It doesn't matter why I was there,
Where the water was murky and the skies always grey,
It doesn't matter why I was standing in a place with no hope of survival
Where the brunches were all dead with the trees decayed
Because the people needed me.
I felt magic coursing through the air, subtle but real.
I saw the faces of the people I would be the "saviour" of-
The elves, the dwarves, giants, beastkin and humans.
Like every story I have read,
I saw the glowing magic circle beneath me and I was given the usual exposition.
I must save them,
Call me kind, but today I call myself foolish for taking on this task
A middle aged salary man like me with no real combat or heck even social experience was set out to save the world and I didn't even question it for a second
It was all the stories I read, all the mangas and animes that shaped my imagination
The boredom and mundaneness of everyday life must have gotten to me-
Or maybe, like the little village girl whose cat I saved during the fire told me
Maybe,
I was kind?
But all that doesn't matter to me now.
I stand in front of the doors that will lead me to the demon king
Slaying him will grant the people of this world their salvation and safety
But I wonder of my own-
My safety, my well-being, my family back at home
Is it selfish for a hero to wish to be alright?
That doesn't matter to me anymore as I imagine the people whose smile lit up the darkness in me
Being called a "hero" was not my forte but the people cherished me and I would live up to their wills.
"Her" faces passes through my mind like lightning for a split second and it's enough to make me smile
A phrase she would say over and over to make me blush
"We'll get married after the war."
A sincerity masked beneath her teasing
I had to make it out alive!
And, I know I will
Maybe it's the pride the elven tribes had taught me,
Maybe it was the strength the dwarves had poured into my sword,
Maybe it was the warm smiles of all the giants that filled my soul with courage,
Maybe it was the long lectures the king, priestess and monks had given me when I was reckless that made me feel so cared for,
But I wouldn't die.
As I opened the huge gates before me and saw the epitome of evil in front of me on his hollow throne
In that moment of resolute strength
I couldn't die.