The Last Warrior - Book of Courage.

Chapter 1. Destiny

"If your destiny is defined by others for you to follow, would it still be yours, or someone else's?"

The music began. Sounds of flutes and lutes, caressed by the soft sound of a harp playing on the background, yet marking the rhythm of the melody. It sounded like celebration, and then, the blackness of that place disappears. I find myself in a dormitory, with people gathered around me and, I can hear someone weeping, but of joy. Looking out the window, I see a carnival getting prepared. Men and women dressing themselves in colourful clothing, some as headmasters of some act, or others looking like buffoons for some king. It's a castle after all. One that has just been built, against a great mountain of ice, that reaches above the clouds. The walls of the place itself are covered in snow and ice, yet purposely. It gave it certain aura of cold, which matched the environment around. It makes the inside feel cold as well, but the arms embracing me kept me away from that.

Knights gather around the entrance, lining themselves towards the entrance to that icy castle. A man on a white horse, dressed in pelts of animals, but just albino ones. A large cape fell down to the sides from his back, armour of the greatest quality hanged from his limbs, only one or two wounds peeked on his face, yet opaque, compared to a crown filled with jewels which lied on his head. He valiantly passed in between the space left by the knights, and behind him, warriors who looked more wounded, passed through too. The people exploded with cheers and whistling. The ambience seemed all too overwhelmed by happiness and joy, and as they screamed towards the seemingly heroes of battles and their king, he stood on the podium that was raised just in the middle of that inner city of the kingdom. The man raised his voice.

"I, King Adrian Van'Sernoff, announce that our foe has fallen to our might!" More, and even louder cheering commenced. "However! We returned with haste to be present on this celebration. Word has arrived to us on the battlefield that a man, who I not only consider the bravest, boldest, and strongest, but also a dear friend-" The king paused and looked to one of the knights that arrived with him, extending his hand towards his direction. He was tall, his skin rather pale, and his hair pitch black, yet his face was a white space. Perhaps around his early thirties, and couldn't look more confused about what was the king saying, or as to why they were celebrating. "-just became, a father." The king smiled to him, and the knight stumbled back in shock. "Your wife is waiting for you at your chambers. I would suggest you that you make haste. Hm?" The knight was frozen in place, and shook it off once the king pronounced those words. He ran towards the castle, and up the spiral stairs, with the sound of people cheering and whistling on the background. "People!" The king once more spoke out. "This is a celebration to the first-born child of our hero! I suggest you to not skimp on the wine! Let us all celebrate 'till nightfall!" With that last statement, the plaza became a place where one couldn't think clearly. The music began to play again, yet it was covered by the screams of the people, at least for some brief instants. The voices filled the place entirely, laughter, joy, kids playing around.

The knight almost broke the door open, to gaze upon what he was told. A woman, holding a child in a warming embrace, lying on a bed. Her hair was black and wavy, tied up to a ponytail. Her skin tone was pale, just as his, yet her face was, like his, a white space. Simply empty.

I look to him approaching me, and my arm raises towards his figure as he approaches towards us. He holds that small hand in his own, covering it entirely, as he rests his face against his beloved one's. He looks to me, and smiles dearly. I see his lips move, but not a single sound escapes from his mouth, nor from hers. Suddenly, I couldn't hear the music anymore...

The castle shook abruptly, and both of them looked up, wondering what could've happened. "Stay with the child, I'll-" His voice was cut by her own.

"Stay. Please..." I could see his head nod as he turned towards me and the woman, and even then, he unsheathed his blade from his waist. The sound of metal dragged through leather overpowered any other sound, and suddenly, I could hear a scream. It came from outside, from the plaza. More, and more joined up to it. The melody had ceased, the cheering stopped, the singing changed to loud cries for help, and the children were nowhere to be found.