The God of War
The Memory that Returns
In a room in Nobuhide's palace, a young man is seen struggling in front of a sheet of paper and dancing his fingers that have clamped a goose feather that has been dyed on black ink so agile.
The young man who was none other than Zhou was writing a letter to his wife who had not been visited long enough. And all this time they only communicate by using letters only.
My wife, I miss you so much. I'll escort prince Toshie to do the proposal and the wedding to Maeda's palace. After returning to Nobuhide, I will get some time off. And I'll visit you. It's fine there, my wife. Husband, Zhou.
Zhou began to roll up the letter he had just written and tied it up. Then Zhou began handing over the letter to a palace member who served as the mail carrier.
"Please give this letter to my wife who lives in Nobuhide village" Zhou said in a low tone and still respecting the messenger.
Though Zhou was now categorized as successful, because he was now a warlord from Nobuhide empire. But he was always humble and never raised.
But this noble and gentle hearted Zhou, at once can also become like a life-extracting angel if faced with someone who has dared to disturb his wife or anyone who dares to insult his master teacher.
"Well, sir." said the letter's deliveryman and immediately carried out his duties.
...⚜⚜⚜...
Once, Zhou received an order and task from the emperor Yoshinao Nobuhide, to escort the crown prince Toshie Nobuhide to make his proposal to the Maeda empire.
They traveled quite a long journey, even days they passed to reach the Maeda empire.
They also stopped a few times somewhere to rest and recover their stamina.
When they began to decide to rest somewhere, which is near a forest that is notoriously dangerous and untouched by the surrounding population, that's when some things began to happen.
Before dawn, while everyone was still sound asleep, Zhou who had woken up first began to decide to look for something around him for him to drink.
Because according to his observations and hearing, there should be a large river not far from where they rest at this time.
And sure enough, after searching for it for a while, Zhou finally began to find the great river. Zhou began to make sure of something and observed the river if the water was safe for him to drink.
Until finally Zhou found out if in the river with very clear water there is a life that is so healthy. There were quite a number of small fish swimming in the river, as if dancing to enjoy their free life.
"Your lives look so good. But actually there will always be danger wherever we are .." Zhou muttered softly.
Soon, some larger fish began to come and eat the small fish. Zhou let out a long breath looking at all that.
"Huft .. such is life. The strong will always stand on the highest peak! While the weak, will always be under and trampled on." he murmured softly with a slightly moody face.
"The air around this place is cold. The fog in this place was also thick." Zhou murmured started to stand back up and started to stare at the surrounding nature.
But suddenly Zhou began to see a high cliff that was so dark and gripping. Under the high cliff was a forest and covered with thick fog, until the trees in the forest even looked so dark.
Zhou frowned as he stared at those slightly different valleys, cliffs and temperate forests. It was like a dejavu for him because Zhou thought he had seen all those places.
"This valley ... this cliff .. and .. this forest ... why is it so familiar to me? I feel like I know all these places. It feels ... I've seen all these places. But when? I never even left before this place." Zhou muttered trying to remember something.
Eventually, after a while Zhou started to remember something. Now some pieces of his memories in the past are starting to be seen back by him even though it is still vague.
When he was poisoned by his own half-brother, his body was wounded with a spear by his own men who apparently helped his half-brother to harm him. Until finally they pushed himself to fall into the cliff of the valley of death.
"Aarrgghhhh ..." Zhou sat down and began to hold his head because he felt his head was now very dizzy.
The world seemed to be swirling, and all those memories returned vaguely to him. To make his head become so much more and more painful.
"AARRRRRGGHHH .. My head hurts so much!!" his moaning still endured the pain.
"Commander Zhou, are you okay?" a soldier suddenly came to Zhou and sat down.
"My head .. my head hurts so much .. argghhh ..." Zhou still groaned in pain while holding his head.
"Call healers!! Commander Zhou is in pain!!" let the soldier give his word to the other soldiers.
A soldier began to intend to call a healer who was coming with them. While some of the soldiers began to help Zhou to walk and find a place to rest in one of their tents.
"No need!!" zhou said quickly and began to slowly brush off the soldiers who intended to help him walk. "I'm fine! No need to call a healer for me!" zhou firmly.
"You proceed to prepare the meal and all the necessities for the prince!" zhou again began to waltz away leaving them.
"Okay, Commander Zhou!" the soldiers replied in unison.
Zhou breezed closer and closer towards the cliff of the valley of death. His gaze stared at the place that almost became death and a grave for him.
His firm jaw started to harden and both of his hands began to clench strongly. The shadow of the memories ..the moments of that fateful moment were recalled by the current Zhou, making his chest become sore and tight.
"Zeus .. Why are you doing all that? Why are you so willing to do all that to me? Do I always love you with all my heart? You are like my brother whom I have always protected. But ... but I don't understand it .." said Zhou softly and disappointedly.