Love or Honor: A Tragic Oath by Joshua Sharrock - Select - 2007.11 Magazine 2007.09 Magazine 2007.08 Magazine 2007.05 Magazine 2007.04 Magazine 2007.03 Magazine 2007.02 Magazine 2006.12 Magazine 2006.11 Magazine 2006.10 Magazine 2006.09 Magazine 2006.07 Magazine 2006.06 Magazine 2006.05 Magazine 2006.03 Magazine 2006.02 Magazine 2006.01 Magazine 2005.12 Magazine 2005.11 Magazine 2005.10 Magazine 2005.09 Magazine 2005.07 Magazine 2005.05 Magazine 2005.04 Magazine 2005.03 Magazine 2005.02 Magazine 2005.01 Magazine 2004.12 Magazine 2004.10 Magazine 2004.09 Magazine 2004.08 Magazine 2004.07 Magazine 1 , 2 page We would like to thank all the participants of the Ragnarok Online ¡°Love Story¡± Fan-Fiction Contest. The quality and creativity of all the submissions were extremely impressive and we enjoyed reading each story! We are proud to present the winning entries: Love or Honor: A Tragic Oath by Joshua In life people are bound and connected to one thing or another. Some are bound by trust, some by hate, some by honor, and some by love. What happens when one tries to defy his own fate and turn his back upon that which he is bound? Let us journey to the unforgiving sands of the Sograt Desert where this tale of love begins and find out. In this desolate desert stands a complex that holds within its walls a fearful brotherhood. The Assassins Cross is the home and training ground for lost souls who have turned to the art of murder to make their wages. They are bound by a blood oath to keep their loyalty to the brotherhood and to break or defy this bond means certain death. This was no exception for Azimuth who had devoted his entire teenage years to the Assassins Cross and had always fulfilled his duties. Azimuth was not alone in his travels for he was partnered with a fellow assassin named Celeras, and they were a diabolical pair only to be feared. One night they had both been given an assignment to assassinate Oriel Dahalla who was a High Priest of the Church of Prontera. In the darkness they moved like shadows and traveled through the desert towards the lands of Prontera. ¡°Azi¡¦.you have been quiet tonight. Not having second thoughts about this mission are you?¡± Celeras asked curiously as they traveled. ¡°Not getting cold feet now of all times I hope.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry about that Celeras, I was only wondering who would want to kill a priest. It's not like they bother anyone other than wave a book full of old stories. Eh, it doesn't really matter though does it Cel? We still get paid at the end of the night.¡± Azimuth let out a laugh and continued on with Celeras. They arrived within the walls and made their entrance to the city over the walls and past the guards. The home of the Priest Dahalla was unguarded and this mission looked easy. Azimuth took the second floor and Celeras took the first, and the two of them started their sweep of the house. Azimuth had strolled into a bedroom when in his carelessness and confidence he hadn't noticed a young woman in the room as well. She was sitting at a mirror fixing her hair for the night when she caught Azi's reflection in the mirror. She turned and met his eyes, but did not scream. Azimuth's training told him to dispose of those who had seen him, but this girl was different and he could not even move. Why was this girl's beauty any different than the others? What was it about her that was so special? Azimuth knew not what he was going to do, so he plainly placed his index finger to his lips and moved quietly out the door. A guard had just happen to see him and called out for an alarm! Azimuth had been seen and this mission was now over. Azimuth turned left then right not knowing where to go, for the guard had brought the attention to the other guards and he was cornered now. Azimuth caught the sight of Celeras fleeing from the view of the hall window, and when all seemed over for him a hand grabbed him and pulled him back in to the room. The young girl had pulled him back in and locked the door! He knew not why she had helped him, but he was forever grateful and took off out the window blowing a kiss back to this angel whom had saved him. The travel back to the Assassins Cross was a long one and Azimuth was not looking forward to returning. The brotherhood would not be happy with this at all. When Azi had returned Celeras had already notified the masters of the botched mission and they immediately berated and scorned them both for their failure. Even after the verbal and physical torture he was given for his failure Azimuth could only think of the beautiful girl who had saved him. He had to see her and he had to see her soon. Celeras came to him the next night and confronted him about the matter the night before. ¡°What is with you!?¡± He exclaimed, ¡°You almost got us all captured and then we would have been dead for sure!¡± Celeras was furious at him and the argument continued. ¡°Well? What do you have to say for yourself?!¡± Celeras asked sternly. ¡°There¡¦was this girl. I don't really know what happened, Cel, but this girl was beautiful and even more so than any I had ever seen.¡± Azimuth was even embarrassed to speak of her that way, but he had to tell the truth to Celeras. They were practically brothers after all. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Celeras said astonished. ¡°You forget about her do you hear me? She is nothing and can be nothing to you.¡± Celeras said loudly and then stammered out of the room. However, Azimuth would not listen to this lecture this time, for in the weeks that followed Azimuth would venture out just to see the woman who saved him. Her name was Cecilia Dahalla and she was the daughter of the High Priest. They spent many nights in secret together and in this time Azimuth even began to fall in love with her. This was the greatest he had ever felt and not even the brotherhood had made him feel this complete. However, all good things had to come to an abrupt end. One night when Azimuth was making his way to Cecilia's home Celeras had followed him. Cel had become suspicious of Azimuth because of his attitude lately and Cel wanted to get to the bottom of this. That night he saw the truth and was enraged by what he saw. His own brother in blood had turned his back on the oath for a woman! He had to make sure that Azimuth could never forget of the brotherhood again and removing this girl would have to be the solution. So one night before Azimuth left to Cecilia's home Celeras slipped out ahead of him reaching the girls room before him. When Azi reached the room of his love he found the room in shambles and ruin. He could not believe his eyes until he saw what was carved in the wall. ¡°For your sins O Brother your love shall be fed to the pit of Ants' Hell!¡± Azimuth was in shock and turned to leave in haste. Azi wondered who could have known and who would have acted in this manner. As he ran he could only think of one person who would act on his own in this fashion. The realization of this only made him move faster through the sands coming ever closer to Ants' Hell. Dark clouds formed overhead and rain began to pour as the pit of Ants' hell came in to sight. Standing in wait for him was his new enemy. Celeras held the young Cecilia with a knife at her throat smiling at Azimuth as he approached. ¡°So you finally came, brother!! I was beginning to wonder if you really loved her enough to watch her die.¡± Celeras had a devilish grin and laughed as he pushed the young girl towards the edge of the pit. ¡°Stop, Celeras! Stop this madness at once!!! If you do this then I swear I will strike you down without a second thought.¡± Azimuth drew his katars and faced his once old friend and comrade. Celeras pushed the girl to the ground and drew his daggers and giggled at the thought of combat. As the storm grew ever so violent the two assassins clashed in combat. The sounds of their rage could be heard for miles and the ringing of steel as they clashed was deafening. In a final rage and fierce move Azimuth drove Celeras back shoving him in to the pit of Ant hell. Hearing his old friend be taken by the monsters was enough to almost bring tears to his eyes, but he turned to Cecilia and went to her. Looking down at the symbol of the Brotherhood he wore he tore it from his armor and tossed it in to the pit. He threw his weapons in to the sand and carried his love in his arms off in to the night towards her home. The brotherhood would find the symbol and the katars at the pit assuming he had perished with Celeras. This time Azimuth would choose love and keep an oath to his love. This promise was one that, for once, was worth keeping. 1 , 2 page      If you would like to be removed from our mailing list,      Please visit our Website and change your personal infomation settings.        @2001 Gravity Interactive, Inc. & Lee Myoungjin. All Rights Reserved.