The Blade Keeper

"Who are you?" Asked Alex, remaining wary of what the boy might do.

The boy seemed to resemble himself, same height and weight, same pale skin that had missed the warm kiss of the sun for years, and visible scars all over the body. There were stark differences too. Alex's hair was black and white, the boy's was golden. Alex's eyes shone a ruby red while the boy's was electric blue. Alex has an emotionless look on while the boy had on a smile. They were so similar yet so different.

"It doesn't matter who I am, I would tell you if it did. But a memory of a long forgotten person is nothing but a speck of dust in the sky."

Alex frowned.

"What do you mean? Are you one of the kids that were experimented on? How are you still alive?"

The boy let out a sad smile.

"I was never one of you poor children. I was here before the people who threw you in here used this place as a base. As I had mentioned earlier, I am just a memory. One that has lived a long life."

Alex hesitated, wariness still etched on his face.

"Are you trying to say that you are a ghost?"

"In some ways yes, you could call me a ghost," said the boy while giving the surroundings a look. "But I prefer to think of myself as a legacy. An old memory that stayed behind in the vestiges of time to pass on the proof of my existence."

Seeing the somewhat frightened expression on Alex's face towards the bones on the floor, the boy let out a weary sigh.

"You have no need to be afraid of the remains of the children. They mean you no harm. Most of them have already been sent on their way into the next life. It was the least I could do for them. Let their false dream become a reality."

Alex narrowed his eyes.

"You were the one who created the illusion?"

The boy shook his head vehemently.

"Oh no, I do not have nearly enough power nor the d.e.s.i.r.e to conjure an illusion such as this. I refuse to send such young children to such a horrid trial where one's dreams are used as a trap. It's a part of an old trial, something that's been here for the longest time. A relic of a god, I would say."

Alex stared at the lonely skeletons before glaring at the boy.

"What exactly are you? Who are you a memory of?"

The boy wordlessly watched Alex without a change of expression.

"I have forgotten who I was or what I was a memory of. I can only remember figments of my life, a bunch of broken pieces. The one thing I am sure of is that I used to be a servant. A servant for a noble who's skill with the blade was unparalleled."

"What happened?" Alex asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

"I suppose that the even the strongest swordsman couldn't escape the vestiges of time. We all eventually perish you see. Although I can't remember my death, I do hope it was a painless one."

"Why did you show yourself to me?"

The boy shrugged.

"I felt as though you were an interesting existence. Something about you drew me in. You also passed the first trial quicker than most children."

"Other kids have survived the trial?"

"Indeed they have, some were even quicker than you. Although I wouldn't say that surviving is a good thing. What comes after is something way worse than you probably imagined."

Alex furrowed his brows, deep in thought, before asking the boy a question. "Can you help me escape?"

The boy immediately hesitated.

"It's. . . . Very difficult. There is only one way out of the cave and that is through the entrance. Although the security is weak and lax, it's impossible for a child like you, who has no weapon, to ever possibly escape."

"What if I had a weapon?"

". . . . The chances of succeeding would indeed become higher, but it is by a negligible amount. It's hard to find a decent weapon in here by itself, not to mention that you have to be able to effectively use it."

Seeing that Alex was beginning to despair, the boy hesitated before shaking his head side to side.

"There is a way to secure a weapon, a decent one. However it's not much better than staying here."

Alex immediately brightened up, "what is it? What do I have to do?"

The boy let out a frustrated growl, "I'm telling you you would be better off staying here than taking that route-"

"I want to see my family."

The boy hesitated after seeing the earnest yearning in Alex's eyes and trembled before sighing.

"Do you remember how I mentioned that I was a legacy?"

"Yes."

"Well, the legacy I was talking about was actually my special ability." The boy let out a sad smile. "Don't you feel it weird that an almighty Swordsman would keep an insignificant and weak servant like me? Well this was also due to my ability."

Alex started to feel nervous and unconsciously clenched his fists.

The boy continued to talk with a sad smile etched onto his face.

"I was a Blade keeper. An untalented boy who was unable to conjure magic nor wield aura. I watched others jealously as they flew in the wind, created fiery tornadoes or frozen wastelands. As others tore open the heavens or sliced away at the truth of the universe, with their sword in there hand. I sat at the bottom of the well, only able to do the one thing I was talented in. Summoning weapons."

A slight breeze tickled Alex's hair. He could smell something over the blood and rotting flesh, the faint smell of nature and life.

The boy stared directly into his eyes as he continued to speak. Alex felt as if the boy's voice was as soft as a whisper, yet he could hear every word echo throughout his mind.

"If you take on my legacy, you will unable to wield the sacred aura of swords, you will unable to conjure the ancient arcane knowledge of magic, you will be unable to rise. But in turn, you will be able to grasp the freedom you wish for dearly. You will face trials and tribulations at every turn. Pain will become your best friend, jealousy your worst enemy. You will regret this choice every time you lack the power to accomplish your goals, so I tell this to you in hopes of convincing you to do otherwise. . . . Do you truly wish for this power? For this curse?"

Alex stared into the electric blue eyes of the boy in front of him and gave a bright smile.

"I wish to be able to see my family once more."

"There are many other options, many other opportunities to see your family. I offered this power to many before you, they have all refused. Do you truly wish to take on this burden?"

"Yes."

"Then I welcome you, as well as weep for you. Take on the curse of the Blade Keeper, let us hope that you do not come to regret it."

There was a flash of golden light as the boy disappeared and Alex felt an excruciating pain assault his mind.

The world blacked out as Alex crumpled to the floor.