"Betrayal at Murdin Fields" by Joshua Price

 Edge Gifon, Arc Knight loyal to the Darkan Kingdom, was marching with a Darkan Army to attack the kingdom of Galbados. However, it seemed that Galbados had the same idea as well. The two forces met upon the Murdin fields and battle broke out. Fate would have it that this battle would have more then political significance...

"AHHHHHHHHHHH! The pain! Forgive me for my failure Gal...."

Those were the last words of an officer of the Galbados army. Edge's wave blade stuck through his head.

Yes, it was Edge, the same man you hear about. Like these days, he is an Arc Knight, though at this time wore chain mail armor to his elbows and ankles and only had a steel wave blade instead of the one he has now. He still had the scars on his face, however, which he had gotten in some fight or another.

"I get tired of you people screaming when you die. Can't you just go quietly?"

Edge withdrew his weapon from the skull of the officer, who slumped over once the thing holding him up was gone.

"For Galbadoooooos!"

Edge turned to see an enemy soldier trying to perform a jumping attack with his sword. Edge would have shook his head at the man's stupidity for yelling before he attacked if he had had time. Edge jumped to the side and jabbed his sword through the man's ribs. The soldier fell to his knees and was about to keel over in pain, but literally lost his head. Edge then found a moment to shake his head.

"Who trains you people to yell like that? Its no wonder why we are winning this battle."

No enemy attempted to make an attack on him at the moment, as they were performing a tactical retreat to regroup. Of course, they were being pursued. Edge looked around until he found an unmounted horse. Edge navigated through the rushing Darkanite troops to the steed. He quickly climbed on and took the reins. Taking a glance around, he started to charge with the other forces. A lesser rank Arc Knight rode up beside him. This particular low rank Arc Knight happened to be a good aquantince with Edge recently.

"Edge," the man spoke, "Do you think justice is with Lord Iteron this day?"

As they rode, Edge looked to him, "I would guess so. Justice isn't one of the things I was trained in."

The other man was going to respond, but they had reached the reformed ranks of the Galbadosian forces and were forced to fight instead of talk. Edge stayed mounted for as long as possible, parrying and slaying the lowly privates of the Galbados forces. One of the officers of the Galbados army took notice of Edge's skills and smiled.

"I will deal with this one personally."

The officer, also mounted, rode forward and got directly in front of Edge, though still several feet and a pair of carcasses away. The officer pointed his sword at Edge and spoke.

"I, Turk Spence, have come to slay you myself. Accept my challenge!"

Edge smiled before he responded. "I accept your challenge, though it will be you who is to be slain."

The two rode towards the outskirts of the battle, can't have privates and others jump in. The positioned themselves as they were about to joust. Then, after a brief staredown, they charge each other. As they passed, they both attack. Sparks flew as the weapons clashed. Both remained mounted. The episode was repeated, except this time Edge was thrown off. Turk rode to slay his now unmounted foe, but Edge jumped to the opposite side, almost getting trampled as he passed in front of the horse, and swung his wave blade at Turk. The result was not harmful to the Galadosian officer, but he was dismounted. Without any hesitation, they rushed each other on foot, their weapons clashing. They crossed swords in front of each other, faces mere inches or less away. They could smell each other's sweat and breath, but neither noticed. Edge eventually won the deadlock, getting a weak slash onto Turk's shoulder, giving him a flesh wound, be fore disengaging and jumping back. Turk was too into the duel to notice. He chanted a few words and held his sword up and pointed it at the sky. Soon, hot flames bursted to life on the blade. Turk lowered his weapon and smiled.

"So, this guy is a Lune Knight," Edge muttered to himself, "better watch for any elemental attacks."

Edge rushed Turk again and soon they were swinging at each other while either stepping forward or backwards, weapons always striking each other. Sparks and flames flew with each clash, as well as did a resounding sound of metal on metal. The duel moved slowly away from the battle and they soon were no longer by anyone. Finally, Edge saw his chance and made a jab towards Turk's gut. The Galadosian jumped back, but still received a flesh wound. Angered, he chanted and swung his sword in Edge's direction. Hot flames jetted from the sword, threatening to turn Edge nice and crispy. Edge, however, had been anticipating such an attack for awhile. Arc Knights weren't without a bit of magic. Edge rolled to the side, getting a bit singed, while chanting. His wave blade's blade began to glow blue. Once back on his feet, he swung his weapon in the enemy's direction. Crystal shards about the size of a fist appeared around Turk, spinning. They soon stopped and pointed their sharpest parts at their target. They flew and struck the man, vanishing when they hit. Turk, injured by the attack, fell to a knee. Edge walked up to his doomed foe.

"Well, at least you don't scream like all those others do."

"Though I don't scream, I have failed my country, and more importantly, my family."

"...what?

"My family completely depends on me. I hope they'll be able to survive without me. And if they can, I hope they can cope with the loss..."

Edge had heard this kind of stuff for a long time now by those he had slain...except in a screaming, very short format. However, it finally took effect on him. He suddenly felt sorry for the man. Edge lowered his arm holding his wave blade, which was raised in a position for a finishing blow. He looked down to the ground and closed his eyes, wondering how many families and innocents he had indirectly harmed, or even killed, by slaying the one they loved and depended on. Turk, however, was getting impatient.

"Hurry up. Finish me already."

Edge spoke slowly, hesitantly. "Do they...really depend on you that much?"

Turk looked up at Edge questioningly. "Yes, but why do you even care to ask?"

"Go."

"What?"

"Go. I...I can't kill you. I cannot ruin another family like that."

"Your...not going to kill me? Even though I lost?"

Edge shook his head. "Go already, before someone from my army comes."

Turk stared at him for a moment and nodded. He slowly got up to his feet and mounted a stray horse that had wandered from the battle. Edge didn't move a muscle, but continued to stare at the ground. Turk started to ride off, but paused for a moment and looked back, before starting again. A single tear, the first in many many years, rolled down Edge's cheek. However, moments later, a couple of Darkan privates being led by an officer rode up. The officer wasn't happy. The trio dismounted.

"You are letting him get away? What's wrong with you!?" Edge didn't respond. "Are you listening? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Edge slowly rose his head and turned. "I'm tired of all this warfare. I don't want any part of it anymore."

The group was a bit surprised by those words, but the officer responded quickly. "So would forsake our country over..."

"I don't care anymore!" Edge interrupted, yelling. His expression was angry. "I'm sick of all of this. This...slaughter of men who have families who need them. I don't want any part of it anymore."

Silence fell over them all for a moment. The officer and Edge stared at each other. However, the officer then smiled, almost sinisterly.

"Those words are treason. Treason is punishable by death. However, I don't have authority to kill you here. I'm sure Lord Iteron will give me permission when I take you to him."

Edge stared hard at the officer. Rage boiled inside of him, boiled to slaughter the man where he stood, but he kept it restrained. Instead, Edge simply chanted for a second and then swung his wave blade at the trio. A very strong gust of wind came from behind Edge, blowing hard enough to throw the trio to their backs a few feet from where they stood. As they got to their feet, Edge quickly jumped on the officer's horse, which was obviously the quickest, and rode off. The trio stared as he rode off, stunned a bit. They had a bad report to file.

Several months later, once the assassin parties had stopped, Edge was in need of money. Having no choice, he took up being a mercenary. However, he would never accept a job that would require him to destroy families like he used to again. He continues his life as a mercenary to this day.