Cheerful laughter could be heard throughout the grand hall, pillars made of the finest marble and granite, adorned beautifully with decorations. The air of the hall had a lively spirit as beautiful men and women danced to the symphony composed by the kingdoms greatest choir.
"Truly supreme luxury, simply sublime!"
A middle aged gentleman with an average frame expressed his excitement to the young man beside him, an upperclass nobleman. Searching his eyes for that same excitement. Rather than showing any signs of enjoyment or even responding, the upperclass nobleman rolled his eyes and walked away, baffling the gentleman. Suspecting perhaps that these sorts of celebrations were simply routine for such noblemen, the gentleman didn't think much of it, realizing more and more how estranged he was from the world of nobility.
Enjoying the wonderful food and drinks from the banquet and ruminating in the atmosphere for a small time longer, the gentleman decided it was time he said his farewells and made his way home. Enjoying the slight breeze and the cool air of the night, the gentleman began his walk home, it was only about a five minutes at a leisurely pace, so the gentleman did not see a need to take a carriage. Thinking back to what brought him here and everything he had done to achieve such a lifestyle, the gentleman couldn't help but feel a sense of longing, or regret, he wasn't sure what it was, or why he was feeling it. He had fought tooth and nail to achieve what he imagined to be a comfortable life, having had grown up in a warzone, all he could had ever hoped for was stability, finally finding himself with nowhere further to reach for further stability, it was sinking in that he no longer desired safety or comfort or anything like that. His skin was itching to continue fighting off the wicked. The gentleman had long since understood that the forces of light and dark in this world were in a successful balance, war was a constant and innocent lives were constantly being lost in the crossfire, or often times they'd intentionally target innocent lives to lure out the strongest fighters of light for ambush, though it was inscribed by the most revered sage into the tomb of infinite knowledge that regardless of the circumstances, all things are always in balance and harmony.
The gentleman had once gazed at the tomb of infinite knowledge by accident and received this understanding along with many many other deep fundamental laws. Although this came at the cost of his sanity for many years, regaining his sense of self through instinctually fighting as he always had, realizing his sanity through each attacks cold and indifferent ferocity for its target. This gentlemans name is Zol, and just as he finished his second recollection of why he is who he is and what he fought for all those years, if everything was in perfect balance all along, it all finally clicked. Down to his soul he was an unbreakable fighter who fought for nothing but the fight itself, the clash between two living beings giving it their all to end the others existence before the other ends theirs. It wasn't the thrill of it or the adrenaline, Zol loved combat more than anything, though this left him feeling so lonely, lost, and directionless as he had already slain the four apocalyses, and the evil emporer, he had fought for four hundred years, having achieved a body that ages fifty times slower than the average human through immense training and spiritual attunement.
After slight deliberation, Zol decided to seek an apprentice, if he could pass on what he had learned, perhaps he could convince himself of having a reason to continue life. Zol secretly hoped that he could train a warrior mighty enough to slay himself, after all, Zol had been alive for nearly nine hundred years, with a few hundred more to go at the pace he was aging. Though the sudden realization, Zol was in no rush to put this plan into action, he had to think pragmatically about how he might go about selecting a worthy vessel for his teachings. Teaching itself, Zol had guessed, wouldn't be easy either, Zol had no experience with teaching anybody anything, only needing to learn what was necessary to survive for himself through the timeless method called the sink or swim mindset. Zol simply threw himself at every challenge and gave it his all, if he had ever run into a learning curve or an enviornment seemingly suited for the death of all living things or an opponent so impossibly strong, Zol simply became better. Realizing that this wasn't a replicatable style of combat or anything he could consider 'teaching', Zol was at a loss for any plan to teach anybody anything, but he was certain he had to.
Metal contacting metal could be heard, though only to Zol's ears as the noise of his key entering the lock was very slight. The sound of the leaves being caressed by the wind and the subtle crackling of the fire that continued to burn in his fireplace, Zol could hear every aspect of everything around him, it became overwhelming at times as he did not have the mediation of combat to direct his incredible focus and awareness towards, as such it bled over into his day to day life, forcing Zol to find alternative methods to satisfy his mental blade. Zol found it very meditative to read stories of other warriors and their adventures, the shade created by beautiful words was one of few things Zol could find comfort in. There was something artistic about an elegantly constructed tale, it reminded him of his most profound moments in battle, allowing him to further analyze what it had meant to have felt whichever type of way at the time.
The growing monotony was becoming too much to bear, as Zol carefully placed the book on the stand next to the red velvet sofa he was sitting on, gradually bringing his gaze back towards the fireplace and calming his mind.
"Rodney!"
Zol had called out towards servants quarters, requesting his servant's attention. Quickly and professionally entering the room, Rodney approached with haste, stopping an appropriate distance away, folding both arms behind his back and politely asking:
"How may I assist you today, great sir."
"Send a letter to King Bushal, inform him that I am searching for a disciple and would appreciate his help in organizing a tournament of sorts, perhaps a competition or a challenge, I have not yet decided, perhaps all three. Just inform the King that I would like to gather the sixteen strongest fighters from across the land."
"Understood sir, I will have the letter delivered by the morning sir, is there anything else I can assist you with?"
"Yes, fetch me a sandwhich, I'm feeling a bit peckish."
"Right away sir."
Preparing Zol's usual sandwhich, the servant Rodney placed the plate gentley down next to the book Zol had been reading, careful not to disturb the deep focus that seemed to remain within Zol's eye's at all times. Although Rodney was certain he wouldn't be able to shake the focus from his master's eye's even if he tried his hardest to surprise him, this didn't stop him from having courtesy for such a deep and peaceful gaze.
Rodney at times wondered what could possibly be going through his master's mind. Having had achieved all there was to achieve in life, fighting honestly to earn it, it could be argued that no one was more deserving to experience such luxury, yet Rodney always felt as his his master was just barely unsatisfied, as if something was always missing from his master, a core piece of identity, perhaps this was why his gaze always seemed to be so deep and introspective although simultaneously seeing only what was in front of him. Rodney had a lot of admiration for his Master, considering him the most noble of noblemen, even though he hadn't been one long. Previous employers had hardly ever even looked Rodney in the eyes, though it seemed whenever Zol called upon him, he wouldn't just make eye contact, it seemed as if Zol was staring right through him, as if no matter how uptight and proper Rodney attempted to portray himself, his rigid and nervous temperment underneath was as obvious as the sky was blue.
Alone with himself once again, Zol picked up the sandwhich and took a large bite.
"I am truly never disappointed with your sandwhiches Rodney!"
Zol shouted down the hall to no response, although Rodney made the same sandwhich every time, as this was Zol's personal favorite, Zol never found the taste to grow dull, as if it was a unique sandwhich every time, though the same ingredients. Finishing the sandwhich and returning to his book, Zol lost himself into the details of the plot as he drifted peacefully into a slumber.
Waking up unaware of how long he had been out, Zol checked the clock to see that he had been asleep for nearly 12 hours, unusual for a man such as him but perhaps the drinks and atmosphere of the previous night had left him properly fatigued. Zol decided to blame the quality of the sandwhich and the intricate details of the plot bewitching him into a deeper slumber than he was accustomed to.
Leisurely starting about his day, Zol called for Rodney to make him breakfast as he bathed himself and put on a fresh suit. Re-entering the main quarters of his large home, he spotted Rodney in the act of placing his food on the dining room table.
"Rodney, bring my breakfast to my study, I'd like to eat while enjoying the view of the town."
Rodney gave a courteous shallow bow as he picked the plates back up and followed his master into the study. Carefully placing the plates in front of Zol, Rodney gave another shallow bow as he exited the room, he was always careful not to disturb the focus in his masters eye's. He saw that although his eye's were focused and sharp, his eyes gave off a hint of fragility today, or perhaps that was just his grace he thought. Zol stared out the window for a long while, only glancing down to see his breakfast after a slight rumble of his stomach disturbed his tranquility, although he had smelled as much, he wasn't disappointed to find out that today's breakfast was pancakes and eggs.
After finishing his breakfast and relaxing a while longer on the upper balcony, as it was beautiful weather, Rodney approached Zol with an envelope.
"A letter from King Bushal sir."
"Thank you."
Recieving the envelope and opening it to read the letter, Zol skimmed over the fancy wording and got the general message that in order to gather the sixteen strongest fighters of the kingdom would take some time, most of the strongest warriors are stationed on the battlefield, after all, there was constant war. Zol expected as much, realizing Rodney had already left him to his own thoughts, Zol took a sip of his drink and laid back once again, considering how he could practically go about finding a good student. He hoped to come up with a good idea soon, he may have many years left in him, but he could feel his passion fading with the days and the comfortable lifestyle, and it left him feeling bitter.