{"sf1_id":888205,"sf2_id":null,"title":"Tales of the past, A compolation of short stories: Tale One","author":"Vahku","words":570,"posted_at":"2015-07-19T05:03:00.000Z","tags":["Curse","Death","God","Paladin","Short Story","Undead"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/888205-tales-of-the-past-a-compolation-of-short-stories-tale-one","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/view/888205","image_url":"https://www.sofurryfiles.com/std/thumb?page=888205\u0026ext=.jpg","description":"","content":"There\nonce was a paladin, one far stronger than any of his order, mentally\nand physically his will that of iron and his resolve the same...There once was a plague of undead which ran rampant\nthroughout the realm feasting on the souls of the living destroying any light which lay before it. This paladin was granted two relics a sword and\nshield each bathed holy light only meant to harm undead not the soul of a man. The blade able to cut through the undead\nlike a razor through paper, the shield able to take endless strikes from\nthe most relentless of enemy's, granting him fortitude through this\ndark land. \"God has abandoned us, the sun is just an illusion from a\ndying god struggling to keep in power...There is no sun it has been\ndestroyed by the darkness which plagued this land long ago.\" The order\nof the white ones who think they can reverse the irreversible sent this\ngreat warrior on a long lonely journey one which is riddled with\nhardships and unimaginable horror. Now passing the city walls, the heavy\ngates opening to a desolate land before him, the hero stepping pass the\ngates his sword and shield and hand while what's left of the towns folk\nrecite a prayer for their last hope. Across this land whispering a\ncurse the undead walking among the living the whispers echoing in the\nback of his head, calling to him onto his journey and with the loud slam\nof the gates closing he would follow the whispers of this dying\nland...This curse. Battling through dark catacombs still in control of\nhis mind this holy pilgrim sets forth into this light devouring\nsanctuary body his sanity slowly fleeting from him, this great paladin\nconfronted my many trials. Walking in pure darkness testing his faith\nblindly guiding him, and combat with skeletal giants leave him\nquestioning his resolve. But the trials of this dark place is the least\nof his troubles, he has traveled far not considering his surroundings\nare only made from bones and death, no humanity here in such a decrepit\nplace. No light to medicate the illness feeling his mind slipping the\ncurse taking him. He believes he should return when he is best suited\nfor the task at hand he prays telling the story of his beloved homeland\nand of better times hoping to return home....Something something is\nwrong he prays again asking his god to deliver him from this evil once\nagain, only to find himself surrounded by death in this wretched place.\nHis prayers failing him there is not light in this waking-nightmare gods\nhands must be absent from place....This god forsaken place....Or\nperhaps it is he who has been forsaken he tells himself... \"No that is\nthe corruption of the curse takeing hold...I must press onward.\" Through\nconstant battles and aimless walking through this evil place coated in\nthis..darkness eating away at any light the madness encroaching on this\nholy knight going deeper into his mind. He does not know when he will\nfall haste more important than ever. Struggling to the depth of the\ncursed tombs standing at his final trial wondering is this the point of\nno return or has he crossed that threshold long ago? Only a miracle will\nsee him trough this as he takes....One....Last...Leap. Miracles are\nonly bestowed upon ones who have faith, faith in god but the only god of\nthis domain is death."}