183 She Sleeps While Keith Tells a Story (2/2)
”I am here.” Keith replied, stopping three feet away from Christian. Keith didn't need to say much more. He simply waited.
”...You know....she's wrong...I'm not really calm at all about this.” Christian finally said.
”I know.”
”I have actually never been more angry in my entire life. I want to find the person responsible and tear him to pieces, if I can.” Christian growled as he turned his back to the wall, and slid down it until he was sitting on the floor, despondent.
”This entire mess is all my idiotic fault. This spot, right here, is for the stupidest fool loser in history.”
Keith thought for a moment, then joined him on the ground, groaning a bit as he sat down beside the prince. After settling himself down comfortable enough, he looked at the floor with Christian as well.
”What are you doing?” Christian finally asked.
”Well, you said this spot was for the stupidest fool in history. And...after thinking about it, I figured my place is here as well.” Keith said as a matter of fact.
”You? You learned perfect sword form in a year. You became a general; AND you retired with one of the greatest honors of mankind. You've managed to help me keep my head on my shoulders, I don't recall how many times. What part of that story makes you a fool loser?” Christian asked bitterly.
Keith glanced over at Christian. ”I never did tell you exactly where I was from, did I?” he mused, glancing to his left at the light coming from the hall of colorful glowing crystals.
”In that case, let this fool loser inform you of just how much of a loser he is.” Keith barked a bitter laugh.
”Though I can't quite tell how accurately the records are, the people in my village claimed they were descended from the lineage of Ekkinshire's founding king. Naturally, they told us stories, and encouraged us to grow big and strong.” Kevin sneered.
”And I was the biggest and strongest lad in the entire village. Everyone expected me to become to person who would be the great hero leading everyone to victory. I was the one they expected to pull the sword out of the stone.”
”You? Well, what happened?” Christian asked.
”Someone else picked it up first. We were at war, at the time. I was just a lad of twelve years old when I ran off to try my hand at it, but the lad just in front of me pulled it out like a knife cutting through butter.”
”Ouch.”
”Indeed. I was furious at the time.” Kevin chuckled. ”I was not convinced that I was any less of a hero than that boy in front of me. So I was determined to prove it. I would prove on the battlefield that I was a better hero than he could ever be.”
”Well, what happened?” Christian asked.
”I became the General. Not the Hero, just the General. And then the war ended. When we returned, I asked the Hero a favor, to return the sword into the stone so that I could try my hand...but....” Keith sighed.
”It wouldn't budge. Can you imagine that? All my life, I thought I was meant to be the hero, and that just hit the nail in the coffin. They were all mistaken, and I was never meant to be one in the first place. So, I did what I thought was for the best. I retired. And the Hero went home.”
”Wait, didn't the hero die in battle against the previous demon lord?” Christian asked.
”He disappeared right in front of my face, lad. How else do you think the sword returned to the stone? You think a deity magicked it over?” Keith chuckled.
”Yes...He went home, as did I...”
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