Vanguard
"Have you listened to what I just said, woman? I came to return this notebook, you dropped it earlier." Vanguard responded, his voice calm and monotone, but growing heavier by the second. In fact, his whole being seemed to become heavier, as if it was to sink down the earth any second.
"I have no wish to come, nor have I committed or intended to commit any harm. If I have offended you or your honor in any way, forgive me. However, know that while I have no desire to cause any harm, I will respond in kind to further hostility."
Then he tossed her the notebook she had lost at her feet, the great warrior looking down upon the two. Both had drawn their weapons at him so suddenly, even when all he had came for was to help, perhaps to enjoy one's company once again. It had been long since he had ever spoken to another, so long. And yet all would reject him.
That was his curse, the curse of the most unsighty of them all. His life, his city, his purpouse, his body, his dignity and his name. All had been taken from him. And for one who had been reduced to nothing, there was nothing else to do but nothing. Even so, perhaps it was simply because she resembled her so much that he wished to reach her. Perhaps to atone, or to relive the times of old as if nothing ever happened.
"I simply wished to speak to you, but if you desire to deny me such a thing, I will understand. I guess it is... selfish of me to demand a human to treat me as one. After all, I have lost such a right long ago."
But such a wish was foolish, nothing could save his world. All he could do was carry on and pursue the eternal peak, no matter how depraved it is. With that, even if they, even if he could not be saved, the world could be. That was his only will, the one thing that made him carry forward. But when he saw her, even for an instant, he had forgotten of that reason. For that instant, perhaps in his deepest corner of his crumbled psyche, he wished to be saved. To be human.
"Yes, human happyness is something I have lost the right to cherish. Thank you, Noel, for reminding me of my burden. Had you not, I would have broken my oath."
And that was why Vanguard was to be the greatest fool of all.
"Thank you."
The world would reject him, he would never be welcome. As the one who could not save it, he would carry it's hatred and be shamed and sullied for eternity. Even so, he loved it with all his heart. He had endured, unfazed by the cries of billions for millenia. He had endured all the hatred of the world, all the spite. But this one time, to be yelled at by one who looked like her... hurt too much.
For the first time ever since he had been cast in this accursed vessel, Vanguard hurt. And nothing would ever heal the wound that had opened in his heart. It hurt so much, he would scream and shout and cry. He would ask why would he be spited in such a way, why was he so unwelcome. Why did she yell at him in such a way, when he only wished to show kindness and gentleness, even for once.
His hands who had been stained in the blood of the earth would never hold another, they were not hands that could show gentleness. It was foolish to try.
"I am sorry." His dull voice echoed again, and then the warrior stood silent.
That was his eternal curse.
