Are there still men and women with the right values? When the Shadow threaten, how many will fight for a country not their own? How many will give their lives to defend the city? I grew up on the streets, and realized early on the common man is more interested in keeping track of his purse and staying out of trouble. Trollocs exist only in bedtime stories and the city guard gets paid to do their job, so the common man does not care. The common man locks his door, closes the curtains and hides in his bed, pretending not to hear the screams from the street. Honor is a word forgotten.

So many around me stopped fighting, stopped believing, maybe even stopped caring. Eyes tired of war and weary of fighting meets mine when I look around. Hopelessness echoes on the streets and beaten men and women walk past me. Dedication has been replaced with apathy. Their sleep grows long enough to engulf years, and their names slowly fade into history, or out of memory. Where did all the great leaders go? All the spectacular berserks and cunning rogues? Heroes of whose bravery I was told, and with awe I wondered how I would ever be able to fill up their place in the ranks.

I have come to realize I can not wait for another hero. Those men and women are long gone, and no matter my prayers they will not come back. It is time to stop dreaming of what we once were, realize what we have become and look ahead for what we can yet be. This brotherhood can rise again and if there are no great leaders to follow into battle, then I will lead there myself. If that day comes, I’ll be on the last stand for the Light.

One heart, One mind, One vision.

~Ewiene Ellis’era~