an elixir I picked up from the Lands hidden in the Clouds."

I widened my eyes, looking at the old man with awe.

"You traveled to the Sky Islands by yourself?"

He nodded, boastful as ever.

"Goddamn right I did! I wasn't gonna let a few Wyverns stop me from chasing my goal to trade with the fairies! Kuhahaha! You wouldn't believe their faces when they saw a human walk on the clouds!"

"That's... amazing! You really are something, Archibald."

He smirked at my comment.

"Use it—the potion I gave you is from the blood of the Gods—crafted from their essence."

"Wait, huh?! The what?!"

Baffled, I gazed upon the vial in doubt, wondering if I should give it back, or take it for myself.

"You heard it right. I was saving this for the future, but I don't need it, my goal in life is already complete as a merchant. I proved to the world that a human can trade with the fairies! My title as merchant has skyrocketed across Yggdrasil, and even the legendary heroes honor me for my commendable feat." Crossing his arms, Archibald was smug as ever. "Since I'm an old man, I'll be passing away soon, that's just how life is, so I'm giving you the elixir, to use it for good, my boy..."

"Archibald... are you sure? They say if you drink the blood of the gods, you'll awaken with some mysterious power. What if you have the power to revive the dead, so you can see your daughter again?" I asked, daunted as ever.

"Jean..."

He looked at me, grim in his expression.

"If you drink the elixir, you may have the chance to do what your father couldn't, and I'm giving you that chance."

"..."

I couldn't speak.

I only stared at the old man, before glancing at the elixir in my hand.

"If you obtain Avalon, then you can change the world, isn't that what you want?"

"It is." I nodded. "More than ever."

"Then chase that goal, no matter how impossible it may be."

Smirking, I clenched the vial in my hand.

"You're confusing me, old man, you told me to think realistic, and now you wanna help me?"

"Pwa haha! Yeah, I did say that, but it won't stop me from helping you, even if this goal you're trying to reach is impossible. I've always been with you since a little boy."

"Thank you so much, Archibald!" I showed my appreciation by hugging the old man as he hugged me back.

"Don't only thank me, but thank everyone that's here, Jean. It takes a village to raise a child so they can learn right from wrong, and we were there for you in the beginning. All of Wyvernwood."

+

[Present]

Standing atop a roof in the midst of the darkness, Jean gazed upon the village. Wearing a t-shirt, and jeans, he looked average, except for his grim expression.

Filled with hatred, he looked down upon the world, hating the evil that corrupts it.

"If evil can take my mother and father, then I have to cleanse the problem before someone else suffers the same pain that I have." Looking down, saddened, Jean clenched his fist. "Dad, please guide me in the right direction, even if your spirit has to leave Valhalla... I want to make this world better, just like you."

"I'm assuming you heard our conversation."

Out of nowhere, a deep, feminine, and monotone voice breached the darkness. Jean glanced to his side, noticing a figure standing a few meters away, atop the roof.

She appeared relatively small, but her voice contradicted her appearance...

"Are you here to take my life as well? Working with those thugs?"

"No, I'm the mage that was in the bar."

"Oh, I see..." Jean closed his eyes, huffing a sigh. "So you're that girl who was talking to Gunavoe, I presume."

"Mm." Grimhild nodded. "It seems you know of him, what's your motive?"

"My... motive?"

"You bought him a drink, usually that's a sign of respect, but I feel that's not the case."

"It has nothing to do with you, hence why I didn't buy you anything."

"Are you planning to kill him?" Asked Grimhild.

Jean slowly turned around, facing the witch.

"And what if I am?"

"You'll be punished by me."

The two of them faced each other. Jean was frowning while Grimhild was emotionless; but despite the nonexistent expression, anger was hidden behind her visage.

"I wanted him to know my surname, that's why I bought him that drink. I wanted him to remember what he did to my mother!" Looking away, ashamed, he muttered, "But that drunken bastard didn't even notice my last name..."

"...Your mother?" Grimhild lifted her brows.

"You don't know Gunavoe like I do! He's been living here for years, and his actions are always overlooked, just because he's some former General of Lancelot."

"If what you say is true, then do you have any proof?"

"..."

Jean was quiet, twitching in his eye.

"I don't, but he's the one who's wearing my mother's necklace. He's been a drunk ever since I known him, causing trouble around Wyvernwood, and even bringing a fire elemental here, nearly burning this place down." Jean took a step forward, pulling out two knives from his belt. "He's nothing but bad news, and the people of Wyvernwood want him gone while I want revenge."

"A path to revenge will only bring more chaos, and you'll be no better than him if what you say is true."

"Sometimes to beat a monster... you must become one yourself."

"And who taught you that flawed logic?"

"Life."

Grimhild could only stare, realizing he was a nice young man, but lost on the wrong path through life.

"Life teaches you many things, it's a learning lesson for each one of us, but it also teaches you how to be strong." Grimhild approached him, holding her staff low in hand. "It's strong to forgive, but weak to avenge."

"I don't want to hear it... you don't even know me!"

"And you don't even know if he's the right man. You're only letting anger blind you."

"Haaaahh!"

Attacking, Jean hurtled forward, jabbing his knife through the mage's chest, rupturing her heart.

"If you're gonna side with him, then you're no better."

Grimhild felt her heart give out, shutting down her bodily functions.

Stumbling backward, her vision grew weary, until she fell, lifeless on the rooftop.

Jean watched her in pity, looking at the bloody knife in his hand, and gripping it with frustration.

"My father's first mistake was trying to save the world as a human, but that's not how it works; you have to become a monster if you wish to kill the monsters, that's just how life is..."

Turning away, he lowered his head, quivering in his lip.

"I'm sorry... but it has to be this way!"