245 Heart-to-Heart with Daruun (1/2)

\”Just as everybody does he had gone through countless cycles in his life of good times and bad times. Of emotional highs and emotional lows. At that particular moment, he was at what he would call his greatest emotional low…

\”Throughout most of his life, this man had sacrificed everything he had to finally gain this power. But now he had no one and no thing to share it with…\”

An even longer pause took place, so long that Jack interjected, \”And what does this have to do with me? I'm not after having the greatest power, and I'm not willing to give up everything and anything for it if I had the chance.\”

\”Sorry, I was caught up in an afterthought but I will continue.\” Daruun raised his hand as if not to worry.

\”This man wasn't always like that either. In the beginning he was much like you. He wanted to enjoy life to the fullest alongside his love. Sure he sought power, but not by unconventional or self-destructive means. The man was happy to be strong with no need to be the strongest.

\”But one day that changed. Unbeknownst to him, his most cherished love was murdered. She was tortured… Mutilated… Burned… Along with his growing family… And he had no clue. He was away on a business trip as trading was his expertise at the time. During his weeklong journey, his family was hunted and removed from existence without his knowing. When he got back… The man broke…

\”The culprits didn't try to hide anything. They left behind a symbol, a crest. It was the crest of a guild that the man had refused to do business with because of the unjust stories that he had heard of them…\”

Taking a moment to swallow some saliva caught in his throat, Daruun frowned as he looked off into the distance. \”That man did nothing wrong, in fact, he was absolutely in the right to avoid the evil that guild took part in. He then tracked those people and made sure to pay a visit to that guild leader. Any guesses as to what happened then?\”

Jack stared at Daruun who didn't meet his gaze. \”He killed them all in a rage, I'm guessing.\”

\”No… He was almost killed because he was too weak. He had always considered himself strong until he was threatened and confronted by those at the top of the world, who are willing to do anything on a whim so long as they desire it. And if they don't have their way, then they'll only make things worse.\”

\”That's a good question. I wonder how the old Jack would feel about that, the Jack that became the Achievement Junkie, one of the most accomplished and feared ancient heroes?\”

\”It was just a game back then. If it were--\”

\”It may have been a game but you had the same ideals when you first arrived here, remember? Or have you allowed your own fear to keep you from acting how you really wish?\” stated Daruun while finally looking back at Jack.

The young hero was glaring at the god but Jack felt tongue-tied when he felt the brokenness behind Daruun's eyes.

Daruun eventually continued, \”I'm not trying to say that you should abandon your emotions. What I want you to realize is that sometimes you'll have to act against your emotions to get what you really want the end. Nothing will ever work out exactly how you wish. It's your choice. You can fight for what you want or you can coast through life and hope that your agenda doesn't conflict with that of someone stronger, who is willing to fight.\”

\”… There's no other option?\” asked Jack, blinking to keep water from building up in his eyes. \”Is there really no way to live without risking our lives? What's the point of living if there's no option to live how you wish without risking your loved ones? That doesn't sound like any kind of life I want…\”

\”That sounds like quite a cause to fight for. Maybe after all this, you can help the rest of the world feel such freedom.\”

\”In other words, I'll never have such freedom with my friends?\”

\”You will, but not before fighting the gods to earn it.\”

Neither of them said anything after that and since the rest of the world was frozen in time momentarily, not even the quiet crickets could join the conversation to break the silence.

\”Well, if you don't have any more questions about my story or any other questions for me, I should probably get going.\”

Jack's mouth scrunched up as he tried to think of something to say. \”Daruun…\”

\”Yes?\”