Undefined Disorders 2nd Era: An Absurd Monument to a Victory
I saw a knight with a limping right leg, and I followed him through forests, valleys sprouting from the forests, and the small towns where those valleys led. Not once did he look back; he didn’t fear the dark eyes that might be tracking him. Perhaps he was a carefree, reckless hero without the capacity to even contemplate such fear, or maybe he was a traveler who had faced his fears, torn them apart, and made each piece an imprint of his journey. Throughout our journey, he rested on his enormous sword held in his left hand. He would pause in the shadows of trees to drink water, wedge himself between rocks, press his hands against them, and gaze at the sky, watching the slow-moving clouds on these calm days. Sometimes I heard him talking to himself, as if humming a tune, but not cheerful ones—more like melodies that would plunge him deeper into sorrow, evoking memories of past mistakes and defeats.
A few times, he encountered other people. Those he met noticed me as well, but he, the traveler I was tracking, never seemed curious about me. We walked, trudging down the same path for days. I kept my distance far enough that he couldn’t hear my footsteps unless his ears were unnaturally sharp. I was experienced in such tracking, having followed dozens of people before, hiding within their shadows. No one ever forced me to do this, nor did they judge me when I didn’t; everything was a consequence of my own choices. I had learned this from those who knew that everything in life stemmed from their own decisions, and I was always curious about those who didn’t think this way, wondering what had happened to them. I wanted to know the fate of those who were pushed to act, who never found themselves, and who were still searching.
I continued to follow him, neither of us voicing our weariness. A curious pursuer and an uncertain traveler consumed time together. We were lost within it, like birds losing their wings in the mist. The sky pressing down on us brought us closer to the earth, increasing our longing to reach refreshing waters. Even though blisters formed under my feet, I kept walking, eager to rest at the traveler’s destination and gather strength for a new journey.
May, 2025 by Demon Ego
