About

Ashtarion, The Wandering Warrior

I. Prologue:

It was just about the end of winter solstice, the ice is just beginning to melt as spring begins to peek around the corner. In a secluded pavilion which served as the family’s private shrine perched in the midst of a thick forest, a child was born. The child’s name was Ashtarion. His father, a commander of the elite personal army of Shogun Tokugawa, looks lovingly upon his child. His mother, a mystic healer trained both to give and take away life, cradles the child closer to her breast. For a fleeting instant, their eyes met. Then the father spoke: “It is a warm and tender feeling that envelopes me now, to behold my own son whom I can someday train and pass my skills onto. More so to behold and spend this moment with all whom I hold dear. Yet duty calls and I must leave you both on the morrow that I may be able to give you both a promising future. Take good care of him, my beloved. Kindly see to it that he acquires the necessary skills he’ll need as he grows up. But take good care of yourself as well for I will not be able to take it if something bad happens to either of you .” “Of course my lord. I shall do everything you’ve said and more. Do take care also for we both needs you still”, replied the lady as she stands up and leans into her husband’s side. Their lips met in a tender kiss before they parted ways.

II. The interim:

The mother lovingly raised the child up, teaching him both the ways of the land as well as the way of Bushido. She passed onto him all her secret skills which the child astonishingly picked up with amazing ease. Soon, the child was able to take care of their daily sustenance by hunting game which he obviously uses to hone his skills. One time, the mother was alarmed when she could not find her son, which by now has grown into a strong lad of ten years old. She searched the nearby fields as well as all the hidden alcoves. It was then she remembered that their shrine has a hidden niche that serves as a ground for training in seclusion. It contained all the text in their family’s signature martial arts form as well as those developed by her husband. Rushing into it, she silently pulled the tatami mat aside which safeguards the entrance to the underground room. She silently cracks the camouflaged wall to barely peek into the room. What she saw took her breath away, for her son was in the middle of a barely lit room practicing all the secret forms of her husband then incorporating the moves she taught him as well into a whole new form of martial arts that looks dazzlingly graceful as well as terrifyingly deadly. Then, although his back was turned into the entrance, the boy stops and whispers softly yet clearly, “Why hide in the shadow, mother? Do come inside and spar with me. There are some points in your style that I need to polish. Father often comes and goes here with me, and he has already taught me a lot.”

III. A rose was born:

When Ashtarion was twelve years of age, a peace descended upon the realm. All foreign invaders had finally been soundly defeated that his father was able to come home for a long stay. If not practicing martial form with his father, he is with her mother to perfect healing skills. One day, his mothers womb was once again swollen. Inexplicable joy coursed through Ashtarion’s being at the thought that he will be having a brother or a sister to be with. At the right time, his mother gave birth. It seems ominous at that time for the child, this time a daughter which they named Ilyana, was born in the midst of a howling storm. With a sense of foreboding, Ashtarion vows to himself that he shall protect his family to the best of his ability.

IV. A storm arises:

In a perfect display of how profound the insight and mystic senses of Ashtarion has developed, the fears he had felt had imminently materialized. Embittered by his father’s growing fame, they poisoned the mind of the shogun in an attempt to discredit him. They forged evidences to support their claim that his father was the secret head of the most active anti-bakufu ninja organization. Yamabushi, or mystic warrior monks, together with Bakufu elite guards began hunting down their family. For a long time, their shrine became their refuge as nobody knows it’s whereabouts. When the shogun ordered a massive manhunt, detailing most of the empires army to leave no field untouched, they were forced to flee and constantly wander from mountains to caves to ravines in an attempt to elude pursuit. The path form thereon leads to spiraling tale of tragedy and demise.

V. The beginning of the end

As the days pass by, eluding pursuit seems to be getting harder for they are fast running out of places to hide into. It was at that moment that his father spoke to them of his plans. “Listen, everyone. There seems to be no point of running anymore. They are bound to come upon us anyway. Continue your plight, and I shall endeavor to stop them or at least clear my name. If it must come to the extreme, I will seek those who masterminds this charade. It is said that to kill a snake, one must cut off its head.” “Father, I shall go with you. You possible cannot survive against their multitude. At least with me around, I can protect your back”, voiced out Ashtarion. “No my son, your mother and sister needs you better. Guard them well, our future rests in your hands.” Having said those words, his father took up arms and rushes forth in the opposite direction, never to be seen again.

VI. Sacrifice in the name of love

The three continued their plight, when an arrow seem to fall from nowhere. It struck his sister on the calf. Letting out a shriek of terror, his mother grabs the barb and plucks it out. Amidst the shriek of pain from Ilyana, his mother lifts the arrowhead to her nostrils, trying to decipher if it was poisoned or not. Her scream of hatred confirm Ashtarion’s worst fears. “Those Yamabushi are a cruel lot! They poisoned this arrow with the extract of the Laudanum root. Unless I find an antidote immediately, your sister shall suffer a horrible pain. Damn those cowards, afraid of our martial skills they resorted to treacherous methods. Guard her well, Ashtarion, and wait for my return.” With that his mother fades into the background. Not long afterwards, the surrounding trees seems to erupt as scores of Yamabushi and Bakufu elites began to surround their encampment. Not heeding his own safety, Ashtarion unsheathes his swords and prepares for battle, vowing not to stray from her sister’s side knowing full well that to do so would mean instant death for her. A frantic battle ensues, and Ashtarion was hard beset by sword thrust from all sides as well as cutting a rain of arrows. After a long while, the wave began to taper off as bodies began to pile all around them. Ashtarion knew that this is just a lull, but readies himself nonetheless for the next wave despite of cuts and slashes beginning to mar his features. Then he knew the reason for the lull. In the distance he saw the fleeting form of his mother as she tries valiantly to reach their position and administer an antidote for her child. He began to go in aid of his mother for she seems faltering in her plight but the the next wave of attack resumes. Shouting a thundering battle cry, he cuts a path of death with a combination of his father and mother’s styles, till the enemies falter in fear that they are fighting a demon spirit. It was then that her mother succeeded in entering the circle of protection generated by the fighting form of Ashtarion. His exuberance seemed short-lived for he saw sticking out from his mother’s back numerous arrows eminently with the same poisoned tipped head. He then realized that her mother shall not live long. Forced to fend for herself with the precious package on one hand, she was forced to fight with only the other. Rather than drop the package to save her life, she concentrated only in living only long enough to administer the drug. The sight of her mother’s devastated form released a torrent of hatred from deep within Ashtarion’s being. He erupted into a frenzied killing that caught his enemies unawares, leaving numerous bodies cut up and dead. Her mother’s cry of deep anguish told another gruesome story. It was then that the throng before him parted and a familiar form stepped towards him.

VII. The fire of vengeance

“You’d better drop your sword and surrender, nephew! There’s not much for you to live for anyway. Your father’s dead by my hand (upon saying this, he threw a bundle from which the head of his father rolled away from), your sister’s dead and your mother will soon join their ranks. You are all alone, and you can’t possibly survive against our sheer numbers”, thus cried his uncle who served as the Shogun’s political adviser. A silence envelopes them briefly, then it was shattered by the shrill voice of his mother “Don’t listen to him, my child. Surrendering will only mean they will have an easier time in killing you. Don’t let our deaths go to waste, but most importantly don’t let yours be meaningless. You might die, but carry enough of them with you. That is the warrior’s way.” To this Ashtarion answered, in an icy voice filled with anger and hatred that chilled all those who heard,” I have no intention of laying down my swords, mother. May Buddha take your souls unto nirvana. Greet Ilyana and father for me there, but as long as this devil of an uncle still leaves, I shall not embrace death. Woe is he who stands in my way.” And with an unworldly fire flashing into his eyes and surrounding his form, he threw down his sheath in a gesture of defiance. His uncle ran in fear, pushing soldiers and monks in front to cover his retreat. Ashtarion, unencumbered now with a charge to protect, launched into a fearsome frenzy unmatched even by the prowess of his father. Using a fighting form wholly his own, he sent thousands of his enemies to the grave. No arrow, spear nor sword could weave into his defense, and no armor, shield nor skills could thwart his attack. Catching sight of the fleeting form of his uncle, he launched into a blinding assault. His uncle never knew what hit him as Ashtarion’s sword broke through the hordes of enemy soldiers and plunged deep into his uncle’s back. The last thought his uncle had was bewilderment as an unusually glowing sword tip appear upon his breast. Then he caught up blood and lost consciousness for eternity. Then as if his uncles weight was inconsequential, he lifted the dead body further impaling it upon his sword. He swished his sword sideways which proceeded to shred the body of his uncle by the force and speed of his gesture. Then he welcome the enemies onslaught in an obvious gesture that he is ready to welcome death in a fight to the finish. He was surprised and a bit disappointed to see that he has nothing to fight off, as his enemies either lie dead or has scattered in fear of his battle prowess. Then his shoulder sagged as he drags his weary form towards the prostrate form of his mother and sister.

VIII. A soulful anguish

With tears freely flowing from his cheeks, he cleansed his sword, sheathes it, laid it down and cradles the dying form of his mother. Although he thought her dead, her lips began to form in an attempt to speak to her son. Placing his ears closer to her lips, he heard her say, “I am proud of you my child. You were everything your father and I dreamt for you to be. You brought back our honor, and your father would have been so proud. Alas, my son, we shan’t be long to share your victory. I’m sorry that I came too late, The poison has already coursed through your sister’s body far enough for me to cure it. Yet your sister shall not suffer the pain which I will experience in a few moments. Don’t pity us, and don’t blame yourself. You did what could be done, yet there’s only so much we can accomplish given the daunting task. You did more than what others could have accomplished including your father, for you survived and avenged our deaths. Fare thee well my child, carve a future for yourself. I shan’t tarry long lest I succumb to the pains beginning to wrack my body and disgrace myself with a shameful display of death”. At this moment the dam of emotion broke through and the tears of anguish burst forth more freely. Still, as a final gesture of gratitude to his mother, he gathered all the ingredients she gathered to save her sister and concocted one of his own for her relief. He tilted the vial of mixed juices upon her lips and the start of contortions from her mother was averted. Her mother’s eyes briefly flipped open in a tender gesture of gratitude before forever glazing over in final repose. He then laid her gently down to cradle her beloved sister. “I’m sorry, dear Ilyanna, I was not good enough to save your life. Would fate allow me that I die instead of you yet mine may still be a more torturous route. I shall forever be bound to fight the ghost of regret, for I failed father’s charge that I keep both you and mother alive. Nothing holds meaning to me anymore, yet I cannot end my own life for it is far better extinguished in battle, as father had taught me. Goodbye dear Ilyana, and forgive me.” Just then Ilyana’s eyes flew open and in it shone not admonishing and judgment, but rather pure and unadulterated love, “Don’t ever think that I blame you for my demise, dear brother! I thank you so much for holding me safe till mother was able to administer the antidote. At least I was spared of unbearable pain, for I now don’t feel any. Yet I know my time is up, for I feel my life essence slipping away. You were right dear brother, don’t feel sorry for me for I go to a better place. At least I go to meet and be with father and mother. Thank you for everything. I love you!” Then the last breath escaped from her lips as death escorts her soul to the final abode.

IX. Eternal Journey

With all his strength, he picked up the bodies of his mother and sister. He carried them unto the grave of the fallen heroes and prepared a mausoleum in their memory. After that, he sought the body of his father and carried it there that it might find a suitable resting place. He often spends moments of solitude in this place, for he fails to find any more meaning for his existence. He shuns companionship in distrust that the fate of his father may befall upon him. He even go so far as to avoid love altogether, as he doesn’t want others to share his pain. Although, he readily rise up in defend of the needy and oppressed, he refuses to accept gratitude, servitude and friendship not because he is and obvious snob but because he finds an emptiness that cannot be assuaged. It is with these feelings and circumstances that he has accepted a life of bleakness and solitude.

X. Promise of a new beginning

Resigned to a life of solitude and silent misery, he often visits his family’s mausoleum for only in there could he find solace. He spent his time conversing with them upon his mind. One fateful day, as he was just finished from his visit and leaving to one again brave the living world, an unforeseen event transpired that forever changed his life. A lady of unmistakable grace crossed his path, seeming to appear out from nowhere. Thinking that it was a damsel in distress, Ashtarion readily offers up his arms in her aid. What happened next was a whirlwind of events that changed his outlook in life. Her tender compassion and offer of unconditional friendship seems to shatter the ice that encapsulates his life. Her vigor, grace, gentleness and purity touched a chord in his stone-turned heart. Her very presence seems to exude the air that there’s is promise of a brighter tomorrow while there is still life. It was not something he was accustomed to, and the torrent of emotion that she inspired was neither something he was prepared to face. In battle he was never hesitant to jump into the fray, yet there and then he falters and is shaken to his core. Could this be the answer to his life-long quest? Could the lady’s companionship be the reason for him to move on and live once again? He tarries long, ‘ere the answer be something he may not be able to live with.

XI. A new chapter opens

Yet her continued presence slowly turns his world upside down. Accepting their meeting as pre-destined, he vows that he shall not fail in the trust that was given to him once again. He had a purpose once again, he was given a direction in life for the second time. And this time, he vows to keep this trust with his life. He shall fall first ‘fore he allows that sacred oath to shatter. He shall defend her with his whole being, he will forever uphold her honor. Woe to them that shall try to test his resolve. No matter what the lady might feel, no matter where their friendship may take them, and no matter how long it shall last, he shall hold on with very ounce of his being…for in it he has found a reason to live once again!

XII. The life ahead

Thus it was with profound determination that Ashtarion was able to reform his shattered life. All of this became possible only through the aid of the lady who selflessly gave her time and trust to him. Now, he lives only for her, gaining meaning in life through serving her cause. If the lady so desires, she can even ask her life which he’d give without any hesitation. It was meaningless anyway before she arrives, t’will become meaningless once more if she’d leave. Yet no matter what the future may hold, Ashtarion knows that he shall never let go of the lady who harbored him during the time of his weakness. In his heart her name shall forever be etched, and the name was, is and ever will be…Lady NP!