Post by Kaibant on Mar 20, 2012 7:26:08 GMT -5
One soldier to another, Ivekio is asked a simple question. "Why do you serve the Claw like a slave serves it's master?" Ivekio, without hesitation, begins to explain, the small droplets of rain gently caressing his hair and cheeks as he stood before this stranger.
"I am no slave. I serve a purpose. I am a retainer. To be a soldier of honor and dedication, one's master -must- become their sole reason of existence. To dedicate yourself to a master and his cause is to dedicate yourself to something more than yourself. It is to wake up every day, beginning with your first breath of consciousness, knowing that you will likely die for your master that day. It is meditating on the fact that you are dead already, because when the times comes....and it will...you will lay down your life for any reason your master sees fit. His word is your law. His orders are as if they were given by the emperor himself. For through him, we serve the empire."
The stranger took in these odd words, staring at Ivekio in disbelief. "How could you consider yourself already dead? You speak of it as if it was nothing, but death is a very serious circumstance."
Ivekio looked at the man and smiled before saying, "Matters of great concern should be treated lightly. Matters of small concern should be considered seriously. The reasoning behind this logic is this: If a matter is so great that most, if not all, would take it very seriously, then it is beyond your control and you should not focus too much on it's solution. Small matters...they should be your primary focus, for it is those that build into matter you can no longer control. No soldier of honor should take longer than seven breaths to think on any given matter, however. For anymore time spent on such a thing is wasted. Act fast, act in spite of fear, rush in head-first and do what needs to be done. Do not dedicate your mentality to finding round-about ways of handling the situation, for your day of death is marked. All you can do is ensure that it is your front that is attacked, not your rear."
The man blinked a few times at Ivekio and shook his head. "Honor is dead. There is only victory by any means."
At that, Ivekio ran a hand over his head, his hand becoming drenched from the rain in his hair before he flicked the water from his flesh and to the ground. "To live in honor is to rise above all other things. Victory is not honor. Overcoming something is not strength. Overcoming something you couldn't accomplish before is strength, and to do it in a way that nullifies any...'upper-hand' advantage, such as an attack from the shadows, is honor. Nobody will ever always win. To lose, and to learn from the loss, is wise."
The man began laughing uncontrollably as Ivekio spoke, shaking his head at his words. "You are a fool. Serve your own ambitions and leave the scraps for those weaker than you."
Ivekio nods, contemplating the man's point of view before speaking. "When I die my death of honor in sacrifice for what I serve, I will die with a smile on my face because I will see my death coming. I will know that in my life, I served a purpose greater than myself. Would you?"
The man stopped laughing as he thought on the words before a flash of anger crossed his face, then stubbornness. "I will die with riches and power beyond imagination."
Ivekio nods. "Perhaps. Try taking them with you when you do die."
At that...the man stormed off, leaving Ivekio by himself on the bridge in Kaas City, the train dropping on his features as he closed his eyes, took a deep breath in, and whispered..."If I die today, I will welcome it. For I have earned it. If I live, I live to die for my master's cause."
"I am no slave. I serve a purpose. I am a retainer. To be a soldier of honor and dedication, one's master -must- become their sole reason of existence. To dedicate yourself to a master and his cause is to dedicate yourself to something more than yourself. It is to wake up every day, beginning with your first breath of consciousness, knowing that you will likely die for your master that day. It is meditating on the fact that you are dead already, because when the times comes....and it will...you will lay down your life for any reason your master sees fit. His word is your law. His orders are as if they were given by the emperor himself. For through him, we serve the empire."
The stranger took in these odd words, staring at Ivekio in disbelief. "How could you consider yourself already dead? You speak of it as if it was nothing, but death is a very serious circumstance."
Ivekio looked at the man and smiled before saying, "Matters of great concern should be treated lightly. Matters of small concern should be considered seriously. The reasoning behind this logic is this: If a matter is so great that most, if not all, would take it very seriously, then it is beyond your control and you should not focus too much on it's solution. Small matters...they should be your primary focus, for it is those that build into matter you can no longer control. No soldier of honor should take longer than seven breaths to think on any given matter, however. For anymore time spent on such a thing is wasted. Act fast, act in spite of fear, rush in head-first and do what needs to be done. Do not dedicate your mentality to finding round-about ways of handling the situation, for your day of death is marked. All you can do is ensure that it is your front that is attacked, not your rear."
The man blinked a few times at Ivekio and shook his head. "Honor is dead. There is only victory by any means."
At that, Ivekio ran a hand over his head, his hand becoming drenched from the rain in his hair before he flicked the water from his flesh and to the ground. "To live in honor is to rise above all other things. Victory is not honor. Overcoming something is not strength. Overcoming something you couldn't accomplish before is strength, and to do it in a way that nullifies any...'upper-hand' advantage, such as an attack from the shadows, is honor. Nobody will ever always win. To lose, and to learn from the loss, is wise."
The man began laughing uncontrollably as Ivekio spoke, shaking his head at his words. "You are a fool. Serve your own ambitions and leave the scraps for those weaker than you."
Ivekio nods, contemplating the man's point of view before speaking. "When I die my death of honor in sacrifice for what I serve, I will die with a smile on my face because I will see my death coming. I will know that in my life, I served a purpose greater than myself. Would you?"
The man stopped laughing as he thought on the words before a flash of anger crossed his face, then stubbornness. "I will die with riches and power beyond imagination."
Ivekio nods. "Perhaps. Try taking them with you when you do die."
At that...the man stormed off, leaving Ivekio by himself on the bridge in Kaas City, the train dropping on his features as he closed his eyes, took a deep breath in, and whispered..."If I die today, I will welcome it. For I have earned it. If I live, I live to die for my master's cause."