Humming a song, Garryson slowly danced around the deck of the ship. He pretended that all the glittering stars were his audience. It had been years since he performed, and he missed it.
Its a beautiful thing... when someone learns to love their life. When through all the dark nights of despair... you finally see some light. For me, that happened when I was a teenager. It certainly wasn't the end of anything. It was the true beginning of my life as a man.
"Step right up! Come see with your own eyes!"
Garryson could not help but marvel at the sights around him. He had been hired to help clean at a circus that was passing through. It was hard not to get distracted. There were so many bright colors and sweet smells.
In the dead of the night, people started to finally go home. Garryson took a few moments to lean on his broom and study everything. Why was this so appealing to him? Perhaps he marveled at people's ability to just be happy and have fun.
Later on, he was sweeping one of the stages. He began to sing one of the songs he had heard from earlier. After a while he stopped sweeping and used his broom as a dance partner. They glided across the stage, twirling and turning. When he stopped remembering the words of the song, he dipped his broom, pretending it was a beautiful woman in a stunning gown.
One person's applause echoed through the tent. Garryson jumped a little and looked around to see who it was. He thought he saw the outline of someone, but he couldn't be sure. A light blush dusting his cheeks, he got back to work and hoped he wasn't going to get yelled at.
It was lonely working at that circus. I kept wishing I had someone to share the experience with. I think back then... I believed that a smile that wasn't seen by someone else didn't truly exist.
Garryson sauntered towards his next destination with his broom over his shoulder. His long ears twitched as he heard something nearby. He watched as a Roegadyn and some of his companions talked to an Elezen woman. The woman did not seem happy to be talking to them. His feet started to take him closer and closer.
"I said to just leave me alone." The woman commanded evenly.
"I suggest you listen to her."
The Roegadyn turned to see a young Garryson glaring at him. He laughed and approached him. In response, Garryson pointed his broom at him like a weapon.
"What are y'gonna do? Clean me?"
"I am the bringer of your broom! ... Y'know ... like doom?" Garryson sighed and shook his head. "Hold on, I can do better." He started to chew one of his fingernails as he leaned on his broom and thought.
The Roegadyn took a moment to comprehend what was going on before he stepped up to the boy. In response, Garryson quickly swung his weapon at the other man's crotch. A metallic rang sounded out. He realized the large man was wearing armor, but for a few quick seconds his eyes bulged as he thought about how little he knew of Roegadyn anatomy.
He held his broom up to block the huge fist coming at him. His broom broke in half and he was sent to the ground. His instincts told him to run, and to run fast. He had no chance. Just as he started to go, he saw the woman being held in place by the other men. What would happen to her if he ran away? Flashes of Kate's face replaced the stranger woman's for a few brief moments.
Slowly gritting his teeth, he grabbed the remaining wood from his broom and ran at the Roegadyn. He only could score a few blows, and each felt like they didn't hurt his opponent. But each punch he received sent waves of pain through his body. Bloodied and bruised, he lay on his back struggling to breath.
He wanted to run. That is how he had survived all this time. But there was someone in trouble. Slowly getting to his feet, he grabbed his stick once more and pointed it defiantly.
The Roegadyn laughed. "You look pretty menacing with that little stick."
"Its not a stick." Garryson grinned brightly. "Its a sword. And I'm a knight. There's a damsel in distress."
"If that's a sword..." The Roegadyn pulled a large axe from his back and held it ready.
Garryson shut one of his eyes as blood trickled over it. He was probably going to die. So he let his imagination boost his confidence. He stared at his thin arm and the broken stick weakly grasped in his hand. After blinking, suddenly his arm was covered in armor, and in his hand was a shining sword. He smiled warmly and ran forward.
Next thing I knew... I woke up on a ship. It turns out the circus was all just a front for a band of pirates. Pirates that had evidently saved my life.
His head was throbbing when he woke up. After his eyes had adjusted to the dim light, he looked over to see a man sitting in a chair watching him.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Cap'n Arkus Lionhart..." The man stood up and bowed deeply. "At yer service, lad."
He was a Hyur man with crimson red dreadlocks. After giving Garryson some water, Arkus sat back down. Garryson gulped the water down, realizing how thirsty he was.
"That was quite a show y'put on, mate. I clapped for ya, but I'm 'fraid ya were awready unconcious."
Garryson blushed faintly and looked away. "I-I thought I was gonna die... so I... might as well pretend I was a knight..."
"Its the dreamers that make summa the biggest changes in tha world." Arkus leaned forward and smiled kindly. "Those who say there are no heroes... Well, I say they be too scared 'ta do what it takes to be somethin' more, savvy?"
"Yeah..."
Arkus laughed. "So you wanna be a knight, do ya?"
"I-I... uhm..."
"Learn 'ta be a pirate first." Arkus stood up and started to walk way. He looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Once y'do that... then I'll teach ya to be a knight. Get some rest. Ya start in the mornin'."
My days with Arkus and the others were the happiest of my life. I learned so much about the world and about myself. I wish they would have lasted forever. But I've learned all too deeply that nothing lasts forever in this life.
All I have now are memories.
Its a beautiful thing... when someone learns to love their life. When through all the dark nights of despair... you finally see some light. For me, that happened when I was a teenager. It certainly wasn't the end of anything. It was the true beginning of my life as a man.
"Step right up! Come see with your own eyes!"
Garryson could not help but marvel at the sights around him. He had been hired to help clean at a circus that was passing through. It was hard not to get distracted. There were so many bright colors and sweet smells.
In the dead of the night, people started to finally go home. Garryson took a few moments to lean on his broom and study everything. Why was this so appealing to him? Perhaps he marveled at people's ability to just be happy and have fun.
Later on, he was sweeping one of the stages. He began to sing one of the songs he had heard from earlier. After a while he stopped sweeping and used his broom as a dance partner. They glided across the stage, twirling and turning. When he stopped remembering the words of the song, he dipped his broom, pretending it was a beautiful woman in a stunning gown.
One person's applause echoed through the tent. Garryson jumped a little and looked around to see who it was. He thought he saw the outline of someone, but he couldn't be sure. A light blush dusting his cheeks, he got back to work and hoped he wasn't going to get yelled at.
It was lonely working at that circus. I kept wishing I had someone to share the experience with. I think back then... I believed that a smile that wasn't seen by someone else didn't truly exist.
Garryson sauntered towards his next destination with his broom over his shoulder. His long ears twitched as he heard something nearby. He watched as a Roegadyn and some of his companions talked to an Elezen woman. The woman did not seem happy to be talking to them. His feet started to take him closer and closer.
"I said to just leave me alone." The woman commanded evenly.
"I suggest you listen to her."
The Roegadyn turned to see a young Garryson glaring at him. He laughed and approached him. In response, Garryson pointed his broom at him like a weapon.
"What are y'gonna do? Clean me?"
"I am the bringer of your broom! ... Y'know ... like doom?" Garryson sighed and shook his head. "Hold on, I can do better." He started to chew one of his fingernails as he leaned on his broom and thought.
The Roegadyn took a moment to comprehend what was going on before he stepped up to the boy. In response, Garryson quickly swung his weapon at the other man's crotch. A metallic rang sounded out. He realized the large man was wearing armor, but for a few quick seconds his eyes bulged as he thought about how little he knew of Roegadyn anatomy.
He held his broom up to block the huge fist coming at him. His broom broke in half and he was sent to the ground. His instincts told him to run, and to run fast. He had no chance. Just as he started to go, he saw the woman being held in place by the other men. What would happen to her if he ran away? Flashes of Kate's face replaced the stranger woman's for a few brief moments.
Slowly gritting his teeth, he grabbed the remaining wood from his broom and ran at the Roegadyn. He only could score a few blows, and each felt like they didn't hurt his opponent. But each punch he received sent waves of pain through his body. Bloodied and bruised, he lay on his back struggling to breath.
He wanted to run. That is how he had survived all this time. But there was someone in trouble. Slowly getting to his feet, he grabbed his stick once more and pointed it defiantly.
The Roegadyn laughed. "You look pretty menacing with that little stick."
"Its not a stick." Garryson grinned brightly. "Its a sword. And I'm a knight. There's a damsel in distress."
"If that's a sword..." The Roegadyn pulled a large axe from his back and held it ready.
Garryson shut one of his eyes as blood trickled over it. He was probably going to die. So he let his imagination boost his confidence. He stared at his thin arm and the broken stick weakly grasped in his hand. After blinking, suddenly his arm was covered in armor, and in his hand was a shining sword. He smiled warmly and ran forward.
Next thing I knew... I woke up on a ship. It turns out the circus was all just a front for a band of pirates. Pirates that had evidently saved my life.
His head was throbbing when he woke up. After his eyes had adjusted to the dim light, he looked over to see a man sitting in a chair watching him.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Cap'n Arkus Lionhart..." The man stood up and bowed deeply. "At yer service, lad."
He was a Hyur man with crimson red dreadlocks. After giving Garryson some water, Arkus sat back down. Garryson gulped the water down, realizing how thirsty he was.
"That was quite a show y'put on, mate. I clapped for ya, but I'm 'fraid ya were awready unconcious."
Garryson blushed faintly and looked away. "I-I thought I was gonna die... so I... might as well pretend I was a knight..."
"Its the dreamers that make summa the biggest changes in tha world." Arkus leaned forward and smiled kindly. "Those who say there are no heroes... Well, I say they be too scared 'ta do what it takes to be somethin' more, savvy?"
"Yeah..."
Arkus laughed. "So you wanna be a knight, do ya?"
"I-I... uhm..."
"Learn 'ta be a pirate first." Arkus stood up and started to walk way. He looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Once y'do that... then I'll teach ya to be a knight. Get some rest. Ya start in the mornin'."
My days with Arkus and the others were the happiest of my life. I learned so much about the world and about myself. I wish they would have lasted forever. But I've learned all too deeply that nothing lasts forever in this life.
All I have now are memories.
![[Image: HvjYXi5.png]](http://i.imgur.com/HvjYXi5.png)
