The Death of Taegen

Taegen of The Filarion House

A silver-rank member of The Blade-Dancer Guild

Citizen of Silvyrn Capital.

Taegen Portraits

The report of Taegen's death simply claimed that he was brutally assassinated in a secret purge of Dark Elf Empire toward Silvyn Royal Army. The truth is that he voluntarily died by the blade of an assassin who surprisingly rose his excitement and sentiment during their first confrontation.

The star-crossed love story

In the weekly patrol outside the borders of Silryn territory, Taegen separated from his group and followed an unusual road, leaving his friends behind.

After walking into the deep, strange wood for not too long, he sensed the poison in the danger nearby and quickly revealed the culprit ingeniously stealthy around. The stalker came from his magically artificial shadow and greets Taegen with politeness.

They were in a neutral wood which were belonged to no kingdoms, no political influences. Two opponents soon rushed into each others and fought fiercely. They soon learned each others moves and used their best to impress rather than harm or kill their rival as nothing more than a friendly dance.

After long hours of playing around with incredibly agile martial art performance and durability competition, both of them started a peaceful break and chill-out conversation which briefly ignored the fact that one of them had to die sooner or later by each other's hand. A sentimental attachment slightly grew between them through many things in common. The assassin charmingly introduced his name Erlan and they were at the same age. Complimenting each others skills, weapons and physical strength, they soon got into more interests to discuss and got to each others' good side. However, the day was nearly over as well as the deadline of Erlan mission came to an end.

One of Dark Elven assassins' vows is that the target's heart has to bring to the eyes of their guild's leaders as a prove of loyalty and proficiency. Taegan knew that indeed. That is the matter of life whether Erlan kills Taegen today. If else, he would be punished, a similar death but more brutal, self heart removal. If some can not do it by themselves, they can pick someone to help them. Erlan rathered die by that way than kill Taegen because he also had feeling toward the young elven warrior.

They argued for a while and made a final decision - tossing a coin to choose who live and die. And the God of Fate brought sign as they wish. The blade dancer's blood would be fallen that day. Taegen accepted his fate and requested his lover to delivery the finishing blow on his body. Erlan was not able to accept the fact but he could not do anything differently against their mutual agreement.

Before that, they had the right moment which was the only chance to feel their love. They made the most of every second being with each others. Their bodies became one and during that time, their soul was bonded forever.

Taegen recalled folklore telling that the forest where they were sacred with the power of elven blood. For ages, people come here for many reasons. Most of them seek for the impossibilities in compensation for their own life. The performances in elfish rituals were implemented by the elven ancestors which are forgotten by people nowadays. Druids said that the magic of the forest was gone for a long time and there have been no signs of supernatural events related to it since the New Age.

Taegen came here with a determination in mind that something was able to end the war between two countries for over a hundred years - his and Erlan's people. What he doesn't know is that his lover had the same resolution. Their love and sacrifice would empower and actualize that mutual will as well as wake the magic of the forest back.

After the wonderful and miracle-like intimacy, both young lads realized unavoidable time had to come next. They looked at each other and exchanged an earnestly mournful glance.

Erlan drew his knife which impressed Taegen with its exquisite engraved patterns at the beginning of their fight. Erlan intoxicated the poisonous knife that will make the death of his love seem natural and less painful.

• It's honorable to die by the hand of the beloved one - Taegen thought.
• It's horribly hideous to kill someone you adore very much even though the fact that he had just met in hours. - Erlan thought.

Despite their thoughts, they acquired enjoyment by taking blood and killing as the result of military training as well as instinct. This event activated the stimulation and it is undeniable that they actually enjoyed it.

Taegen lied down, stayed still on the ground with steadfast determination, waiting for the cold-steel blade to penetrate deeply and then open his musclesic abdominal muscles revealing fresh intestines inside. That is the spirit of the ancient ritual which was lost and coincidentally re-enacted at that time. The grass would be saturated by blood and their wishes would be heard.

Erlan transfixed the knife slowly and carefully into his loved one's lower stomach and moved the blade vertically which enlarged the wound upward and made the blood run out promptly. At first, the agony took Taegen a moment. Then, there was been blessed satisfaction running throughout his body. A voice became clearer simultaneously, calling him to step forward to the gate.

Taegen's breath and vision were weaker. He inhaled deeply his last breath with the fragrance of plenty sort of grass, wildflowers, woods, and soil. He felt his blood was draining and spreading out from his abdomen, forming a bloody puddle under his back and dyeing grass with a vivid dark red color. The hand of Erlan still laid on Taegen's chest warming his heart till the last second. The elven warrior finally died, he closed his eyes peacefully and took his last breath.

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Artwork by Darragh Lewis

Finished on December 21st

Model: War Dancer Unit - Heroes Might and Magic V