tragedy-art (November-2024)

"Toflak! An enemy mindbender! Right there!" "They seem to be an easy target, I'll make quick work of 'em."

Toflak moves towards the mindbender, standing there with a blank expression. Toflak raised their sword and cut down the mindbender, who disintegrated into smoke as the mind rod dropped into the ocean.

"See Arklin! Mindbenders are easy pre-"

The fog cleared near Toflak, revealing the comrade of the recently fallen mindbender. The Ai-mo pointed the mind rod onto Toflak's head. Arklin looked in disbelief.

"Chief always told me not to get greedy near the fog... I should have listened," Toflak turned around, facing Arklin, "Alert the archers to get rid of this scum. As for me, you will have to kill me."

"Bu-but we could get our mindbenders to bring you ba-"

"It would be too late. One of us would die by the time they reach here."

Toflak shed tears infront of their fellow comrade and best friend since childhood. Toflak's clothes were slowly fading turquoise, a marking appeared on their head.

"You always dreamed of being a veteran since you were a child, this is your chance. It would be an honor for me to grant you that."

"No, no! No! NO!" Arklin cried out.

"It'll be okay, tell my parents I loved them."

Memories flashed before Toflak's eyes. They slowly faded away, being replaced with memories of serving the Ai-mo Empire.

Arklin raised their sword, looking at their former comrade. No longer there.

"You Bardur bastard! You smell like a baerion! Vile!" Toflak, now an Ai-mo, shouted in anger.

In one swing, Toflak vanished into the air. Bardur archers would arrive at the scene, finishing off the mindbender.

The Bardur chief would arrive, giving improved equipment to Arklin.

"You are now a veteran, stop acting like a baby."

Arklin wiped their tears, waiting for the chief to leave. The moment chief was far away, Arklin cried the rest of the day.