Tichina

about 2,757 words

UNEXPECTED HERO BY Tichina !t"#!r

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ 2

Thi''!us () can*t b!'i!+! ) ,ad! it ho,!-. Thi''!us shout!d to th! h!a+!ns/ )t was a,a"in#/ H! had b!!n throu#h thic0 and thin and h! 1ina''2 sa+!d th! countr2 1ro, t!rror/ H! was a h!ro3 his 1a,i'2 was &roud/ His na,! wou'd b! writt!n down in histor2 1or ,or! #!n!rations to '!arn/ Th! 4ods had s,i'!d u&on hi,/ )t was a #'orious da2/ On! Y!ar Ear'i!r Thi''!us 'i+!d in 5th!ns, 4r!!c!/ H! was an ordinar2 ,an3 h! d!sc!nd!d 1ro, a car&!nt!r and s!a,str!ss/ No on! in th! town saw an2thin# s&!cia' about hi,/ His r!'ati+!s &r!dict!d that h! wou'd 1o''ow in his 1ath!r*s 1ootst!&s and b!co,! a car&!nt!r/ N!+!r in his 'i1! did Thi''!us 1or!s!! th! #r!at ad+!ntur! that was ah!ad o1 hi,/ Ru,ors had s&r!ad around that th! 4artans had &ra2!d to th! 4od 5r!s n!w w!a&on 1or th!ir ,i'itia/ )n r!turn th! 4artans r!c!i+!d a #i#antic b!ast na,!d C2ron/ )t had two h!ads, br!ath!s 1ir!, had shar& ta'ons, and win#s that s&r!ad 1ar across th! s02/ Th! b!ast was #ru!so,!, +iscous, and a##r!ssi+!/ ost ru,ors said that th! 4artans cou'd not win th! war b!tw!!n th!, and

5th!ns without C2ron/ Th! 0in# had &r!&ar!d an ar,2 o1 56,666 s0i''!d warriors, but what h! n!!d!d was a '!ad!r/ H! &ra2!d to a'' th! 4ods 7!%&!ct 1or 5r!s8 to brin# hi, a '!ad!r, but non! had co,! 1orth/ Th! 0in#*s on'2 choic! '!1t was to sacri1ic! his on'2 son Bractus/ Bractus was a stron#, handso,! ,an/ H! was train!d 1ro, a 2oun# to &arta0! in war ,att!rs/ But h! was r!'uctant to &ut his son in char#!, 1or his son was arro#ant and stubborn to chan#!/ Cons!9u!nt'2 this was th! 0in#*s 'ast

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ : choic!/ )n an instant h! #ot an id!a, as i1 ;!us hi,s!'1 had struc0 a 'i#htnin# bo't in his h!ad/ H! thou#ht o1 a &'an/ Th! &'an was to announc! to th! ,!n o1 5th!ns that who!+!r d!!, th!,s!'+!s worth2 o1 b!co,in# 4!n!ra' o1 th! 5r,2 wou'd +o'unt!!r in &artici&atin# in a tourna,!nt/ Th! tourna,!nt wi'' ha+! a s!ri!s o1 cha''!n#!s, which wi'' ta0! &'ac! in th! cit2*s +acant 1i!'ds3 th!r! h! wou'd s!'!ct a '!ad!r/ <atis1i!d with hi,s!'1, h! s!nt his #uards to announc! to th! who'! cit2/ (But ,a,,a ) don*t want to #o, th!r! r!9u!stin# a warrior, not a car&!nt!r. =or th! &ass hour or so Thi''!us had b!!n tr2in# to con+inc! his &ar!nts that h! didn*t want or n!!d to >oin in th! tourna,!nt/ His ,oth!r did not 'ist!n, but continu! to &!rsist/ (Thi''!us, this is a #r!at o&&ortunit2 to show 4r!!c! that 2ou ar! so,!bod2, that 2ou ar! a bri''iant 2oun# ,an/. )t was tru!, Thi''!us was bri''iant/ E+!r sinc! h! was 2oun# h! in+!nt!d s,a'' #ad#!ts and ,achin!s to !as! th! burd!n on his 1a,i'2*s dai'2 routin!s/ Thi''!us was not r!a''2 stron#, or incr!dib'2 handso,! or bra+! 'i0! oth!rs, but h! did 'i0! to h!'&/ (E+!n i1 ) w!r! to #o to th! tourna,!nt, th!2 wi'' not &ic0 ,!/ Th! 0in# is 'oo0in# 1or stron# ,!n who can br!a0 ston!s with th!ir ar,s, not w!a0'in#s 'i0! ,! that can*t !+!n 'i1t two ba#s o1 ric!/. Thi''!us r!a''2 didn*t want to #o/ H! did not 1!!' 'i0! !,barrassin# hi,s!'1 in 1ront o1 hundr!ds o1 ,!n and th! 0in#/

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ ? (5nd !+!n i1 ) was chos!n b2 th! #rac! o1 th! 4ods, ) wou'd &robab'2 di! th! ,o,!nt ,2 1oot #'anc! a ston!, and th! 4ods wi'' sur!'2 ha+! a #r!at 'au#h wh!n th!2 s!! ,! '2in# on ,2 bruis!d sid! 'i0! a d!ad do#/. (Do not ,a0! >!st!rs o1 th! 4ods, th!2 ha+! #uard!d 2ou so 1ar in 'i1!/ <how th! 4ods ,or! r!s&!ct/ Th!2 wi'' #uid! 2ou on 2our >ourn!2, and su&&os! 2ou do di!, 2ou di! a bra+! warrior/. His 1ath!r was a &ati!nt ,an, but h! did not ta0! 0ind'2 to an2on! disr!s&!ctin# th! 4ods/ (5'ri#ht, ) wi'' #o, but wh!n ) co,! bac0 with ,2 tai' b!tw!!n ,2 '!#s, don*t sa2 ) didn*t t!'' 2ou/. Chos!n Thi''!us was too n!r+ous 1or words/ H! stood in th! 1i!'ds surround!d b2 1it 2oun# ,!n3 th!2 'oo0!d as i1 th!2 und!rstood th! s!+!rit2 o1 th! situation/ <o,! ,!n &aid no ,ind to Thi''!us3 oth!rs show!d dis#ust and disa&&ro+a' to his arri+a'/ (H!''o, ) a, B!''i,ius/ 5r! 2ou h!r! 1or th! co,&!tition@. (Y!s, ,2 na,! is Thi''!us/. B!''i,ius s,i'!d/ =or a ,o,!nt Thi''!us thou#ht that h! was 'au#hin# at hi, to show disb!'i!1, but h! soon h! r!a'i"!d that h! was ,!r!'2 b!in# 1ri!nd'2/ B!''i,ius 'oo0!d 'i0! th! &!r1!ct d!scri&tion o1 what a warrior shou'd b!/ This ,ad! Thi''!us ,or! inti,idat!d b2 th! co,&!tition/ (Don*t worr2 about th!s! ,!n/ 5'' th!2 wish 1or is th! #'or2 o1 &ost war/ Non! withho'd th! coura#! and bri''ianc! o1 a tru! '!ad!r, 4ood 'uc0 in th! tourna,!nt/.

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ 5 Th! n!%t ,inut! a horn was b'own and this was th! si#na' that th! ,!n w!r! to 'in! in ord!r to ac0now'!d#! th! 0in#/ To a+oid b!in# s!!n Thi''!us stood in th! ,idd'! o1 th! ,ass n!%t to B!''i,ius/ Th! 0in# 'oo0!d a,on#st th! crowd with &rid!/ His citi"!ns show!d so ,uch &atriotis, 1or 5th!ns, it cou'd ,a0! his h!art burst/ N!%t to hi, was his dis&irit!d son Bractus/ H! did not s!! wh2 his 1ath!r had to ho'd this !+!nt >ust to 1ind a worth'!ss ,an to '!ad an ar,2/ H! was ,or! ca&ab'! than an2on! to b!co,! th! 4!n!ra'/ (A!'co,!, ,!n o1 5th!ns/. Th! 0in# was an o'd ,an/ H! stood strai#ht and &roud3 h! had an authoritati+! +oic! that s!!,!d to ha+! co,,and!d ,an2 ar,i!s/ (You a'' #ath!r h!r! toda2 to s!! i1 2ou ar! ca&ab'! o1 b!co,in# th! '!ad!r o1 ,2 1in! ar,2/ This cha''!n#! wi'' b! di11icu't and i1 2ou ar! to succ!!d th! batt'! wi'' b! !+!n ,or! di11icu't/ )1 2ou do not wish to sta2 ) ad+is! 2ou to '!a+! now/. Thi''!us !%t!nd!d his 1oot to '!a+!, but B!''i,ius h!'d hi, in his &'ac! and Thi''!us sta2!d in 'in!/ Th! 0in# continu!d/ (Th! ,!n who ar! '!1t wi'' &artici&at! in a ,u'titud! o1 t!st to show 2our s0i''s/ B2 th! !nd o1 th! t!st two ,!n wi'' b! chos!n/ On! wi'' b!co,! th! '!ad!r and th! oth!r wi'' b! his co,&anion in batt'!/. Cha''!n#!s Th! tourna,!nt had b!#un on! b2 on! ,!n w!r! b!in# dis,iss!d !ach on! 'oo0in# ,or! disa&&oint!d than th! oth!r/ )t was a shoc0 to Thi''!us that h! had 'ast!d this 'on# throu#h th! co,&!tition/ Thi''!us b!'i!+!d that it was b!caus! o1 B!''i,ius*s h!'&/ H! had b!!n h!'&in#

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ B Thi''!us throu#h so,! o1 th! cha''!n#!s, and in r!turn Thi''!us wou'd do what!+!r h! cou'd to h!'& B!''i,ius/ Th! 0in# had b!!n watchin# th! two wor0in# to#!th!r, but h! did not ob>!ct to it3 in 1act h! was 9uit! i,&r!ss!d/ Ahat Thi''!us 'ac0!d in str!n#th B!''i,ius wou'd h!'&, and what B!''i,ius 'ac0!d in d!cision ,a0in# Thi''!us wou'd assist/ Durin# th! who'! tourna,!nt Thi''!us wou'd co,! u& with s,art strat!#i!s to a+oid &h2sica' contact at a'' cost/ B2 th! !nd o1 th! cha''!n#! on'2 Thi''!us and B!''i,ius w!r! '!1t/ Thi''!us was ,ost r!'i!+!d/ (Con#ratu'ations, 2ou two ha+! won th! tourna,!nt, but un1ortunat!'2 th!r! is on! ,or! cha''!n#! '!1t/. Thi''!us, who was onc! r!'i!+!d was now &!tri1i!d/ Th! 0in# did not announc! an2thin# about a 1ina' cha''!n#!/ Thi''!us 1irst instinct was to run, but his ,ind to'd hi, to sta2/ (You*r! n!%t cha''!n#! wi'' b! to show 2our batt'! s0i''s/ Each o1 2ou wi'' 1i#ht ,2 son Bractus/ H! is an !%c!&tiona' 1i#ht!r/ Each turn wi'' b! ti,!d3 i1 2ou ar! ab'! to d!1!at ,2 son in th! ti,! #i+!n 2ou wi'' b! th! '!ad!r o1 th! ar,2 and 1i#ht a#ainst th! 4artans/ )1 b2 th! ti,! has !nd!d 2ou ha+! not d!1!at!d ,2 son and 2ou as w!'' ar! not d!1!at!d 2ou wi'' b! th! co,&anion/ )1 2ou ar! to b! d!1!at!d b2 ,2 son 2our ti,! h!r! wi'' !nd and 2ou wi'' not 1i#ht in th! batt'!/ <inc! ) do not want b'oodsh!d, in addition to 2our ar,or 2ou wi'' not ha+! r!a' swords, but wood!n swords, i1 2our sword is to br!a0 2ou ,a2 us! 2our bod2 or an2 ob>!cts around 2ou to 1i#ht/ A!'' ) i,a#in! 2ou two ar! !%haust!d, 2ou ,a2 r!st in th! sh!'t!r #i+!n, insid! 2ou ar! &ro+id!d with 1ood and wat!r/ Th! horn wi'' b! sound!d twic! 1or th! cha''!n#! to b!#in/. Aith that said th! 0in# '!1t Thi''!us and B!''i,ius in th!ir thou#hts/ Thi''!us was in 1!ar/ H! cou'dn*t 1i#ht Bractus/ Bractus was hu#!, with on! &unch to his >aw h!*d b! s!nt to th! und!rwor'd/ <ur!'2 h! wasn*t #oin# to win this3 B!''i,ius was 1it to 1i#ht Bractus/ 5t that

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ 7 thou#ht h! turn!d to s!! B!''i,ius sittin# and !atin# ca','2/ H! 'oo0!d as i1 h! didn*t ha+! a car! in th! wor'd/ (5r! 2ou not a1raid B!''i,ius, w! ha+! to 1i#ht Bractus on our own-. Thi''!us had n!+!r b!!n in a 1i#ht b!1or! this was his own &!rsona' crisis/ (Nothin# 1ri#ht!ns ,!, Bractus is a ,an >ust as ), and in 1act w! ar! born in th! sa,! 2!ar, wh2 shou'd ) 1!ar a ,an who cou'd b! ,2 broth!r@ ) a, >ust honor!d ) #!t th! chanc! to ,!!t th! 0in# and &rinc!, !+!n thou#h it is throu#h th!s! circu,stanc!s/ ) 1!!' th! 4ods s,i'! down u&on ,!/. (That ,a2 b! what 2ou thin0, but 1or ,! this is a #r!at ord!a'/ ) cannot 1i#ht th! &rinc! h! is two stron#/. (Th!n us! 2our brain 'i0! 2ou ha+! b!!n doin# th! !ntir! ti,!/. (This is a t!st o1 1i#htin# s0i''s/. Thi''!us was #!ttin# anno2!d/ Ah2 cou'dn*t B!''i,ius und!rstand his &oint o1 +i!w@ (You n!!d to b! bra+!3 ) don*t thin0 2ou und!rstand how i,&ortant this is/ You ar! not 1i#ht 1or 2ours!'1 or to i,&r!ss &!o&'! or 1or +ictor23 2ou shou'd b! 1i#htin# 1or th! &!o&'! o1 5th!ns so that th!2 can 'i+! anoth!r da2/ But i1 it is an2 conso'ation ) wi'' #o 1irst to !as! 2our t!nsion/. Thi''!us did 1!!' s'i#ht'2 b!tt!r/ B!''i,ius was ri#ht3 h! was 1i#htin# 1or &!o&'! to 'i+! and not to b! hunt!d b2 C2ron/ H! cou'd do this C w!'' h! cou'd tr2 with a'' his ,i#ht/ 5'' his b'ood, sw!at, and buc0!t 1u'' o1 t!ars wou'd #o into this 1i#ht Dictor2 Th! horn ran# and th! cha''!n#! b!#an/ Th!2 w!r! in th! 1i!'ds/ 5 s!r+ant #a+! B!''i,ius ar,or and a wood!n sword/ Bractus wa'0!d towards B!''i,ius a'r!ad2 suit!d and ar,!d/ H! stood with

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ E &rid! and had an !%&r!ssion o1 arro#anc! as i1 th! =at!s had to'd hi, h! wou'd win/ B!''i,ius 1ac!d Bractus/ (H!''o ,2 &rinc!, how ar! 2ou@. () wi'' d!1!at 2ou in th! ti,! it ta0!s 2ou to draw 2our sword/. ()n a'' du! r!s&!ct, 2our hi#hn!ss, ) do not b!'i!+! that is tru!, but w! wi'' s!!/. Thi''!us ad,ir!d B!''i,ius*s con1id!nc!/ Th! 0in# announc!d that th! 1i#ht wou'd b!#in/ Th!2 both dr!w th!ir swords and 1ou#ht/ Thi''!us was a,a"!d/ B!''i,ius was a #r!at 1i#ht!r/ Th!ir b'ows w!r! stron# and &ow!r1u'/ B!''i,ius had an ad+anta#!, b!caus! h! was 9uic0!r than Bractus, but Bractus was sti'' stron#!r than B!''i,ius/ Th!2 1ou#ht 1or s!+!ra' ,inut!s/ Bractus was 1urious h! !%&!ct!d to d!1!at B!''i,ius at this &oint/ Th!2 continu!d to 1i#ht/ )n Thi''!us*s !2!s th!2 w!r! 'i0! #ods 1i#htin# o+!r o'd #ri!+anc!s/ Th! 0in# announc!d that ti,! had run out/ N!ith!r o1 th!, had 1a't!r!d in th! 1i#ht/ ()t was an honor to 1i#ht with 2ou &rinc! Bractus/. B!''i,ius s,i'!d and r!tr!at!d to wh!r! Thi''!us stood/ () ,ust sa2 that wasn*t as bad as ) !%&!ct!d, Thi''!us/ Th! 1i#ht wi'' b! o+!r b!1or! 2ou 0now it/. )t was now his turn to 1i#ht Bractus/ FH! cou'd do this*, is what h! chant!d in his h!ad/ Thi''!us was #i+!n his ar,or and sword/ Bractus 'oo0!d at hi, as i1 h! was a sh!!& and h! was a 1o%/ Th! 1i#ht b!#un and Bractus swun# his sword and Thi''!us dod#!d ,an2 ti,!s, not onc! did h! rais! his sword/ (Co,! on Thi''!us 1i#ht 'i0! a ,an/. B!''i,ius was ch!!rin# hi, on/ This ,ad! Thi''!us*s h!art sw!'' with coura#!/ H! cou'd do this/ <inc! Thi''!us didn*t ha+! a &articu'ar 1i#htin# st2'! h!

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ G swun# his sword in !+!r2 dir!ction/ H! cou'd 1!!' th! sword co,! in contact with his o&&on!nt/ H! thou#ht that h! had a chanc! o1 winnin#/ (Don*t 1i#ht 'i0! that Thi''!us/ 5r! 2ou i,&!rsonatin# a b'ind ,an, us! 2our ,ind 'i0! 2ou a'wa2s do/. B!''i,ius 2!''!d That*s it- H! cou'd co,bin! his ,a#ni1ic!nt thin0in# s0i''s and &oor 1i#htin# s0i''s to sa+! his s0in/ 5cross th! 1i!'d h! saw an ar!a co+!r!d with #ra+!'/ H! had s!!n ,an2 &!o&'! tr2 to run across th! #ra+!', but no on! succ!!d!d !+!r2 ti,! th! &!rson wou'd stu,b'! and 1a'' to th! #round, h! had !+!n tri!d onc! and r!a'i"!d h! was 1oo'ish/ This #a+! Thi''!us an id!a/ H! bust!d into a ra&id run towards th! #ra+!', h! 0n!w that Bractus wou'd 1o''ow hi,/ H! cou'd h!ar Bractus 1!!t sto,& th! #round/ Thi''!us ran !+!n 1ast!r, but b!1or! h! ,!t th! #ra+!' h! ca,! to an abru&t sto&/ Thi''!us cou'd h!ar Bractus co,in# and so h! ,o+!d awa2/ )n an instant Bractus &ass!d hi, an ran on th! #ra+!'/ Hust as !+!r2on! !'s! Bractus had 1a''!n on his bac0/ Thi''!us &roc!!d!d to craw' on th! #ra+!'/ Ah!n h! r!ach!d Bractus, h! 'i1t!d his h!',!t o1 his and &unch!d Bractus in th! >aw/ Th! horn had sound!d and th! 1i#ht was o+!r/ (Y!s, 2ou did it Thi''!us, ) 0n!w 2ou wou'd b!co,! th! '!ad!r/. (You do r!a'i"! that 2ou did not #!t th! &osition, 2ours!'1/. Thi''!us assur!d hi,/ (Y!s ) 0now, &osition do!s not ,att!r to ,! ) #!t to b! 2ou 1i#htin# co,&anion and that is an honor/ Bractus wa'0!d towards Thi''!us and B!''i,ius trud#in# as i1 so,!on! had stabb!d hi, in th! '!#/ Bractus s&o0!/ (You ar! an int!''i#!nt 1i#ht!r Thi''!us ) a, honor!d to 1i#ht b2 both 2our sid!s. Th! 0in#*s +oic! was h!ard/

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ I6 (5'' thr!! o1 2ou ha+! 1ou#ht w!'' toda2/ Thi''!us as &ro,is!d 2ou ar! th! o11icia' '!ad!r o1 our ar,2/ )t trust 2ou wi'' '!ad 2ou us to +ictor2/ Bractus and B!''i,ius wi'' b! 2our ri#ht and '!1t hands #uidin# 2ou into th! batt'! 1i!'d/ ) b!'i!+! 2ou ar! s,art !nou#h to d!1!at th! 4artans and s'a2 th! b!ast C2ron/ Than0 2ou 2oun# ,!n/. Th! 0in# '!1t/ (Y!s w! wi'' d!1!at th! 4artans to#!th!r as 1ri!nds, and wh!n w! r!turn w! wi'' b! h!ro!s/. B!''i,ius ch!!r!d/ (Aho said ) was a 1ri!nd o1 2ours/ ) r!s&!ct 2ou, but ) do not wish to b!co,! 1ri!nds/. Bractus said in a snobbish ton! (Oh co,! on, 2ou do not n!!d to b! bitt!r about th! 1i#ht, w! wi'' b! broth!r and 1i#ht a#ainst !+i'/. (Ahat!+!r, w! wi'' do this to#!th!r, but 1irst w! ,ust i,&ro+! 2our 1i#htin# s0i''s Thi''!us, 2ou ar! 9uit! horrib'!/. (Horrib'! ind!!d/. Th!2 a'' 'au#h!d Th!2 tra+!'!d to 4artan and th! war b!#un/ )t was t!rri12in# 1or a'' thr!! o1 th!,, but with Thi''!us*s '!adin#, Bractus*s str!n#th, and B!''i,ius*s con1id!nc! th!2 d!stro2 th! 4artans/ Th!r! was ,uch b'oodsh!d, but with Thi''!us ,ast!r &'an 1or attac0, th! casua't2 rat! was 1!w!r than !%&!ct!d/ )n 1act inst!ad o1 s'a2in# C2ron, Thi''!us d!cid!d to brin# it to 5th!ns and train th! b!ast to 1i#ht on 5th!ns/ Ah!n th!2 r!turn!d with C2ron ,an2 &!o&'! w!r! shoc0!d, but th! 0in# a''ow!d it to sta2 1or war &ur&os!s/ Thi''!us was a h!ro/ His &ar!nts w!r! &roud o1 hi,, h! was &roud o1 hi,s!'1/ H! 1ina''2 1ound his &ur&os!, which was to d!1!nd th! &!o&'! o1 5th!ns, so that th!2 cou'd 'i+!/

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ II (That was a wond!r1u' c!'!bration/. B!''i,ius s'urr!d/ H! had r!c!i+!d a 'ot o1 win! 1ro, th! s!r+ants/ (Y!s, 2ou wou'd thin0 so, 2ou 'oo0 and s,!'' 'i0! b!##ar/ You*r! so drun03 ) can s,!'' th! win! !+!r2 ti,! 2ou br!ath!/. Bractus co,&'ain!d/ (J!a+! hi,, h! d!s!r+!s his +ictor2 win!/. Thi''!us said (Ahat!+!r, ) #u!ss ) shou'd 0n!!' to th! #r!at h!ro Thi''!us/. (You ar! a h!ro as w!''/ You tau#ht ,! how to 1i#ht, wh!n ) cou'dn*t !+!n draw ,2 sword without dis'ocatin# ,2 ar,/. (That is tru!/. Bractus chuc0'!d B!''i,ius co,!s b!hind Bractus and wra&s his ar, around his 1ri!nd/ This was ,or! to h!'& hi, stand than a 1ri!nd'2 #!stur!/ (Y!s, w! !ach h!'&!d !ach oth!r and now w! ar! !9ua''2 h!ro!s/. B!''i,ius s'urr!d (Y!s h!ro!s ind!!d-.

!t"#!r$ Un!%&!ct!d H!ro$ I2