You have always been the greatest warrior in your kingdom. You've won a lot of battles. You have conquered a large number of enemy nations. The king has bestowed wealth and honor upon you. Your living room wall is covered with medals. You're proud to wear them outside of your armor at times. Your fellow warriors are jealous of you. You are lauded by the crowd. Your fame has travelled across the seven seas. You have all of the strategies memorized.

But this one day was not yours. None of your weapons were sharp enough. You haven't touched them in a long time. You neglected your responsibility. You have taken the vow that your life should be for your kingdom. But you have forgotten that you are a warrior. You could not face the weapons of your enemies. Their swords pierced your flesh. For the first time, your blood was spilled on the battlefield.

You couldn't face the king's gaze. Those who had envied you looked at you with contempt. Those who had worshipped you were disappointed. Even your enemies may have been baffled as to how the world's greatest warrior was defeated. They bowed before you with reverence, as you lay bleeding on the battlefield. The lesson you taught them through all of your battles. The custom of honoring a fallen warrior.

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You're running away from failure, with your head down. You've decided to hide. Because the mighty warrior within you no longer exists. The wounds on your body have dried up and blood began to clot. You are holding your sword close to your chest, even if you keep falling to the ground due to hunger and thirst. Finally you find yourself in front of a cave. There is nothing but dense forest around. You dashed into the cave without a second thought. Despite the darkness, you are running forward. The sounds of the outside world have faded. You're lying in the dark, staring into the unknown. Where did you go astray? You forgot that a warrior's life is sustained by his weapon. You recall the Mater's words “Rusty weapons have no place on the battlefield”. This sword needs to be sharpened.

Suddenly, you hear the roar of a wild beast. It's approaching you in the dark. You take your weapon and slay it into the ground. You must now learn how to use the weapon in the dark. You must survive. To return to your kingdom. To fight, win, and keep your head held high. Your life must end on the battlefield. That alone must be the end of a great warrior.

© Bincy John