- this memory opens in a clearing in a forest, in the midst of a fight. it's not a verbal argument this time; it's actually a pretty intense swordfight. everything is pretty dark; it's just after midnight. it's implicitly understood that this is the kind of fight that's only going to have one victor. only one person is going walk out of this alive. the exact reason for this isn't explained here, but it's knowledge that informs every action you're taking; the consequences of just leaving would far outweigh whatever the cost of this fight will be.
- throughout the memory, you can hear people at the periphery of the clearing shouting out instructions - notes like "cut his head off", "go for the kill". there are two distinct voices, but you don't look towards either of them as the altercation goes on, completely focused on your opponent.
- your opponent, a boy around your age, is clearly more skilled than you are. all of your motions are fumbling your way around this weapon that you've never used before, but his are precise and graceful, effortless. that means that the fact that he hasn't won makes you a little bit furious - you know he's holding back. neither of you want to be fighting this battle at all, but you don't want him to just let you win, either.
- angrily, you tell him to stop going easy on you, and he asks you the same thing. the difference is that you aren't trying to; you legitimately have no idea how to do better than you are.
- even he can't pretend for too long, though, given the vast difference in your levels of skill. he makes a move that disarms you rather than does you any serious harm, and it brings you to the ground as the sword falls out of your hand. the voices of whoever's watching continue shouting advice - "run! do something!"
- he looks down at you, but hesitates instead of ending it immediately; he tells you how sorry he is, and you immediately tell him that you understand, that what's about to happen is okay. still, he doesn't move to strike, and after another tense moment he tells you that he'll let you pick up your weapon and keep going if you want to.
- when you decline, he reminds you that even if you surrender, he still has to kill you. you decline again, looking up at him; you know you aren't going to win even if you keep going given the differing level of skill. when he keeps asking you, nearly begging, you remind him that he's been training for this his entire life while you have absolutely no combat experience. you tell him you don't want to spend the last minutes of your life fighting, especially not with him. even with that said, he doesn't strike, his grip so tight on the hilt of his sword that it looks painful. one more time, he asks you to get up, to not make him do this. but you don't want to kill him, either, even if you'd won.
- it isn't that you aren't scared - your heart is pounding. you know that you've nearly reached the end, here, and there's a heavy sense of dread that you can't shake off. but he's going to be the one who has to live with the weight of what's about to happen - it always had to be him, and it always had to be you. you don't want to be someone that only causes him pain throughout the rest of his life, only a painful memory or a regret.
- so, again, you tell him it's okay. you tell him how happy you are to have had the chance to meet him regardless of the fact that things turned out this way. you remind him of how important he is to you - "you mean more to me than any kingdom or prophecy. you mean more to me than my own life".
- you tell him that you want it to be him who gets to leave here alive not only because of how much you care for him, but because you know he's going to be a great leader someday, and you know that because he's already an amazing person. "because you’re strong and you never give up, but you also listen to your heart. you act so tough, but i know deep down how much you care. everything you do, you do because you care, and i am so glad i got to meet you."
- there's a strong, genuine feeling of affection here amongst the fear and the tension. you pause for a moment, blinking a few times. he still hasn't moved to strike, clearly trying to hold back strong emotions of his own as you say all this. but - there's something else you want to be able to tell him before the end.
- with a deep breath: "if it's the last thing i ever get to say to you, i just want you to know... i love you."
mem 13 - for memshare game
- throughout the memory, you can hear people at the periphery of the clearing shouting out instructions - notes like "cut his head off", "go for the kill". there are two distinct voices, but you don't look towards either of them as the altercation goes on, completely focused on your opponent.
- your opponent, a boy around your age, is clearly more skilled than you are. all of your motions are fumbling your way around this weapon that you've never used before, but his are precise and graceful, effortless. that means that the fact that he hasn't won makes you a little bit furious - you know he's holding back. neither of you want to be fighting this battle at all, but you don't want him to just let you win, either.
- angrily, you tell him to stop going easy on you, and he asks you the same thing. the difference is that you aren't trying to; you legitimately have no idea how to do better than you are.
- even he can't pretend for too long, though, given the vast difference in your levels of skill. he makes a move that disarms you rather than does you any serious harm, and it brings you to the ground as the sword falls out of your hand. the voices of whoever's watching continue shouting advice - "run! do something!"
- he looks down at you, but hesitates instead of ending it immediately; he tells you how sorry he is, and you immediately tell him that you understand, that what's about to happen is okay. still, he doesn't move to strike, and after another tense moment he tells you that he'll let you pick up your weapon and keep going if you want to.
- when you decline, he reminds you that even if you surrender, he still has to kill you. you decline again, looking up at him; you know you aren't going to win even if you keep going given the differing level of skill. when he keeps asking you, nearly begging, you remind him that he's been training for this his entire life while you have absolutely no combat experience. you tell him you don't want to spend the last minutes of your life fighting, especially not with him. even with that said, he doesn't strike, his grip so tight on the hilt of his sword that it looks painful. one more time, he asks you to get up, to not make him do this. but you don't want to kill him, either, even if you'd won.
- it isn't that you aren't scared - your heart is pounding. you know that you've nearly reached the end, here, and there's a heavy sense of dread that you can't shake off. but he's going to be the one who has to live with the weight of what's about to happen - it always had to be him, and it always had to be you. you don't want to be someone that only causes him pain throughout the rest of his life, only a painful memory or a regret.
- so, again, you tell him it's okay. you tell him how happy you are to have had the chance to meet him regardless of the fact that things turned out this way. you remind him of how important he is to you - "you mean more to me than any kingdom or prophecy. you mean more to me than my own life".
- you tell him that you want it to be him who gets to leave here alive not only because of how much you care for him, but because you know he's going to be a great leader someday, and you know that because he's already an amazing person. "because you’re strong and you never give up, but you also listen to your heart. you act so tough, but i know deep down how much you care. everything you do, you do because you care, and i am so glad i got to meet you."
- there's a strong, genuine feeling of affection here amongst the fear and the tension. you pause for a moment, blinking a few times. he still hasn't moved to strike, clearly trying to hold back strong emotions of his own as you say all this. but - there's something else you want to be able to tell him before the end.
- with a deep breath: "if it's the last thing i ever get to say to you, i just want you to know... i love you."
- the memory ends.