Information

Malidus has a minion!

Rasmus and Zei the Pair of Lovebirds

Malidus
Legacy Name: Malidus

The

Glade Montre
Owner:

Amane

Age: 15 years, 10 months, 2 days

Born: July 16th, 2008

Adopted: 15 years, 10 months, 2 days ago (Legacy)

Adopted: July 16th, 2008 (Legacy)

Statistics

Level: 63
Strength: 145
Defense: 21
Speed: 21
Health: 20
HP: 20/20
Intelligence: 97
Books Read: 84
Food Eaten: 0
Job: Battle Master

Tales of brave knights and faraway kingdoms filled my childhood with wonder and inspiration.

My father was a writer, and a damn good one at that. He created worlds for me at bedtime, full of battles and politics and humor, maybe a bit of despair here and there. It's because of him that I became such a daydreamer, an optimist with a heart and mind full of hope, and a practiced swordsman at a young age.
My mother, however, didn't see much worth in such "frivolous" and "violent" things.

"You've filled his head with nonsense-- stunted his growth! His head is in the clouds when he should be studying. Useless, the both of you!"

I heard that most of my young life. My father hardly argued back. He was a meek man, but I believed that was actually his strength, in a way. I don't think he thought that of himself, though.

Years passed, and my mother grew more and more adamant that my father and I were failures. She left us, leaving us with very little income. In our rickety little village, she was the hardest worker, tutoring the other children. And despite the fact that I was my father's biggest fan, his novels did not move very well.

As my 18th birthday fast approached, my father became ill. We could hardly sustain ourselves. He wrote shorter and shorter stories, poems, anything he could to try and grab a reader's interest, to bring in just enough income to keep me fed. It broke my heart.

I laid awake one night, my spirit broken. There was hardly any work in our village left, nothing I excelled at, anyway. Maybe I really am useless, I thought. What if mother was right? If things kept up, my father would die, and I'd have done nothing about it. What worth would I have then...?

The next morning, a merchant (one who occasionally visits, to bring mail, trinkets, news from around the world and the like) came by. I was sitting outside, sort of absentmindedly. He studied me for a moment, and his eyes glanced over the short sword at my side.

"Swordsman or thief?"

I frowned and stood up straight, trying to put on a proud, regal air. "A thief?! Never. Swordsman! ...At least I'd like to be." I kicked at a rock on the ground and watched it skip across the ground. The merchant jumped down from his seat and handed me a rolled up piece of paper.

"Perhaps this'll help you then, not-yet-a-swordsman." He smiled, then gracefully leapt back into his cart and settled back down, moving on towards the next house.
I unrolled it and read every word, my eyes growing wide with an excitement I hadn't felt in months. As it was printed, and I quote:

- Official Call-to-Arms from the Kingdom of Ledus -

Our beautiful kingdom is facing troubled times. The murder of our wonderful Queen, Ariel, has made me realize that we must expand our knighthood, recruiting only those that I deem trustworthy and loyal.

I will personally meet with and assess the abilities of those who answer this call. You must be level-headed, have skill in swordsmanship, and you must be willing to protect the people of Ledus with your life.

Our kingdom is located far south of the snow plains. Come to the outer gate and tell the guard if you come to join the knighthood.

- King Rasmus

I held the paper, hands shaking from anticipation. This had to be fate! I ran inside and showed my father-- but stopped short of his door. I felt a pang of guilt and fear. Could I really leave him like this? Even if this would be my best shot at making some money, perhaps enough to get him the care he desperately needed...

I walked in and he slowly turned his head towards me, eyes heavy with pain. He cracked a weak smile. "Malidus? you look both happy and sad. What's the matter?"

I held the paper up for him and gushed about it. I couldn't seem to stop myself! I blurted out my dreams, the very ones that he had inspired in me, how I could finally have a chance at pursuing them, proving I could make something of myself!

When I finally slowed down, he chuckled a bit, his voice hoarse. I saw a sparkle in his eyes that I'd thought died out.
"Oh Malidus... I want you to go. Please. There's nothing left for you here... surrounded by poverty, by my illness. Others in the village can take care of me..." he reached and gently patted my cheek. "...But even if I were to die while you were away, I could pass with joy, knowing you would be the knight I always knew you could be."

I couldn't help but cry. I hugged him-- gently, whispered my goodbyes and I-love-yous. I quickly packed my things, the bare essentials, and my sword, of course. I could still hear the merchant's cart clattering about outside. I rushed out and begged him to let me hitch a ride to Ledus. A sly smiled spread across his face. He told me he'd been waiting for me. I hopped up next to him, trembling with excitement as he urged his elk towards my village's entrance.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

I know this got pretty long-winded, but I can't help myself! This was my calling, what I was meant for! And not only that. I'd meet the two people I love most because of this, the ones who I cherish more than life itself. Something I'm so grateful for that I can barely express it!

The world opened up in front of me, and I embraced it. How could I ever be happier?

[Profile coding by User not found: autobot]
[Art by Audrey Kare]
[Story and graphic edits by me]