Sit, warm yourselves by the fire. Children, do you wish to hear a story? I could provide one for no cost. I see you grabbing your pouches but do not threat. You won't have to lighten them yet.
I propose to you a tale. A tale as old as love and truth and unity. I have told it often through my travels, in little valley towns and villages and enormous mountain fortresses. It always causes a ruckus. Perhaps it might cause one here as well.
I will be indulgent for a second and say I do not know the people this story is based on. I know of them, and I know some of their acquaintances, but I have never had the pleasure personally. It is one of my life's many failings. I would give my left arm to meet the savage but beautiful Sylla or the awkward yet capable Serje - I really would.
Who are these heroes of yore you ask? Only the two greatest bounty hunters in the lands. Famed for capturing all manner of creature, exploring the most dangerous dungeons, and fielding the scariest fiends.
How did they manage such feats? With love, of course. Love is the most dangerous weapon in this world. Sharper than any steel capable of rendering the most fearsome foe mute. If you have ever given yourself fully to someone you might know what it means to feel invincible.
Their love was born of contrast. Said contrast made them enemies at first. Both being the hard heads that they are they struggled to admit their feelings for a long time. But once the spark was lit the fire that emerged eclipsed all others.
Serje was a scholar, a learner, a coward. His place was in the library reading some dusty tome. Sylla thought him the way of the world, the many different cultures and religions. She was a warrior, you see. Blessed with a dexterity few possessed, and even fewer still with the determination and patience to use it.
With Serje's smarts and Sylla's skills, there was no foe that could match them. Serje improved Sylla's equipment tenfold. He created unbreakable protection runes and deadly poisons. While Sylla protected Serje like a mother bear protecting her cub. She thought him how to live, truly. How to experience life's pleasure and forget about the little things.
Little things were the slow killer. A silent assassin.
Sylla also tempered Serje's greed. Serje was always ambitious, always seeking more knowledge and more power. Sylla kept him in check. While Serje thought his beloved about the power of seeking your worth and never letting others dictate your fortune.
Their relationship had some hiccups, what fairytale relationship doesn't? But those setbacks only served to make them stronger. By the end of their lives, when they were supposed to be over and done with, they had their greatest success. They went against every norm and proved the world wrong every chance they got.
Remarkable and inspirational.
What happened to them, you ask? Few know, young ones. Some say they were slain at the battle of Karliage, along with hundreds of other sell-swords. Others claim they were captured and horribly tortured at the hands of the Baron of Agony. And yet there are those foolish enough to insist they are living on some deserted island with no care in the world. Bah!
Personally, I cannot fathom that pair of legends settling down as such. Mark my words, those two died with a song in their throats. Or, if they live still, they are leading some village or mercenary company. A life of dull contemplation? For Serje and Sylla? Madness.
Poetic either way I'd say. Fitting that we do not know their end, it would spoil the mystique of their lore.
I am sure you want to know more. Believe me, child, I wish to know more as well. These two have been my fascination for years and from the little crumbs I've gathered here and there I know that I do not know nothing about them.
And I'm alright with that.
If you wish to know more, I'm afraid you will have to lighten your purse.
Obligatory shout-out to the 🍕PIZZA🍕 gang, 🤙 gang. 🤙
This is more of a story bible for my TWIN Anthology series. I plan on taking that anthology and building an actual narrative around it and eventually publishing it as a novella. I might do more of these story bibles as I go, as this one was the hard introduction part of it. Not sure how fun it was to read I must admit. 😅 I hope it was a little entertaining for some of you at least.
Cover image source.
I hope you are having a fantastic day! And if not don't threat! The sun always rises. 🙌
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