Part Five: Dark Wars
"Trizan!!!" Saifir choked out. He was completely shocked. He quickly sheathed his sword.
"What have you become?" Trizan repeated. There were tears in the corner of his eyes. "All I taught you was for nothing. I never believed the rumors. Never. But I had to find you, just to make sure. And now I get here, and�"Trizan trailed off. He was staring at Saifir as one would stare at a demon.
"Trizan. It's not what it seems..."
"MAKE NO EXCUSES BOY!!!!" Trizan roared. "You rejected the white side, didn't you?"
"Yes, Trizan." Saifir said, his eyes downcast.
"Well, I am sorry for you."
"Don't be." Said Saifir. "It's the greatest experience in the world. I have power you could not IMAGINE!" Said Saifir.
"What is the power, without honor and integrity? You will never be trusted. Even among your own." Saifir shrugged this off, and he continued to talk excitedly.
"You could have these too, Trizan! Think of it! You and me, together again! Just like old..."
"STOP!!!! You'll not convert me, you abomination!" Trizan interrupted. He had tears streaming down his face into his beard by this time.
"Why do you weep, Trizan?" Asked Saifir, even though he suspected.
"Because I have my duties. You know this." Trizan choked, sobbing. He drew his sword slowly, and ignited it.
"Oh, God, Trizan, no." Saifir said.
"I'm sorry, Saifir. I must."
"NO! Trizan, don't!" Saifir pleaded.
"I must." Trizan repeated.
"Don't make me destroy you. You are my father! Please!" Saifir pleaded one last time.
"I'm sorry." Trizan said as he advanced. He invoked his honor shield.
"No. I'm sorry." Said Saifir in a flat tone. Everything inside him cried out to run, but he couldn't. It was as if he left he would deny some part of his destiny. He drew his sword and ignited it, the black flame spreading slowly. He invoked his own ronoh shield, and advanced to meet Trizan.
He knew this would be a hard battle. Trizan was good with a sword, and he was powerful in his honor. But, he could not channel his honor into strength, and Saifir made a conscious effort not to use ronoh as strength.
Suddenly, Trizan thrust straight at Saifir's heart. Saifir didn't expect it, and barely got his sword up to parry. The sword cut him on his arm, and it stung. Saifir quickly healed and swung his sword downward at Trizan's head, and Trizan blocked and countered with a kick to Saifir's side. Saifir thrust his sword at Trizan, and Trizan expertly blocked, coming out unharmed. It continued this way, with Saifir attacking and Trizan blocking. It seemed that Saifir would never connect with a strike. He kept trying for a slight bit of damage, but could never find an opening. Suddenly, he saw it. Trizan's sword had a very small hand guard, and Saifir slipped his sword down as Trizan was parrying. He used the blow of the strike with the hand guard to swing his sword at Trizan's chest. His sword struck home, and it hit deep. Trizan fell. Saifir dropped his sword and knelt beside him.
"Trizan. I am sorry, father."
"I know. Saifir?"
"Yes, Trizan?"
"Die with honor, young one. Die with honor."
Those were the last words he spoke. He expired, and he went to dwell with is fallen comrades and loved ones. Suddenly, inside Saifir, a great dam of emotion was burst, and he lifted Trizan and buried his face in his shoulder. He wept bitterly, right there, black tears streaming down his face. When he had no tears left, he gathered Trizan's body and used his sword to dig a crude grave in the ground, beside a large boulder. He didn't take his honor. After he buried him, he used a rock and a dagger to carve an epitaph in the boulder. Then he channeled all his ronoh into his arms and thrust Trizan's sword into the top of the boulder, then did the same with his own. He thought it a fitting tribute.
He stormed back to the village and bought a bottle of the strongest drink in the inn. He walked away, back toward the burial site. As he walked, he heard a voice behind him call out:
"Stop, Dark One!"
He turned his head slightly and saw a young Paladin standing about twenty paces behind him. He said "Young one. You are lucky you came to me at this time. I will offer you an option to death, as I do not wish to fight this day. You can leave now, and live to see another day, or you can attack an unarmed man."
"Hah!" The young one laughed. "I decline."
"So be it." Saifir said. He took the cork out of the bottle and spun. Then he hurled the bottle at the Paladin, making sure that it struck the flame of his sword. The bottle struck home, and the flames instantly spread, engulfing the young one. Saifir walked away with the young ones screams filling the air. As he passed the boulder, he bowed and said his last respects. He glanced at the epitaph one last time, leaving what little ties he had to honor behind him:
Here lies one of great honor. One of great strength. One of great love. One of great duty. And, one of great compassion. He will live forever in the hearts of the honorable. May he Rest in Peace."