Role

Chapter 2

It was always at the height of summer that his parents both returned.
Deiramor was not sure why, but it had become a tradition. So it was with
great anticipation that he awaited by the valley entrance to Darsylon.

But only his mother returned; and when she drew him into an embrace and
whispered that his father had fought bravely but had breathed his last,
Deiramor knew nothing would be the same.

A shadow had fallen over Deiramor's life. He had known what his parents
fought was dangerous, but a part of him had never understood it on anything
other than an abstract level. Now it was all too real. It was no longer a
fun passtime to imagine the evils that his brave family were vanquishing,
but it was only the first blow.
For two weeks later, as had happened many times before, his mother told
Deiramor that soon she returned to the battle.

"Why? Why must you go? Haven't you done enough?"

Her gentle rebuke came swiftly.

"Because we endure, Deiramor. We endure because we must."

She did not return, but her final wisdom would stay with him forever.