Role

Chapter 1

"Do you see things simply in black or white only?" Recruit Baloth sneered. The young
recruits were sitting on the benches in the messhall, eating their dinner. They chided
him because he was able to understand the teachings of the laws of land and apply
them successfully during class.

"Will you tell a whore that she is ugly when you are going to bed her?" He mocked. The
rest laughed.

"I will," Archas replied.

"If your comrade is dying from a wound, will you keep it from him?" Another asked.

"No."

"What about if your mother is dying from a plague that has robbed her skin? On her
deathbed, she asks you if you still think she's beautiful?" One of them shouted.

His answer was a simple 'Yes'.

They stopped laughing. Recruit Baloth snorted. "This guy tells lies as he pleases. He
will tell a whore she's ugly, a comrade that he will die. But tells his mother she's
beatiful when ugly! What a confused man he is!"

In fact, that was what he told his mother when she laid on her deathbed, dying from a
wasting disease. It was not because he wanted to tell a lie. He loved her too much,
and he knew that was a human weakness or even strength. He wondered if there is love
in Truth. Though they never needed to know his struggles.

"So will you tell your enemy that he looks real pretty in a floral dress, when he's
actually ugly and in a full-plated armor?" A resonant voice called out.

Everyone turned towards the source of the voice. Ex-Captain Kerias stood by the
doorframe smoking his pipe.

"Yes, if it gets me an advantage over him," was the calm reply. Uncle Kerias took
another puff and nodded. Then he walked out of the messhall.

All this time, Archas was gripping his fork tightly under the table. Yet, in his mind
and heart, he was in control of his emotions. No one saw his anger and sorrow as he
had maintained his breathing and focused on the Illusion of Void.