The Setlement.

The Settlement.

     "All kingdoms, countries, empires, towns, cities, and following always end in disaster, what makes you think this will last?"

     I stared at the warrior, his grayed hair was rare, but not as uncommon as most think.

     "I haven't fought in twenty years."

     He stared at me, looking at every detail.

     "You're only twenty, give me a reason, a real one." He said.

     "I'm thirty five, not twenty, you're either forty, or thirty."

     "Fifty three." He said.

     "Hmm."

     "Ancient in most circles, I've killed many, spared only very few."

     "Your father began the last century."

     He seemed panicked for a second, he reached for a blade and I rested my hand on mine, he stopped, staring deeply into my eyes.

     "How many?"

     "Kills?"

     "No, how...how many know of me?"

     "Most know of you, as far as I know only a dozen or so know who you really are."

     "How many alive?"

     "Three to five, including both of us."

     He removed his hand from his blade, slowly, I followed his direction, but stepped back a few steps as well. He nodded.

     "You've killed recently?"

     "I kill everything, just as everyone does."

     "Not everyone...wouldn't you-"

     "NO...I WILL NOT BE TRICKED INTO SOMETHING I WISH NOT! Never again."

     "I mean no offence, nor any threat, I only offer a choice, one you can accept, or decline, and if you accept and decide to leave, then leave."

     "Kindness kill you in this world, it is the fundamental law, if you find someone, kill them, there is no other choice."

    "Or don't, I haven't killed in twenty years, I've fought in those twenty, but never killed."

     "You hire then?"

     "No, I spare, I give mercy to everyone I meet."

     "You would have died the moment kindness crossed your mind."

     "That's the old way, the old ways, we have to evolve, adapt, we can't keep killing each other, bonding, not as only mates, but as friends, an alliance, make somewhere where people can feel safe, a permanent structure, instead of a isolated hut, in the middle of nowhere, a vast city, with walls for defense, with soldiers that do fight, but also those who never have to experience the combat that the world has for thousands of years."

     "It's been attempted before, my father tried, he-"

     "He didn't, not in the way I think, he wanted only worshipers, followers, nothing more, I don't want to be a ruler, not really, I want everyone to be able to make the decisions, to be able to add their voice to the discussion, without violence, not physical anyway."

     "A fools dream."

     "And yet I haven't killed anyone-"

     "Twenty years, yes you mentioned that a few times, I don't believe you, especially since you don't seem to be a...well nevermind, you aren't-"

     "Strong, an experiment? I'm not one of your father's test subjects, but I am powerful, similar powers, but not through cruelty."

     He spread his hand to his sides, a glowing sphere appeared in each hand, he stared at me and smiled, the spheres faded and he turned away. I closed my eyes and saw everything, each speck of detail, everything, in perfect clarity. I drew the outline of a bow with a finger and it appeared in my hands, I saw him turn and stare at it, I drew the outline of an arrow with another finger, it appeared, perfectly where it needed to be, I turned away from him in a fluid and instant motion and fired the arrow, I outlined a stump and it appeared in front of the arrow, it shattered along with the arrow. I continued to see him stare at me, I turned and smiled, and finally opened my eyes, losing the clarity of my inner vision, but regaining the ability to see color.

     "And now?"

     He drew his blade in a fluid motion, I grabbed the handle and pushed it back into its sheath, I stared at him, he jumped back but I had returned to the distance before he could react. He looked down at the blade and back at me.

     "I meant no offence, but I don't want to have to kill you, or even harm you, your father did cause your condition, but not all of it, as vile as he was, his blood was slowly building up, he just accelerated it in his test subjects."

     "And you?"

     "My family started the first war."

    He blinked then shook his head.

     "Or so legends tell, I believe it was actually a rival who made the first blow, but our blood over the years did absorb the misery and death of the war, and eventually we formed into what you saw...or at least that's what we physically are, its much more complicated than simple tricks and summonings, what is your answer?"

     "To what?"

     "I could end the war, probably, but it would cost me and my blood our life."

     I sighed deeply.

     "And I'm not ready to give that up, yet, I will try it this way first."

     "Become another experiment, another bragging right?"

     "Become a citizen, retire from fighting, or continue to fight, help defend the city, while its building, you'll live a few hundred more years, if you stop fighting in the way you do, in the muck and drudgery of the world, if you help me in my goal, I'll teach you how to unlock your powers."

     "Unlock, I'm at my limit."

     "You can see everything for miles on end if concentration is enough, with your bodies eyes closed?"

     "What?"

     "I can see across half the planet if I concentrate, you wouldn't reach that much, not without...well, you wouldn't, I think also...well, you can become more powerful, plus it would distance yourself from your father, unlocking the true potential, instead of the forced."

     "Why?"

     "If you help protect the city that will be payment enough."

     He stared at me, he seemed to try to pry secrets out of me with his gaze, I met it unflinching.

     "And you wish for me to give up killing?"

     "Could you...or...I'd rather people live than die yes, but if they threaten the city, and even after a warning still threaten it, then I don't mind killing."

     "And protect you?"

     "Hmm? Oh, no I can take care of myself."

     "Blood oath, slave collar, other method?"

     "Never, try it for a month, week, hell even a day, if you don't like it, then leave, no questions asked, nothing in return, as long as you don't try to attack me, or the city, then I'm fine."

     "Why...if you're as powerful as you seem...why even bother?"

     "My...hmm...I don't want to kill."

     "Why care for others, it makes no sense."

     "That...will have to wait for a while, defend the city, leave if you don't like it, eventually once it's complete you can chose a home, or build one yourself, retire from fighting, settle down, or continue fighting as a soldier, regardless, you will be a citizen in the city."

     "I will concede, for a week alone."

     I nodded and smiled. He drew his weapon, I shook my head.

     "I'm assuming people are behind me, if so and they're wearing little protection, then they're friends, they're helping build the city."

     "Your limited?"

     "Limited?"

     "You created objections from nothing, you can't just, wave and have a wall appear?"

     "I could, but where would the fun in that be?"

     "You wouldn't need guards."

     "Of course I would, as you know everyone who has tired to build a settlement has failed, every wall falls, no matter how much time is put into it, unless it's really worked on, and defended, and even then it could still be breached, soldiers and guards defending the city, that will be the true and essential defense."

     "A week, one alone."

     "I agree."

     "Fine...fine then...I will leave early if you try to enslave me."

     "I have no plans for slavery, of any kind, thank you, even if you leave, even if you leave in an hour, every moment here is a relief...you have quite a bit of clogged power...if you...when you leave, or decide to stay, either way I will give you something that will help you unlock your power, or I'll guide you through it, if you stay...I need to coordinate with the builders now, defend us, the river gives some defense, but your powers will prove useful."

     "If I seen a shred of deception I will kill you and everyone here."

     "I understand the point."

     "I couldn't though?"

     "You'd have better luck draining the ocean of liquid, but the point is clear, and I will honor my promises, I promise."

     He drew his blade and turned his back to me. I turned and walked over to the group of builders, and planners and smiled.

Author's Note

I am once again drunk while writing this, so expect mistakes, I'm also tired, so yet another reason, any suggestion, or questions, or comments, are welcomed.