In the dark abyss in which I exists, I chase a bright figure, like a moth fluttering towards the moon without really knowing how far away it really is. Naive and foolhardy.

Illusory is the figure, because no matter how hard I try to reach it, it is always out of my reach, but at the same time it is so close that if I could only stretch out my hands I could touch it. Vain hopes, but my heart needed them to move forward.

Laughter reverberates in my ears, coming from the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. She mocks me, but I don't feel any malice; Innocent is she who in her cruelty makes a jester of me for her satisfaction. Most charming thing she was. My heart was pounding as my legs fell to the ground, the soles of my feet covered in blood from my desperate running.

And on my knees, she turned to look at me. But I couldn't see her beautiful face, hidden by the intense light. The only thing that is revealed is her smile, a perfect and divine smile, graceful like an angel.

That figure of hers was so close to me, but that wasn't enough for my greedy soul, at all. I needed her all, to put my hands on that embodiment of perfection. To paint her in a thousand ways with my own colors and fill her with my being.

Make her mine and no one else's.

But she always eludes me, with a perpetual smile marking her beautiful face.

And I already knew that the time to dream was over. The world dissolves, and she stops looking at me. My skin, flesh and bone melts and pools in a puddle of grime, my hideous self revealed in all its ugliness.

The dream ends.

...

Opening my eyes is easy, but the rest of my body takes longer to obey, sleeping with my armor on causes my muscles to go numb. But it is somewhat preferable to see myself vulnerable on these plains. Lots of open space and little cover, perfect for anything that can fly and has a good view to fall on top of me.

Although that was honestly the least of my worries, there were far worse things lurking in the wastes. A memory emerges in my head. My encounter with two particular bastards while naked was especially irritating, the only pleasant thing about the memory was breaking the brother's neck before cutting the sister's hands off.

At least I didn't use her, a small mercy I gave her, something others wouldn't have had, no matter how horrendous the scars on her face were. Unlike other savages, I at least wanted them to have a good face or body, I wasn't going to use just any witch.

I looked at the sky in its usual perpetual red, and the sun still keeping its malicious gaze on the earth. Perpetual punishment that was existence in this world for a being that could never be understood.

But I think I've rambled on long enough.

With that thought I forced my body to move, sore muscles screaming at me to stop, but as always I ignored them. A couple of voices in my head won't be enough to stop me.

Standing I stretch my body, slowly recovering my motor skills. Keeping my eyes on the skies at any sign of danger, the chickens of these lands were especially annoying to deal with, flying and being able to throw toxic shit at you that at best leaves you vomiting blood was not something I was looking forward to experiencing. That was a pretty ignoble way to die, in my opinion.

"So where do I have to go again?"

I whispered to myself, thinking what was I exactly looking for here. It took me a second before I remembered, my hand reaching inside my pants, searching for a moment before pulling out what I wanted.

A piece of cloth with some inscriptions, and a semi-readable map. Knowing where to go is complicated, walking without direction is the easiest way to get killed, so things like maps or directions through word of mouth are crucial information, so many keep those details hidden, only being shared to members of their communities. It was a pain to make that merchant open his mouth to find out that he had this little treasure.

A heavy night with the smell of beer accompanied by the promise of hellish pain the next morning and the bastard also made me pay for everything, that was the price for the little map.

Returning my gaze to the inscriptions, I realized that I was close, I could see the mountain that that block must represent. The only thing I couldn't recognize was the symbol that looked like a river, but was definitely not a river. No matter, my goal was close.

Hiding all signs that I was ever here, I began to walk east of the red sun.

...

I greatly underestimated the distance, I had no idea how long I had been walking but I knew from experience that it was not a small amount of time, even if the heavens never move, the pain in my muscles and the heat of my armor were evidence enough of the movement of time.

I turned around for a moment, looking at the path I'd passed, watching my footprints in the dead dirt. For a moment I wondered if I should go back. That I had found worthless trash pretending to be a map.

If that was the case, may that merchant never see me again, his throat would not be left intact.

But my instinct told me to keep going. I will force myself until my fatigue gains strength and require sleep again, so when I wake up I will have the strength to return completely.

It wasn't the best of plans, but it was a start.

So I kept going.

The time was difficult to tell. One of several curses that were imposed upon the earth to punish every man, woman and child that exists, and ever will exist. A punishment for our existence, where the pains of the flesh abound and impious desires flood the earth.

I wonder if the sun that observes us with perpetual repudiation enjoys the suffering it causes us, or if it prefers that which we cause ourselves.

I was not the best person to think about such notions, perhaps some thinker can come up with an answer, but those people have long since become extinct. Those who remain are the monsters, the savages, or people like me.

And when I finally focused my thoughts on the material world, I found signs of intelligent life. Smoke, not much, barely enough to be a small campfire recently put out. But that was enough of a sign to make my hopes of finally finding what I was looking for almost palpable.

Climbing a nearby hill I was able to see the place of origin of the smoke, finding a camp, with a small broken tent and a human figure that seemed to be checking it.

I quickly approached the place, taking care not to be noticed. Not because I wanted to attack the person - if it was a person - but it was better to always have the upper hand in any kind of interaction with other humans. After all, the most dangerous creatures of these times, apart from the Calamities, are humans. Nothing worse than an intelligent creature capable of carrying resentment and hatred. It doesn't take much to become a target of violence for a human.

And the sight that greeted me when I was finally close enough confirmed my thoughts.

A tall figure covered in black leather and a helmet of a similar material, on top of another unconscious person, one who was missing essential clothing.

The second was definitely a woman, no man - that I know - would have such skin and lack of scars, plus it was easy to tell by the absence of clothes on her body. And that detail was enough to tell a story.

Taking hold of the small ax on my hip with my right hand, I prepared the throw for just a second before throwing it. Spinning through the air without really making a sound until finally colliding with the savage's head, the blade embedding itself in the skull trough the helmet.

The savage fell on the woman, blood spilling on the ground and most likely on her figure as well. I walked until I was only a few feet away from the body and person. With a slight smile that wouldn't be noticeable because of my helmet.

"No need to thank! It is my pleasure to help a damsel in distress!"

It seems that the woman is in shock, since she was not moving at all. Stopped that thinking until I reached the most obvious conclusion possible. Damn. Has he already killed her? If so then this would have been a waste, although if I could get some materials or food out of here it would be a fairly useful use of my time.

Moving the savage's body to remove it from above the woman, I was paralyzed for a moment when I saw that face.

Oh my god that face.

Without any scars, spots or imperfections, it was the most perfect skin I had ever seen, even more so than that of the highest class maidens I had ever used. With short, black hair like obsidian. And those small lips but with such a soft and innocent shade of pink.

The heat in my chest burned for a moment before immediately cooling.

"Pale. The idiot probably killed her."

With a sigh I returned to my task, dragged the savage's body to the side, away from the beauty's body, and began to inspect any of his possessions in the hope of finding something that would be useful to me. But I was quickly disappointed.

A rusty dagger, clothes with fabrics so worn that they weren't even worth a bandage, leather armor in very poor condition, a pierced helmet that didn't really interest me, mine was probably better and... Uh, what is this?

Inside a bandage was a strange piece of metal, almost as if it had been intended to hide it. Square shaped and made of a dark metal that reflected the sun. With one of the corners a ring, probably to tie it to a necklace. If that was the case then it was less of a square and more of a diamond.

It doesn't really matter. In any case. Why would a savage care for an object like this?

But while I was checking the small gadget, I noticed movement in the reflection. Quickly turning around with my forearm in the air, blocking a small sword that had been coming down for my neck. But what surprised me the most was seeing who the person was holding it.

The maiden that I thought was dead was in front of me with a short sword. Where she had gotten it from or how she had gotten so close without me realizing it were mysteries I didn't know about, but I didn't have time to wander in those thoughts.

"Oh wow, I didn't know that was how they said Thank you my savior around these parts"

The woman still held the sword against my armored forearm.

"Silent treatment?"

It was a little funny to see such a stern expression on such a beautiful face, to the point where she reminded me more of a baby making a face. But the danger of the sword was not something to ignore, a good blow to my neck or the cracks of my helmet would be more than enough to leave me in a critical state. Possibly death if I was very unlucky.

"Come on, maiden, put down the weapon, I only wanted to help you, to free you from that savage."

Reasoning does not usually work on many occasions, since of all creatures, humans are one of the most irrational. Behaviors born from divergent particularities present in each individual cause diverse reactions. That is why dealing with a group will be easier than with a single person, in a group the unique characteristics are softened with the goal of making everyone on the same line of thought, which means that you only need to understand the rules and ways of thinking in general to be able to handle those situations.

On the other hand, when you deal with just one person, you're betting that they won't stab you in the back the first chance they get, that they'll find your words influential enough to consider whatever you have to say.

But it seems that this time luck is on my side.

"... Where you come from?"

A soft voice finally left his lips. And a smile marked my face, one that she couldn't see.

"I come from distant lands, west of the sun. But now that you have calmed down, could you lower your weapon?"

"... Alright"

With that said, she finally put down the sword. Freed from the threat, I moved away from the corpse, and while standing I realized something.

She was tall. It was not the first time that a woman was taller than me, since I was a little short compared to other men, but I could still count on my hands the number of women who were taller than me. She would be the first one to beat me by a whole head.

Honestly, this detour was looking more fruitful.

"So now we're in a better mood, let me introduce myself, I'm Gregorio. My pleasure."

"... I'm Elena"