10I still don't know wether I should make Nagisa or Rio the main character. Meeeh.
The man ran. Away from the bloodshed. Away from his lost battle.
He ran away from the fatality that should have been his fate. Away from the child's lifeless mother.
Her last words followed him. They were his task - His last order. His reason to cast away his pride, and desert the battlefield. His reason to live, for they spared him from death.
Private, please make sure that she won't have to experience the gruesome claws of death. Keep her alive. Promise me that you'll give her a chance at growing up.
Rio. It's her name.
Please.
She had whispered those words as she was drawing her last breaths, smiling, even though her fearful blue eyes had betrayed that oh-so-slight upturn of her lips.
And he had taken those words to his heart.
He had run, relentlessly, for a time much longer than he had anticipated. He couldn't go back. Not as the only survivor. So he ran. He ran, and he hid, and he ran again. Sometimes, he shortly rested, but never for long, and only to pick himself up to run away even farther. His only belongings were those he had been given by his superiors, preceding their end. Two daggers - And a girl.
Feeding the life he hold in his hands had been a hard task, but he pulled through.
Remembering those words once more, even though he had never forgotten them, he looked down at the small bundle he carried in his arms. It looked back at him, with those big, sea blue eyes that reminded him of her mother. And for the first time in multiple weeks, since the grim battle he had fought, he smiled.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The secluded town was built on a low sloped hillside, hidden from curious views by a huge and dense forest, completely surrounding that small patch of civilization. A gravel-made path wound itself through the town, disappearing into the woods. It was barely wide enough for a horse and a cart to be able to pass, yet it was the towns only possibility of access. It entered the village under a small arc of stone, the latter welcoming visitors and residents alike. Adventuring itself deeper in, it connected the few houses there were, smallish buildings, built with wood and stone and sweat and tears.* Others, its size exceeding the previous ones, could be identified as public: There was a school, with its classrooms and its playground. There was a church, displaying a cross in all its wooden glory. There was a bakery, with it's ovens that had yet to be lit. Our path connected all those, and ended on the other side of the town, where a cliff marked a rupture between the continuous flow of the forest that continued underneath. Another feature of the idyllic place was the small stream of the clearest water that peacefully flowed next to the town, also interrupted only by the cliff, from where on it formed a beautiful waterfall splashing on the rocks before advancing on its journey.
The war hadn't invaded this area yet, as the bright colors of green and blue revealed signs of brimming life. A few patches of the whitest snow were still splattered throughout the meadow, for the winter hadn't been vanquished by its counterpart. It seemed quiet, but at the same time, birds sung the hymn of their people and the rustling of the brushes indicated an endless flow of animalistic communication. Occasionally, long ears, belonging to the rabbit and its kind, would peek out above the straws of juicy grass, accompanied by the daily quest of finding nurrition for the spawn in need of protection. Lying on the border of the village's well? A stray cat, licking clean its black and white striped paws, whilst the sun could be seen hoisting itself up, far up into the cloudless sky.
Unknown to the villagers, it was this very town that the man stumbled upon. It was still early in the morning. Rays of light were already covering the houses' roofs, but everything else was dormant, and would still be for a few hours. He let his weary gaze wander over his surroundings, struck by awe at the sight that was devoid of chaos and oh so different from the hateful and permanent destruction of war. As tired as he was, he knew. He knew that this was to be the future for the small and frail girl. He knew that this was to be his final destination, the one he seeked during all this time of running.
Wandering on the paths belonging to the town that had yet to wake, the man was lost in his thoughts. He thought about the place to choose for the girl to live in, for he couldn't take care of her much longer. He thought about the place to choose for him to end in, for he couldn't take care of himself much longer. He thought about the things that could have been, and those that could not. He thought about life, but mainly about death.
Spotting the church-like building that sat atop of the cliff, bound to crumble down in a few centuries when the steady ground underneath would finally give in, he took his decision. He walked there, slowly, peacefully, as if to savour and cherish this moment to its fullest extent. Then, sharing a look with the bundle that grew so much bigger since its first appearance, he bid her goodbye. He planted a quick kiss on the forehead of the being he had grown attached to, and gently placed it on the doorstep before the house. Along with the two precious daggers he had kept. And along with a note, on which was simply written Rio. Once again, he retreated, hiding himself behind some plants, as he wished to draw out the moment of true goodbye as long as possible. He waited, patiently. He waited, ignoring the lone tear that was sliding down his worn out face.
Some time passed, and a priest showed himself on the same doorstep the girl was laying on, in a deep and carefree slumber. At first, the priest frowned, being confused, waiting for his god to answer the unspoken question. Then, he let hear a soft sigh, before slightly smiling. He picked up the bundle, and if close enough, he could have been heard saying Welcome home, little one.
The man observed, and saw. He was satisfied with the events that were unfolding before his eyes, so he quietly disappeared from the town, on trained feet, venturing deep into the forest. He looked at the sky, eyes twinkling, face smiling. Finally, he thought. Goodbye, he thought. Then, a salute, only seconds before he pierced his aching heart with the pointy, unidentified object made of steel that he had picked up along the way. His body fell on the forest floor with a soft thump, and that was the last that was to be heard of him.
This dude's note
Welp, here's another shitty chapter I just wrote.
I hope it's somewhat readable at least.
It could use a shitton more work, but I really shouldn't be spending time on this considering that I have college applications to write...
Also, this will be the end of the prologue. I don't know if I'll continue the story chronologically, in the middle, or at the end, but Ill figure that out another time. (Proceeding in the middle would explain some of the context, like the war. But I'd have to go back with flashbacks and all. Considering how I've never written anything before, I'm not sure if I'll be able to properly manage those. Proceeding at the beginning would also make sense, but then you guys wouldn't know what's happening for quite some time. I mean, obviously it depends on how I write it, but I don't have a lot of ideas for that now.)
I'm also not completely sure about the characters yet. I mean, it's AU and I won't be using OCs, but I can't decide on what character fits the roles I have the best.
Wanted to say a lot more in here, but, oh well. Another time. I'll update this chapter and the last one at least one more time though.
(Uwaahh I suck at descriptions. I shall thank thou, mighty Thesaurus, for thy relentless effort of aiding me to find my way into the english language.
*Holy fuck the urge to include a Rammstein quote in here. THE STRUGGLE.)
Anyway, as I said, sorry for publishing something that's not even halfway done. I'd still really love to hear your feedback though, in case you have some :)
Edit: Huh, I just updated this chapter with really small changes and it said that I published a new chapter. Defuq. I really have no clue what I'm doing.