Epitome of a Hero

I should have

“Can you clean the backyard, kid? They didn’t let me off this weekend,” Dad asked sounding so exasperated.

“Oh sure,” I answered while I washed the dishes. Well it’ll be nice to stay outside this morning.

Dad left and I stayed inside the house to clean it first and as I did, I remembered the application form for the taekwondo club. Will I be able to do that?

I sighed, sweeping the smooth floor, obtaining dust particles on the dust pan.

What’s the deal with that Michael anyway?

His eyes reminded me of Duke… but he looks dead inside… what might he be thinking?

“Haven’t you encountered that guy before, Triz?”

I concentrated, trying to think harder so I search her memories of whatever encounter there was with Michael. There is… but I can’t see it clearly.

I sighed I defeat and just finished the chores inside the house before I moved on to the backyard. The backyard was wide and cleared, the flowers there were also countable and in disarray.

“The palace garden was large…” I tried imagining what it would like if the fences can be filled with flowers. I landed the fist on my other palm as I thought about the great idea. “Maybe I could ask Dad to buy me some flower sprouts.”

I tied my hair up and forgot that it was short so I tied it in a little ponytail. I kinda of miss my hair…

But when I have my hair back in my world, I did wish for a different one. Funny how we longed for what we don’t possess and miss the ones we don’t have anymore. I do think that it’s the part of our humanly nature, to be dissatisfied… But some may be able to break free from that curse, like Siddharta Gatuma Buddha, Socrates and---

I laughed, stopping my overflowing thoughts.

“I think the Philosophy class is getting through my mind too much.”

And so I began holding the broom, sweeping the leaves and all the other dirt on the ground. While I did, it took me back to the memory of when I held my sword.

I removed the broom from its handle and then closed my eyes, seeing myself to what I really was… a warrior.

With the stance before I take off the sword from its sheath, I bent one knee and kept my hand near my swords' handle. Gripping it lightly, ready to land a move on the incoming enemy.

I breathe… and then I moved my feet, dancing the art of my blade, feeling my feet that stomps down and slides at the soft grasses. With every swing of the stick I knew I held, I can hear the swing of a sharp blade that cuts through thin air and as the wind swooped in on my ears, the moment took me back that time, when Uncle Lumiere trained me.

****

“Harden your arms!”

He pinched the muscle on my arms to see if it was hard enough to master a swing on my sword. I was just a kid back then, but I wanted this and I loved who I am when I began training.

I tightened my grip on the wooden sword and swung it harder than before, many times than before. As I did, Uncle Lumiere circled around me, making sure that I do the proper thing, the perfect stance.

“The art of the sword cannot be mastered by just the strength of the body, but the will of the mind… So rest your face Damian… Do not frown as you hold your blade and let your sword be the extension of your hand…”

That time, I realized that the reason why my hand felt so heavy while swinging a sword was because I was anguished. I cut down the wind heavily because I was mad at everything, my brows furrows every I train because I am burdened with the things that happened to me.

So slowly, I took Uncle’s advice and trained by my own whenever my soul is peaceful. Then and there, beside the river where all I could here was the gushing water and the singing birds, the sword I held never felt like an anvil anymore. It was just like I was swinging my arm, like I was dancing with myself by the river bend.

By that time I mastered swordsmanship, I was already training side by side with Duke. I had my first blade forged from the armory and I was already allowed to s***h training dummies and practice targets.

“Duel with me, Damian,” Duke frowned at me and I was so clueless that I only nodded at him.

That was the first thing that Duke ever said to me since I never have any intention of talking to him either. When he asked for a fight, he threw a wooden stick at me and I caught it and we began.

In a flash we moved, but I immediately found an opening for offense when I saw him do the wrong footwork. I mercilessly hit his side, but I didn’t use a full force. It still hurt him though.

That was my first win and I should have been happy but I wasn’t. Because all I can think about that time was that I needed more improvement.

After that duel, Duke began to ask me for more duels, all because he also cannot accept defeat since he was the one who trained first.

Defeat by defeat, Duke just kept on going and his will made me feel a sense of admiration. After he asked me why and how do I keep defeating him, I told him that it was just training so he would stop bothering me. I just started walking away after that even though I knew that I wanted to talk more.

If I keep people around me and care for them just like what I did for Julla and for my own father, it will bring me down.

Being with me is a curse and I, alone is enough.

“I see you have been training with Duke,” Uncle Lumiere started me by talking in the middle of nowhere. It looked like he was watching us often without any of us noticing.

“He just asked for a duel,” I answered and Uncle smiled.

“How did it go?”

“I won,” I said briefly. He knew that already though.

“It seemed like you also won his heart.” He said seriously and I just frowned at him before shaking my head.

Uncle Lumiere laughed hardly after that and gave the most genuine smile I’ve seen after Julla’s.

“You know, kid. You’ll be with someone eventually. You can never go alone in a world like this. The world is cruel but the beauty comes out from it once you see its light. And that light will shine from those who held your hand whilst you were in the darkness.”

Tears began escaping from my closed eyes while I swung the stick one more time. My knees began to weaken, causing me to fall of the ground, bringing me back to where I was right now--- at Tricia’s backyard.

I sucked my lips in to stop it from shaking and bit it lightly to suppress an incoming whimper. I opened my eyes and the wind blew on my face, drying the tears that rolled down my cheeks.

If only my life had been different from what it was --- I could have embraced you tight and thanked you Uncle Lumiere.

“I shouldn’t have just thrown your opinion and walked away…”

I whispered causing my tears to come out and flow once again.