Sea Calander 1520
Syrup village.
The evening unfurled on a lonesome shore, where waves were caressing the sand in soft, endless rhythm and the air was tinged with the golden glow of a sinking sun.
Tall grass fields swaying with the breeze, their slender blades casting long shadows that rippled across the earth.
Scattered trees stood guard, their silhouettes etched against the sky—each branch outlined in dusky orange as day gave way to twilight.
Above, the horizon blured into gentle hues of purple and blue, while the lonely expanse whisperd a quiet invitation: to pause and simply listen to the harmony of wind, water, and the fading light.
Ash standing near a lonesome tall tree gazed down on the etheral mesmerizing beauty of 'Rider' he summoned with the help of system.
It has been over an hour since the summoning -
As the time slipped away within every breath Rider finally spoke- soft, and addictive sound which was tinged with curiosity and questions-
"So - as you said this is not the world in which the holy grail war unfurls - and this is not a world where I and the rest of knights and warriors fought in the war ?"
"Moreover,even YOU are not from this world - my...my.. isn't this crazy ? Hehe "
She giggled and said looking into deep in eyes of Ash to get any type of hint about the information.
Ash snorted finally out of his reverie for rider.
"Quite the detective for a beauty like you eh ?"
He looked over the horizon where the sun was dying over the calm seas and said whistfully-
" Well,I can't blame you for that now .....can I ?"
"Hahaha- The thing is rider , even I don't know how I got in this world or how I got attached to a system that helps me grow ."
A breath.
" But - the thing I know is that, in my last life I died . And I died a very pathetic death- I was a orphan in my previous life too you know -....I used to work part time jobs to earn a keep for myself and to pay the tution for my High school."
"When I finally reached my last year into my highschool carrier ,.....I ....was happy , that - After the high school days I will finally have more options to get a better life -...I would have gotten a chance to create a name for myself. To etch my name in history for doing something so grand, that even an orphan like me would have been remembered by people for centuries."
He paused for a breath and chuckled while the evening air kissed his face-
"Haha- oh but the irony !one day when I was finally done with my exams, with quite a satisfying results for myself. ....- I .....came across a situation,.... A child from the orphanage I grew up, barely 7 years old was trying to pick up a colourful Ball from the road ."
Rider remained silent and patient to listen what the man infront of him was going to say next -
Ash continued after a seconds pause.
"It was quiet surreal to see him gigling and running for the ball , as even I once wanted those things but there was no one to provide -"
He chuckled and continued-
" Hahaha - oh well, anyways ! The kid was picking up the ball but he was unaware of the incoming danger - 'A Truck ' loaded heavily - it would have been impossible to stop that thing with the weight and speed it was moving "
A breath-
" At that moment something stirred ....a emotion I never knew existed within me-
My legs moved on their own and before I knew - I was moving, running towards the kid - everything slowed down .....the moment I reached the kid, I barely had a second or two left before the truck would have gotten to us"
He paused for a second then continued
" The only thing in my mind was to save the kid . Even knowing I had a future ,a dream,a goal to fulfill - I somehow..... didn't care about anything at all."
" Before the truck could reach us - I pushed him with all the strength I had and then - a loud 'Bam' and silence ....the last thing I saw was the shocked and trembling kid I pushed outside the way of truck."
" Then silence took over - my vison blanked , cold - darkness , eternal, for I don't even remember how long I was there may be a minute ?an year ? .....or maybe and eternity? .....I ... don't remember. "
" I had no skin to feel , no limbs to move , no nose to breathe, no ears ....to listen , no eyes to see .....I was lonely . I was ....alone ? It was suffocating...But I did not gave up , I endured ! .....for eternity for how long I could remember in that cold place."
"Finally when I was on verge of breaking .....I saw a small sparkling bright light . "
" Like a moth in darkness- even though I did not had eyes , I saw it ! "
"Even though I did not had skin .....I felt the heat radiating from the twinkling light in that cold darkness. "
" Then without thinking - I moved ....even if I did not had any limbs , I ran - to catch that sparkle of light before it would have faded away, for all the eternity I could think off."
" I ran - kept running.....for I don't even remember how long ."
"Finally after what felt like eternity...the sparkle grew bigger slowly - but .....certainly. Finally when I reached near it the winds howled into my ears as a spinning vortex of shimmering lights appeared into my view ."
" I knew it might be the end of my life - or what was remaining of me at that time ...but !"
"The possibility of returning on earth and living once more was overwhelming then the fear of death !"
" I ran and jumped into the vortex .... uncertain of results - It ....felt like my soul was being ripped apart ."
" The vortex was trying to rip my soul into nothing ! However the will of living within my soul was far greater then anything that even death itself had to bow and acknowledge my will."
Ash smirked and said -
" Telling this myself feels crazy .... however it is what it is . The next thing I knew was that I was in a body of 13 year old srawny and weak kid in this world with a system attached -"
" and then then I decided that no matter what happens even if I have to go to the end of the world I would carve my name as a Legend in this world !"
Ash paused for a breath and said with a soft smile -
" And this.....is how , The legend of Ashborn was born into the world ! "
Ash looked into the visor covering the eyes of rider and spoke softly -
" And the rest of the story you already know- about the crew , this world, and about the system and how I somehow got you into this messed up world "
Rider's eyes softened beneath the visor with realisation,as their was respect for Ash in her eyes because she could tell he was not lying ,not even a single word.
" Hnm...indeed , so what happens now ? I can feel that we are somehow bonded with eachother , and if you died .....I would die as well."
She paused for a second and continued -
"Moreover does that mean ....I ..... don't have to fight for in the holy grail war as it doesn't exist in this world ? "
Ash's eyes softened, he smiled and said-
" You already know about how rotten this world is - I would say it is worse then what we could even imagine . And regarding you fighting for holy grail war ....no you don't have to fight as it does not exist in this world"
Rider looked down uncertain , as she spoke softly vernable -
"...Then.....what am I supposed to.... do...in this world ? "
Ash raised an hand hesistent an uncertain,but did not backed down as he put his hand on Rider's head ' pat - pat'- he patted her head slowly as rider looked up with curiosity but didn't push away and asked-
"What are you doing ? ....I am not ....a child you know ?"
Ash chuckled playfully and said-
" My....how sinful. I wouldn't call a beautiful lady like you a child ."
Rider frowned
" Then what are you doing- "
Before she could complete her sentence Ash's voice cut through the air with calm confidence -
"You see Rider - There's an ancient legend ,from where I came from — the tale of Icarus and the sun. "
Rider scowled curios- " A legend ? "
Ash smiled finally taking his hand off from Rider's head-
" Yes , A legend about -A boy who defied the sky itself, soaring on wings his father built."
"But the boy flew too high, too close to the burning sun. "
"The wax holding his wings together melted, and he fell — down, down into the sea, never to rise again.His father, Daedalus, could not save him."
He paused for a moment, His smile turning wistful.
"Many people call it a cautionary tale — a warning against ambition, against reaching too far, too fast. "
"But you know... I never saw it that way. I like to believe Icarus knew exactly what he was doing."
" That in that fleeting moment, when sunlight kissed his face and the wind screamed in his ears, he found something no one else ever would — a purpose so brilliant, so impossible, it was worth falling for."
Rider's mouth parted slightly, awed by the beauty of the story. But then she giggled-
" Quite motivational aren't we ?"
Ash smirked as he slowly took off the visor from Rider's face-
She tensed for a moment but allowed with a caution of uncertainty and a fleeting moment of trust ?
Ash looked in her purple bright shining eyes and said-
" Find a purpose rider - This world is vast beyond what we can even imagine . Travel the world find something that would give you a glimpse of what you truly desire . Even if the world stands against you fight it , and if you feel that you can't win against the world - Remeber that YOU are Bonded with Ashborn ! And He doesn't fear anyone. "
Rider's eyes widened for a second - a lone tear trailing down her cheek shimmering in the last of sunrays before the quiet night.
" Find a purpose....and ....live for myself ?"
She looked like she would finally found something she never had in her life .
Ash smiled softly brushing the trailing tear off her cheek and said-
" Cast away your old identity - live anew - find purpose enjoy the beauty of the world ....this might be a cruel world but it is not ugly ,on the contrary it has beauty beyond human comprehension -"
Rider smiled and asked in a soft voice-
" If I am going to cast away my name and identity I would need a new one don't I ? Give me one !"
She demanded.
Ash was taken aback by the sudden request but recovered soon and said.
" Very vell you would be called Medusa from now on - "
Rider asked curios .
"Medusa ?"
Ash smiled and continued -
" Medusa is a famous figure from Greek mythology, known as the only mortal among the monstrous Gorgons, and is easily recognized by her hair of living snakes and a gaze that could turn anyone to stone. According to myth, she was so beautiful that even gods admired her ."
He paused as he looked over the horizon and said-
" They say she was cursed by the goddess Athena and was later killed by hero perseus when she was sleeping . Even her severed head and her body was turned into weapons that was feared among the gods."
He paused and then continued -
"They say she was cursed but you know what I think- she was but a mortal who was shining so brilliant that even heaven trembled and gods feared her ! I admire her for defying the gods themselves."
He looked into Rider's eyes and said with pride and certainity -
" Become my sword rider , my Medusa - that would defy everyone who tries to claim that they are better then you. Give me your loyalty and I'll make sure that you will become the star that would be feared across all over the mortal world and the heavens itself ! "
When he said that a burst of conqueror's was released from him- the sea trembled in his wake the grass and the trees swayed violently his conqueror's represented pride and certainity that of the kings themselves.
Seeing this rider was stunned but soon she giggled playfully and said-
" ...my ...my , never thought I would get a proposal to be a cursed women for someone,hnmm ?"
Ash was embarrassed by all the things he said but he ignored everything and asked -
" So what is your answer rider ?"
Rider paused for few seconds and looked deep in Ash's eyes finding no malice but only promise-
" Very vell Ash - I Medusa - would give you my eternal loyalty and will become your sword that will make the heavens tremble."
__________to be continued _______